1993 S-10 Blazer Engine Swap => Typhoon

Hello All... I am relatively new to this board, but have been a S-10 Blazer owner for about a year. Its a 1993 S-10 Blazer 4x4 with a 4.3L V6 Vortec (W) engine and automatic tranny. As far as I know the 4x4 never worked (its electronic), and I never bothered to fix it. But about four months ago the engine began a small knock, which I believed was just a valve tap. Well as the noise became increasingly louder, I became increasingly annoyed, so I decided it was time to fix it. I stripped the engine down to the heads/block and replace all of the hyrdaulic roller lifters and all of the valve seals. It wasn't to difficult, but nonetheless, I was unsuccessful. That tap remains, and now the engine doesn't run as nice as it used.

Now that you have the back-story, it brings me to topic. I am interested in swapping out the 4.3L V6 Vortec that came stock, with a 4.3L V6 Turbo(?) out of a GMC Typhoon of around the same model year. I only have a few questions, and hopefully some knowledgeably people could answer them.

1. Is this possible? Should I even attempt it? --Even if the answer is no, I would still like to try.

2. Do I need to change the tranny in order to accomodate the Typhoon's motor?

3. Do I need to change the read axle gears?? Were they any different than those in a stock Blazer?

4. Does any one have any advice to share for a person in my situation??

Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks in advance.

i want to do the same thing with 92 blazer. to the best of my knowledge, and i told this by a syclone owner, that the swap isn't too difficult. i've looked at the syclone/typhoon hardware and it will require relocating some stuff. i do not know if the engine block internals are the same as a regular/vortec 4.3, but with the money and some effort it can be accomplished. the syclone.typhoon does has a different type of transfer case in it; it's some type of awd model. i haven't been able to get a straight answer on its model or if it came in any other types of vehicles. either way, your first step is to locate the parts, those alone are hard to come by. As far as the trans goes, a trans will bolt up but before you do that i would think the internals of the trans would need to be beefed up. as far as the axle gears, i don't have a clue. when i plan my swap, i will probably swap for a 3.73 ratio or maybe 4.10.

Go to www.syty.net, they will provide plenty of info on anything Typhoon/Syclone related.

The swap has been done before, but you are better off just buying a high mileage Typhoon for around $6-8K, because that is how much you will probably have to put into swapping a Ty engine into a Blazer to make it "right" (and you still won't have a Ty, so why bother?).

Engine internals are different. Sy/Ty use lower compression hypereutectic pistons, and nodular iron main caps. A '93 is a balance shaft engine, while the Typhoons (even in '93) used the non-balance shaft engine. You need the correct hardware, or 15psi will kill it in short order. Several owners got replacement GM engines that were ordinary 4.3's and they all croaked.

The transfer case is a Borg & Warner 4472
Available from Drivetrain.com or syty.net classified ads, or ebay.

Front diff is also different from the 4X4 unit, with no clutch mechanism.

Gear ratios are 3.42. Folks have tried 3.73 (the only other ratio available for the front diff) but go no faster. The Sy/Ty motor is not a high-revving item.

Let me know if you need more info. I have 200+k mi in (2) Typhoons, and do all work myself.

Hope my response is not too late........first time user. Two good things to post 1. I am 99% finished with swapping the Typhoon turbo engine in a 1992 4 door Jimmy and 2. I live in New Jersey. The swap is not difficult (actually pretty easy)but there are a lot of parts to locate. With patience and some luck you can pull it off without going bankrupt. I have less than $3000 including the price of the truck. It's best to find a complete engine pkg. with the harness. IF you have changes your mind and you are looking for a complete 4.3 engine with 67k miles let me know? Price $450............email MAYNTAM @ aol.com

the Borg & Warner 4472 is what they used in oldsmobile's bravada. its cheaper to get a used Intellatrac out of a bravada than it is to get a new Borg & Warner

first of all it has been done but to find a typhoon engine is a pain in the ass if i was you i would look for a grand national buick motor it will fall right in there just like the typhoon engine just a suggestion you can probally find more shit for that engine to the shit for the typhoon is a pain to find.probally cheaper to for the grand natinal engine

I must admit of all the times I thought about the 4.3 in my old S-10 and all the times I thought about the Typhoons and all the times I thought about building a bad a@% 4.3 powered ride, this never ocurred to me I don't think. I thought about maybe using some parts either new or used but that was about it. I guess because I just always knew that it made more sense, if you are after horsepower alone that is, to build a 4.3 turbo motor than to try and find a wrecked Sy/Ty. In all honesty you probably should rebuild the motor out of the Sy/Ty anyway because there are so many things that could be done to it to increase it's output and it's redline. I also remember reading about how the Sy/Ty 4.3 was basically the same 4.3 TBI as any other truck (except for L.C. pistons, etc.); in other words, they started off with 160 HP and turbocharged that for 280 HP but put a 200 HP 4.3 in other trucks and if they had turboed that engine they would have gotten- theoretically- 400 HP, had they used the same 14.7 PSI of boost. The SFI (I think it's SFI?) 4.3 has a much better fuel injection system and is a much better starting point really than the TBI 4.3 so I never even thought of swapping motors because in all honesty it just makes more sense to go and have your engine rebuilt using appr. 8.5:1 or 9:1 comp pistons, switch the valvetrain to all roller, needle bearings...using the lightest possible parts, stronger valve springs w/ titanium retainers, etc. While you are rebuilding the 4.3 you could get some splayed 4 bolt main caps for a 350 (they should work) from summit and have your block drilled and tapped for them, remove the balance shaft, and all those other little things you do that the factory doesn't. If you just did all this, I assume you have the 200 HP engine, except run higher comp pistons instead of low comps for turbocharging you would probably make more HP and have a more reliable engine than a Sy/Ty. If you have the money thought you could keep going and get aftermarket headers for a Sy/Ty that will bolt to your engine but allow you bolt-on the turbo. Then find a turbo either new or used but make sure it's in good shape, use one of those oil filter relocator deals to plumb the turbocharger for oiling, get an intercooler off of eBay and plumb all this up. I'm pretty sure you could run up to 8PSI before you had to upgrade the fuel system. The Sy/Ty ran 14.7 but you should be making as much or more than it with just 8 but if you have to have that much then you could get a haltech F-5 and an HKS knock sensor and plug all that up and go with it. Anyway you get the point by now. Don't swap engines, you will probably pay a premium for the Sy/Ty engine and it isn't worth it, just rebuild and TC yours. I wish I could be involved in this project it sounds like something I would love to do. Good Luck with whatever you decide.

I have a 96 s-10 blazer and I need some info about swapping the engine with one from a 85 astro van and if its possible as far as it working with one being a 4 bbl and the other engine being FI both engines are 4.3L. What wouldI have to change on the 85 engine to get it to work in the 96 blazer body