how hard is it?

i have been thinking about buying an S-10 this spring and i am wandering how much it would cost to drop a 305 in one? i know if i get the 4.3 S-10 the 305 will bolt right up to it but i am wandering if i am ganna have to move my radiater and all that stuff... and what else would i have to change? i meen would i have to change the computer and stuff?

Im asking because i currently own a Ford Ranger but its only a 2.0 2wd and i want a 4wd and would like a V8 so if any one could help give me some anwsers i would appreciat it. thanks.


Charlie

Why not save up some more and buy a Silverado with the 5.3L V8?

i think i am i was just curios how much it cost to do a V8 conversain and how hard it is....

I'm not any expert on it, but I'm pretty sure its a straight forward thing. The radiator has to be moved to infront of the mounts and electric fans must be used as the V8's water pump is too close to the radiator. The new engine will bolt up to the existing transmission.

To get a visual picture, the 4.3 under the hood is a small-block V8 with two cylinders lopped off. The front accessories are interchangable, and the transmission bellhousing pattern is identical. I'm pretty sure that the V8 engine mount locations split the difference but I'm not sure. I saw another post that said the SBC is 5" longer. I do know that sometimes distributor cap clearance is an issue, as well as water pump/radiator interference. Many companies (someone else help here) make complete swap kits including headers, modified engine mounts, radiators, the works. There are even companies that make special oil pans for 4x4s.

As far as computers, its a toss up. Many of GMs TBI, TPI, and even some batch-fire MPI engines use the same computer part number, just calibrated differently. If you have one that is used on both V6 and V8 (like the "727" computer) you can have it re programmed. If you're not in a smog area, ditch the computer altogether and use an old-school carb. Its also pretty easy to find engines with computers included in the sale. Probably cheaper than re-programming yours, and makes yours more attractive if you plan to sell it with the computer. Do a search on the internet for DIY_EFI and you'll come up with many sites that can assist you on computer stuff.

I don't even have the S-10 yet and I'm dreaming up an LT1 conversion. It will bolt in the same way and they have a very short, non- intrusive water pump and an optical distributor mounted on the front of the block. I anticipate fewer physical interference problems.

ya i have been thinking about it and i think i might just go with a Silvarado... and if i were to do it i would problubly go Carb because where im at they dont force IM tests... i see cars all the time that if htey did im sure they would not pass lol... thanks for the help and any other info any one can give.

See if you can find a copy of JTR's (jags that run) S-10 v8 conversion
manual it's very informative.
Ive done 2 and 1/2 V-8 conversions and loveem
If you get a 4.3 s-10 you will need conversion mounts but the block will bolt to the trans and you should be able to use the radiator but may need to modify it.
you may not need to relocate the radiator, I had one that I was able to use a shallow flex fan that worked ok, but would heat up in 90+ temps.
the one I drive now has the rad. in the stock location with 2, 12" electric
pusher fans that hasn't heated up yet.
As for the electronics I understand that if you use the same year engine
(TBI) V-8 the wires should hook right up, but you may need to lenghen
some of them. You will also need the proper computer.
research before hand will make all the difference in the world.
P.S. bmw drivers do stupid things when they realise their $100k
beemer wont outpull an old S-10.

This is kinda off topic, but it is S-10 related. When the hell are they changing the S-10's body style. The front end is out-dated and not very nice. The only ones that are nice are the Xtreme ones like your's, DeViL. They are in desperate need of a face lift.

I'm told that the S-10 line is going to be canceled, in favor of the colorado. at least I think that is the name.

ya they are....they are ganna replace it with a new truck called the "Colarado" i dont know a whole lot about it eccept i know its grill and lights are ganna be the same as the new TrailBlazer.

I don't know how much a 305 would cost you but I can tell you a 350/350hp V8 conversion is going to cost you around $6,000 if not more. I would guess a 305 would be more like $5,000.

Supercar_Man here is your "updated S-10", this is pretty much what the Colorado will look like. And the Colorado will be replacing the S-10 most likely by this August coming up.

Looks disgusting to me. Comes with 185 hp 4-cylinder or 210 hp 5-cylinder.
http://139.81.142.25/vbulletin/attachment.php?postid=707617

I have seen many pics of the Colorado, and I'm not thrilled. Too many jagged lines and plastic. GMC has turned into the nicer truck since the restylings.

Yeah totally agree on that. GMC didn't go with those ugly slanted headlights like Chevrolet did. And I don't think they have the rediculously huge front bumpers.

it doesnt have to cost 6K to put a V8 in an S-10.

ive seen it done for way less. if you have some technical know how and a good information source than you can do the install yourself; how much you need depends on what you start with. if the donor truck starts with a 4.3 then you can re use that tranny, radiator, and a few of the other parts. youll need at least the 2.8 motor mounts.

im not the expert, but we have a lot of guys over on s-series.org who have done budget V8 swaps.


my only advice is to skip the 305 and go right to the 350. the cost is about the same, parts for the 350 are easier to find and you get a big power difference.

It's at least going to cost you around 5 grand, I was guessing 6 I'm not completely positive. In order for it to cost less you would have to find stuff out of a junkyard, what I'm talking about is buying all brand new parts.
And I'm talking about 5 or 6 grand with installing it yourself. I'm also talking about carbureted not a fuel injected V8. Going with fuel injected would be more of a pain in the ass and more costly.

Also if you bought something like an LS1 which is an aluminum 350, the weight wouldn't be that bad. But if you are looking at a cast iron 350 then thats going to be putting a lot more weight to the front of the car. Not exactly a great idea considering you want the power to go to your rear wheels. You don't have much weight in the rear to begin with.

There is no way that a simple carbed v8 swap would cost $5000 I bought a '94 305 back when it had 800 miles on it for $100 (dealer core)rebuilt it for a couple hundred, bought a Th-350 and had it rebuilt for $150 and had the exhaust done for $300.Thats alooooong way from $5000...

If your 4.3 is TBI you can put 305/350 TBI in its place and use the original 4.3 wiring by lengthening a few wires. The Computer chip will have to be changed to one that will work with the V8 also.

I spent 3 grand on my blazer with an LT-1 and 700-r4.
That included the cost of the truck.
$1100. vehicle
$600. engine
$500. trans
$600. wire harness
$200. misc.
these numbers are rough, and I got some good deals, but It's often who you know. But it doesn't have to be high dollar.