94* 4.3Li Vortec S-10 Chevy Blazer Engine Needed Seattle Wa

[JAY D CLETUS]

color key
Light blue = My Questions
Red = history of the problem
Green = Solutions reccomended
yellow = My automotive repair skill lvl


Hey,
I own a 1994 Chevy S-10 Blazer with a 4.3Liter Vortec with 180k miles on it. The engine finally gave out and started knocking the Cha Cha this last Christmas Holiday run back from the inlaws.

I took her to the shop and had the obvious stated to me by a young and cocky little grease monkey who told me that parts and labor for them to drop in a new one would be 5,500 bucks on the low side.

I heard that laughed at him and cruised a loud 10mph home and parked it.
I talked to my uncle and grandfather...(each of which is a very reliable source on anything Automotive from usa or Germany)....and asked what I should do.

My Uncle said I should borrow his cherry picker pull the motor, open it up and check the rods and shaft before I go hastily buying a new or rebuild 4.3 to put back in. He thinks that I might be lucky enough to have a minimal isolated engine part problem and only have to pay an easy 300 dollar bill and a learning labor experience.

My Grandfather on the other hand tells me to look for a used 4.3 out there where somebody doesnt know what they have and anxious to get rid of it sells it cheap. He thinks I might find a sucker that will be willing to go as low as 300-500$ for a low milage working 4.3 block. Then just transfer the vortec myself.

Now I believe Im capable of doing either one of these tasks with the borrowed equipment/tools, my Chiltons Manual, patience, a couple of phone calls to *the family experts* when I seriously screwed up something and ingesting over the course of it all about 9-10 cases of beer. I have always done all my own maintanance work and repairs on her thus far by using the free diagnostic results I got by having her checked out by local repair shop. I am by no means a Mechanic and usually prove that by how long I stare at and think about the part im going to replace convincing myself of its simplicity before I make it into rocket science. It takes me about 6 times longer to do a repair or maintanance job than someone who grew up with their yard full of sorted piles of transmissions, hollowed cars, demo car projects, and a shop full of rebuild carboraters, starters and distributers. But I have the resources (tools equipment and time) and have done my own minor repair/part removal/and installation on a few different vehicles for 8yrs with only the aid of a book or turning my brain inside out to understand how it worked or why it didnt. These were
Vehicles Ive worked on

1970s 350 Econoline Van (3 on a tree)
1970s 350 olds cutlas supreme
1980s Honda Civic Wagon
1962 Ford Falcon with a 73 Maverick Strt 6 in it
1996 mercury Capri
1994 Chevy S10 Blazer 4.3ltr Vortec V6

repairs or maintainance experience

Timing a Honda civic with a replaced crank wheel with a generic one with no timing mark for top dead center. Took a frustrating 3 months... (didnt remove the engine timed by inching the chain and pressure testing for top dead center)

Part Replacement exp
basic faulty
starters, coils, distributor cranks, waterpumps, EGR valves, Alternators, Brakes Pad and Disc, U joints, Shocks, Leaf Springs, Belts, Manifolds, Fan and pulley, radiators, carberators,

Basic maintainance exp
includes
Distributor timing, Crank and Time Chain adjustment, rotor dist. cap check, plugs and gaping, EGR Valve cleaning, tire rotation, fluid changes, transmission maintanance cleaning filter replacement, lubing Grease serts, power train seal replacement.

I grew up not ever having to see the inside of a hood and understand what was going on. It wasnt untill I was twenty and caught my Oldsmobile on fire by overheating a leaking oil soaked 350 that I realised that i needed to learn a thing or two...
I hope this background information helps anyone answer some of my questions about possible problems I might encounter in replacing the 4.3

Now My questions before I begin this are...

#1 If youve changed out a S10BL vortec 4.3 before...and knowing what I said above...What exactly am I in for? and is there anything in particular that I should be critical of before/during/and after replacing this engine? Is swapping the Vortec system going to be tricky?

#2 I have been looking high and low for a used or rebuild Chevy 4.3 online and in paper...the best price ive found is $840+$300core for a rebuild from a nearby company. I had found a billboard ad for a $500 4.3 used with 60k but it had been sold a month before I called.

Are these good prices?
Is there a better online source?
Should I find someone to just rebuild mine?
What should I be looking for in a used engine (removed) to know if its in working condition or not?

#3 I really like my Blazer...the vortec adds alot of quick accelleration that I think is unique for its mass and engine type. Its not too bad for gas milage for a full sized V6 fuel injected SUV. I would really like to keep it as it is great for family and work practicalities. It is seriously reliable aside from the EGR valve cleaning every year or so and I love the freedom of 4wd on the fly...(which is great in the Pacific NW) However Im a very poor family man who doesnt have a whole lot of money to continually put into a vehicle aside from basic maintanance.
My Question is knowing that she has 180k miles on her and..
If I spend the money and I drop in a new engine is the transmission likely to go soon as well?
Should I drop in the engine tune her up and sell her for the highest Blue Book Price and move on to another vehicle?
Are there any other longterm known problems with 94 s-10 chevy Blazers with vortec 4.3 or any other financial considerations that you might reccomend?
I apologise for asking so many questions but I want to make sure I didnt miss anything you might be able to help me with.

Thanks

JAY DE CLETUS