NOOB - Looking to do a 350

[ItsA88]

Hello.
I've been doing some homework on the s-10 and putting larger cid motors in them. I currently have a 350 block at my house with nothing but a crank in it that I'm going to semi hotrod.

While looking to build this motor I decided that it would be cool to put it in a s-10. Looking over the previous threads, I found out you can pretty much put any size Chevy v8 into these things for about 3-4k not counting actual cost of truck and engine build.

Basically I'm looking for any information that you guys might have on this. A few questions I can think off the top of my head are: is this terribly hard with 4-wheel drive? What transmissions work with 4x4? What transmissions work with 2WD? I read a thread about a guy that wanted to do the same thing and asked about a 700R4 working with 4WD. He got a yes to putting that trans in and hooking it to a 350 but no one really gave a direct answer about the 4x4 part. Also, can anyone come up with a list of major components I'll need to do such a project (off the top of your head)?

Like I said, I'm going to continue to do some more research but any information would be awesome.

PS: Looking to throw this in a pre '96 OBDI truck.

Thanks in advance,

[dmbrisket 51]

obdI makes it more simple, but the more info you give us the more that we can return to you, first or second gen truck, year is important, the 700r4 that comes in an s 10 will not work with the 350, the exception is i beleve the 4.3 had the same bellhousing (thats why the 2.8 700 doesnt work in a sb) as a sbc... the 4l60E was used in 92 or 93 and up... as i said you get to know more year spicifid dime and moter the more i can help... one thing though, even though cam options are limited with obdII, you will get a much better throttle responce with a sefi over a TB or Toilet *carb* moter

[ItsA88]

I was looking at 1994 to 2004. Not to sure what Gen that is. But I'll do a Gen earlier if that is easier. Just kinda looking for what options I have as far as trans go with and how much easier one Generation is over the other.

The 4L60E will bolt up to a 350 post 1994?

[balls_to_the_wall]

If I am figuring right, any tranny that bolts up to a 4.3 will bolt up to any sbc? Is this true? I figure this cause the 4.3 is a sbc with 2 less cylinders, everything else the same correct? Although it might not hold up, it will bolt up correctly right?

-Ryan

[OverBoardProject]

It's true Ryan, I have heard that the full sized transmissions are stronger though.

ItsA88, your best bet is get a full sized truck with the running gear that you want, and bolt it in.

Try keeping it the same year as the S-10 for the least amount of work required

Good Luck, and have fun doing it.

[ItsA88]

Well the block I have is out of 76ish Olds. But its stripped down to the block so it really doesn't matter. So when you say get a full sized truck with running gears, what are you saying?

[OverBoardProject]

It's just easiest to use the whole motor, transmission and transfer case from a full sized pickup.

Like you said you have the block already, but if you will have to run the truck through emissions it'll be tough to get it to pass unless you can get all the polution control junk from a newer motor.

If you don't have emissions, then go nut's. It'll be easier, and way more affordable.

A 4.3L has the bell housing that you'll need, but I've heard that the transmissions aren't as strong as the 1/2 ton's.
I don't know if this is true.

Scat makes a nice bottom end for that motor at a good price. A Google search should tell you where the best place to buy it is.

[dmbrisket 51]

88, i did the same as you, only i bought a short block (rolling assembly and block) and the cost is astronomical, buy a running multiport fuel injected 350 from a 96 or newer, including computer and wireing, and youll be way ahead

[OverBoardProject]

Doug, I've been wondering how your V8 conversion is coming along

[dmbrisket 51]

its goin, but not the best, reasons for the last post i made... pm'ed ya, dont wanna steal thread

[ItsA88]

Well that was kind of the plan. I'm going to buy a running truck and drive it around while I'm building the 350 and then going to pull one motor and trans and put in the 350 with a different trans (preferably the 4l60e).

What type of computer problems would I have with what I plan on doing? I'm going to need a new I take it? That is the spot I'm having a little trouble with now.

Also, is there any chassis or body fabrication needed for a V8 in the S10?

Thanks

[dmbrisket 51]

b4 dropping the 350 in, smash the hell out of the pinch weld on the fire wall, makes the job a lot easyer... and if you go tb injected the old computer and wiring harness will work with the 350 as what worked with the 4.3l, if its sefi, you need the 350's computer and harness

[ItsA88]

Originally Posted by dmbrisket 51

b4 dropping the 350 in, smash the hell out of the pinch weld on the fire wall, makes the job a lot easyer... and if you go tb injected the old computer and wiring harness will work with the 350 as what worked with the 4.3l, if its sefi, you need the 350's computer and harness

Would it be possible to run the computer out of say a LT1 OBDI camaro, trans am?

I plan on going fuel injected for right now (i have a tendency to change my mind). In fact I was actually thinking of running a LTX top end setup for right now. And the automatic OBDI camaro/trans ams had the transmission want to throw in it (4l60)

[dmbrisket 51]

yes, as long as the computer matches the engin, ie you have to have a tb injected 350 to run an obdI computer (obveous, but people have asked) and the 4l60E was put into camaros, s 10's, corvette, full sized trucks, if you already have the trans great, if not, your 4.3l s 10 already has the trans you need for the swap, unless its a 92 or earlyer dime then its a 700R4

[ItsA88]

Oh sweet. I was unaware that the 94-04 s10s had 4l60s. Ummmm kinda a side question... what generation are those year s10s?