Has anyone done an S-10 to V-8 swap??

[76BBSub]

My dad is the original owner of a '90 S-10 shortbed single cab pickup.  Being the sick, hotrod kinda guy that I am I plan to buy it from him when he gets a new truck (someday) and swap in a V8.  I know there are alot of resources for this swap, but I wanted to see if anyone here had actually done one.

I am thinking either a Vortec engine or LT-1/LT-4, with an automatic.  It will be my daily driver when finished, that's why the auto tranny.  I will lower it a little, put 17" wheels on it with low profile tires, upgrade suspension, nice seats, etc.

But I digress...has anyone done the engine swap?

Thanks!

Jeff

[Frank S]

Quote: from 76BBSub on 6:27 pm on May 15, 2001

My dad is the original owner of a '90 S-10 shortbed single cab pickup.  Being the sick, hotrod kinda guy that I am I plan to buy it from him when he gets a new truck (someday) and swap in a V8.  I know there are alot of resources for this swap, but I wanted to see if anyone here had actually done one.

I am thinking either a Vortec engine or LT-1/LT-4, with an automatic.  It will be my daily driver when finished, that's why the auto tranny.  I will lower it a little, put 17" wheels on it with low profile tires, upgrade suspension, nice seats, etc.

But I digress...has anyone done the engine swap?

Thanks!

Jeff

A good friend of mine had an '88 S10 that he dropped an LT1 in out of a wrecked Z28.

I'm not really sure of any specifics or if he even still has it but I know where he lives and he wouldn't be hard to track down.

[Guest Friz]

Man, that would be so sweet...

A nice, quiet, single exhaust. 2wd, no big fat tires or nothin'. Sittin' at a light watchin' the 16 year old punk next to you in the Honda with a fart can out back, bass thumpin' and rattlin' your ears.

The light turns green, he chips the FRONT tires and gives you the "Eat crap!" look as he takes off. You give him a four car length lead so that you don't waste the rear tires(like you did last time) and catch up to his door, give him the finger and BAM, your gone and he's in second gear turning 9,000rpm, wondering "What the #### that was that!?!?!?"

Oh to dream

[summitXMK]

I have visions of a black ext cab with a 4" lift and a 454 in it with the 454SS stickers on the side.  Nothing like overkill!!!

Summit sells a book that tells you how to do it, along with a bunch of parts like a radiatior and computer that help make everything look like it was made that way.  I would also think about a aftermarket 700R4 from Jet or B&M to handle the power and keep the overdrive.  

[76BBSub]

Yes, I will definitely have a built 700R4 for it...it'll be a daily driver so will need decent mileage.  I am in for the subtle look but just enought to incite a race now and then....

Friz, nice to see you've been paying attention...yes, I occasionally fry the tires in my current rides.

Dad's not getting a new truck for a year or two, so I guess I'll buy the book and study up, but I did notice in my newest Summit catalog that there is an aluminum radiator specifically for this swap, as summitXMK pointed out.

BTW, the truck is a single cab 2WD, so lift and X-cab are out.  But I noticed a little single cab 2wd on the road coming home this afternoon, nice size, could get great mileage and haul a$$ with a nice 350.

Jeff

[Big O Dave]

Check out this website for V8/S-10 conversions: www.jagsthatrun.com

Big O Dave

[summitXMK]

Might I suggest.  That depending on how extreme you want to go, a few ideas I have had on this.  If you are going to leave it stock and not slam it some large rear tires. Just shorten the Axles and tunnel out the wheel wells. Put a tonneou (sp?) on it and most people won't even  notice.

[76BBSub]

Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.  I think these are the same guys that publish the book Summit sells.

I agree on not getting extreme with the rear tires...I am thinking simple, monochrome paint, no graphics.  Maybe some kind of front spoiler/airdam, but nothing extreme.  Nice chrome or aluminum wheels with some good rubber, but not too big.  A quiet exhaust (this would be a daily driver) that gets a little loud at WOT, like my Suburban has.  And the cover is a must, for looks and I think it helps aerodynamics, too.

Thanks for the tips!

Jeff

[95 Silverado]

I did one in an '83 two wheel drive a few years back, I would suggest going to some truck shows and looking at some conversions, I wasn't impressed with some of the kit type parts out there and ended up making my own motor mounts. I used 72 chevelle stands and mounts(I shortened the stands to keep the front of the engine as low as possible) with '78 malibu V8 exhaust  manifolds and everything fit pretty well. There are more headers available now and I probably would  use them if I did it again, but as I said, look at some that are done and get the info on the ones you like, they don't all fit the same

[76BBSub]

Thanks for the info....you wouldn't happen to have any underhood pictures, would you?

Jeff

[95 Silverado]

I did this for a relative, he still has the truck, I'll see if I can get some pictures.

[chevy4x4trucks]

I went to school with a guy who got a Covette engine dropped in his 96 S-10 SS, I guess it was easy, but who knows since he had it professionally done.

[BowtieNut]

I've done two of these swaps myself. Still have both trucks, both as daily drivers. One 4x4 for winter and one 2wd for summer. I swapped the 4x4 about 5 years ago and it's been my daily driver ever since. Just finished the 2wd a couple months ago. If you have any questions, ask away. Or check out my website, there's a few pics there, mostly of the 2wd.

[76BBSub]

Hey, Cool!!  Checked out your website, nice looking toys you've got there.

Couple of questions...

Did you start with V6 or 4-cyl trucks?

Did you buy most of the conversion stuff from a company or fabricate it yourself?

Have you had a problem with the "emissions police" for having carbs or not having all the original emissions equipment?  They are getting pretty strict around here (Houston).

Thanks!

Jeff

[BowtieNut]

Thanks Jeff. First I'll start by saying the same thing I tell everyone. If you're serious about doing an S-10 V-8 swap, get the JTR book that was mentioned earlier. It really is a great book packed with useful info.

The 4x4 was a 2.8 auto. The 2wd was a 4.3 auto. For the 4x4 I bought the mounts from JTR which bolt right up to the 2.8 frame mounts and allow the engine to be "adjusted" like 1" side to side and 1.5" front to back. For the 2wd, I got the u-weld-it motor mounts from JTR. Same design, but half the price. It's just the 1/4" machined plates and ears, and of course, you have to weld them together yourself. To use these I had to switch the frame mounts to the 2.8 style (the 2.8 uses a "clamshell" style mount which is stronger than the 4.3 style mount anyways). The JTR book also has good drawings of the mounts so you can make your own out of 1/4" plate if you want.

For both trucks I got headers from Sanderson. They're a shorty style header, and kinda expensive, but very good quality. You can also use several different style manifolds.  

For the 4x4 I also had to get a special oil pan, and an oil filter adapter (from a C-4 Vette) which I also got from JTR. But you don't need either of these with a 2wd.

For the 4x4 I got a "genuine GM" radiator (also a Vette piece) from JTR for about ?. For the 2wd I got the Vette radiator locally, made by Modine for ?. I also have twin electric cooling fans on both trucks. Some people use the original 4.3 radiator with good results. Alot depends on if you have A/C or not. Both of mine do not. It's all covered in detail in the JTR book. This is the area of a V-8 S-10 that the most people have trouble with - getting it to run cool.

I live in MN and they currently don't do emissions testing or inspections, so both my trucks are illegal by federal standards. Most of the states (including TX I believe) allow engine swaps, as long as the engine is the same year (or newer) as the vehicle it's being swapped to. For your '90 S-10 it should be pretty easy to find a '90 or newer TBI 350 or LT1 and make it legal. If your truck is a TBI 4.3, swapping to a TBI 350 (of the same year) is as easy as it gets. It uses all the same sensors and computer, all you have to do for the electronics is swap the computer chip.

If you want more info, and more opinions from other people, go to www.s-seriesforum.com or www.s-series.org I visit both sites every day. Great sites. Sorry this is so long.