SO i got my v8 project and i need help

[brettfessler]

OK what i got was a """running"""" 1983 s10 with a 350 TBI, and a turbo 400 trans. body is junk but thats not a problem because im a body man. The engine has 10000 miles on it Proven along with trans. SO im driving it home from indiana to about 50 miles west of chicago and it keeps shutting off, the fuel pump was wired to a switch. I finnaly get it home and i pull off the bed and i notice that the whole fuel tank is rusted, and the sending unit and pump is liquid nailed on. also i start tearing into wire looms that snaked across the firewall, cut wires everywhere. also the steering stem is on the exhaust manifold. this thing seriously looks like it was a 1hr swap. the tranny sits on the firewall with misc. wires inbetween just rubbing them raw. I plan on making this thing a street/strip truck.

so thats my story but here are my questions:
1. the motor is out of a 1988 chevy 1500, do i need the fuel pump and sending unit from that? or can i get the fuel pump and sending unit from a like year s10.
2. What headers can i get that will make the steering stem not rub?
3. What can i do about the trans rubbing on the firewall?
4. Will the 4wd 10 bolt rearend hold up to the power of the 350
5.

[Thunder55]

Good grief, sounds like you need to pull the motor and tranny and start over lol
Just a guess here but the tranny could be rubbing due to wrong motor/tranny mounts. If the wiring is all cobbled up I'm guessing the mounts arnt right either... just a guess. People on here know WAY more then me and I'm sure they will chime in here soon.

[harleyboy]

well welcome to the site and the mysteries of other peoples messes.
1. you can use the sending unit from alike s-10.
2.the headers from the parts store here will work good.
3.compare the motor mounts from the part store here to the ones you have that can be the problem along with the trans too.
4.if you plan on the street/strip and how much on the strip you might plan on getting a extra rear end.

[wild572s10]

Welcome, I would pull out motor and trans,check mounts on here to see if they look the same, find a good wire harness at say wreckers and start over, might be other things that are not done right by other guy, if you are going street/strip I wouldn't trust his work with what you discribed.

[harleyboy]

brettfessler your going to get alot of what wild and I said.

[tonloc]

yea i would just yank it out and start from scratch other wise your just going to have problem after problem later on

[brettfessler]

so i looked at the mounts and they actually are correct, the problem is that the cab mounts are rusted and the cab is just sitting on the frame. so i am going to fix the cab mounts and actually put bushings into it. i tore the ecu harness out and got that all figured out. i am going to a junkyard tomaro and i plan on getting a s10 gas tank and sending unit(pump). I am ordering the patriot exhaust on friday, allong with 1300$ worth of goodies from summit. :) another question is; i plan on putting a mild cam in it,COMP Cams 12-366-4. is this a mild enough cam for it that the computer wont go haywire?

[brettfessler]

i had alot of time after work today, i got the cab off of the frame, re-welded the motor and tranny mounts, took the intake manifold and exhaust manifold off, did a little wire-wheelin on the frame, and made up a parts list. would i get more out of a cam or a intake manifold? (edelbrock). also will be posting some pics later tomaro of the progress, dont be to harsh on me, remember i bought this for a 1000$.

[harleyboy]

dude no one can be that harsh (well I take that some people can) but we all have been there and and we are here for help and excitement of letting you know what we think don't worry it can't be that bad.

[tonloc]

would i get more out of a cam or a intake manifold? (edelbrock).

yes cam is the heart of the motor. if your still running stock exhaust manifolds i would look into header options too though

i'm impressed how fast you got to work on it you must be hell bent on getting this done

[brettfessler]

so i got all of my parts in today, 1300$ worth of parts, havnt even gotten to the body yet, or the fuel system, debating between the fuel cell or the oem tank, What does the Sending unit actually do? does it tell the gauge how much fuel is left or does it actually do something with the ecu? if it doesnt actually send a signal to the ecu then im going to just do a in line fuel pump and a fuel cell.

also lmc is the only place i have found that has resonable prices on floor pans, they are 50$ a piece, plus the 40$ a piece for the cab mounts, plus the 130 for the bushing and hardware kit. do you think it would be cheaper to just make my own(floorpans and mounts) and get the mounts from a junk yard? or should i just get all new?
keep in mind im going with like a RAT-Rod style (flat black and gloss red stripe)

[brettfessler]

oh a 4x8 sheet of 18 gauge steel is 62$ at the local iron/steel shop.

[HardinValleyMagic]

Rat rod look, go with some signs. I have seen everything from speed limit signs to merging signs. Nice and thick and a conversation piece to boot.

[RedRooster]

i like the red stripe idea.

[brettfessler]

ya it will be cool when i figure out the fuel issue, i dont know what do do, in line fuel pump or the in tank, fuel cell or oem tank. idk idk idk they are the same price and the fuel cell is 100$ and its plastic, so i dont have to worrie about it rusting out.

please give me your opinon, i would probably put the tank in the bed, not under the truck.

[brettfessler]

Just for the people woundering how much it cost for the swap:
Truck with 350 swap kinda done: 1000
summit racing: 1300
New welder: 400
body pannels: 275
beer: 100
s10v8.com: 160
junk yard: 80
jc whitney: 50
sealers, and misc autoparts: 200

still not done but that is what i have spend so far, i still need floor pans, paint, and alot more beer.

[brettfessler]

oh ya and i still need fuel tank and fuel pump.

[Ryoung68]

I hear ya, I spent around $5000.00 on my swap and I owned the truck already. It definately can be a money pit. On the fuel cell vs stock tank, if you go with a fuel cell your exhaust will be much easier, hint hint! :hammer:

[bigdsr56]

Well. since you are a body man & can weld, then you're actually saving a lot of money. More money for parts & beer!

[bignate]

rock on with the rat rod man check my profile to see some i deas of mine. as far as the firewall and trans do some "modifying" with a nice hammer or if you a metal guy and doing your floor pans i might suggest smoothing the firewall and moving it back a bit.i personally am gonna get a old beer keg and mount it in the bed and run a holley in line pump for my fuel system.that i know of the sending unit doesnt do anything for you if your doing a inline pump except picup the fuel but i would by a cell before another tank.
i would recomend the headers edlebrock intake or a dual plane of somesort thatcam will be nice just check to see if it will work with your stock springs and lifters dont make my mistake and have to do it after everything is done.haha!