91 2.8 build

[hdrider]

I have a 1991 s-10 with the 2.8 v6 with a little over two hundred thousand miles on it. I want to go ahead with a 350 swap. (keep thinking the old motor will play out but it just keeps on going)! Anyway, i was wanting to know if anyone could help with an estimate of the cost of the complete swap if i do the work myself. I keep seeing some early 80\'s for sell with fresh v8 swaps in the $2K to $3k price range. Is it cheaper to buy and swap out or build from scratch? Just looking at some of the costs ( radiators, mounts, headers, etc.) just cant decide. Any one have an opinion? Any help would be helpful! Thanks!

[spacecadet]

It really depends on your mechanical ability. Overall its a major motor swap with some fabrication. According to your ultimate plans you could build one for under $1000.00 Say $400 for a 305 auto chevy caprice or monte carlo. It should have most everything needed to do an inexpensive swap. This is way I did my firset swap. Misc piecs like rad, fan fuel pump. maybe some exhaust work, unless you can salvage some of the montes. All in all @ 1000.00. But like I said its all acording to your abilitys.

I sold that one for $1800. Before It went, It ended up with a fuel cell in the bed and fenderwell headers, which was a nightmare.



If you buy one you could be buying someone else headache. But that according to how well they put it together. You will need to determine that first before handing over cash. Just remeber that guy just put a month or two of time into the truck to get it that way and time is money. Your paying some cash for his time an labor.

Some people just get fed up with them and sell to get rid. If you can find one like that you might end up paying pennys on the dollar.

Space.

[racer1182]

me and Chevykid_69 built his truck for less than a grand and thats with mounts, headers, and exhaust. We used a full size truck radiator that we had laying around and some parts that I had. The cheapest way is to buy a donor vehicle for cheap and use whatever you can. Try and find an early 80\'s camaro/trans am that might have gotten wrecked and use all the mtor stuff you want that way you can get remaining for cheap or if you have a pick and pull close by take a list of what you need and go there and try to find what you ned. Hope this may help you some. Also check ebay for mounts and headers, you may be able to get some decent looking headers for cheap there too.



Greg

[racer1182]

<hr><img src="images/forum/ebaylink.gif"> I saw this on eBay motors: Item on eBay motors (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8025469820)<hr>

<hr><img src="images/forum/ebaylink.gif"> I saw this on eBay motors: Item on eBay motors (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8024768923)<hr>

<hr><img src="images/forum/ebaylink.gif"> I saw this on eBay motors: Item on eBay motors (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8025577588)<hr>



If you have and ebay acct then check these out.but wait til the end to bid if you are going to that way you can et them as cheap as possible. Hope this may help you out some more



Greg http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif

[riotpolice75]

On 2005-12-27 19:55, spacecadet wrote:

It really depends on your mechanical ability. Overall its a major motor swap with some fabrication. According to your ultimate plans you could build one for under $1000.00 Say $400 for a 305 auto chevy caprice or monte carlo. It should have most everything needed to do an inexpensive swap.



If you buy one you could be buying someone else headache. But that according to how well they put it together. You will need to determine that first before handing over cash.



the donor route is definately the cheapest way to go.



i wouldnt buy one for a few reasons, first off, you totally cheat yourself out of the experience of doin one yourself so in the end you still have no clue as to how it all went together, what condition the whole thing is in or even whats in the motor/trans, etc.



secondly yea, youre getting someone elses work. well you dont know what kinda work that is. it might be as good as what you would get from the dealership or from a hot rod shop. or you could very VERY well end up with someone elses half assed hack job install thats gonna go to hell of you in a week or a month.









smith