doing a v8 4x4 s-10 blazer

[my454s10]

i found a 1983 2.8 liter 4wheel s-10 drive blazer thats runs great and the four wheel drive works great...the man wants 1200.00 for it...is this about right...the body looks good ...and it has like 31in tall tires on it....and of course the 2.8 would not be for for long ..a 350 would be sittin in there....is the v8 swap as easy as the 2 wheel drive....will the shortie v8 headmen headers fit the 4 wheel drive.....also will the transfer case bolt up to a 350 turbo tranny...and what mods have to be done on the drive shaft transfer case... etc.......

[Mike]

Never done or seen a 4x4 S10 in person, so I don\'t know to much about.

I do know they make specialty headers for the 4x4 S10 V8 Conversion here (http://parts.s10v8.com/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=37)

not sure what is different, something though.

[IceQueen]

Ok 4x4 swaps are a bit harder because you need to do things a bit different. If the truck has a 2.8 then the trans in it already has the right bolt pattern for your v8 so you can choose to keep that trans if you want or if you decide to go with a new trans use a 700r4 because you simply take the tail houseing off and put the transfer case on The 350Th requires a special adapter to be bolted to the transfer case I believe. I would recommend taking the truck for a good jaunt make sure its handling good and doesn\'t have any noises you consider strange for the body of the vehicle if your happy after a test drive then go for it. also get your trans beefed up if you plan on putting anything bigger then a 305 in it you dont want to do all that work and then end up with a buggered trans! Shorties will fit just be carefull of axle clearance also make sure you use a 4x4 oil pan they sell them here so thats not hard. if you have any more questions ask..



And good luck.

[my454s10]

i think that you are wrong on the tranny ...after i thought about it ..the 2.8 v6 is a 60degree motor and a 350 is a 90 degree ..i dont think the bolt pattern is the same ... http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif

[IceQueen]

Should be the same its not the heads that bolt to the trans its the main block it being a 60\'s or 90\'s it should be the same there were some slight differences on various years between a gm bolt pattern and the chevy but thats it.

[MOREPOWER]

i would just get another tranny anywas i sure ya would just blow it up anywas! ya need a oil filter relocator kit also! umm headman should fit , the muffler shop will hate ya after thou, tight fit and all! but goodluck ! if ya deside to to it.

[blacks10SOL]

The headmans will fit, you have to move your steering colum slightly down I think? And the drivers side shock tower will need to be trimmed. The trans form a 2.8 will not bolt up to a 350, one being a 60 degree and one a 90 degree. Most of the true 4x4 v8 swap headers suck ass. The flanges are weak and some of the tubes go into the wheelwell. Stick with the headmans and do the trimming. If you put a body lift on the truck the motor fits in real nice, no fire wall mods or nothing.

[Koerbs]

The bellhousing IS going to be different on a 60 degree motor

[drivin2fast]

the 60 degree\'s is the v in the block... the 2.8 is a smaller transmission than the 4.3 or small block... the 2.8 tranny (700R4 or 200R4) were usually used in cars untill they put them in the s10\'s

[JayDee]

If you gotta have headers use Sanderson. They make one specifically for 4x4 s10 conversions. <a href="http://www.sandersonheaders.com/pagesbypartnum/cs114x4.htm" target="_blank" target="_new">http://www.sandersonheaders.com/pagesbypartnum/cs114x4.htm</a> Then you don\'t have to move anything. I\'ve got the hedman\'s in mine now and I nearly cut the whole top of the shock tower off on both sides and they still rub a little. In the summer you can cook eggs on the passenger side floor. You\'ll be happier with manifolds if you drive it on the street. The trick our muffler guy uses to make the drivers side clear everything is to cut a wedge out of the manifold so he can angle the flange back a little and welds it back together will cast iron rod. He uses an old Lincoln stick welder and a sawsall. they hold up fine. He\'s down quite a few.

[RONN454]

a 2.8 tranny won\'t bolt to a v-8

[dipple]

I have done two v8 4x4 swaps. One with the IFS and one with a solid axle.



I would highly recommend doing the SFA while you are doing the swap. If you want to do it cheap just get a front axle from a Jeep Cherokee (spelling?).... Do it with leaf springs and it is a pretty easy conversion.



Then you do not need a special oil pan, remote oil filter setup, or mini starter. Makes the V8 swap MUCH easier.



Correct 2.8 tranny will not work.



Also the rear end is not going to hold up if you are running 31\" or larger tires. Tried this and chewed up 3 just daily driving.



The 2wd headers fit with just some minor trimming to the shock towers.



If you do keep the IFS then you will need the special oil pan and the remote oil filter setup. il filter will be too close the front drive shaft.



Hey I never did get those headers... http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_confused.gif

[IceQueen]

yeah I was thinking 4.3 dont know why i confused the 2.8 with it lol.

[speeder]

Mine is a 4X4 355 with a TCI 4WD TH350 and the NP 207 transfer case.

The steering column under the hood has to be moved a bit away, but no cutting on the strut tower, if you use the camaro manifolds, the log kind. The 4WD works great, but you will need a remote oil filter or adapter and you will need to get a special oil pan. The front driveshaft is about 1/4\" away from any oil filter, that is why the remote. If you get the TH350 the tranny has to be fitted with a kit, from Advance adapters since the TH 350 output shaft will not work with the NP207. this kit comes with a spacer and I think also an adapter for the tranny to the transfer case. This is the most crucial thing in this, the adapter. The TH 350 needs to be one with the 4 bolt dustcover (for the NP208 TC). You will need to enlarge the holes for the transfer case crossmember. When you install the motor watch for the black/white wire connector to the front-pumpkin, since it gets in the way, the entire time. You will need to know an exhaust shop, where they do not just tell you to go away. The exhaust is the hardest to get resolved. If you get a stock starter, then you will be so mad when it goes out, which is likely, since there is no place for the heat to go, but on the PS floorboard and the starter. Getting it out is a magician\'s trick. I did this, and immediately got a mini starter from ebay. These starters are usually ~200. Mine was 71 with shipping.

If the truck has a floor shifter, then you should be fine. Let me know if you need more info.

[speeder]

Mine is a 4X4 355 with a TCI 4WD TH350 and the NP 207 transfer case.

The steering column under the hood has to be moved a bit away, but no cutting on the strut tower, if you use the camaro manifolds, the log kind. The 4WD works great, but you will need a remote oil filter or adapter and you will need to get a special oil pan. The front driveshaft is about 1/4\" away from any oil filter, that is why the remote. If you get the TH350 the tranny has to be fitted with a kit, from Advance adapters since the TH 350 output shaft will not work with the NP207. this kit comes with a spacer and I think also an adapter for the tranny to the transfer case. This is the most crucial thing in this, the adapter. The TH 350 needs to be one with the 4 bolt dustcover (for the NP208 TC). You will need to enlarge the holes for the transfer case crossmember. When you install the motor watch for the black/white wire connector to the front-pumpkin, since it gets in the way, the entire time. You will need to know an exhaust shop, where they do not just tell you to go away. The exhaust is the hardest to get resolved. If you get a stock starter, then you will be so mad when it goes out, which is likely, since there is no place for the heat to go, but on the PS floorboard and the starter. Getting it out is a magician\'s trick. I did this, and immediately got a mini starter from ebay. These starters are usually ~200. Mine was 71 with shipping.

If the truck has a floor shifter, then you should be fine. Let me know if you need more info.

[Lunatic88S10]

Yes, you will have to change tranny. the tranny in a 2.8 60 degree v6 is different. Besides even if you could use it why would you. Go with a 700R4. you can find it in just about any older model(pre 4L60E) s10 blazer that has a 4.3L. Since the 4.3 is nothing more9or should I say less) than a 350 block with out cylinders 7 and 8 it is a direct bolt up. Also, the 700R4 doesn\'t have to have all the computer stuff.



Aside from that what you will need and/or what mods you will need to do will be up to you in a sense. A lot will depend on if you are wanting a stock look, your experience, size of engine, money you can spend(without the spouse putting yourself in the doghouse) type(LS1, LT1 and etc.) as well as if it has AC, your inteaded use of it after completed and this list can go on and on.



Also, just a quick note. With 31\" tires I assume that it is lifter. If so, you will run into problems with components wearing out or breaking all together. The s10 is a beast but even it can only handle so much. Also you will want and need to know gear ratios, what size rear-end, if the engine will be natural aspirated or fuel injected or blown.



JTR makes a book about s10 v8 swaps you might want to check into. Other than that I am in a similar boat. I have been researching for quite awhile for what to do with mine.



I have an 88 s10 4x4 with a 2.8L(main bearing shot), went and bought a 4.3L and all the trimmings from a 1990 and it needs about 2000 worth of machine workand parts. SO now comes the decision to rebuild either 2.8L, 4.3L or V8 all the way.

[AF-s10]

Just my .02 Cents (Euros maybe?). Even though the swap isn\'t complete, with my 94, here is what I started with, and so far the main issues I have seen.



Started with a 4.3 - 350 bolted up beautifully after 2 hours of cussing to get everything lined up.



Hedman headers will work, but in my case, we are going to have to do some cutting and welding to make them fit, the driver side is too long to mate up right.



Remote oil filter is NOT necessary with IFS. I found this out by dumb luck. On the original configuration of the 350, it had the L shaped adapter. I found a few websites that had the original adapter to keep the filter on the block. It is a tight fit, but it can be done.



This one is the interesting one - We did not have to cut anything to get the pipes in, this may be due to the body lift, but I do not think it would make that big of a difference.



With IFS, the oil pan that you can get through JTR fits beautifully, or at least with mine it did.



Once we get to the final stages, including reassembling the front clip to get that radiator in, I can tell you if there are any other little SNAFU\'s I find on mine...



I would do a little looking around the exhaust forum though, I know one of my previous postings in there had roughly a 50/50 split on the Hedman setup working......



Sorry for the long post http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif

[BadBowtie]

i had a body lift and suspension lift on mnie iand i never had a problem with oil pans or filter relocators.

and for the rear with 31\" tires my father drove it for a few years and it was fine then i got it and beat the hell out of it. i had no problem for almost 2 years when i spun the tire on some sand then it gripped and bang.

[elkyman70]

I'm doing the 4x4 swap right now. Its a 350/700R4 NP 231 combo replacing a 2.8 4 spd manual NP 207. Engine is mostly in and together so I can tell you what issues I had and add to the confusion.



No lift at all on mine. Passenger side frame rail required some "massaging" to clear the mechanical oil pump. Shock tower on the same side also was "adjusted" to clear the header.



Floorboard on the passenger side was cut out and a plate installed to add sufficient clearance for the header flanges. Probably only about 3 inches raised on the inside of the truck but I think it'll be alot easier to work the exhaust on that side now.



Got the oil pan kit and it clears the front axle easily. Also got the offset oil filter adapter and I haven't been able to get the oil filter to screw on. Filter is against the pan and it seems the angle of the threads on the filter and adapter are different so unless I come up with a shorter filter (which may not work either) I'll be putting in a remote filter.



Tranmission crossbrace require the holes elonganted about 1/4" so the mount could slide back a little futher. Good part was front driveshaft required no modification and I picked up a new rear one from a salvage yard from a regular bed 700R4 truck and it bolted right in too.



Had no issue with the distributor/firewall clearance but did "roll" the seam up along the firewall above the transmission which wasn't required but made bolting things back up alot easier.



Steering column worked great with the headers but I did replace the upper u-joint on the shaft to the steering box with one from Flaming River since my old one had a torn boot and was fairly rusty inside. The Flaming River u-joint gave me about an 1" less diameter at the top where it bolts to the column so I might have avoided a clearance issue unintentionally there.



Since I took out a stick I opted to go floorshifter. HIGHLY recommend you got a stock one from a S-10 blazer/pu. I bought a lokar cable drive shifter and while it worked and looks good I had to do alot of "stuff" to make it happen.



Overal, I know that when I'm done I'll be really happy with the project but knowing some of the things I know now I'd have opted 2wd and forgone the uniqueness of a 350 powered 4wd S-10.