List for 350 engine swap(originally 262)

[allans10]

I have a 1989 chevy s10, 4x4, 4.3 Litre, The engine seized in it and i was wondering what i need to do a 350 swap. I heard headers from someone, mounts, and firewall has to be modified. Would the wiring be the same? stuff like that. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[junkyarddog]

Buy the conversion manual. It should answer all your questions.

[allans10]

thnx man...i didnt see the store on this site when i registered...ill definitly do that...has anyone on here actualy taken a 1989 4.3L 4x4 ext/cab s10 and put a 350 in it. Cuz if you have i would like to know how much in total it cost you. Im a student right now whos in debt but i need a project and if its something past $1000 bucks i really dont want to do it. thnx

[rayL]

unless you have a good running 350 and a good transmission already then you will not meet that budget.

[allans10]

my buddy is sellin me his 350 for $100. Im pretty sure or at least hoping that my transmission from my 262 will just bolt right up...it does to a 305. Other than that would $1000 be enough.

[racer1182]

your trans will workyou are going to be better off doin a tbi 350 that way you can keep your existing harnesss you will just have to find an ecm, tbi unit and distributor for the 350 which can be found at local junk yards and buy the 4x4 oil pan too unless you have a suspension lift in it already. if the motor is stock then your rad should work too. you will also need exhaust manifolds for easier swap too.



Greg

[allans10]

thnx a lot that info was very useful...ive made the descision that im going along with the project.

[gent00l]

I had a 95 4x4 Sonoma 4.3L that I converted to a 400 small block TBI. I ran into some problems which ended up costing me more than I originally thought I'd spend. Here is a list of parts and modifications that you WILL need.



Swap manual

Offset oil filter adapter (or oil filter relocation kit)

"Custom" oil pan

4x4 Headers or "Custom" Camero manifolds

Electric rad fan or a blade that will fit

4x4 Motor mounts

New or highly modified exhaust



Things you can PROBABLY get away with, if on a really tight budget:



Stock PCM and PROM

Stock Tranny

stock injection system (if you have a TBI)

stock rad

stock rad location



And here is a list of things I recommend you swap out.



Injection system from a 350, or a decent carb

Prom from a 350

All sensors to their equivalent 350 versions (MAP, PCV, etc...)

Move rad to the forward position (you might need to buy the vett rad for this)

[kjm762]

I have done your swap in a 2wd Blazer & spent $1600. Big money spent on Sanderson coated headers & had to overhaul the 350. Some have questioned how I did it that cheap but ebay & a good pick it yourself yard you might hit the $1000 mark. Make sure your block is at least a 1980 or the Camaro manifolds wont work. You will need 350 injectors & prom, 4x4 oil pan, custom head pipe, TBI intake & more little junk than you will imagine. But, all your accy drives will swap right over & the oil filter set up off the 4.3 should swap. Radiator will be ok. Fan will be your biggest issue. I used a flex-a-lite 220 & made my own switching circuit. See some of my other posts about the wiring & and follow it or other issues will arise that I have already figured out. I mounted the knock sensor in the fuel pump block off plate & that was the only wire I had to extend. If you are keeping the ac & moving the radiator forward, just take your time, rebend the lines & make your mounts for the condenser & mount it in front of the rad core. You will need to make a new hood latch support. Take your time, use logic, the swap book, a shop manual for the truck and you might make it. Dont rush, dont listen to the friends that want to rush you & hack it up. Read the book! Not all things are answered there but I found about 95% of everything I needed was. Good luck.

[allans10]

thnx for the input. I recieved a 92 350 from a auto shop for $150. I got the headers for $150. The mounts another $150. TB I found at the junk yard i just have to pick it up. Can get that for $20. I also found a oil pan for it that my friend is givin me a discount on. I dont have air conditioning so i was thinking i can bring the rad forward a bit but im not sure. Now that knock sensor, what exactly is it?...im not to mechanically inclined. And will i have to grab a computer out of a 350 truck or will my stock 262 one be ok? also can the transmission mount stay where it is? Sorry for askin so much questions...the manual is still on its way to my house.

[racer1182]

you will not have to move your tranny mount at all. Which mounts did you order? if you need any more help just let me know. Your motor will bolt right up to your trans right where it is at



Greg

[allans10]

not sure which kind of mounts i ordered but there supposedly for a 4x4 and i was told they will work...how many different kinds are there?

[chris1972]

you can use the same computer need to change the spark control the black boxs next to the tbi..from a v.8

[kjm762]

The knock sensor is a mushroom shaped part on the back of the cylinder head on the 4.3L. It listens for knock in the engine & sends signal to the ecm to adjust timing. Take the block off plate, drill & tap for 1/4"npt threads. extend the blue wire going from the old left rear location to the new one on the right front of the engine. Plug it in & that's it. No AC? makes it a lot easier with the radiator. cut out the opening on the radiator support & move the radiator forward. Modify the fan shroud to fit, use the existing clutch fan & you got it. Leave the trans in the original location. Makes working on the engine a while lot easier!! It will bolt up & work fine. The computer should be changed, the prom must be changed. I reused the original air cleaner & tbi but changed the injectors for 350's. Distributor must be changed for a V8 unit. While you are apart, bang the cowl/trans tunnel flange & the right floor area like the book shows. Make sure the pan you are getting is the right one. No fun moving that engine around twice. Plan out as much as you can in advance & take your time. Dont be surprised if you blow the budget. I think we all have done that.

[chris1972]

the is no diff in the computers is is the esc ..one is for v.6 and the other is v-8 ..

[kjm762]

Up to now, everyone said that you had to have the V8 "1277" computer & never saw anything about the ESC module. I never figured the ECM issue out, but I can see the point about the ESC. Guess I need to find an ESC module for mine!

[allans10]

thnx for the help. Im definitly plannin this all out...and ive moved my budget up to 1500. ha i think it will be worth it in the end.

[chris1972]

as long as the v-6 truck had the tbi on it you can use the computer ..but if it was a computer from a cpi or 2.5 motor will not work..if you changwe a computer need to check out if the pin loction are the same...same are diff