94 4x4 4.3l to 350 conversion project [Archive] - S10V8 Conversion Community & Parts Store

View Full Version : 94 4x4 4.3l to 350 conversion project

heavyram

09-26-2007, 05:56 AM

What's up guys? It's been a while since i've been on, but my time has been spent well.. I have my motor in now.. I got past all the little challenges. Found a place to put all my sensors, got enough length on the fuel lines, stuffed a 5.7l v8 in a hole meant for a 4.3l v6, stuff like that.. haha.. Now i only have a few more. Gotta get the driver side header on, find an oil filter to fit in that little bitty space (or relocate it), and finally figure out how i'm keep it cool.. I'm put some pictures in my profile, yall take a look an tell me what you think.. suggestions are welcome.. I know it's not as neat an pretty in the engine compartment as some of yalls, but this is a toy that i'm gonna drive an play in the mud with.. not a show truck or strip truck.. haha

heavyram

09-26-2007, 06:41 AM

Here's some of my pics..

<hr width='200'><img src='images/jpg.gif'>: <a href="http://www.photolava.com/view/7826.html" BORDER="0" target=_blank>image will open in new window</a><hr width='200'>

<hr width='200'><img src='images/jpg.gif'>: <a href="http://www.photolava.com/view/782c.html" BORDER="0" target=_blank>image will open in new window</a><hr width='200'>

<hr width='200'><img src='images/jpg.gif'>: <a href="http://www.photolava.com/view/782l.html" BORDER="0" target=_blank>image will open in new window</a><hr width='200'>

<hr width='200'><img src='images/jpg.gif'>: <a href="http://www.photolava.com/view/782q.html" BORDER="0" target=_blank>image will open in new window</a><hr width='200'>

<hr width='200'><img src='images/jpg.gif'>: <a href="http://www.photolava.com/view/782u.html" BORDER="0" target=_blank>image will open in new window</a><hr width='200'>

<hr width='200'><img src='images/jpg.gif'>: <a href="http://www.photolava.com/view/7832.html" BORDER="0" target=_blank>image will open in new window</a><hr width='200'>

<hr width='200'><img src='images/jpg.gif'>: <a href="http://www.photolava.com/view/7834.html" BORDER="0" target=_blank>image will open in new window</a><hr width='200'>

<hr width='200'><img src='images/jpg.gif'>: <a href="http://www.photolava.com/view/783b.html" BORDER="0" target=_blank>image will open in new window</a><hr width='200'>

<hr width='200'><img src='images/jpg.gif'>: <a href="http://www.photolava.com/view/783i.html" BORDER="0" target=_blank>image will open in new window</a><hr width='200'>

heavyram

10-02-2007, 08:26 AM

Well i got my headers on with no problem. I was really worried about the driver side since i have a body lift, but i didn't have a bit of trouble out of it. I still have about a 1/2 inch of space betweeen the steering shaft and the header. I relocated my oil filter to the stock location under the front bash plate. I think that is gonna save me ALOT of trouble when i'm changing the oil.. The only thing i'm really worried about now is keepin it cool. I don't trust electric fans, and i just don't think there's gonna be enough room for a flex fan in there..

heavyram

10-03-2007, 05:18 AM

Wow.. i put my plugs in and ran my plug wires last night.. Those passenger side plugs are a real pain to get in an get tight.. Now the only thing i'm waitin on is a chip from tbichips.com to make it run. After it runs an i check it over good, all i have to do is get the front put together, an see how much (or how little is more like it) room i have for a fan..

heavyram

10-10-2007, 07:09 AM

Look at the last few pictures.. It's all in there an hooked up.. I'm gonna make sure it all works good before i put the front on..

<hr width='200'><img src='images/jpg.gif'>: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=8786&l=b6b22&id=508112712" BORDER="0" target=_blank>image will open in new window</a><hr width='200'>

dwhite

10-10-2007, 08:15 AM

Putting the radiator in the core support is an option. I'm not sure if you've thought about this, it's what I'm gonna do to mine when I finally get the money to get the project going. Your truck looks good man, it'll definitely be fun in the mud. You'll have to post some pics of it covered when you get it all together.

91xcabpro

10-10-2007, 08:16 AM

looks good.....electric fans work fine as long as you get one that pulls enough air and is shrouded well

heavyram

10-10-2007, 10:41 AM

Thanks for the compliments guys.. Yeah, i had an electric fan on the 4.3 at one time, but the brushes wore out a lot quicker then i thought they should have.. Maybe it's cause it stays so hot down here and it ran alot, idk.. I just think i'll trust a mechanical fan more, and it'll last longer.. I've been lookin at that 7 blade flex-a-lite fan in summit.. Anybody know anything about it? part# FLX-1817 at summitracing.com..

Summit 7 blade flex fan (http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=FLX%2D1817&N=700+ 115&autoview=sku)

heavyram

10-11-2007, 04:56 AM

IT RUNS!!!!! hahahahaha!!! Just need to do a little tunin here an there...

redneckgames

10-11-2007, 05:37 AM

its looking great man, Ive always wanted to build a 4wd just to play around in. looks awesome.

as far as spark plugs go, I bought a $1 spark plug socket at advance, drilled ratchet side large enough for the plug to pass through, and sawed the socket off to where there was only about 3/8 of an inch of the hex left. It works perfect to put on my plugs and use a wrench to get it off. I can get on all of them now.

fan wise, I was running electrics and I just couldnt get it to cool. I swapped out to a 15 flex-a-lite fan and Im using the factory shroud. 10x better.

keep us updated on it. specs on engine, gearing, trans, exhaust, etc?

heavyram

10-11-2007, 10:28 AM

Hm.. I shoulda done that instead of cutting that high $ Snap-On wrench in half an bending it.. haha.. Oh well.. The things you'll do when you're tryin to get somethin done..

heavyram

10-29-2007, 09:24 AM

Ok.. so yeah, my motor ran.. And smoked like a train.. Dude burned me bad on my motor.. I bought it as a 30 over 350 with vette heads. Supposedly had jus recently been rebuilt (motor and heads).. Me an pops pull it back out the truck and pull the heads off, and guess what the top of the pistons say.. .060!!! yeah, and they have ALOT of room to move around.. Valves are burnt on almost every cylinder, and the vlave stem seals are completely shot.. So, long story short, i bought a really large paper weight from one of my dad's so called friends..

It's all good though. I got a bran new crate motor from GM Performance, Edelbrock TBI perfromer intake, and sent my headers off to get jet coated.. As soon as everything gets here an i get my headers back, i'll be good to go. What yall think about my new set up?

What i've learned from all this:

Always check your stuff out before you put it in.

stubs

10-29-2007, 10:10 AM

I used a Fram ph30 oil filter. But I only moved the motor back about 1/2 inch. and put the radiator in the core support, with a little help from a small shop that angled the radiator cap fill.

heavyram

11-01-2007, 09:53 AM

New motor is in, just gotta get everything hooked up.. Headers look great..

heavyram

11-08-2007, 10:50 AM

Everything is in and runs good so far.. haven't run it for more then a few seconds though.. I got my electric fans in today, so i should be ready for some tunin by this weekend, and maybe exhaust and a test drive by next week.. Yall wish me luck with this one..

heavyram

11-22-2007, 12:13 PM

Well she's done!!!!! I drove her down the road today.. I'm goin to get exhaust put on friday mornin.. I'm very proud of my dad's and my work.. It's not much, but it's mine and i put aLOT of time work an money into it.. Thanks everybody for the help..

<hr width='200'><img src='images/jpg.gif'>: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=8786&l=b6b22&id=508112712" BORDER="0" target=_blank>image will open in new window</a><hr width='200'>

Tell me what yall think..