1987 4X4 S10 2.8 to 3.4 or perhaps

[phaderus]

I just bought an old 87 S-10 4x4 that originally had a 2.8. It has no motor to swap parts from.

I have a friend with a 3800 RWD that will basically give it to me, will it work, is it to much work.

I also found a 3.4 with a 112,000 for about 250. If I buy the 3.4 what will I have to buy to make it work? Will I have to buy 2.8 heads or can get away with the 3.4 heads from a Camaro?

Sorry so for many questions. I am in the planning stage and want to do this right the first time. I would like to have a daily driver and don't need 300 horse and a big gas bill, but would absolutely like more than 120 horsepower on a truck.

Thanks for your time!

[sharkey]

if it had a 2.8l in it originaly, best bet would be a 3.4l f-body motor, itll bolt right in and up to the stock trans. now you have 2 options on the fuel injection. the s10 uses tbi injection, the f-body uses mpfi. in order to run the mpfi, you need the high pressure fuel pump, mod the fuel lines in the truck to work, witring harness, ecm, throttle cable, ect. the other option, this being the easy one, is to find a complete tpi setup from a 2.8l s10 (intake manifold up) and bolt it all on. this will allow you to have the 3.4l and run off the stock ecm and wiring, pretty much bolt it in and go. this will also pass a visual inspection for emmissions.

[phaderus]

Sharky, thanks for the advice, I will get a 3.4 from a Camaro to replace the 87 TBI 2.8 in the S10. I don't have the origanl Motor, although, I do have the orignal oil cover, and TBI setup and intake manifold. In order to use a 3.4 what all parts will I need to swap? I have heard water pump,alternator, compressor, timing cover, and one site said that I will need to resuse th 2.8 heads, althought I don't have them, or most of the other componets. It almost looks like I am going to have to buy two used motors. Any feed back one items need to make the 2.8 to 3.4 swap work would be greatly appreciated!

[sharkey]

if you get a 3.4l rwd motor, it will bolt right in the the tbi intake will all bolt right on. you will not have to swap the heads or the timing cover. you may need the accessory brackets from the 2.8l, i think (but am not positive) that the camaro brackets are different.

[geoffinbc]

Read the swap guide it is a walkthrough.

http://members.shaw.ca/betterthanyoutoo/how-to/2.8l%20to%203.4l/engine%20swap.htm

[phaderus]

Read the swap guide it is a walkthrough.
http://members.shaw.ca/betterthanyou...ine%20swap.htm

I guess I have not expressed myself well. Let me explain further. I have read the guide but I am still a little fuzzy. I read where the guide says

Your 2.8L headers and other bolt on items will fit onto the 3.4L block.

Does this mean I have to use the heads, and all other bolt on items? I don't have the original engine, or most of the bolt on items. The only thing that I have is intake manifold, TBI setup, and the oil pan. If I have to use numerous 2.8 parts this could drastically increase the cost of installing an engine and wonder if should just stick it out with a local 2.8.

I can buy a 2.8 locally for 250 and 3.4 for the same price at another junk yard. I am just trying to come up with the best plan possible. If I buy a 3.4, how much else am I going to need to buy? Should I just buy the 2.8 for parts, new heads, brackets, alternator, air pump and other items could easily cost more than 250, and buy the 3.4 as well, or can I get by with just the 3.4 and few new parts from AutoZone? Thanks for your time.

[sharkey]

again, you do not need to swap the heads. it says headers, meaning exaust manifolds. after reading that, it seems that you will need all the eccessories from the truck to swap on this motor, meaning power steering pump, alternator and water pump, and all the related brackets. now if you get the stuff from an 88+ with serpentine belt, you wont need to change the timing cover, but you will then need to find an oil pan from a 4x4 s10 (as well as oil pump pickup) thats 88+. if you get the accessories from a pre 88 truck, you will need to swap timing covers to a pre 88.

[phaderus]

So sorry to bother you guys again, I reread the swap guide and he says that 86's and before used V-belts and and had the water pump flow forward, where 87's and after used a serpintine blet that had the water pump flow in the opposite direction. So it appears that frond end beltwise the 87 is the same as the 88's and after with the only differnece being that 88's and after are interanlly balanced. So I thing I am going to get a donor 88 or after and I can use the belt assembly and parts and use the flywheel with no modification. Thanks for all your help!