86 S10 Blazer

[lampy]

scored on a clean 86 blazer, 4x4, cruise, AC, 5 spd trans, 90K on the odo, has a broken crank but it was only $400. I have a good running 2.8 from a previous swap. There I am, engine hanging on the cherry picker ready to come out but its hanging up on something,WTF oil pan hitting the front axle, trans input shaft still in the pressure plate WTF. break out the chiltons ( a liitle late) OOOHHHH you have to pull the trans befor you can pull the motor!!!!!! Was able to unbolt the pressure plate and get the motor out but still WTF!!!! Just needed to gripe, thanks for listening

[bszopi]

At least you got it out, and doesn't sound like you broke anything.

[Canyonero]

Yep, I could have told you that. Us Isuzu guys have to do the same thing. Not a whole lot of clearance with that 4x4 oil pan. Have to pull the tranny to get it back in though.

[eggman]

4 or 6 bolts from the front axle on the right side and it will slide far enough forward to pull the motor without pulling the trans. I had to do that to get the donor engine for my buggy out of the 86 S10 4x4 blazer.

[lampy]

Thought about pulling the right side of the axle to get the motor in but there is a hoist and trany jack at the shop I can use. Seems like its always easier to stab the trans into the engine then the other way around. So out comes the trans.

[eggman]

In my case the engine wasnt going back into the truck. It was really easy sliding into the buggy.

[lampy]

more complaining

Was swaping parts on the motor today ran into a few more setbacks. The timing cover is diffrent but got lucky figured I'd end up doing timing chain and sprockets while I had the cover off but the chain was tight (I had changed it just befor I pulled it). The oil pickup tube from the junk motor is 5/8 the oil pump on the new motor is 3/4in. had to order new pick up tube, at least its an upgrade. Found replacments for most of the broken exhaust bolts I needed in my parts stash, hoping the spare manifolds I have match up so I dont have to pull the broken bolts out of the others. Picking up a clutch pack, starter and tune up parts for next week, hope to have it in and running next weekend. WTF were they thinking with the starter, hope I remember to drop it in befor I put the exhaust manifold on. Had to get one more gripe in.

[lampy]

Well its next weekend,got the Blazer on the hoist, trany out. Noticed the tailpipe was shot, no big deal the cat was going away any way I'll just bend up a new tailpipe while I'm at it. Was ceaning up the fly wheel I noticed it had the wieght cast in the back side....Crap.... well now I know why the crank was broke in the motor I pulled, internal balanced motor + external balance fly wheel = broken crank. Might have found a flywheel from a friend if not there goes another $100.

[lampy]

The broken crank wasn't caused by the fly wheel, the motor was actualy an ext. balance motor. I was assuming it was internal balance because of the one piece rear main seal. Checked the crank then reread the family tree found out I was wrong. I've heard the early 2.8 with the smaller crank was prone to breaking cranks, is this true of the larger cranks that were externaly balanced also?

[geoffinbc]

Yes early cranks were prone to bearing problems. But internal or external balance should not matter. But keep in mind any crank can break if the oil supply fails and it welds itself to the bearings.

[Canyonero]

I had a 2.8L from a Trooper with a broken crank. But I'm guessing that's because the previous mechanic used the wrong pilot bushing then forced the input shaft into it. The pilot bushing was mushrooming out of the crank. Brilliant. Also bad because it was a fresh rebuild, the inside of that engine was prefect when I pulled the intake off before I took it to the salvage yard to get core credit on a 3.4L. Wish I would have ate the core charge and kept the engine then slapped a 3.4L crank into it. Everything else was fresh.

[geoffinbc]

Yea I could have sold you the crank cheap too

[Canyonero]

I have a 3.4L crank already too! I still have a 2.8L around, so I can stroke one when the time comes. That one was just so fresh.

[lampy]

Blazer up date, It's Alive! fired it up today a little loud with nothing but a Y pipe but IT RUNS and everything looks good no leaks good oil pressure. Going to get exhausted next weekend.