3100 into 84' S10 Blazer

[Axelsmancave]

Yeah I had to. The Blazer I got had been sitting for about 8 years in the mountains of NM. There was something living in the engine compartment. Whatever it was didn't chew any wires because I got the blazer started. There has been a ton of stuff that this inhabitant brought into the engine compartment. Nuts, berries, leaves, twigs, fricking cactus spines, and even full pieces of cactus plants. I was told that everything was original and had around 200,000 miles on it. I did a compression test and got that low reading and decided to pull everything. Here's a pic of some of the crap that came out of the engine.

[Axelsmancave]

Latest Update:

It's been too cold lately to do anything, however yesterday was pretty nice. Cross member is off, shifters removed and transfer case is ready to pull. I got new pistons in finally for the 3100 engine. I have a few questions:

-How heavy is the transfer case? How heavy is the transmission? I am going to pull them but was wondering if I can man handle them myself while under the truck.

-I was quoted $85 from an engine machine shop in Albq. for cleaning, magna-flux, cam bearings, and .020 hone. Is that a good price?

Thanks,

Andy

[86FieroSEv6]

trans/transfer assembly is h e a v y! Sometimes if I'm not in a big hurry, I'll separate them. It also gives me an opportunity to check for debris and reseal the pair on assembly. Plus, they are so much easier to handle when doing a solo repair. Machine shops charge by the operation. So, I see four operations for $85. If their quality is good that's a damned fair price in my estimation.

[Axelsmancave]

I pulled the transfer case first and it was very easy to handle thanks for the heads up. We've got some more cold on the way so I stay inside for a while. Should I pull the 4 speed manual trans with bellhousing and all or remove it in pieces since It looks like it bolts together in three pieces. I have never pulled a manual trans before.

[geoffinbc]

I take the trans out of the bell housing. It makes life easier when trying to access the top bolts of the bell housing. I wish my Trooper trans came apart. The bellhousing main case and transfer case is all one unit. It is a complete bear. You need a floor jack, ratchet straps, jack stands and a friend to but that bitch back in.

[pocket-rocket]

Might I suggest this?

http://www.harborfreight.com/450-lb-capacity-transmission-jack-39178.html

450 Lb. Capacity Transmission Jack



And you can find 20% off coupons on the net easy enough. I have one of these jacks and love it. It works for gas tanks too

[Axelsmancave]

Pocket Rocket, that looks like a good deal. I need one of those and an engine hoist (see below).

Project Update

After that nasty week and a half of below zero temperatures here in the desert southwest we are finally back in the 50's. I got the transmission pulled and the engine out!!! I was able to pull the trans pretty easily by removing the four bolts at the bell housing. I then rigged together a crazy set up to pull my engine and I was successful. I scraped a few things up like the hood front lip and the radiator upper support stuff but only a few scratches. I used a come along bolted to the frame above the garage door. I only did this because the engine was only a short block and I guess weighed around 250 pounds. I've got a lot of cleaning to do in the engine compartment due to a crazy mountain squirrel or something. I've got to pull any usable parts off of the old 2.8 and try a little mock up on the new engine.

I know the MG guys put the FWD engines into their cars all the time but what timing cover do they use? I believe I will have to use the 99' oil pan but I know I will need an old school timing cover and water pump. Check out the pics.

[bob442]

i dont know if anyone mentioned this, but could you use the MFPI harness for a MG? someone makes it here, cant remember who....

[Axelsmancave]

I have started to take a long and hard look at all of my engine parts now that I have everything pulled. The above photo shows the old 2.8 compared to a newer oil pan. I think I am beginning to realize why nobody had done this swap before. The 4x4 does not offer lots of extra space for swapping in an engine with a very different oil pan. The 3.1 FWD oil pan is an integral part of the block and I don;t think I will be successful at hacking it up and resealing it again to fit behind the front crossover tube. I still have plenty of parts to be able to perform the 3100 head swap on a RWD 3.1/3.4 block. I will keep you all posted.

[2.8-350TBI]

If you have access to someone who can weld aluminum, im sure you can cut what you need, re-weld and make it fit!

Thats my plan with my current blazer anyways...

[geoffinbc]

I have started to take a long and hard look at all of my engine parts now that I have everything pulled. The above photo shows the old 2.8 compared to a newer oil pan. I think I am beginning to realize why nobody had done this swap before. The 4x4 does not offer lots of extra space for swapping in an engine with a very different oil pan. The 3.1 FWD oil pan is an integral part of the block and I don;t think I will be successful at hacking it up and resealing it again to fit behind the front crossover tube. I still have plenty of parts to be able to perform the 3100 head swap on a RWD 3.1/3.4 block. I will keep you all posted.

Just cut out what you dont need and weld it up. If you cant weld have it all cut, marked and fitted and any welding shop can weld it. Aluminum is easy to weld. Nothing special needs to be done other than making it clean

[Axelsmancave]

I think the height due to the windage tray and main caps is still taller than the stock 2.8 pan towards the front of the pan. I measure about an 1.5" difference which may hit the axle.

[geoffinbc]

You could cut the front of the windage tray off. It really is not going to make a difference at the RPM the engine will see. Plus the sump is still covered from crank windage. Hundreds of engines have a 3/4 or 1/2 length windage tray and most have none.

[Mars]

solid front axle swap and cut the K frame a bit to fit. There's a real easy SFA swap for jimmys/S10, I think a D35 jeep axle is close, I forget the exact details though.

I'll be takling this exact thing once I part out my cavalier and my camaro becomes the primary race car. I want to make a boosted 660 mud racing truck.. haha.