88 Blazer 2.8 performance questions.

[Jbriggs86]

Hi,

I have an 88 blazer with a 2.8l. I have recently found a performance 2.8l out of an 85 blazer. The motor includes holley 390cfm carb, edelbrock 2 peice intake, edelbrock headers with evac cases or something on each tube. GM performance heads, and an edelbrock cam. My question is, Can I rebuild either mine or his block, and use all the parts EXCEPT the intake and carb in order to keep my factory TB intake and electrical.

I see that these parts are listed for 82-85 blazer, and if someone can tell me if these parts are useable on an 88 2.8l you would be lifting alot of stress off my shoulders.

I am buying this motor, including a centerforce clutch and T5 tranny for $600! I think thats atleast a fair deal ifnot a good deal, but i dont want to get myself into a mess trying to make things work.

Any information, specs or advice anybody can offer will be greatly appreciated because the deadline is this weekend (may 30/09).

Thanks for reading!
Justin

*my truck is an 88 s10 blazer, 2.8l, 5spd, 2wd. 2 door with factory sunroof and trailblazer interior(dark grey). The colour is white with 15" z28 wheels and dual exhaust. Id like to keep it like factory by doing up the 2.8 rather than v8 swap! Will post pics soon!

[LeftVentricle]

I think your best bet would be to get the HT 3400 longblock from GM. It's a direct bolt-in, retaining your stock intake, fueling and accessories. Bumps power quite a bit too, up to 160.

[bszopi]

There are no such thing as GM performance heads. There are HO (high output) heads, but basically all engines after 85 or so got them, so you already have the same "performance" heads.

[Jbriggs86]

Thanks guys, ive read a bit on using the 3.4 block from a 94-97* camaro. Obviously a bigger bore/stroke, and ive also heard about using aluminum heads from a 3.4 grand am(newer style).

Thanks for the info on there being no such thing as performance heads for the 2.8l. The guy told me they were? Im going to use this info to talk him down on the price.

Keep the info comming!

Thanks
Justin

[geoffinbc]

If you bought that engine the only thing usable would be the Headers. So I would pass. Unless your interested in parting it out you might make a small profit.

[Jbriggs86]

thanks for the heads up betterthanyou*.. I beleive what your telling me, but could you be more specific why the cam wouldnt work? I was thinking more about it today, and really all I want from him is the cam, headers, and clutch..

There is also a 1990 2.8l TPI from a 90 camaro for sale in my area, with 104k apparantly. Could someone give info on the HP difference? gas mileage difference? would the engine and computer swap be easy? I think it would look awesome to pop the hood and have that nice TPI plenum sittin there.

Would the centerforce clutch that was on his 85 2.8/5 spd work on my 88 5spd?

Im really liking this website and because of it i plan on building a nice 2.8l. The way i look at it, 500-1500 bucks and i got a motor that will last me the next 10 years. Cheaper then buying any newer car!

Thanks,
Justin

[geoffinbc]

Oh I didn't notice the cam. It will work fine in your motor. You either need to make sure every lifter goes back on the lobe it was running on or you need all new lifters.

The clutch should work fine as well.

[no_doz]

dont buy a 2.8 performance motor...if you're going to swap go with a 3.1, 3.4, or 3100/3400-lots more performance & mpg to be found with those depending on how you drive it. as much work as you are going to put into swapping engines why not do it with something that you will be MUCH happier with in the longrun/wont cost that much? you can find whole vehicles with bad trannys that have 3100's, take that out & sell/scrap the body to pay for a new set of head/intake gaskets so you dont have to worry about that crap down the road.