2.5 to 2.8 or 4.3

its me again im wondering how hard it would be to switch an 88 s-10's 2.5 engine to a 2.8 v6 or maybe a 4.3 if possible if you can tell me how hard it is and how much it might cost it would be extremely helpful thanks ahead of time

The 2.8L is one of Chevy's worst motors ever, and I'll never use one in another truck or re-build one again.
I'm told that the 2.5L is lousy too.

Try getting a complete running 4.3L truck around the same year that's been rear ended hard (trucks involved in front end collisions might have internal engine damage)

Then take 1 part out of yours at a time, then that part from the donar truck and transfer it over, 1 piece at a time.

Good Luck, it's a lot of work, but worth it if you have the time and patience

a 3.4l would be an excelent choice also

The 4.3 is the best V-6 Chevy has ever made in my opinion. Very durable and plenty of power!

i would agree 4.3 all the way it will be worth it in every way

Will the 2.5 transmission fit a 2.8 engine or vice versa?

There is a very small chance that I'm wrong, but I would have to say No.
The 2.8L is from the 60degree motor family and they have their own bell housing.

These same transmissions will also fit the 3.1L and the 3.4L engines (both much better motor choices used in Comaro's)

If you really want to use a 2.8L for some reason then I would really sugest that you use the transmission from a 2.8L truck
Then use the 3.1L or 3.4L motor from a comaro

Just say that I have 2 good running 2.8L motors, 1 even recently rebuilt one in my present Blazer and I wouldn't sell them since I just don't trust those motors at all. The bearings just don't last long in them.

Look into these links for insights into this motor.
http://home.earthlink.net/~micfly/matt.htm
http://www.off-road.com/jeep/cherokee/xjtech/engine/28-34swap.html
http://users.spec.net/home/emxjc/
http://s-series.org/module-htmlpages-display-pid-1-print-1.html

There is a very small chance that I'm wrong, but I would have to say No.
The 2.8L is from the 60degree motor family and they have their own bell housing.

These same transmissions will also fit the 3.1L and the 3.4L engines (both much better motor choices used in Comaro's)

If you really want to use a 2.8L for some reason then I would really sugest that you use the transmission from a 2.8L truck
Then use the 3.1L or 3.4L motor from a comaro

Just say that I have 2 good running 2.8L motors, 1 even recently rebuilt one in my present Blazer and I wouldn't sell them since I just don't trust those motors at all. The bearings just don't last long in them.

Look into these links for insights into this motor.
http://home.earthlink.net/~micfly/matt.htm
http://www.off-road.com/jeep/cherokee/xjtech/engine/28-34swap.html
http://users.spec.net/home/emxjc/
http://s-series.org/module-htmlpages-display-pid-1-print-1.html I have done some research and some people say the 2.5 4 tech transmission will fit the 2.8 engine since they are both 60 degree style

Like I said there is a very small chance that the transmissions are the same bell housing. But there is no way that a 2.5L is a 60 degree motor.
60 degree means that the cylinder banks are lined up 60 degrees apart.

The 4.3L has them lined up 90 degrees apart so it can be called a 90 degree motor

And since the 2.5L is an inline engine the 1 bank is lined right up

If you get a parts truck for the swap make sure that it has a good transmission in it, then your set either way.

If it's a standard transmission Advance Adaptors makes a bell housing for a v-6 or V-8 swap, although they don't recomend it due to the transmissions being weak.
http://www.advanceadapters.com/catalog/037.html

The 2.5 Is Far From Lousy. I Have Had 2 Of Them, And They Are Very Tough. Power Is Not Excessive, So, They Are Very Good In The Snow With Just A Little Extra Weight In The Bed. I Put 260 Lbs. Between The Rear Whels, And Wala ! Quite Economical Also. Easier To Work On Than The 4.3,a Lot Less Trouble.

Don't even consider a 2.8L.... 4.3L would be the better way to go. Easiest swap would be to get an engine/tranny combo that way there'd be no worries about compatability...... Or maybe just go bonkers and slip a late model 5.0L (305 cu/in) V8 in the engine bay....lotta info on the swap. The 4.3 is simply 3/4 of a 350 so why not add the missing two cylinders as part of the swap?

Have you looked up any of the GM 2.5L/Iron Duke/Tech 4 info on the web? This engine will never be a hotrod but you can work some magic with it...... believe it or not you can buy some performance parts for this engine...... just a thought.

mike

a 305 would be just as bad as a 2.8, if your going to go 8 cyl do it right and go 350 or 400 sb

Your right, Doug.

How does this sound everyone.

He could drop in a 454. That would really make it something that you don't see every day.
Mate that to a Turbo 400 with a Gear Vendors over / under drive unit (basicly making a six speed auto) and he could out-pull a Viper

i say that because the 5l likes to wear out oil rings and smoke like a bitch

I personally feel that Ford is the only company that mastered the 5.0L

and when it came to the 5.7L you have to give the Crowning Glory to Chevy.

Ford didn't know what type of 351 to make even. 3 to choose from all completely different, what's with that?

I was wondering if i swapped my 2.8 with a 3.4 in my 85 s-10 blazer what the mpg would be around?

I was wondering if i swapped my 2.8 with a 3.4 in my 85 s-10 blazer what the mpg would be around?

What kind of gearbox (auto/5spd); what axle ratio? Fuel injection or using the VariJet carb?

Everything being equal, I would venture you'd get slightly better mileage with the 3.4L..... the engine probably has a more robust low end torque curve than the 2.8 (the 3.4L is what comes standard in most GM mini-vans) and overall would not have to work as hard as the 2.8L....plus it's a new, zero mileage engine (not the 100K plus wheezer you've got now). If you opted to install fuel injection then your mileage, torque and HP will all increase over the stock carb (VariJet) equipped engine. If your state doesn't require emissions, then Weber makes a nice carb to replace the original allowing the engine to breathe better and also allow you to fine tune the mixture.

It's a better motor than the 2.8L, even though they are basicly the same.

I would think that your economy will stay about the same. Possibly even improve a little.

If I keep my Blazer I'll do that swap in a year or 2

Yeah i was thinking about doing the swap this summer, after doing some other stuff i want to do with it.

Suposed to be the cats a*s of mods for the 2.8L S10, unless you want a v8

There is a very small chance that I'm wrong, but I would have to say No.
The 2.8L is from the 60degree motor family and they have their own bell housing.

These same transmissions will also fit the 3.1L and the 3.4L engines (both much better motor choices used in Comaro's)

If you really want to use a 2.8L for some reason then I would really sugest that you use the transmission from a 2.8L truck
Then use the 3.1L or 3.4L motor from a comaro

Just say that I have 2 good running 2.8L motors, 1 even recently rebuilt one in my present Blazer and I wouldn't sell them since I just don't trust those motors at all. The bearings just don't last long in them.

Look into these links for insights into this motor.
http://home.earthlink.net/~micfly/matt.htm
http://www.off-road.com/jeep/cherokee/xjtech/engine/28-34swap.html
http://users.spec.net/home/emxjc/
http://s-series.org/module-htmlpages-display-pid-1-print-1.html

Your right the bearings dont last too long in these motors mine only has 241,000 miles on it and never been touched. 2.5 liter is a great motor if you don't need tons of power they last forever thus the nickname the iron duke, and the fact they are all cast iron.