what all has to be changed and how difficult is it to remove a 2.8 v6 and install a 4.3 in a 1985 s10 blazer

Question

this is a 4x4 chevy s10 blazer with a 2.8 lt v6 and 5 speed transmisson

Answer 1

i own a shop,and everything has to be changed on it,to go to a 4.3,id go to a good 3.1 in it if you could find one it has the same bolt pattern as the 2.8 does,and will run as good as the 4.3 will ,we did this a few times,finding a good 3.1 is sort of hard to do though,and it has to be from a vehicle that was rear wheel drive also,if you go to a 4.3 you have to change everything radiator and all to do this,and the cost just isn't worth it unless you have a good parts vehicle to work with,good luck i hope this helps.

Answer 2

As Dodge man says, the 4.3 and 2.8 are COMPLETELY different engines. The 4.3 is a 90 deg. v closely related to the 350 V8, and the 2.8 is a 60 deg v design. Forget the 4.3 idea unless you're prepared to spend LOTS of $$.

The 4.3 IS a real good eng though. They run 200,000 miles (plus) in those Astro vans all the time, no problem.

Answer 3

You can't economically out engineer a factory design. A 4.3 is a 305 minus the second set of cylinders and related hardware. The 4.3 is not just bigger, it is different with a different emission system. You basically need a whole other 4.3 truck to swap out whole systems into your 2.8. I'd advise you to buy another truck cause what you spend on your conversion will be pricey and not add a dollar of value to your present truck. I'm sorry.

Answer 4

Get from a wrecking yard the trans cross member, radiator and lower motor mounts. As for difficulty, it's a bolt-in!
Michael T. Auto Zone Parts Manager

Answer 5

Probably a pretty simple task. But if the springs in front are older, grab some new ones rated for the weight of the bigger block.

Answer 6

if you have any experience in automotive not very hard at all.the only thing you might have to change is motor mounts i would recommend changing them anyway.