Possibly thinking about a LSx in a S10.. looking for some information

This is where she sits now. It has a 4L60E in it now, I think, but its got the 4 cylinder bellhousing.
I would like a V8. I drive a 2005 Blazer 4x4 every day. Its a 4.3 auto, and it burns about $55 worth of gas every 5 days, just going to school and back. (70kms round trip to go to school and back, per day)
I would like to drop in a V8 however I'm not sure what sort of fuel mileage I'd be getting.
I would like to do a 4.8/5.3/6.0 swap into it. Being such a light truck it should be decent on gas.
However I'd probably go the carbureted route, with a distributor, unless the 6010 MSD box is cheaper.
So heres my questions.
1. How well do the LS motors take to carburetors? I heard that the LS motors are not rebuildable because they have thin cylinder walls, and because they are fuel injected. Fuel injected motors should last longer than carbs because they don't wash the cylinder walls. True or False?
2. What sort of fuel mileage would you get with a stock 4.8/5.3/6.0 with a carburetor ontop, and an automatic trans?
3. Where do you guys seem to get the cheap complete motors? I found a 4.8 with 200,000kms and the guy wanted $2000 for it.
I am not sure what transmission I'd be using. I'm trying to avoid alot of wiring. And I'm also trying to do it on a budget.
Last edited by Gearstix; Dec 25, 2009 at 10:56 PM.
I could really go on about this but in light of this qestion, I would suggest you do a fair bit of reading. Go to s10forum dot com and read through the lsx build threads there. Most if not all your questions will be answered between these two forums.
2) Can't comment on an LS however, i did get 'round 30 HWY with my 383SBC in my first gen 4x4.
3) Whats your location? I noticed you mentioned km's so i am assuming that you are not in the US. If this is the case, that is your issue. My suggestion to you is to start off with a 5.3L as they have better properties later down the road than a 4.8L
Both will work, one is just "better" in some respects than others.
Good luck.
I may just save up my cash and buy either a carbed ls crate, or a rebuilt longblock from gm.
I am a member on S10 forum, I have read through the conversion thread, but I haven't really looked for peoples gas mileage. I know when these motors a fuel injected they get pretty good fuel mileage, as I have another buddy into S-trucks and he urged me to do a LS motor rather than a SBC, if I were to do an engine swap.
Thanks for the help guys.
Depending on where you're located, i may be able to direct you to a reasonable engine.
If a crate engine is what you desire, then so be it. if you are looking for a budget truck engine, there are options. I too am from "Canada" and was able to acquire a low mileage engine from the US for significantly less than any local could compete with.
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I'm just looking for a 5.3 thats in running order that I won't have to rebuild. Doesn't have to be a crate. Truck engine would be find for me.
I wanted to go the carb route because I don't want to do alot of wiring, really.
The truck won't be ran in the winter, only in summer months. I'll have a winter beater.
It seemed that guys on here with carbs were getting pretty decent mileage.. better than my V6 Blazer.
We don't have emissions testing here, just have to keep the exhaust at a resonable level or else you'll be ticketed for a noise violation.
http://www.painlessperformance.com/w...rchField=60217
I could use the V6 trans I have if I could change the tailshaft so its 2wd.
The more I read about LS swaps, the more I wanna do one.
Wiring doesn't seem to be too bad if I get a plug and play harness.
Last edited by Gearstix; Dec 30, 2009 at 08:04 PM.
http://www.painlessperformance.com/w...rchField=60217
I could use the V6 trans I have if I could change the tailshaft so its 2wd.
The more I read about LS swaps, the more I wanna do one.
Wiring doesn't seem to be too bad if I get a plug and play harness.
if u are ready to pay that much might as well go to current performance and get a plug and play for the s10
http://www.currentperformance.com/s10wir.html
call him
good guy
if u are ready to pay that much might as well go to current performance and get a plug and play for the s10
http://www.currentperformance.com/s10wir.html
call him
good guy
I just have to find an engine. I would like to find a decent one for a couple hundred bucks, but looks to me most go for over a thousand here, even some with 200,000kms+ go for $1500, $2000.
and yes, I've heard of car-part.com
I'd recommend sticking with EFI, even if just the stand-alone costs more than an entire carb setup, you'll be thankful way up there in Fort McMurray when the temps start to drop, not to mention you'll want all the help you can get in the fuel efficiency department with a not-entirely-aerodynamic s10... Good luck!!
Hopefully I can get better gas mileage than the V6 Blazer I drive now. I've read something on S10f that a guy had a V6 Sonoma and he sold it cause it burned more gas than his vette. I'm not sure if he was joking but I'm starting to believe it now.
I have found some engines in idaho, washington and montana, I'm going to call about them today and see if any will ship them to me, if not I may see if I can drive down. I think its only a 12 hour drive to montana..
Current Performance harness is $850. I may get it, if it reduces the aggrivation and confusion factor.
What advantages does the Current harness have over ones such as the Painless one above?
Jared has done hundreds of these and does them well.
http://www.s10forum.com/forum/f213/m...nished-418170/
You are right a carb can wash cylinders down. My truck gets 7.2 however it has a 3800 converter with a 4.10. I'm running a 350 trans and a 12 bolt with a spool. I'm taking the Carb off and so I can play with it. If you stay with a small converter like a 2400 or less, maybe a 3.08 gear you'll be fine. I don't know about 30mpg you should get 15 or so. Your truck will not be as heavy as mine so that will help also. If you have any questions send me a pm. I spent from 8 to10,000 I lost count. I think it could be done own a tight budget of 3,000 or so. Maybe a little less.






