86 S-10 Project
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Teching In
Joined: May 2006
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86 S-10 Project Ok the only reason I wanted to get this truck was for a project. Its a 86 V6 5-speed s-10 with 112K miles on it and it was only $900. I want to do a v8 swap, but really dont know what I wanna put in it. I considered another carb motor, but then I decided that I wanted a FI motor for more reliability. I was wondering if someone could point me in the right direction for the older s-10 v8 conversions, also if anyone has any input on a good motor choice I would love it. I want power, but also tyring to keep the cost down a litte, atleast under 7K
7k is gonna be hard to do with a LS motor and be super fast. It all depends on what you are after. A LT1 can be had for decent cash for a good running motor with tranny and you can get reasonable power out of them. Also there are more parts out there for a SBC swap than a LS swap. If 7k is your outright budget and can't go over that a LS might be challenging but it could be done.
TECH Resident
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore, MD.
I'm not going to give suggestions, because you need to think about what exactly you want / need.
1.) Does YOUR state have emissions requirements? That will greatly affect your available options.
2.) What exactly are your goals? You say you want power, but you want to keep cost down. Well, what are your goals? HP number or 1/4mile time or ??? Your engine options vary greatly depending upon whether you want to make 300hp or 800hp.
3.) Is fuel economy important?
4.) How much of the work can you do? Welding? Fabrication? Wiring / Computer Programming?
Ultimately, a carb'd application will be significantly cheaper. And a SBC based swap will be a bunch easier and cheaper (parts availability is much higher). A carb'd motor will give up some things, but reliability isn't necessarily one of them. Carb's rarely fail when tuned correctly and taken care of. And they'll probably make as much or more power than EFI. But they have great difficulty passing emissions tests and will likely give up some fuel economy (depends upon the tuneup in the carb).
Just a few things to start pondering. Ultimately its your truck, youve got to make the decisions.
'JustDreamin'
1.) Does YOUR state have emissions requirements? That will greatly affect your available options.
2.) What exactly are your goals? You say you want power, but you want to keep cost down. Well, what are your goals? HP number or 1/4mile time or ??? Your engine options vary greatly depending upon whether you want to make 300hp or 800hp.
3.) Is fuel economy important?
4.) How much of the work can you do? Welding? Fabrication? Wiring / Computer Programming?
Ultimately, a carb'd application will be significantly cheaper. And a SBC based swap will be a bunch easier and cheaper (parts availability is much higher). A carb'd motor will give up some things, but reliability isn't necessarily one of them. Carb's rarely fail when tuned correctly and taken care of. And they'll probably make as much or more power than EFI. But they have great difficulty passing emissions tests and will likely give up some fuel economy (depends upon the tuneup in the carb).
Just a few things to start pondering. Ultimately its your truck, youve got to make the decisions.
'JustDreamin'
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2006
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well first of all I do have emissions here, I am in atlanta GA. Secondly, I have some connections around here so I can get the motor (whatever I choose LS1, LT1, LT4, LS6 LS7...ect) I dont want a 1/4 mile truck, I just want a ***** to the wall streetable weekend truck. Also I took a year of welding classes 6 months ago, and my girls brother in law has a mig welder so I can do a lot of that. I also aw pretty good with running wires as long as I have a diagram, as far as computer programming, it all depends what needs to be done. If I have directions, I may be able, if its too hard I am willing to pay.
I was thinking today that for now I might just want ot get something to throw in there for the first year. Something cheap, waht would be the best cheaper v8 motor and tranny swap? and what would all be involved in the swap? I have done honda swaps before so I am not new to swpas, but this is a little different than a honda.
I was thinking today that for now I might just want ot get something to throw in there for the first year. Something cheap, waht would be the best cheaper v8 motor and tranny swap? and what would all be involved in the swap? I have done honda swaps before so I am not new to swpas, but this is a little different than a honda.
is you v-6 a 2.8 or a 4.3 if it is a 4.3 just bolt a gen 1 350 in front of it with a set of conversion mounts and headers and away you go. cheap quik easy. 4.3 and v-8 share the same bellhousing or if it is a 2.8 just swap in a 4.3 bell housing but then you also need to find the accesory drive brackets for the 4.3. hope this helps
TECH Resident
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 841
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From: Baltimore, MD.
If you've got to meet emissions, you need to dig into what the laws (and most importantly the inspections are) for your state / locality.
Here in Maryland, an '86 S10 would end up on the Dynamometer (IM-240 Test protocol). Which means you need to be fairly concerned about emissions, because they're going to test the engine in the full range (accelerating, decel, steady state) not just a fast idle test (which you can tune for fairly easily).
Look into your state's requirements and then you can figure out what you want to do. A SBC will be cheapest and the parts the most readily available, followed by an LT1, followed by the LS1.
Not to discourage you from the LS1, if its what you want go for it. But you're going to spend some fairly serious coin, especially since you've got to upgrade the engine, trans, cooling system, fuel, exhaust, and probably the rearend too (basically the whole drivetrain).
Good luck with the project.
'JustDreamin'
Here in Maryland, an '86 S10 would end up on the Dynamometer (IM-240 Test protocol). Which means you need to be fairly concerned about emissions, because they're going to test the engine in the full range (accelerating, decel, steady state) not just a fast idle test (which you can tune for fairly easily).
Look into your state's requirements and then you can figure out what you want to do. A SBC will be cheapest and the parts the most readily available, followed by an LT1, followed by the LS1.
Not to discourage you from the LS1, if its what you want go for it. But you're going to spend some fairly serious coin, especially since you've got to upgrade the engine, trans, cooling system, fuel, exhaust, and probably the rearend too (basically the whole drivetrain).
Good luck with the project.
'JustDreamin'
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