Little Help With My Project
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 35
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From: Ontario, Canada
Little Help With My Project So I'm in the process of gathering money and researching for a V8 s10 project. Hoping a few people can help me with some questions I have.
Looking at using a 90-93 S10 and dropping a 350 backed by a 700R4 trans, using the 700R4 as I need an overdrive do to the long drive to school and the fact it'll be a daily driver.
Now, I'm looking to run a carb'd engine so I'm thinking about grabbing the parts from an older full size truck/SUV, any certain year better then another? I'll basically be pirating the engine, trans, wiring, accessories, etc from the truck.
Then all I need is the mounts, rad and electric fans. Now with Headers do I need the swap headers or can I just use some nice long tubes?
Last question is do I need an ECM controller or non-ECM controlled transmission?
Also, for anyone who's done the swap, any tips/pointers/info you can give me would be great.
I want to try and keep it all under $5000 total including the truck plus maybe a few goodies if there's cash left over.
Looking at using a 90-93 S10 and dropping a 350 backed by a 700R4 trans, using the 700R4 as I need an overdrive do to the long drive to school and the fact it'll be a daily driver.
Now, I'm looking to run a carb'd engine so I'm thinking about grabbing the parts from an older full size truck/SUV, any certain year better then another? I'll basically be pirating the engine, trans, wiring, accessories, etc from the truck.
Then all I need is the mounts, rad and electric fans. Now with Headers do I need the swap headers or can I just use some nice long tubes?
Last question is do I need an ECM controller or non-ECM controlled transmission?
Also, for anyone who's done the swap, any tips/pointers/info you can give me would be great.
I want to try and keep it all under $5000 total including the truck plus maybe a few goodies if there's cash left over.
I have a 93 S10 with a 350/700r4. Carbed. I used to run a TBI, but that got old.
For headers you need the swap headers. The long tubes are no good for a daily driver. They have a tube on each side that run in the wheel well, limits your turning radius.
I am using a 4.3 S10 radiator with dual 12" fans, works fine. You can also use a mid-late 80's corvette radiator and mid-late 90's Taurus 3.8 fan.
For the trans you should go with non-computer controlled. All you need then is to wire the lock-up converter. I have mine wired to lock-up automatically in 4th gear.
A good tip would be to start with a 4.3 truck. You can reuse the trans(will need to be strengthened), the radiator, driveshaft, accesories(alt, water pump, p/s, etc). If you wanted to go with a TBI it would be reliable and very easy to swap. You could reuse all the sensors and the throttle body itself, the wiring is the same, just have a chip burned. Just upgrade the throttle body later on after you get the thing runiing. I had a 454 throttle body on mine with edelbrock tbi intake, trick flow heads and a comp 08-305-8 roller cam. It ran 13's regularly(traction limited), and it was my daily driver.
For headers you need the swap headers. The long tubes are no good for a daily driver. They have a tube on each side that run in the wheel well, limits your turning radius.
I am using a 4.3 S10 radiator with dual 12" fans, works fine. You can also use a mid-late 80's corvette radiator and mid-late 90's Taurus 3.8 fan.
For the trans you should go with non-computer controlled. All you need then is to wire the lock-up converter. I have mine wired to lock-up automatically in 4th gear.
A good tip would be to start with a 4.3 truck. You can reuse the trans(will need to be strengthened), the radiator, driveshaft, accesories(alt, water pump, p/s, etc). If you wanted to go with a TBI it would be reliable and very easy to swap. You could reuse all the sensors and the throttle body itself, the wiring is the same, just have a chip burned. Just upgrade the throttle body later on after you get the thing runiing. I had a 454 throttle body on mine with edelbrock tbi intake, trick flow heads and a comp 08-305-8 roller cam. It ran 13's regularly(traction limited), and it was my daily driver.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 35
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From: Ontario, Canada
I really want to use a carb'd motor.
I was looking at the V6 truck but I didn't know you could use so much from it.
Does it use the 700R4 trans? What needs to be beefed up in it?
Thanks for all the info.
I was looking at the V6 truck but I didn't know you could use so much from it.
Does it use the 700R4 trans? What needs to be beefed up in it?
Thanks for all the info.
I used a '84-'86 corvette radiator, purchased from a local parts house for under $100. Hedman headers, and I beleive I used TD mounts. I also started with a 4-cyl truck, and managed to retain the factory 5-spd. Worked fairly well, and the trannys were disposable. I was picking them up for $50 at the local bone yard. On a stock 350, this could be made to work fairly well, as the trannys are internally identical to F-body T5's. I carbed engine will work fine, as this is what I have used in most all of my street toys. If you are interested in details of utilizing a 5-spd, let me know, I would be more than willing to help in any way I can.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Minnesota
Originally Posted by Sandmann120
I used a '84-'86 corvette radiator, purchased from a local parts house for under $100. Hedman headers, and I beleive I used TD mounts. I also started with a 4-cyl truck, and managed to retain the factory 5-spd. Worked fairly well, and the trannys were disposable. I was picking them up for $50 at the local bone yard. On a stock 350, this could be made to work fairly well, as the trannys are internally identical to F-body T5's. I carbed engine will work fine, as this is what I have used in most all of my street toys. If you are interested in details of utilizing a 5-spd, let me know, I would be more than willing to help in any way I can.
I had about 450-475 crank hp going through mine, and they held up fairly well as a street cruiser. But when you put some sticky tires on, all hell breaks loose.I was using an 11" clutch, and the factory hydraulics, and it worked suprisingly well. After I scraped it, I found out about the G-force upgrades available for the T-5s, and I called them about it, and they said that their gears would work. If I was going to do it again, that is how I would do it.
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Take it from somebody in the trans/diff buisness, stay away from the T5. Most S10's did not have the world class version, the regular ones are junk. Even the WC version is marginal past 250-300 hp with traction. Thats the reason they werent available behind 350 TPI motors.
Also, many of the S10 700R4's have fewer clutches in their clutch packs, which lessens their strength. It will hold in a mild V8 application though. I used the NV3500, which is the 5 speed that comes behind the 4.3. It held up great. I ran a Ram HD 12" clutch, and detroyed the clutch at the track, no harm to the trans.
Also, many of the S10 700R4's have fewer clutches in their clutch packs, which lessens their strength. It will hold in a mild V8 application though. I used the NV3500, which is the 5 speed that comes behind the 4.3. It held up great. I ran a Ram HD 12" clutch, and detroyed the clutch at the track, no harm to the trans.
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Teching In
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 35
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From: Ontario, Canada
I'm still thinking about grabbing a cheap full size trans to use in the truck.
I'm guessing the full size trans has more clutches in the clutch packs right?
I'm I do use the s10 trans, what should be built up? Guessing new clutch packs, Stronger Sun Shell and a new, higher stall converter.
I'm guessing the full size trans has more clutches in the clutch packs right?
I'm I do use the s10 trans, what should be built up? Guessing new clutch packs, Stronger Sun Shell and a new, higher stall converter.
I had an 86 S-10 with a ZZ4 crate engine and a 700R4 trans. I used the Trans Dapt engine mounts and the short Headman headers. Because of the raised exhaust ports on the ZZ4 heads the headers came close to the firewall and I had to "clearance" the firewall slightly. I used the stock TBI in-tank fuel pump and used a Holley regulator just to save time. The only thing that was tricky was the exhaust, I ran dual exhaust up the pass. side to keep it away from the fuel tank. I used a 700R4 from a GTA, no particular reason I got the trans for free. It ran great for years, then I got greedy on the spray and broke a bunch of pistons. I used a 94 Z28 radiator and plastic flex fan. I drove it to work everday for a couple of years, then we moved and it was too far to drive to work so I sold it.
One of the guys here at work has a 89 S-10 with a small block. I know he used van acc. brackets and a van TBI computer with the stock 4.3 harness and just lengthened a few wires, he changed the cam a few monthes ago so know it has a Holley carb on it, he also used the stock in-tank TBI fuel pump with a Holley regulator.
One of the guys here at work has a 89 S-10 with a small block. I know he used van acc. brackets and a van TBI computer with the stock 4.3 harness and just lengthened a few wires, he changed the cam a few monthes ago so know it has a Holley carb on it, he also used the stock in-tank TBI fuel pump with a Holley regulator.
Yes, the V6 700R4 have less clutches, and weaker sprags in them. Try and find a V8 700R4. If you're making a good amount of horsepower you'll need to run Red Eagle clutches and the Red Eagle Direct Clutch Power Pack. It adds extra clutches in the direct drum. I ran the sprag out of 98+ 4L60E trans, it's much stronger. I killed the stock one a couple of times. Also if your running a Holley carb you'll need to get the TV cable adapter for the carb linkage. If you don't have the TV cable adjusted correct it will kill the transmission. I'd also suggest getting an aftermarket lock-up kit. It helped a bunch with the gas mileage on mine.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 35
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From: Ontario, Canada
Thanks for the info.
Still need the TV cable with a BG carb?
Also the TBI engine was metioned, was that the engine that came in the late 80s/earily 90s Camaros before the LT1? If it's gonna be an easier swap I may go that route.
Still need the TV cable with a BG carb?
Also the TBI engine was metioned, was that the engine that came in the late 80s/earily 90s Camaros before the LT1? If it's gonna be an easier swap I may go that route.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 35
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From: Ontario, Canada
Sorry that was the TPI, made a mistake.
How easy would it be to use the TBI or TPI engines?
If I do go 5spd (or rather 6spd in this case), I'm guessing the T56 can take a lot of abuse?
How easy would it be to use the TBI or TPI engines?
If I do go 5spd (or rather 6spd in this case), I'm guessing the T56 can take a lot of abuse?
Second -gen S-10 swaps are a little easier, because the frame rails are spaced slightly farther apart. Yes, a T-56 will take considerably more power than a T-5 or even a NV3500. It all depends on your goals, and how much you mind working on your truck. FWIW, I only used the T-5 because at the time, I was pretty young and couldn't afford to do it right. But, things did work just fine, I just went trhough more parts. It can be made to work, but as mentioned, it is NOT recommended. Good luck, V8 S-10s are a blast, I wish I still had mine.
Late first gen and second gen trucks are easier. Anything that has or was available with the 4.3 (89-up I think) is clearanced for width for a V8. The 4.3 is the same width as the V8, just roughly 4" shorter. You can buy the JTR book v8s10.com and check that out. It gives you an idea of what you need to do to get started.
Originally Posted by G2 Racer
Thanks for the info.
Still need the TV cable with a BG carb?
Also the TBI engine was metioned, was that the engine that came in the late 80s/earily 90s Camaros before the LT1? If it's gonna be an easier swap I may go that route.
Still need the TV cable with a BG carb?
Also the TBI engine was metioned, was that the engine that came in the late 80s/earily 90s Camaros before the LT1? If it's gonna be an easier swap I may go that route.
Any carb that will be used with a 700r4 will need a TV cable corrector. It correct the geometry of the cable pull so that your line pressure is correct for your throtle position. They are cheap enough.