96 S10 getting a 350

[Clarkjs21]

Ok, I took a bit of time to read through some threads in here and it appears to me that a lot of people dont bother to ask the right questions about this swap, and then in turn get pissy when the community messes with them about that. Not how I go about things but to each their own I guess.

Ok a bit of info about my vehicle. I have a 96 s10 2 wheed drive with a 4.3 auto. Its extended cab with a full size (for a s10) bed. I am on my 2nd engine and due for a third, and have had to replace the entire driveshaft due to a high velocity joint going bad. Yes, my 2 wheel drive has high velocity joints in the rear ...

Im tired of dealing with computer issues and everything else. I just want to put something old in it that is all mechanical with a bit of power. I have a 350 carbuerated I believe to be late 70s and a 400 turbo tranny.

On to my questions and feel free to answer the ones I dont ask but should.

Since I am going with a carb Ive read that my current gauges are all essentially junk is that correct? Are there any other electrical problems Ill come in to? Is there a conversion kit to make this all easier?

Clearance issues. Will the air cleaner clear with the stock s10 hood? Is there enough room for the headers/stock manifolds and the oil pan? Will the firewall need to be cut in order to make this work?

What is the best way to to install the motor mounts for the new engine making sure that the engine is centered?

I know I have a lot more questions but I dont want to ask too many in a single post so Im sure I will have some more later. Im looking to do this swap sometime in the next month or two and I have the majority of the parts (as far as I know) already.

I really appreciate any and all help on this guys.

[stealthsuper]

Ok well I am at the end of my 383 stroker install. All the problems we hit were:
Upper control arm clearance
I dont think the stock hood would clear unless you had a smaller intake and/or spacers under the carb.
Springs (I went with an adjustable shock up front and coilovers rear but still awaiting my ATS Spindles. Those spindles were only 7/8 of a drop and the 2" drop springs should be perfect. Stock springs with stock spindles should be fine. If you need to lower it further just get 1" drop springs.
I went the extra mile with a lot of my mods but if you are in for a simple 350 swap then any site such as Jagsthatrun.com and v8s10.com will have manuals and kits to make it much simpler.
Good luck with your future plans. feel free to check out my project from the beginning and it may help anwswer a few questions.

[Clarkjs21]

Ok, first off ... amazing man ... your truck is beautiful no doubt.

Im not looking to go anywhere close to that custom at this point. Maybe down the road a bit ... who knows.

I just want to put a stock 350 carb'd in my truck ... more power and less problems than Ive had with the 4.3s so far. I really just have a thing for 350s. I dont even own a vehicle with one in it but I have 3 of them on standby ... lol ... one is ready to install and the other two need to be built.

The main reason I asked about hood clearance is because I would really like to be able to keep the truck looking and sounding as stock as possible for now. Kinda just shock the hell out of everyone that knows me and my truck.

Ill def check out those sites though for conversion kits if it will make things easier ... but Im on a much tighter budget than you ... lol ... so who knows if I will get one or just do it myself and hope for the best.

[trusconi]

what about a carbed 4.3?

[Tink]

You should be able to use your factory gauges... the only issue would be the speedo, since I would imagine that 400 has a speedo cable. I think there are converters or adapters to read to your factory speedo.
I'm running factory gauges (from a TBI S10) with my carbed 350/TH350 in my gen 1 - I just have a cable speedo.

[stealthsuper]

Ok, first off ... amazing man ... your truck is beautiful no doubt.

Im not looking to go anywhere close to that custom at this point. Maybe down the road a bit ... who knows.

I just want to put a stock 350 carb'd in my truck ... more power and less problems than Ive had with the 4.3s so far. I really just have a thing for 350s. I dont even own a vehicle with one in it but I have 3 of them on standby ... lol ... one is ready to install and the other two need to be built.

The main reason I asked about hood clearance is because I would really like to be able to keep the truck looking and sounding as stock as possible for now. Kinda just shock the hell out of everyone that knows me and my truck.

Ill def check out those sites though for conversion kits if it will make things easier ... but Im on a much tighter budget than you ... lol ... so who knows if I will get one or just do it myself and hope for the best.

Thanx for the kind words.. The kit i bought was around $600 for headers(short) motor mounts and corvette aluminium radiator. everything went together well.. I just had an issue with the original motor. ( threw a rod) awaiting my 383 to show up week of the 24th. I should be able to drive it the following week. It will be test and tune time and actually be able to see any other problems that arise from this swap. I also have the 93 S10 which I bought with a 350 already installed. They are fun trucks and I will follow your buildup!

[Clarkjs21]

You should be able to use your factory gauges... the only issue would be the speedo, since I would imagine that 400 has a speedo cable. I think there are converters or adapters to read to your factory speedo.
I'm running factory gauges (from a TBI S10) with my carbed 350/TH350 in my gen 1 - I just have a cable speedo.

Do you happen to know a site I might get that conversion kit for my gen 2?


Troy, I figure if Im going to go through the work to get a carb I might as well get more power while Im at it. Besides the fact that I have a 350 with a 400 turbo tranny I was going to put in a 68 chevelle ... well the chevelle turned out to be me just getting screwed over so I decided to put it in my S10.

Josh, the site you linked me too doesnt seem to carry parts for a gen 2 ... I saw mounts for a gen 1 but I dont think that will really help me.

[Clarkjs21]

Ok, I went and took a few pics of my baby how it is now. I almost sold my truck simply because I was getting tired of dealing with it all. My brother suggested I put the 350 I have in it ... and after about 30 seconds consideration it was determined.

[Hammer Head]

What about a big block? Haha. I had an SBC in my 92 blazer & I have since pulled it out & making way w/ a 454. You can go find the thread in V8 swaps under the heading 'Damn Right'. That's my thread..
You'll need to get a different fuel pump to run a carb since the OEM fuel pump in the tank now is going to have too much pressure. You can't really regulate it down to the 9-14psi it needs to be, effectively.
Your gauges will work if you wire them straight in to the cluster... your speedo will not work though unless you can figure out how to make the trans run a signal the cluster can read (I have this problem now w/ the BBC.. therefor I'm going to run a mechanical speedo).
For getting the block centered.. if you already have a V8 in there you can keep using the same V8 conversion mounts. If you need V8 conversion mounts, I have a new set that uses stock 4.3 pads that I purchased about a month ago & will not use. I'd let them go reletively cheap. PM me if interested in those.

[stealthsuper]

Do you happen to know a site I might get that conversion kit for my gen 2?


Troy, I figure if Im going to go through the work to get a carb I might as well get more power while Im at it. Besides the fact that I have a 350 with a 400 turbo tranny I was going to put in a 68 chevelle ... well the chevelle turned out to be me just getting screwed over so I decided to put it in my S10.

Josh, the site you linked me too doesnt seem to carry parts for a gen 2 ... I saw mounts for a gen 1 but I dont think that will really help me.

They should still work.. its all about measure twice then tack the mounts in. In my 1st gen the radiator support was cut up with regular v8 mounts in it.

[Clarkjs21]

They should still work.. its all about measure twice then tack the mounts in. In my 1st gen the radiator support was cut up with regular v8 mounts in it.

True ... I think I might get the mounts from Hammer and save myself a little welding ... I get the feeling Ill have plenty of other stuff to custom fab from looking through your build and hammer's.