Will a 350 big block Mount up the same as a 2.8
Asked by Twisteddemon Dec 19, 2018 at 08:08 PM about the 1987 Chevrolet S-10 Extended Cab RWD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
What motor would
Mount up with a 2.8 L
V6 out of a 87 S10
wanting to know would
it be better to change
the engine or change
the head gasket
2 Answers
Only the V6 motors will bolt to that transmission as is. Bolting a 350 to the trans can be done, but you would need a new bellhousing, flywheel/flex plate and the input shaft has different splines/length. In addition the v6 trannys were not as robust as the v8 ones. It wouldn't live long, believe me. The 2.8/3.1/3.4 motors will bolt right on but the larger displacement V6 motors were primarily port injected, while the 2.8 in your truck is throttle body (can't remember 100% on those years)?? You would need to swap the intake and injection setup and the computer or it would never run correctly as well. The least amount of work involved would be to replace the gaskets, use a quality full metal gasket instead of the cheaper GM oem style combination material ones. The oem style gaskets have metal rings around the piston holes, and a semi-metallic filler material for the internal backing. The good replacements are a sheet of metal with holes cut into it.
350 is a small block. They can fit in an S10, you'll be changing the entire drive train though, not just the engine, you'll also be changing suspension, mounts, brakes, wire harness and computers, exhaust, and you won't likely pass a state emissions test if you have those where you live. Lotta work. Replacing the 2.8s head gasket, which could be done with the engine remaining in the truck, would seem like child's play in comparison, lol.