My 4.3 (CPI) is done with. Bent rods, probably a cracked piston or two, random misfires/knocks. I'm looking at my options to get the Blazer back on the road and trails. A V8 swap would be sweet, but right now I'm just looking for something that will be cheap and easy. That leads me to finding another 4.3 CPI but they seem to be very few and far between and every other one looks like its been to hell and back. I see loads of good TBI donors though, which if I'm going through the trouble of converting from CPI to TBI I might as well do the V8 swap.

So I'm seeking advice from those who have done similar conversions/swaps on what I should do? Spend a few months sourcing a 4.3 CPI or just convert to TBI and a 5.7 V8 (and probably spend months doing it because it's my first engine swap). An older 5.7 would be nice (I think?) because I can generally fix it on the side of the road instead of needing an expensive scan tool. I have an entire donor vehicle (1995 Suburban) lined up for like $200 (bad trans).

I'm not looking to mod the engine. I don't really expect much from it other than it gets me from A to B and back to A reliably.

So....

1. If I go to a TBI V8, I'm in for not only an engine swap, but the ECM, a custom harness, fuel pump, at minimum correct? What else? Radiator support, cooling fans, and maybe clearancing between the firewall?
2. I've seen mixed posts around the internet on whether or not the swap will play nice with my transmission. Half the posts say I'll need to run my stock computer alongside the TBI one to control the trans? I don't really understand this one yet.
3. Go a different route and go from a 4.3 CPI to a 4.3 TBI. Haven't researched this one, but have seen a few posts out there from people claiming they swapped heads and throttle bodies and were up and running. This is my least favorite option, but I'm open to it if it's easiest.

Thanks in advance. In exchange for your time, here's some pictures and a bit about my build:

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1995 Blazer (Grandfather bought it new off the lot). I inherited it and SAS'd it a few years ago. Axles are from an '83 Jeep Wagoneer. AMC 20 rear and D44 front with the dreaded vacuum actuator that I ran a DIY posi-lock to. Works great! Tires are 35" Dick Cepek Extreme Countries and they do great in snow/ice which is my favorite type of wheeling. My front cross-member is a Yukon tow hitch. Spring hangers were DIY with steel plate from HD and inboarded on the frame rails. I run the RS44044 springs up front and stock + a helper leaf in the rear. Didn't have to do any cutting/trimming to fit the tires. Still have the stock t-case with slip yoke (PITA at times). I run the stock rear driveshaft and a two piece double cardan front shaft built by Bill's Englewood Driveshaft (highly recommended!). No sway bars. Stock steering pump, MC and booster. Deleted the ABS. I did swap the rear drums for discs. The stock brakes will lock up the tires. Tracks straight, no death wobble or steering shimmy (idk how I pulled that off lol) and most importantly puts most Jeeps to shame out here in Colorado.

All the work was from YouTube knowledge and DIY'd in my garage. The swap took about 10 months total in mostly 30-60 minute stints in-between kids.


End of winter run earlier this year


Dead of winter run after a snow storm that dropped a couple feet of snow. We were breaking trail on this run (I was the last to go through this water crossing). Have a cool video of me going in/out and throwing up a 30' roost of water.



Another middle of winter run right after a storm. Tweaked my shifter cable while framed out in snow in this pic. Turned the Blazer off for something and thought I was up ****s creek where this pic was taken. Luckily it just didn't shift all the way into park and it started up in neutral.



21" of fresh snow on top of hard-packed snow made for a short run lol. I'm all for getting stuck, just not getting stuck ALL day(s).



Same water crossing from previous pic but headed off trail. A good 2.5' of water. Look for the strap lost my front drive shaft because the slip yoke kept coming off on this run.



Went out alone on this run and purposefully got stuck to test my hitch mounted winch on the rear. It worked beautifully!

 

Nice truck, looked like a good time on the runs... sorry cant help with the swap, but following as I never done a swap to bigger myself and the list would be good to have.