Hello i am new to this. I have a 1997 chevy blazer 4wd 4.3 vortech vin w . It has a knock in the lower end of the engine. I would like to replace the engine with a engine from my 2001 chevy s-10 2wd 4.3 vortech vin w. I am just wondering if there is any difference betwwen the engines . And swaping the motors will work. So far some of the dirrerence i found out is the mounting of the knock sensor. But that is somthing i can modify. But is there anything anyone can think of stopping me from this swap.

 

swapping motors deffinatly can be done. everything bolts in the same.
i know in 93 they had the spider port injection, but that changed, i have seen a 97 jimmy with spiderport injection in it tho. and it was stock. a 4.3 is a 4.3 the motors are the same, its the injection set up and wire plugins that are/can be different. if the both motors look exactly identical then yes 110% it can bedone easy drop in. if the domes on the over head are different. the plugins might be different. pictures help

 

You should be able to use the 2001 motor, but you will have to swap in your lower intake manifold because the '98+ LIMs do not have the drilled/tapped hole for the coolant temp sensor for the PCM. Other than that, nothing else changed in the block/heads/injection until sometime in '02 when they went to the bolt on knock sensor and the MFI spider. Any 96-97 motor will be a direct drop in.

bouts991, the 4.3 motor underwent many changes along the way... There are A LOT of things that are different from the early TBI motors to the CPI motors to the SCFI & MFI motors.

 

The oil pan will have to be changed. I would use the 97 intake and the sensors.
I would also replace the front cover to the metal one while the pan was off. The 4wd pan is deeper so the sump tube will have to be changed also.

 

The timing cover will not need to be changed. A metal cover does not offer any increased reliability over the standard plastic cover.

 

other than leaking when you change the pans out. The factory gasket distorts it and the replacement gasket does not seal. I learned that the wrong way. I wish I would have obeyed GM command that says "replace after removing".

 

I have done a few and never had a leak... Heck, I've even reused the factory gasket on the aluminum pan models.

Besides, are there even metal covers that have provisions for the CKP sensor...?

 

i found a metal somewhere on line for $38. I used the permatex in the corners. I should have used more on the cover itself. With that style of gasket, i was cautious with the silicone from another person warning. Live and learn right?

 

thanks for your all advise, another question i know the knock sensors are mounted in the same spot, however they mount differently. the 2001 is smaller and has a small bolt threw the center to hold it into place and the 1997 uses a big knock sensor and screw directly in. I guess the 2001 engine has to be drilled out and retapped to reuse the 1997 sensor. has anyone ever done that before.

 

Not sure but wouldn't he need the cover of the 97 for the crank position sensor or something or is it the same on the 01?