alrighty well i have a few questions and im hoping you guys can help. i have a 95 s10 blazer the 4.3 is getting tired but the body is completely rust free so what im considering is an engine swap. now i have come across 2 options one is a vortec 305 out of a 98 1500 and the other is a vortec 350 out of a 96 or 97 1500. now what im wondering is if the sensors and connections are interchangable and will the computer accept the new motor or do i need one specific to those motors? or is the whole thing a lost cause?

 

The computer on a 95 and a 96 is vastly different. 95 used two different CPI setups which ran on an OBDI computer. 96 and up use a different injection setup and run off an OBDII computer. Unfortunately, your 95 model will make it very difficult to do a direct swap. However, if you were to find a v8 of the same year with the same style injection setup, then life would be a little easier.

 

BudRacing is correct, there is not a whole heck of a lot you can do with a 95 short of a complete rewire of the engine controls, grafting in the wiring and PCM from the donor vehicle. A V8 swap is completely do-able, however, the PCM will be a challenge. If you do decide to undertake this task, I would advise you to get a factory service manual for both your current truck and the donor truck. At the very least, an AllDataDIY.com account for both (would be cheaper and still provide you with the wiring schematics and connector pin outs).

 

ok well, i pretty much figured on that, so my next question is i came across a 98 blazer with a bad motor and of course still have the 98 305 available, im assuming this will equal less of a hassle with the wiring and ecm. so how much less of a hassle is it going to be? getting closer to a direct swap?

 

That will be a MUCH easier swap. If I recall correctly all it takes is a splice in for the extra injectors and a computer retune. However, I would source a 350 before I put in a 305 for a fun factor, but if you're going for a cheap solution then that'll be fine. You'll have around the same horsepower out of a 305 with a little more torque than a 4.3.

 

Depends on the injection setup on the 305... I do not remember if that was a SCFI motor or not...

 

I can't find that info on google either. Wikipedia had every engine except the 305, haha. But the engine code is L30.

 

http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forums/.../t-177874.html they say the 305 is CSFI

 

If it is, then that should make things easier. You will need to get the PCM flashed to get the proper programming for the v8 over the v6, but that is the easy part. The difficult part would be wiring and mechanical modifications to fit the v8.

 

just out of curiousity...would the harness out of a wrecked 96 that was CSFI be a direct swap into a 95 and make this swap work. I was wondering this because I bought my 95 in hopes of doing a V8 swap, but didnt do my research before buying it, although I didnt pay much for it. I just don't want to pay the price for a reman 4.3 when it cost the same as a V8.