Ticked Off Redneck LS Swap
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Joined: Oct 2018
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From: DFW, TX
Ticked Off Redneck LS Swap
Skipping the pleasantries, I just picked up a 1993 S10 Blazer for $800. Took the intake gaskets off just to find out that the engine was caked with gunk to the point that there isn't enough Seafoam in the world that could save it. 286k miles, it lived a good life.
Wanted to get it running so I could get my other car in the shop for timing/AC but now the 4.3's condition means it's time for an LS swap. Plan includes the usual 5.3L/4L60E combo from a junkyard, DBC of course to make it work with my current throttle set up. I'm assuming the '93 4L60E won't communicate properly with the newer 5.3 so time to gamble on a junkyard 4L and hope for the best. Other parts include mounts, headers, LH8 oil pan, blah blah blah.
Now for the main question. Electric fans. I'm running the 4.3L radiator to cool the 5.3L, and using a Derale stacked plate aux. cooler for the 4L60E. When the radiator's out, I'm checking it for any debris and flushing it out. If it can't be saved, then I'll get a new radiator.
I know there's a mountain of info out there on E-Fans for V8 S10's, but a lot of these older forum posts have outdated info by 8-10 years or can't be accessed due to a website outage/shutdown. So let's put together a new thread for any other angry rednecks looking for swap advice.
For Beginners:
- Use of the 4.3L radiator seems to be common, although Corvette radiators are also another common swap for builds like this. Probably other OEM options, definitely other off-the-shelf options. Depends on your overall needs I suppose.
- I wouldn't use the built-in transmission cooler on the radiator however, but I'm also not a huge fan of the 4L60E to begin with and have about as much trust in it that I do those get rich quick scams or magic weight loss pills. So take my skepticism with a grain of salt.
- Seems like no matter which way you go for the radiator itself, you'll have to recess it into the core support to make everything fit. IIRC, this causes issues with A/C condenser fitment and possibly the hood latch as well. I'm taking my condenser out because I've dealt with enough Texas summers without A/C to fully give a damn about making it all work. I'll probably revisit this decision later down the road.
The Options:
2000's Era Dodge Intrepid 3.5L Fans - Seems to be the gold standard for swaps, but I've heard mixed reviews on power draw. Relatively easy feat to install them onto a 4.3L Radiator according to older articles. Anyone that wants to give advice on this, feel free to chime in. Average Cost: $100 new/cheaper used from junkyard/eBay
RockAuto link here.
1998-2002 Camaro/Firebird 5.7L Fans - Another common swap, although if I recall there's a little labor involved in getting them to fit the 4.3L radiator. Again, feel free to chime in with any advice. Average Cost: $140 new/probably rare in junkyards lol
RockAuto link here.
Flex-A-Lite/Other Universal Fans - Always an option, but I don't have any readily available info on use of these units. Seems like a lot of people have had success with them however, might even be able to score a Radiator/Fan/Shroud combo if you look hard enough. Average Cost: Varies, name brand ones can start at $200. Off-Brand is cheaper, but you're taking a risk with them. Keep a fire extinguisher handy if you go Off-Brand.
No links here, just google "Universal E-Fan" and you should find what you're looking for.
Other Discussed Options:
- I've heard of people using some sort of BMW/German engineering fan setup for their swaps. Maybe it was Volvo, couldn't tell you for sure. I do remember discussion being had that this fan setup draws less power than the Intrepid/Stratus fan setup supposedly. If you got info, post it up.
- I'm sure there's a lot of junkyard radiator fan options out there that can be made to work with a V8 S10, it seems like electric fans got pretty common sometime after the late 90's/early 2000's. If you got any advice on other vehicles that would work, post them up here.
Consider this thread a "catch-all" for further V8 swap Radiator/E-Fan information, if you got links to some older dated info or have your own experience here please post it up. Let's get a nice little info thread going on this to help out the newcomers to the swap world.
Wanted to get it running so I could get my other car in the shop for timing/AC but now the 4.3's condition means it's time for an LS swap. Plan includes the usual 5.3L/4L60E combo from a junkyard, DBC of course to make it work with my current throttle set up. I'm assuming the '93 4L60E won't communicate properly with the newer 5.3 so time to gamble on a junkyard 4L and hope for the best. Other parts include mounts, headers, LH8 oil pan, blah blah blah.
Now for the main question. Electric fans. I'm running the 4.3L radiator to cool the 5.3L, and using a Derale stacked plate aux. cooler for the 4L60E. When the radiator's out, I'm checking it for any debris and flushing it out. If it can't be saved, then I'll get a new radiator.
I know there's a mountain of info out there on E-Fans for V8 S10's, but a lot of these older forum posts have outdated info by 8-10 years or can't be accessed due to a website outage/shutdown. So let's put together a new thread for any other angry rednecks looking for swap advice.
For Beginners:
- Use of the 4.3L radiator seems to be common, although Corvette radiators are also another common swap for builds like this. Probably other OEM options, definitely other off-the-shelf options. Depends on your overall needs I suppose.
- I wouldn't use the built-in transmission cooler on the radiator however, but I'm also not a huge fan of the 4L60E to begin with and have about as much trust in it that I do those get rich quick scams or magic weight loss pills. So take my skepticism with a grain of salt.
- Seems like no matter which way you go for the radiator itself, you'll have to recess it into the core support to make everything fit. IIRC, this causes issues with A/C condenser fitment and possibly the hood latch as well. I'm taking my condenser out because I've dealt with enough Texas summers without A/C to fully give a damn about making it all work. I'll probably revisit this decision later down the road.
The Options:
2000's Era Dodge Intrepid 3.5L Fans - Seems to be the gold standard for swaps, but I've heard mixed reviews on power draw. Relatively easy feat to install them onto a 4.3L Radiator according to older articles. Anyone that wants to give advice on this, feel free to chime in. Average Cost: $100 new/cheaper used from junkyard/eBay
RockAuto link here.
1998-2002 Camaro/Firebird 5.7L Fans - Another common swap, although if I recall there's a little labor involved in getting them to fit the 4.3L radiator. Again, feel free to chime in with any advice. Average Cost: $140 new/probably rare in junkyards lol
RockAuto link here.
Flex-A-Lite/Other Universal Fans - Always an option, but I don't have any readily available info on use of these units. Seems like a lot of people have had success with them however, might even be able to score a Radiator/Fan/Shroud combo if you look hard enough. Average Cost: Varies, name brand ones can start at $200. Off-Brand is cheaper, but you're taking a risk with them. Keep a fire extinguisher handy if you go Off-Brand.
No links here, just google "Universal E-Fan" and you should find what you're looking for.
Other Discussed Options:
- I've heard of people using some sort of BMW/German engineering fan setup for their swaps. Maybe it was Volvo, couldn't tell you for sure. I do remember discussion being had that this fan setup draws less power than the Intrepid/Stratus fan setup supposedly. If you got info, post it up.
- I'm sure there's a lot of junkyard radiator fan options out there that can be made to work with a V8 S10, it seems like electric fans got pretty common sometime after the late 90's/early 2000's. If you got any advice on other vehicles that would work, post them up here.
Consider this thread a "catch-all" for further V8 swap Radiator/E-Fan information, if you got links to some older dated info or have your own experience here please post it up. Let's get a nice little info thread going on this to help out the newcomers to the swap world.
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JunkManBlazer
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