Sorry guys i didn't know where to post this. Anyways I've gotten a lot of useful information from here and i would like anyone's help. A couple days ago my 93 s10 blazer threw a rod. luckily i already have another engine for it. My question is that I'm considering swapping in a diesel in the future and im wondering what would be the best one and what would i need to do to do so?

 

I contemplated a cummins 4bt swap for awhile, but then dropped the idea after I calculated how much it would cost from start to finish. You're looking at 15-17k (yes thousands of dollars) for a complete swap not to mention that the weight of the diesel has to be supported by a solid axle up front. The ifs would crap out on you under the weight of a diesel. But if you're committed and have the time and money to do the swap, I'd definitely try the 4bt over anything else. I highly doubt the common rail 6 would fit and the 6.2 and 6.5t are unreliable in my opinion. But I'd say the only diesels that would fit are the 4bt, 6.2, or 6.5t.

 

Honestly I have no idea. What Tibby said is probably a very good opinion & is a stand up person IMO.
Last time I drove a diesel was a friends from work, 2001 Dodge with the Cummings & he upgraded to a Banks turbo, Bully Dog programmer & I honestly forgot/didn't realize I had this behind me & cut a few corners too close & made the boat hop a curb lol.

Gotta love diesel

 

the vw tdi seems to be a pretty good little oil burner. Personally im shopping for 4bts right now so thats also my main pick

 

Well thanks for the replies so far. But could any of you go through the specifics of what it will take. I only have a basic understanding of cars so any help would be nice

 

Well if you get at and swap in the engine you've got (assuming you do/participate in the work) it'll give you a little more than a basic understanding of cars and it'll start to give you an idea of what all is involved in changing engines.

I've considered the cummins 4bt myself - but expensive as hell - factory gives around $2500 for a core (one that needs rebuilding) - new they're just nuts - you can buy ALOT of tanks of gas for that kind of money.

Considered the good 'ol VW TDI too - not sure if they'd have enough pick-up and go or not - biggest challenge would be getting it to sit in the engine compartment: Its a FWD and i doubt its got option in the casting for RWD mounting. That said if i ever see one out of a car I'm still going to take a good hard look at it and see if i can think up a way to grab it and hold it where I would want.

Looking beyond the engine you've got transmission and instrumentation to consider too:
'93 auto tranny's are computer controlled and the tachometer uses spark pulses as input for starters. A manual transmission would simplify things and its not impossible to convert to one.

I'm currently planning an engine swap to something 'non-stock' myself and these are just things that've floated through my head so far - bottom line: NOT a simple thing but if you can work out how; GO FOR IT! (swap in that one you've got first tho - I figure I'll be over a year from planning to install)

 

Any diesel you gonna do is gonna require one off custom mounts. Rwd or fwd building a engine mount is the same process.

Engine swaps are major doings. If you only have basic skills it might be over your head. You might want to stick to a simple small block chevy swap that you can buy all the parts premade.