Come on, cyber build with me...

[diesel4me]

Why not just use up whats left of the 2.8 ,if it only has 80K on it,it'll probably last another 40K or more...

A friend of mine was given a similar late 80's S-10 Blazer when a customer decided to buy a newer full sized GM,and he drove that thing everywhere and used it as a "shop truck" to plow,push cars,etc...he did have to do a head gasket on it after he first got it (thats why the guy decided to bail on it)--but it never really gave him any greif the rest of the duration he owned it--he also sold it for 700 bucks 3 years later,and the person is still using it daily..he liked the gas mileage,but wasn't fond of the engine being rather gutless..

While it is cool to get a vehicle and try swapping different things into it,I now take a hard long look at such projects...too often a useable ,though "stock" vehicle ends up being butcherd or cobbed together and made unreliable by doing these types of conversions..not to mention the time and cost involved doing all the work..

 

[COCHEV]

While it is cool to get a vehicle and try swapping different things into it,I now take a hard long look at such projects...too often a useable ,though "stock" vehicle ends up being butcherd or cobbed together and made unreliable by doing these types of conversions..not to mention the time and cost involved doing all the work..

This is pretty much why I havent done any major projects in a long long time.

 

[COCHEV]

Take a look at my build thread... Mines SAS and has a small block with a Nv4500

Nice build.

 

[skunked]

If you can get it here for less than like $500 total, it's still a good first rig for the boy, but that's about it.

This.

 

[paratrooper307]

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stor...Page=90&Ne=1+2+3+13+1147708&searchTerm=3.4+ht

This is the "performance" replacement. Looks like it bolts right in.

If you're honest about letting it be a kid's first car, leave it as is, tune it up, fix what needs fixing. Most young drivers are not fortunate enough for their first ride to be a low-mileage rig in good shape. As for it being gutless, that's precisely what you want for a new driver. Speaking from experience, I managed to get in enough trouble with a little 135 horse Toyota Celica.

 

[COCHEV]

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stor...Page=90&Ne=1+2+3+13+1147708&searchTerm=3.4+ht

This is the "performance" replacement. Looks like it bolts right in.

If you're honest about letting it be a kid's first car, leave it as is, tune it up, fix what needs fixing. Most young drivers are not fortunate enough for their first ride to be a low-mileage rig in good shape. As for it being gutless, that's precisely what you want for a new driver. Speaking from experience, I managed to get in enough trouble with a little 135 horse Toyota Celica.

Yep, my first ride was a 79 chevy luv. made the 2.8 feel like a rocket. lol!

I can't believe they still want so much for the stupid 3.4 more than the crate 350. dumb

 

[COCHEV]

I don't know whats more sad. The fact that the 3.4 is rated at only 160 hp or the fact that so is my original 350 thats still in the burb...

 

[82355]

I had an '87 with a T5 in it. I had a LOT of fun in that piece of ****. Just get it, and leave it alone. He'll still enjoy it, plus it was Grandpa's.

Martin

 

[Deuling]

Just get it, and leave it alone. He'll still enjoy it, plus it was Grandpa's.

Martin

x2

 

[paratrooper307]

Yep, my first ride was a 79 chevy luv. made the 2.8 feel like a rocket. lol!

I can't believe they still want so much for the stupid 3.4 more than the crate 350. dumb

And that's why people use a crate 350 for everything. Probably not much call for wimpy 3.4s and 2.8s for people who have money to spend on a new engine. There are so many SBCs out there that they've paid their amortization costs thousands of times over.

 

[COCHEV]

So now they pretty much make it easy....

http://www.jegs.com/i/Trans-Dapt/969/44061/10002/-1?parentProductId=#moreDetails

 

[y5mgisi]

Easy money!