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Replace an 88 Blazer engine with a 76 Blazer 350...

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digitalepiphany

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How difficult would this be to do? I'm sure it's not a straight drop-in, but I'm still crossing my fingers. I believe the 88 is fuel injected, while the 76 350 is carburated. So, what would be involved in that? Could I use the wiring harness from the 76, or would I need to adapt the 88 wiring harness?

I'm sure there are other things I haven't even considered, that's why I'm here.

The reason I'm looking into this is because my transmission went out in my 76 and it's a rust bucket. I found an 88 on CL with a blown head for $1k. I'm sure I can talk that down a bit. It's super clean on the inside (unlike mine), and has minimal rust from what I can tell from the pics. Regardless, it's definitely going to be less rust than mine. So, I figured for roughly the same price as replacing the transmission in my 76, I can just get a better rig and use my old engine.

BTW, I live in Texas if that matters for the swap. Thanks.
 
The wonder of gm.....everything will fit. Will have to do some mixing and matching of parts but it will all bolt up. I'd recommend you buy a billet version of this http://www.jegs.com/p/JEGS/JEGS-Billet-Fuel-Pump-Block-Off-Plates/750986/10002/-1 billet aluminum is much better than chrome plated steel and should add 1.732 times the power of an non bling plate:pimp:

Only thing I'm fuzzy on is valvecover set up. :dunno: sure u can fenagle bit honestly can't remember what the 88 has for holes in the valve cover? :dunno: I'm just getting back into working on Older stuff and my memory sucks haha
 
I still haven't checked to see whether my 76 has a TH350 or TH400, but I'm pretty sure that the 88 has a 700R4. Will there be any problem matching them up? Will an adapter plate be needed? Given my description above, would you say that I'd be better off going this direction rather than replacing the transmission on my 76?

Also, do you know what else I'll need to do as far as me swapping a carburated engine into a fuel-injected truck, other than the fuel pump block-off plate? I followed the link, and there are 2 categories. Do you know what the difference is between BB-Chevy and SB-Chevy?

Thanks for the help.
 
You will get all the fuel injected parts u need from the new truck. You will need to swap the intake manifold and distributor. Fuzzy on water pump. Chevy is great about all the motors will bolt to all thier transmissions. You could put a big block in there and it would be an easy swap :pimp:

You should have a 350 in your 76. A 350 pan is square with a corner missing and a 400 looks like Texas. 400 also has an electric kickdown, 350 cable

Buy the 88 and put a set of heads on it and put a trans in your truck :D

Actually $ wise if you do the R&R of the trans most shops won't clip you too bad on a rebuild. Figure out why the race car or off road guys use in the area. Or putting a set of heads on the newer blazer. Selling your blazer with just a bad trans would go over better than no motor or trans.
 
If you do the swap, you may not be able to register it due to missing emissions parts for the 88.
 
If I were doing that swap I wouldnt swap out the fi for carb. I'd keep the fi without a doubt. Actually removing the fi would be more work and you would lose some nice benefit of the tbi. If you just like carbs though I wouldnt hack anything. You could prob sell the tbi set up if it's complete. Lots of guys are swapping their carbs for tbi
 
I'm not stuck on the carb. I just wasn't sure if it'd be easy to switch the fi to the older engine. I was thinking about doing this myself, but I have absolutely NO experience working on cars. How much do you think it'd cost to replace the head on the 88?

Also, regarding registering the 88: it's 25 years old, so isn't it exempt from all the emissions crapola?
 
Well we all had to start somewere :D for doing this swap you will need a few specialty tools(like a chery picker) a selectiOn of regular hand tools, and I'd also recommend a friend or 2 to lend a hand for at least part of it.

For a trans R&R it would be the same advice.

For head R&R really can get by easy with 1 person. You are going by what someone is saying bout the motor though. They may be lying or just missdiagnosis. Could be something really cheap/easy or there could be something really jacked up:dunno: I would try to diagnosis before you buy it and throw a head at it. Or at least buy on a gamble and diagnosis before you just throw a head at it. Could be cracked block, could be head, could be a intake manifold leak. Hell, could be a bad fuel pump and the guy is just stupid and thinks the motor is gone. Don't laugh, dad bought a truck for cheap that way :haha:

If I were you I'd buy a Hayes or chiltons manual and read it. Be good reference for other tasks too. It should give you an idea on if you think you want to tackle any Of these projects. There may be some online write ups for motor and trans R&R too that would give you an idea.

How do you know your trans is trashed? Symptoms? It may be something simple. Might start another thread?
 
The forward gears won't engage. It'll go in reverse under its own power, but giving it gas does nothing for it.

It's true that I don't know if this guy's telling the truth about the engine. That's why I was thinking of swapping in mine. It runs like a champ.
 
digitalepiphany said:
I'm not stuck on the carb. I just wasn't sure if it'd be easy to switch the fi to the older engine. I was thinking about doing this myself, but I have absolutely NO experience working on cars. How much do you think it'd cost to replace the head on the 88?

Also, regarding registering the 88: it's 25 years old, so isn't it exempt from all the emissions crapola?
Click to expand...
Replacing heads is easy. It's all just a bunch of bolts. Buy a manual from your local car parts store (or Amazon) and follow the directions. This is one of the easiest projects you can do.

Emissions vary, you would need to check with your local DMV to be sure. Where I live I still need a smog check every year. Besides, the FI engine will likely get double the MPG and is often far more reliable in the long run. Easier to start when it's cold, no vapor lock issues, stuff like that.
 
I have a manual, so that's not a problem. The only problem is like ratlover said, if it's more than what the guy's saying, it could be more trouble than it's worth. That's why I was thinking of just dropping my engine in. But, if it's relatively cheap to do the heads, then I'll probably try that first.

If course, I still need to buy his truck first.
 
Personally, I have found it to be 10 times easier to do heads than swap an engine. Everything goes back into place, etc., with the heads. New engine means a lot of stuff taken apart, which is a lot more work ... But that's just me.
 
Well, what exactly is going on? We can probably help you fix it before you even take it apart! :D
 
I haven't bought the 88 yet. Right now, I have a 76 that has a bad transmission. I found the 88 on CL and thought it'd be cheaper to buy that one and fix or replace the engine since I at least have a good engine in the 76. The owner of the 88 says that it has a blown head gasket, and nothing else is wrong with it. Of course, without being able to start it, I have no way to verify that that's the only thing wrong with it.
 
A truck with a blown head gasket should start and run, but not for long. If he won't start it, something else is probably wrong.
 
Actually, I met a mechanic at the local watering hole. He's going to take me out there Saturday morning, and all he wants is gas money. He said that he'll be able to tell me if it's just the heads or not. He also said that he'd haggle the dude down as well. He said that parts would cost about $100 and he'd do the work for $350. Does that sound about right?
 
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