The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop S10 Swap using 350 engine and tranny.HELP

i purchased a 4cylinder 1998 s10 frame to do a 53 swap a roo. i am installing a chevy 350 shortblock.I noticed in conversion parts, that it has headers that discharge to the rear of the engine and and oil pan change. 3 questions. can i use the stock oil pan, can i fabicate motor mounts easily and use the headers i have that discharge down in the middle (shorty) thanks for any advice or information i can have.I know the kits are availabe but im trying to do the most econimical way i can. thanks

Shorty headers will not work, either get stock manifolds that exit at the rear (better anyways), or get headers that exit at the rear. The S-10 swap headers are made to fit for an S-10 body and steering setup, not a '53. Looking at the swap parts isn't the best idea, since your motor and trans may need to be in a different spot for the '53.

There is no need to change the oil pan. I have a 1982 S-10 with a 350 and have never heard of this. The stock oil pan works just fine.

When you're putting the motor on the frame, don't assume that the swap plates to put a 350 in an S-10 will put it in the right place. Measure from wheelwell center to the firewall, then you'll know where the back of your engine needs to be in reference to the centerline of the wheels.

Motor mounts are fairly simple to fabricate, but you do still need the rubber side for it to mount properly. I just installed the 455 Buick in my S-10 frame for my '46 GMC I'm currently building last weekend, and I fabricated my own mounts.

thanks for the wealth of info.

can i put the motor and transmission in and set the cab according? length will not be a problem since i have a stake bed.thanks.

You can put the motor and transmission on the frame first, but you need to place them according to where the cab needs to sit, not the other way around. Ultimately your wheels need to line up correctly in the wheelwell. Your engine placement should be based around this.

If you place your engine correctly, you shouldn't have to modify the firewall and should have lots of room in front as well. The mounts for a 4.3 may work (they bolt to a small block or big block), but you'll have to see if the stock S-10 location for the frame mounts lines up correctly to get the motor in the right place. If you don't place the motor correctly, you'll be out everywhere else.

Sir, I am about to start a frame swap and I could sure use some help/advise.

1984 S10 frame, 1953 3100, 1997 suburban 350 Vortec and trans

I have all the complete vehicles

Is there and easy way to figure where the motor mounts weld to the frame with just a rolling chassis?
thanks ralph

Can I use the mounts out of the Suburban?

The easiest way is to figure out where you want the center of the wheels in the wheelwells. Once you do that, measure from that line straight back to where the firewall is. having the measurement from the firewall to the center of the front tires, you can then locate your engine with a couple inches of space between the back of the engine and where the firewall will be.

On these frame swaps we always have the chassis complete with the engine and transmission mounted and driveshaft in, before we begin to mount the cab.