So far things are pretty much lined up for trying to get a replacement engine for the new knock-knock-joke Blazer over the weekend, and I'm planning on heading out to try and select a donor vehicle from one of the (not nearly as 'nearby' as I'd like...) nearby U-Pull-It lots. Since I'm looking for an engine that ideally can be dropped in and run, I know I want to be looking for a vehicle that is most likely there due to being wrecked vs. the engine giving out.
Beyond that- what will be the simplest and easiest vehicle with a L35 4.3 Vortec in it to pull the engine from? I'm guessing it's NOT 4x4 Blazers like mine since the forward drive hardware makes access a considerable challenge.
Here's the list of vehicles that have the engine (according to Wikipedia):
- 1996-1998 Chevy/GMC C/K trucks
- 1999-2002 Silverado & Sierra trucks
- 1996-2002 Astro & Safari vans
- 1996-2002 Express & Savana vans
- 1996-2002 Blazer & Jimmy
- 1996-2002 S-10 & Sonoma
My guess would be that the full-size trucks would be the easiest simply for having more room- but at the same time, they're both the shortest run of use of the L35 as well as the 4.3 probably not being that popular of an engine choice in them. How do the vans compare when pulling the engine? Are they more difficult or easier? Thanks!
Bring a cordless sawzall with some extra batteries and removing any engine from anything in the yard takes about the same amount of time. Remember, there are no extra points for neatness or not breaking parts you don't need. If you can't get it out in an hour you're doing it wrong.
When I have grabbed parts off of astros in the yard, I was surprised at the amount of room in the commonly tight areas. However, the front accessories have no room, and it doesn't look like the hood is big enough to get the engine out.
2wd s-series are the easiest engine snatch in a junkyard I've ever done. Pull the body mounts, hood, and rear fender bots, sit aside. Cut harness and lines. Undo mounts, flexplate, and trans. Hook up hoist
Abou an hour and a half that way.
The 2wd S-series is listed as putting out at least 10hp less than their 4wd counterparts- is that purely ECM-tuning-based, or are there internal differences between them?
I DO have a cordless sawzall (used it to cut out a G-body floor pan section last weekend), but I also try to not be an ass about destroying things that might be useful to someone else down the line...
Ecm and exhaust diffetrnces.
There is a big difference between the cpi and tbi engines. Cpi has more power. Dunno about converting between the two.
I'm not looking at any of the TBI, just the newer CPI ones- don't need the extra hassle and as you said, the newer ones put out more power and are I believe more efficient.
I want to apologize, as I just now realized that you are working on a late second gen.
most of my experience is first gen. Can't guarantee the seat swap info, or engine pull info. That was all first gen specific.
Again, I apologize for muddying the waters by being stupid.
I feel compelled to add some purely unscientific experience to this question. I can't begin to tell you why, but over the years I've seen what I would describe as three times as many 4.3 liter engine failures in s-trucks/suv's than I have in astro/safaris. Is it a better or even different engine? Idk. Is it just the owners? Idk. But without question, I can not recall the last dead astro I saw (and I look out for those vans more than most people), while a blazer with a loose connecting rod seems to surface once a month.
I would think a fullsize truck would be easier to pull the motor from, but it would also be more likely to be abused hauling heavy stuff.
Dusterbd13 wrote:
I want to apologize, as I just now realized that you are working on a late second gen.
most of my experience is first gen. Can't guarantee the seat swap info, or engine pull info. That was all first gen specific.
Again, I apologize for muddying the waters by being stupid.
No problem- I've gotten plenty turned around on things before myself.
I just have to hope that the bell housing bolts are easier to get to on some of the other vehicles- they're a COMPLETE bitch on the Blazer. 
yamaha
MegaDork
9/10/15 10:21 p.m.
In reply to Ashyukun:
Yea, they do suck. I had to cut/bed a wrench just to get the top ones on mine. The 4x4 engines are x vin and should lack a balance shaft. If you have a w vin 4.3, it has a balance shaft and allegedly better heads. I built a hybrid x/w vin engine and built a monster of a 4.3L a decade ago....
I would try an astro. Easy access from the bottom and doghouse, and you should be able to pull it out the front if you use your saw on the core support.
Why would they delete the balance shaft on the X motor?
yamaha wrote:
In reply to Ashyukun:
Yea, they do suck. I had to cut/bed a wrench just to get the top ones on mine. The 4x4 engines are x vin and should lack a balance shaft. If you have a w vin 4.3, it has a balance shaft and allegedly better heads. I built a hybrid x/w vin engine and built a monster of a 4.3L a decade ago....
The Blazer is a W vin 4.3. I'm not too concerned in this case though with trying to make any more power from the engine than stock since it's just intended as a winter beater and then to be sold in the spring.
And crap. Doing some deeper digging it seems there are still 2 more bolts on the very top that will need to be unbolted. bangs head on desk
Hmmm. Depending on the response I get I may be able to get one both cheaper locally and with a lot less work (already pulled) and just have to pull a replacement head (I could pull one off my existing engine, but am leaning toward keeping it more or less complete...)...
Port and polish heads while off for fuel economy?
Hmmm. So, the potential engine I'm considering instead of pulling one is this: http://lexington.craigslist.org/pts/5216519401.html
From the seller, "My dad forgot to check antifreeze and it froze up".
I'm torn- $100 for the engine is about half what it would cost to get one from a U-Pull-It and a LOT less effort, but I'm also worried that more than just the head would be a problem. It's also not as close as would be ideal (about an hour away). I may wait and see what I find in my exploratory trip out to the u-pull-it this afternoon... if I can find a perfect donor vehicle (wrecked) I may still go with trying to pull it myself...
