Q: I have a 1985 S-10 Blazer with a carbureted 2.8L V6, 4WD, and a 4-speed manual transmission. What parts do I need to covert the truck to a small block Chevy? I know some of the parts include motor mounts and exhaust, but what about front springs, radiator, bellhousing, and wiring? Am I missing anything?

A: S-10-based V8 swaps have been popular for years. While you’ll find plenty of websites and forums dedicated to the topic, some of these sites include faulty information from non-professional enthusiasts. That’s why we’d recommend you start your project with Mike Knell’s Chevrolet S-Truck V8 Conversion Manual — the most complete book we’ve seen on S-10 V8 swaps. It has all the information you’ll ever need about doing this type of swap.

Some of the parts you’ll need will be a Hooker header and engine mount kit, Hooker installation kit, and the appropriate motor mounts. You’ll also need to swap out your stock four-speed manual transmission for an automatic transmission like a Turbo 350 or 700R4.

This is another in a series of weekly Q&A Mailbag sessions with Summit Racing‘s tech department, in which there are hundreds more. Click here to see them all.

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