Well it started as i found it in the Washington state bush lol no craiglist. Guy sold it to me for 1000 but didn't realize it had 800 worth of parts in the bed. he told me to trash for him. so the truck was dead. i put a stroked out 22r into it and ran around on 33" tires at first. then my dad sold me the 35" BFG Km2 which are amazing. he made a father son deal that was kinda i couldn't not buy them or be a little slow in the head for the price. So 4" rough country indepent lift. Then i moved bases and with no gears took a 8hr drive to the next base into a 12hr drive. So on the look for gears i found a killer deal on front solid axle with High steer and limted slip detroit locker and rear gears and asui looker. The gear are 5.29. So i had a fab buddy in Idaho do the work and cut away the old set up and move my rear springs forward to the front and move the front axle position forward 3" and put 63" Chevy rear springs in the back. A total lift of 5" with leaf springs and 7" shackles. trail gear front and rear bumpers and 8000 pound winch. Which i never got stuck in my truck now has a blowen the 22r. I blow it up 1 mile past wal mart on the road going to pull a jeep out i mean a buddy lol.
old blue pics of it and the new camo paint job in the pic shows i need bigger than 35 because bump stops crushed no wheels in wheel wells so looking for 38.

So i am looking to do a cheap motor swap since i deployed and making money. Now.. My dad is doing it for me.
I am looking for good mpg and power. If you done one of these swaps i want to know the mpg your getting and how the power was.
I trying to hayl a 16" boat with out the 22r holding me back at 20 mph up a hill. my boat is heavy!!
My dad wants the swap the easer the better for wiring. If wiring option of one of the wired motor is the best thats the way to go then i will.
option of motors
302 carb motor
350 carb motor
5.0 Ford
5.3 Chevy
4.3 Tbi
4.3 Vortec

 

i swapped in a 92 cpi 4.3 vortech chevy v6 in my 884runner i spent 1700 on my swap 1200 for the s10 blazer and 500 for the adapter to keep my yota tranny might be the way to go for you

 

okay got crazy idea would the 4BT be the true way to go?

 

will my axle hold up?

 

if you go 4.3 your axles will be fine

 

4bt how will that fit and what transmission do i need

 

Okay just going to fuel inject my 22r to a 22re how hards wireing and is it worth it?

 

wiring is not bad but at most you'll have 90hp vs a 4.3 which has 195hp

 

ill be the first to say a 4bt would be sweet in this truck, but pretty tough to do depending on how your dad did it, there only fourm member on here that has done it, a 4.3 would be the most cost effective bang or your buck choice, good reliable motor, reuse your tranny so no real welding other then motor mounts, and wiring is , go 4.3, youll thank youself

 

4BT would be neat, but it's expensive, and will be hell on the frame and your front axle will start smiling at you pretty quickly, they are HEAVY.

The 4.3, especially a TBI one is an easy swap and easier to package than a V8