diesel blazer to small block swap

[robby]

There is a 85 K5 Blazer in the neighborhood for sale with a dead diesel engine. It is real straight and loaded with 700R trans and 3.73 gears. Question is he wants $1,200 how much work is it to do the swap? I have my 79 K20 with a good 400. Is it worth the work?

[sam's 72]

I have done a swap like this on a 2wd 1/2 ton. It was an easy swap, and I would think if that blazer is in good shape that it will be worth it. No big deal at all, that 6.2 diesel, has same bolt pattern as a 350 where the tranny bolts up at, the only thing you are goingto have to make a big change in is the wireing, I had a friend wire my sbc in when I did the swap. I made sure the tanks were mted from haveing diesel in them, I didn't flush them, just mted and filled up with gas.
Sam

[robby]

Sam's72, how about that powersteering and booster deal, did it bolt up to the small block? did you just bypass the wiring? How about the air conditioning? the block looks quite a bit different, did you have to change the motor mounts?

[72 CustomCamper]

You'll also have to change the TV cable going to the trans. I just pulled the diesel that my uncle installed in my 72 and went back to a gas engine...

Chuck

[sam's 72]

As far as the A/C, just find the brackets that fit the small block and mount the compressor on it. When I did this swap, it was an 83 truck, so I was dealing with the long compressor. The small compressor should bolt up to a small block bracket. Yes you use the same brakes. That blazer has a hydro boost on it, that is a good system. the power steering pump bracket off the diesel will not fit the small block, but that is no problem. just take the pump off the diesel bracket and mount it on the small block bracket, it will fit. Yes, the motor mounts are different, just get the mounts for a small block. This is not a hard swap at all to do. Just remember, they also had sbc in that year model blazer, the parts are available. And yes, the TV cable will have to be changed out also, but then again, that is no big deal, when you pull the diesel, pull tranny and all, get all the bracket together, for bolting up power steering pump, A/C, get the TV cable. put every thing together with the engine is on the stand, all the pulleys and everything, belts and all. then bolt the tranny to it, hook up the TV cable, this way your not bending over the truck trying to make sure every thing fits and trying to make sure all the belts are lined up. Then I took the fan and belts back off and installed the sbc. Like I said, the biggest thing for me was the wireing. I don't know alot about automotive wireing at all, I had a friend come over and wire the engine in. While I had the engine out, I got an electric fuel pump and pumped the tanks dry, then filled them with gas, there will be a little diesel left in them but it will not hurt any thing. I would go for it. If you have any other questions let me know. One more thing, the fuel line are a little different, the diesel fuel line, one of them returns back to the tank. Take a look at them, I am not sure what I had to do different with them, but there is a slight change on them too.
Sam

[70cst10]

My dad and I put a 89 350 TPI in an 84 K5 diesel blazer. There was nothing to it. The wiring was the tough part.

[robby]

Thanks, I may do it. Iam between figuring my projects. I may have to trade my 70 C10 for it and I hate to do that. It is the only registered truck I have!