88 to 96 engine swap

Biofloc · 03-10-2008, 01:13 PM

I just bought a 88 with 12 inches of lift for cheap. I need to put a motor trans and tcase in it though. I do heve the tcase. I know someone I can get a 96 from that is smashed but it does still run and the drivetrain is all good. I am only building the 88 to resell but I was wondering how hard the motor and trans swap would be. The 96 is complete with the 5.7 and 4L60 wiring harness and any other parts I would need Any ideas on this would be great.
I do have a 350 that is good but I was hoping to save it for another build.

mrjohnwayne · 03-10-2008, 02:22 PM

motor and tranny will bolt right in. the wiring / computer will be the hardest part.

Biofloc · 03-10-2008, 06:51 PM

Im not worried about the bolt in side its just the electrical any idea on how to make this work with the least amount of difficulty. Will I need to run the whole wiring harness out of the 96 or will this just require the computer, and the motor and trans wiring. I was told this was a three piece harness but I havent been able to find any information on it.

Sneakysportsman · 03-12-2008, 06:55 PM

You need to get a wire schematic, STUDY IT! Understand what wires you will need, 96 and up engines are a total new breed of engine. Sensors, sensors,and more sensors that all feed info to the ECM.
Example- Lose oil pressure- computer shut off fuel, You will have to adapt a mechanical fitting to the block to get guage to work in dash.
All the guages go thru the ECM before they go to the Dash.
BUT it can be done w/time and patience.
One more thing, fuel pump isn't big enough.
The best, fastest, and biggest bang for the buck is to ditch the electronics, keep the vortec block and get an Edelbrock Air-Gap intake for a Vortec and go as mechanical as possible.
See the small pic to the left? It's a Vortec in a 95 W/TBI. Air Gap intake with a 750 TB and a Square bore to TBI adapter. Have any ? just ask. I have put a carbed engine into a 91 Chevy before and had good success.

436'd skylark · 03-13-2008, 06:23 PM

ok, Its probably not cost effective. while its a SBC still, its a vortec motor, whole lotta difference. not a job for a novice. if you have the whole motor, tranny and harness, it can be done. one of the major differences is the fuel system. the 88 requires 12 psi, where the vortec will need 55-60 psi. which means you'll need a vortec fuel module, and the corresponding tank. plus you'll need to fab up some new fuel lines that will go from the plastic sender to the steel lines. the module alone is about 400, plus the tank and stuff your at a lot of cash if your just trying to resell it.

even worse, the 96 will not accept the 88s TBI.

my advice is to find a conventional SBC for cheap and throw it in. It would be a real pain to swap everything, and a real headache to fix down the road.

Sneakysportsman · 03-14-2008, 03:12 PM

He could use a GM perf. Part TBI to vortec Intake. Then the motor will work just as well.

436'd skylark · 03-14-2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sneakysportsman

He could use a GM perf. Part TBI to vortec Intake. Then the motor will work just as well.

yeah I didn't think of that. only problem is the GM performance stuff is priced pretty high. maybe an ebay deal or something like that would be cool

Sneakysportsman · 03-14-2008, 11:51 PM

I sold one on ebay for 260 but I bought it for 210.

03-10-2008, 01:13 PM	#1
Biofloc Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2	88 to 96 engine swap I just bought a 88 with 12 inches of lift for cheap. I need to put a motor trans and tcase in it though. I do heve the tcase. I know someone I can get a 96 from that is smashed but it does still run and the drivetrain is all good. I am only building the 88 to resell but I was wondering how hard the motor and trans swap would be. The 96 is complete with the 5.7 and 4L60 wiring harness and any other parts I would need Any ideas on this would be great. I do have a 350 that is good but I was hoping to save it for another build.

03-10-2008, 02:22 PM	#2
mrjohnwayne Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 3,220	motor and tranny will bolt right in. the wiring / computer will be the hardest part. __________________ John Wayne 2000 F-350 7.3L Powerstroke 4x4

03-13-2008, 06:23 PM	#5
436'd skylark Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Buffalo Ny Posts: 620	ok, Its probably not cost effective. while its a SBC still, its a vortec motor, whole lotta difference. not a job for a novice. if you have the whole motor, tranny and harness, it can be done. one of the major differences is the fuel system. the 88 requires 12 psi, where the vortec will need 55-60 psi. which means you'll need a vortec fuel module, and the corresponding tank. plus you'll need to fab up some new fuel lines that will go from the plastic sender to the steel lines. the module alone is about 400, plus the tank and stuff your at a lot of cash if your just trying to resell it. even worse, the 96 will not accept the 88s TBI. my advice is to find a conventional SBC for cheap and throw it in. It would be a real pain to swap everything, and a real headache to fix down the road. __________________ Joe 89 K2500 Chevy, Wee-Oh-five 285K miles, completly rebuilt needs a motor, bad 1962 IHC Scout All Wheel Drive (Scout speak for locking axles) 152 ci, dana everything else

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03-10-2008, 06:51 PM	#3
Biofloc Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2	Im not worried about the bolt in side its just the electrical any idea on how to make this work with the least amount of difficulty. Will I need to run the whole wiring harness out of the 96 or will this just require the computer, and the motor and trans wiring. I was told this was a three piece harness but I havent been able to find any information on it.

03-12-2008, 06:55 PM	#4
Sneakysportsman Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 233	You need to get a wire schematic, STUDY IT! Understand what wires you will need, 96 and up engines are a total new breed of engine. Sensors, sensors,and more sensors that all feed info to the ECM. Example- Lose oil pressure- computer shut off fuel, You will have to adapt a mechanical fitting to the block to get guage to work in dash. All the guages go thru the ECM before they go to the Dash. BUT it can be done w/time and patience. One more thing, fuel pump isn't big enough. The best, fastest, and biggest bang for the buck is to ditch the electronics, keep the vortec block and get an Edelbrock Air-Gap intake for a Vortec and go as mechanical as possible. See the small pic to the left? It's a Vortec in a 95 W/TBI. Air Gap intake with a 750 TB and a Square bore to TBI adapter. Have any ? just ask. I have put a carbed engine into a 91 Chevy before and had good success.

03-14-2008, 03:12 PM	#6
Sneakysportsman Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 233	He could use a GM perf. Part TBI to vortec Intake. Then the motor will work just as well.

03-14-2008, 11:51 PM	#8
Sneakysportsman Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 233	I sold one on ebay for 260 but I bought it for 210.