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what is required to swap an s-10 2.8l into an '80? will the bell housing bolt up?

the bellhousings will not bolt up, you would have to take the 2.8 transmission or another chevy trans, probably same bellhousing as a small block chevy. i've heard that the 2.8 engines weren't that great. unless you find a good deal on a 2.8, i'd swap in a 4.3.

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1980 chevy luv 4x4 1.8 liter
1979 luv long bed parts truck
1984 2wd isuzu pup parts truck

"A man who says it can't be done shouldn't interrupt a man doing it."

You'll need to fab some mounts and get a driveshaft made too. A bigger radiator would be a good idea.

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Previous setup: 4.1 Buick V-6/TH 350
Current setup: 400 Small Block Chevy V-8/TH 350
9" ford rear end/short bed/blue
What do Water, Electricity and Humans have in common... They all travel the path of least resistance.

If you can find an old Trooper, you can get the transmission as some of them came with the 2.8 chevy after '89. Grab the engine harness and computer, too. The 3.4L chevy (from Camaros) will bolt up and plug in since they are also 60 degree v6 motors.

Later...

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Kuranosuke
Grampa's Driving:

1990 Luv 4X4 "Family Cab"
with the big 4 banger on 31" Dueller A/Ts

1989 Dodge Raider with some junk...

"Urban Fighter F.P.C" coming soon to a road near you...
got BOOBIES?

To add to Kuransuke's thought, the Trooper trans will have the outputs in the right place for LUV running gear. Should be able to get the drivelines hooked up with minimal fuss compared to other options.

the only reason i want to do this swap is because I already have a good 2.8 out of an '84 s-10 and I found a killer deal on the luv. i already know that the 2.8 will not bolt up the standard chevy bellhousing. i do have a potent 350 but i want to put this truck together as just transportation with decent gas mileage. I already have three fuel-comsuming fullsize trucks and just want a smaller get around pickup. how difficult is it to find a tranny out of a trooper? i know the izuzu rodeos use the same block and bellhousing as well. as far as motor mount, crossmembers, etc. that's not a problem because i do fabrications and offroad suspensions, and have a plethera of fullsize chevy parts at my disposal.

As far as I know, the 2.8 came in GM/Chevy Sonoma/S-10 and the 1st gen. Troopers (89-91). It shouldn't be that hard to find one in a junkyard. On top of that, the Rodeo came with the Chevy 3.1 (same block, different bore) in the '90s. In my humble opinion, look for the ones in the Isuzu trucks if you want 4WD, and the GMs if you want 2WD.

HTH,
-Jon

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Kuranosuke
Grampa's Driving:

1990 Luv 4X4 "Family Cab"
with the big 4 banger on 31" Dueller A/Ts

1989 Dodge Raider with some junk...

"Urban Fighter F.P.C" coming soon to a road near you...
got BOOBIES?