S-10 2.2 Engine Swap?

[jrclaborn]

Has anyone tried transplanting an entire 2.2 liter + 5 speed transmission from a late '90s S-10? Seems like it would fit nicely. The vortec injection was about 140hp+/- in stock form. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[blancojp]

Originally Posted by jrclaborn Has anyone tried transplanting an entire 2.2 liter + 5 speed transmission from a late '90s S-10? Seems like it would fit nicely. The vortec injection was about 140hp+/- in stock form. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

It fits nicely in the GT however the shifter would have to be modified since it is about 6 inches further back. You don't even have to modify the engine cradle, just replace the motor mounts with '55 chevy units and you are good to go.

[jrclaborn]

Thanks for the info. It seems like it would be a great(cheaper) alternative to buying & installing a getrag and an opel fuel injection engine setup. Don't know what kind of performance you can get out of the chevy 2.2.

[oldopelguy]

Check the vintage of transmission you are using for the shifter position too, 98-'04 S10s had the shifter 6" or so back from the previous years, so with the 2.2 you might be able to use the earlier trans and not have any issues at all. Bolt pattern is the same as the old 2.8L v-6, the only issue is the starter being on the driver's side on the 2.2 as opposed to the passenger's side on most of the 2.8s. There are work-arounds for that as well, up to and including Jeep and Toyota trans options, but those aren't worth getting into at this point.

As to performance stuff, the cavalier used the same motor for a while, and thy had everything up to and including turbo kits available for the motor. Though in the GT there is plenty of room, you might also consider swapping the front drive accessories off one of those FWD motors to drop about 4" in length off the motor as well.

[jrclaborn]

How would you get around not having a mechanical speedo cable? You can pick these trucks up on the cheap, but is it really cheaper than buying a european bolt-in fuel injection motor & transmission? Has anyone already done this entire transplant? I don't want to reinvent the wheel every step of the way. Thanks for all of the good answers so far.

[blancojp]

Originally Posted by jrclaborn How would you get around not having a mechanical speedo cable? You can pick these trucks up on the cheap, but is it really cheaper than buying a european bolt-in fuel injection motor & transmission? Has anyone already done this entire transplant? I don't want to reinvent the wheel every step of the way. Thanks for all of the good answers so far.

I have done it twice and might do it a third time for a certain blue GT.
I would not worry about the Speedometer, there is an adapter that you can buy from Summit racing to take care of this problem.

If you are unsure of the work, perhaps you should try something a bit less complicated. After all, you will have to modify the motor mounts, transmission mounts, drive shaft, upgrade the electrical system, upgrade the fuel system, upgrade the brakes and rebuild the torque tube area with poly and a heavy dutty bearing.

I build hot rods so that type of work to me is routine.

Got to go, I am going to hit some of that warm beer and sausage they have here.

[gtnut70]

hi, i'm new to the forum, stuck in afghanistan for a few more months and lamenting over sound choices for a gm engine swap.
this is my 1st post.
i saw the 2.2 s10 swap post and was interested in whether or not there was anyone who could help me find additional posts, possibly even a build link to an s10, 2.2-4 cylinder swap.
i found this one by scouring the engine swap forum (20 pages).
is there a better way to search? possibly a different forum
thank you and regards, loren.

[gtnut70]

hi juan, were you saying that you had completed a 2.2lL s-10 eng swap into a gt?
if so, do you have any build pics?
i plan on using a 1997 2.2L and 5 spd.

my 1.9 is still running but i am just not familliar at all with it or the carb. when it starts to need some serious tuning i'll be in trouble.
i cut, grind, weld, turn, mill and wire. not much of a tuner. unless its a computer controlled, injected motor. i'm a little more at home there.

i picked up a 97 with a 2.2, 5 spd, 88k miles that was totalled from the pass rear in a closed bid for $500. hot-wired it, drove it onto my trailer and took it home.
i already have a turbo from dts (turbo s-10.com).

i bought plugs, wires, clutch kit, timing set, water pump etc then i deployed to afghanistan and didn't even get the chance to tear it all apart.

if you can give me any afterthoughts or i shoulda done this or next time i do its i would appreciate it.
i can't wait to get home and fire up the front loader to yank the 1.9 out.
thanks for any help you can give me.
regards, loren.

[wrench459]

Originally Posted by gtnut70 i plan on using a 1997 2.2L and 5 spd.

Do you have the donor VIN of the '97? If so I'd might be able to help out.
The ecm needs a VSS input period.
But when your converting electric to mechanical speedo is a whole nother matter guard your wallet because it aint cheap.

[oldopelguy]

Originally Posted by gtnut70 i plan on using a 1997 2.2L and 5 spd.

The 94-97 transmission has the shifter in the forward position, within an inch of where the earlier t-5 shifter came out. Might as well use the whole works and just drop it in as-is.

[wrench459]

Did not the later models(GM S-10) 2.2 injectors and the fuel management Suxx's?
Man they leaked like a sieve or is it just what I've seen?

[oldopelguy]

The EFI on my '02 2.2 S10 works great, haven't had any issues and it's got 170k on it. Mine's flex fuel too, and it seems to run better on e85.

Of course I'm swapping my 2.2 out for a 4.8L V-8 soon, but that's another story all together. It will leave me with a whole 2.2 drivetrain though...

[gtnut70]

don't have the info out here with me, just rocks and dirt.
i am pretty sure the ecm has a speed sensor.
i will watch my wallet too. i'm retiring in 6 months and i am a cheap bast.

[72fireglow]

I too will soon start my 2.2 swap in a gt , here is what i discovered , motor and trans location near perfect including shifter in a gt , i must add that my 2.2 is a 94 model and the driveshaft will be veeerrry short when i am done because of the long tailshaft on the trans . Any pictures of this conversion would be appreciated . Mike brooks , bristol va

[gtnut70]

do you have the drivetrain mocked up/resting in the engine bay or just eyeballing/measuring?
how does the starter location look?
what about exhaust routing? header or manifold?
i saw the "55 chevy motor mount" advice previous to this post but don't have the parts on hand to help visualize. are you fabricating motor mounts or using something pre-existing?
i was thinking that a short-shaft 4wd transmission might give you a little more room for a longer length driveshaft. don't take it as sound advice (i haven't taken a look at the s-10 4wd tranny to see how much work it would be) but it is an idea.
i have machined an adapter for a suzuki samurai to remove the t case run the short shaft (4wd) tranny with a yoke straight to the rear diff.
it didn't give us any more room though, the point was to put a sbc into it to go drag racing with a ridiculous car.
will the short driveshaft be a problem?
loren

[gtnut70]

so, there is a limit on how many words i can type here. i see how it is now. guess it's cause i'm new.
anyway, before somebody jumps on the new guy:
there was a driveshaft between the tranny and the rear diff.
i read what i typed after i posted and it might have been a little confusing.
when i get home i'll post pics of my 70 gt from start to finish. if i don't go broke i should be "done" yeah right, pretty soon.
i've been known to tear a cj5 down to the frame and axles before noon and have the engine completely tore down by dinner. come to think of it, it did take about 6 months to put it all back together (3 times).
take it easy guys and keep posting.
loren.

[OpelNewb]

Anyone have some pics of this swap? I need to see how things fit. Will there be any need for cutting into the footwells? I Have been racking my brain all day long trying to figure out what I am going to use. I have searched and searched but have not come up with any pics. For some reason my original thread on here is missing. I am about to finally get my car back from being painted and start assm. process. I am going to buy a donor truck with all the parts for the swap.

[72fireglow]

as far as mesurments go i sat a opel 1.9 motor and trans & chevy 2.2 motor & trans side by side and started mesuring, very close to the same including starter location. only small issue so far is exaust exits motor on drivers side but looks like it will clear , worst case will be a change to a cavalier manifold sorry for my dim instructions , i eyeball and wing it on a lot of my projects and always work out , will try to post pictures soon mike brooks (72fireglow)

[blancojp]

Originally Posted by OpelNewb Anyone have some pics of this swap? I need to see how things fit. Will there be any need for cutting into the footwells? I Have been racking my brain all day long trying to figure out what I am going to use. I have searched and searched but have not come up with any pics. For some reason my original thread on here is missing. I am about to finally get my car back from being painted and start assm. process. I am going to buy a donor truck with all the parts for the swap.

Not for anything but you should have modified the engine compartment first prior to getting paint on the car. Don't worry about the exhaust, it is close but you have enough clearance for everything to fit. The swap is easy, I would not worry too much about it. Drop the engine in without the steering shaft and radiator in place to avoid conflict. If you need to change the shaft angle, $80 worth of parts takes care of it. If possible try to get a short cab S-10, might be able to cut and re-use the tranny mount. Also, if you do in fact need to redo the driver's foot well and lose the accelerator, a replacement can be purchased from Lokar for $125.00 which works just fine.

I will be doing a very large restoration project in Texas pretty soon so might be able to help out over a weekend or so. Bare in mind should only take you about 20Hrs to put the drivetrain in. You should only have to modify three individual areas to place the engine, which are motor mounts, tranny mounts and shifter hole. Once you have the engine and transmission ready to be intalled, let me know and I will send you a list of items you will need.