New Wrangler

[Raghavan]

The engine isn't there, GM made a big mistake on the I-5.

Yeah, the 3.9L would be a great match for this truck imo, but besides the engine, everything else is offroad ready.

 

[Firebird]

The legendary 4.0 inline 6 ... is older than the Jeep's its been in, older even than the small-block Chevy

Still good in its application though.

(You have overexaggerated the age though: the first of the "modern" AMC I6s was the 199, introduced in 1964. The small-block Chevrolet V8 dates to the new-for-'55 265, which by my count is 9 years older. Even then, the relation between a 4.0 and a 199 is vague at best: barely anything from the 199 would fit in a 4.0, and as far as I know no 4.0 parts are backwards-compatible with a 199 (and not many with a 232 or 258 either).)

I'm curious to see how the Chrysler 3.8 will do, and I'm sad to see the 4.0L I6 go (the last vestiges of AMC, 20 years after it was bought out), but at least they didn't use the wheezy 3.7L SOHC unit in the Liberty. That definitely would have sucked balls.

 

[Magic069]

The engine isn't there, GM made a big mistake on the I-5.

I can back this opinion, Having owned both the 4.3L V6 and now the I5.

I am going to look into a swap if they relese the small block V8 for the Colorado.

 

[YSSMAN]

The engine isn't there, GM made a big mistake on the I-5.

Word was that GM has a turbocharged version of the Vortec 3500 I5, pushing out something in the neighborhood of 300HP for the Chevy Colorado Sport/SS and Hummer H3 Alpha... As to GM actually building the engine and throwing in production vehicles, it has yet to be seen, but that was the word that had come down to my freind at the Chevy dealer back when I was looking at the Colorado.

Beyond that, the I5 is an adequate powerplant, but the problem is that the Colorado/Canyon/i3500/H3 are all too big and too heavy for the powerplants to move both the truck and what it is carrying briskly. The 4300 V6 was a great engine, but it was so old, it just had to go.

 

[Joey D]

The Colorado SS will have either a 5.3L or 5.7L V8 in it.

 

[Tornado]

(You have overexaggerated the age though: the first of the "modern" AMC I6s was the 199, introduced in 1964. The small-block Chevrolet V8 dates to the new-for-'55 265, which by my count is 9 years older. Even then, the relation between a 4.0 and a 199 is vague at best: barely anything from the 199 would fit in a 4.0, and as far as I know no 4.0 parts are backwards-compatible with a 199 (and not many with a 232 or 258 either).)

I'm curious to see how the Chrysler 3.8 will do, and I'm sad to see the 4.0L I6 go (the last vestiges of AMC, 20 years after it was bought out), but at least they didn't use the wheezy 3.7L SOHC unit in the Liberty. That definitely would have sucked balls.

Oh, I thought it was based on the 195.6, which was developed in 1958 but was based on the Nash flathead V8 from the 30's. Still, it's quite sad to see the ole' reliable engine go. Besides, the current aluminum small block actually dates from 1997, but that's a moot point.

The S-10 Blazer's engine sucked until the 4.3L was put in them. But I wouldn't doubt it, you could beat the living crap outta em.

I beleive that is what they were talking about. The 4.3 L two door Blazer. I think it was due to it's lack of weight the Hummer H3 seems to have so much of. Like a Jeep Wrangler in more than one way. As an aside, do you think the Atlas 4.2 would fit in the engine bay of a Blazer? Or maybe the L-series 305 small blocks?

 

[Joey D]

People have been putting V8's in S-10's and Blazer's for years. Most people opt for the 350 but a 305 would fit as well. I've even seen 454's stuffed under the hood.

 

[YSSMAN]

As an aside, do you think the Atlas 4.2 would fit in the engine bay of a Blazer? Or maybe the L-series 305 small blocks?

Oh sure, they have been cramming 350s in Blazers for years. As far as the 4200 is concerned, I'm not completely sure... GM used to sell specially-built crate versions of the 4300 V6 that were cranking out as much horsepower as the LS1... They were usually used for conversions in the Xtreme Blazers, but I usually see the LS1 conversion...

 

[Joey D]

The 4.3L Z74 (maybe that's the code) was supposed to be used in the Xtremes, it was a race prep-ish motor that put out close to 300hp if I'm not mistaken...but all we got was the same old 4.3, ZQ8 (Z87) suspension, and a quicker steering box. Some sports truck Chevy.

 

[Tornado]

People have been putting V8's in S-10's and Blazer's for years. Most people opt for the 350 but a 305 would fit as well. I've even seen 454's stuffed under the hood.

Nice. My friend up the street has been trying to ditch his '87 Iroc-Z for 3 years when the rear axle sheared itself and he stuffed the rear end into a tree. Perfect condition 305 with slight mods up to 278 BHP at the wheels, which would go nicely with the Blazer that my parents have officially shelved on me. It'd be like a 3 year newer Typhoon. 👍 I wonder if I would have to mess with the engine mounts. I doubt it. The 4.3 is basically 3/4 of a 5.7 V8......How would you fit a big block under the hood of an S-10?! They barely fit in Silverado's!

 

[Joey D]

For putting a small block in a Blazer, all you do is buy a kit. I'm pretty sure you can get them through companies like Jegs, Summit, etc. They are just newer and better motor mounts and some other odds and ends. But V8 powered Blazers/S-10's are sweet. I'd love to drop a LS2 under my hood.

To make a big block fit the fire wall needs to be modified and the hood needs to be cowled.

 

[YSSMAN]

The size of the V8s arent all that much bigger, its just a matter of making new engine mounts and getting the different bits and pieces like the radiator, alternator, etc to fit... And if youre using the more modern V8s with fuel injection, the ECU is going to need to be able to talk to the transmission, the onboard computer, etc...