S10 Blazer Nv3500 Swap Part 1: Manual Swap For Less $$ Than new 4L60E!

[@nerdsorandom6252]

As far as i know the 4 door blazer s10s did not come from factory with a Manual. The 2 doors did but not the 4 doors. Im glad to see that im not the only person doing this swap. My 94 s10 blazer has a bad 4.3 cpi engine so im in the process of putting a 350 and nv3500 in its place.

[@VHickleGarage]

They were rare but I did actually see one for sale recently. . 99% sure it wasn't a conversion. Good luck with your swap. The 350 power will be very nice I'm sure, and it will still probably get the same mpg lol

[@geipelstoys9923]

I had a 1991 S10 blazer 4 door 4wd 4.3 TBI 5 speed a few years back. Completely factory original and it was a blast to drive

[@HIDHIFDB]

Only in Mexico i saw those even the next gen some of them came with manual in Mexico sadly the Trailblazer only came with automatic.

[@alexandravoris9644]

Can't wait to see this come together!

[@illuminancecrt8930]

Please please please complete this project and put the videos online, for selfish reasons! Have a 93 S10 4.3 Auto (2WD) but will be installing a Getrag HM290 in maybe 3-4 months. I already have all the parts. My big 3 questions are: 1)Can you use the auto steering column, or do you need to swap it out with a manual SC, 2) Any problems with the neutral safety switch, and 3) Does anything need to be done to the ECU (computer)? Thanks again.

[@VHickleGarage]

It's toward the top of my list, but life has a way of getting in the way. I would also like to get it done for selfish reasons lol. 1. Auto column shouldn't be any problem at all. I believe there is a pin that can be removed to take out the shifter. 2. I haven't pulled the wiring diagram for this yet. The pedal assembly I got has the OE safety switch for the clutch. You should also just be able to jump it, but then you would be able to start it without pressing the clutch which could be dangerous if done while in gear . 3. With these early ecu's it shouldn't hurt the engine to just unplug the auto, but I believe it can be disabled in the ecu. I swapped an LT1 that came with an auto, into my oe manual Trans Am, and was able to disable the auto trans in the ecu without too much trouble. I just need to verify it's the same or similar process for the blazer. They are both 94's so I'm hopeful it will be. Also, on my T/A I depinned and completely removed the 4l60 portion of the harness. This time since it's all in the car I might bundle and hide it, or just cut it off.

[@denverkenyon3203]

I should add onto what he answered, as my manual went out and i had to swap to an auto because that's what was available. Yes, you can use the auto steering column, as the only difference is the auto shifter, and the wiring for the neutral switch. The neutral switch on that column has a wire that runs to the ECM that only does anything when the vehicle is NOT in park or neutral, and then it has 2 wires for the safety switch circuit, and 2 other wires for the reverse lights. If you don't want to do any wiring, just leave the switch alone, but if you want the clutch safety switch to work normally, wire it in, as well as wiring the reverse lights to the switch on the driver side of the HM290. Wiring diagrams are your best friend. To your last question, the only difference between the auto ecu and the manual ecu is the shift light, and the one wire that runs to the neutral switch to tell the ecu that you are not in park or neutral. This wire only changes the rpm slightly, from what I've heard, and as long as it is unplugged or otherwise removed, you will not have any issues with it. Something I will add, (this is if you have the 700R4/4L60 transmission, and not the 4L60-E transmission), regarding the wiring going to the transmission, just remove it. All that wiring does is tell the ECM that the transmission is in 4th using a pressure switch, and informs the ECM that the transmission is overheating, or about to overheat, by using a temperature switch/sensor. There is a 3rd wire as well, and that wire is used to send power from the ECM to the Torque Converter Lockup Solenoid inside the transmission, based on what the other 2 wires are signaling to the ECM. If it is the 4L60-E transmission, i don't think there are any codes for it in the 1993 model year, so hopefully no engine light, but I am not as much help with that as I have a 1991 S10 Blazer. I will be swapping mine back when I can find another 290 or something similar and of the same rating. Good luck man!

[@illuminancecrt8930]

@@denverkenyon3203 Thank you for posting

[@Momo7O7]

Can’t wait for the update. I’m torn between keeping my auto or manual swapping my 88 s15 jimmy 4x4 2dr

[@ImpalaSSRulz21]

I know for a fact the fullsize trucks nv3500 is a direct swap to a th400 even the yoke fits. I haven't had the S10 trans side to side to compare yet. Man I hope your engines ok. Good luck

[@VHickleGarage]

Thank you, that's good to hear. I'm pretty sure the th400 and 4L60 have different length cases, but I'm hopefully this will be a direct swap as well. Everything seems to be good with the engine now that I got a new upgraded radiator installed.

[@ImpalaSSRulz21]

@@VHickleGarage oh that's good dude

[@compa_choo]

Was hoping there would be more videos to the series. Getting ready to call it quits on my s10 for now and go back to my blazer

[@VHickleGarage]

Sadly this has not gotten as much attention as I was hoping to give it. I did just get rid of another car, and am planning on using some of the money to get the trans so I can get this project done. Hoping by fall, but worst case I will have this swap done by end of this year.

[@JC-lk3oy]

Really hope to see more on this. I have an 03 ZR2 I want to do a manual swap on. Already did it on my 99 camaro SS a while back. The T56 is so much better than the 4l60e that came in the camaro. I don't know much about the nv3500 though.

[@compa_choo]

Theres a guy near me selling a whole swap for 650obo with engine trans ecu wiring center console clutch pedal the whole package. Contemplating doing that instead of swapping in this 4l60 i have sitting around for a year now

[@VHickleGarage]

Dang. . That sounds like a pretty good deal. I'd be all over that. I'm expecting to be into my swap for something around $1000. Still need to source my trans. The first yard I reached out to has not responded to me, so I need to find some more options.

[@bullygeneticstv8037]

Good videos brother !

[@VHickleGarage]

Thank You. Hoping to get back on this project soon!

[@bullygeneticstv8037]

Right on dude there a lot of people that want to swap to manual you’ll get many views !

[@KnuckleHeadGarage27]

Thinking about swapping my 85 S10 2wd 2.8 to a 4 or 5 speed manual . Thr Auto trans just started to give me problems after I just swapped in a crate engine in it so that's just great. Been looking to see if I can find content on this particular type of swap at least something close to what I'm doing so I can kind of get an idea of how much stuff I'm going to need to do

[@VHickleGarage]

A lot of what's needed for the swap will be the same, but just watch out since you'll need a 60 degree v6 Trans. I believe none of the 4.3 stuff will work on a 2.8. . .with the exception of maybe the clutch/brake pedal box. Once you find the correct parts it should be a little easier being 2wd. I haven't gotten anymore done on this project, so going to be a little while yet before I have another update.

[@KnuckleHeadGarage27]

@@VHickleGarage yeah I found a 83 model at the junkyard 4-Speed 2.8 that has all I'll need I really would like a 5-speed to have an extra gear but 4 speed works too and probably would be better Definitely would be a good donor truck since it's hard to find 82-85 parts because mine has a cable driven speedometer and the later models are electronic controlled for the cluster

[@VHickleGarage]

@@KnuckleHeadGarage27 There was a 5 speed, but idk what specific trans it was. My dad had and 85 2.8 5 speed. I couldn't imagine going to the trouble to only have a 4 spd at the end. Either way would be helpful if you could find a rusted out donor.

[@KnuckleHeadGarage27]

@@VHickleGarage it's very hard to find anything for the 82-85 style with my setup of what I'm looking for tho See what happened was I put the new engine in had it in for a week or so maybe couple weeks and then took it to the drag strip did two passes and then on the way back hour drive home I had issues it started to slip for the 1st to 2nd and then I had this a little bit of whining noise under the hood right next to the air cleaner is where you could hear it wasn't loud unless you open the hood and then I started to have a noise if you dropped it all the way in first gear or even in Drive and was to barely push on the gas to make the truck move it had this noise that sounded like something grinding up inside so I took it to a shop that does transmissions and such that's been doing it for 40 plus years and he said it sounded like i tore up the planetary gear . After letting it sit overnight and cool down it seems to shift okay but I don't have OverDrive anymore like torque converter lockup I just replace that converter as well but the noise has not went away

[@HandymanMark]

Replace your clutchfork and pivot ball.

[@VHickleGarage]

Great Advice! I will definitely do those as well. . . I forgot to add them to the list. I'm still up in the air about using an early or late NV3500. The later ones have an internal, hydraulic throwout bearing / slave cylinder, so if I use a later unit I won't have to worry about the fork and pivot.

[@HandymanMark]

Yes I have the early version. The later version has a hydraulic throwout bearing.

[@HandymanMark]

The truck has a hundred and twenty thousand. And the clutch fork and ball socket have worn out to the point where I can no longer disengage the clutch

[@owlpilotcarservice869]

I got a 4x4 94 four door can I manual swap, I have the 4x4 shifter on the floor?

[@VHickleGarage]

You should be able to. I've seen plenty of factory manuals that have the 4x4 floor shifter. I would actually like to convert my 4wd from electric to manual once I actually finish the trans swap.

[@REIMAGINEDRESTOMODS]

Did ya ever get this project finished?

[@VHickleGarage]

Unfortunately, no. Hoping to in the next couple months. The 4l60e is making god awful noises and is probably about to explode.

[@josetapparo9194]

Good night, how are you? do you have a s10 blazer 4d 4x2 transmission crossmember that you found? We can exchange I have 4x4 parts

[@VHickleGarage]

I did not pull the transmission or the crossmember from the truck at the junkyard. I only grabbed the pedals and the shifter. I'm hoping to be able to modify and reuse my original crossmember for the 4l60.

[@jakedv2270]

Update?

[@VHickleGarage]

Unfortunately not yet. I'm trying to get to it here soon, the 4l60 is barely holding together.

[@jakedv2270]

@@VHickleGarage I am also in the process of manual swapping my s10 I’m parting out an S10 with a 2.8L and am currently in the process of modifying a bell housing. I’ve built the transmission to handle 300 hp hopefully gonna have it done this summer

[@jerrylancaster256]

Whats your price estimate?

[@VHickleGarage]

I'm guessing $1100-1200 all in. Couple hundred more if I do have to get both driveshaft redone.