LT1 Swap into a 1989 Sonoma S15

[GAV]

Hey guys, I have a 1989 Sonoma S15, if the S15 matters, and needin a little help on the swap. For the most part we have everything figured out we just need help on the cooling system for the swap, and what to do about headers because they need to go around the streering shaft. Any advice? Thanks in advance!

[JCzNova]

Possibly shorty block hugger headers.
NightTrain66 knows an S10 with a swap in it, maybe he can be some more help.

[JCzNova]

Possibly shorty block hugger headers.
NightTrain66 knows an S10 with a swap in it, maybe he can be some more help.

[NightTrain66]

Yea, as far as power goes, a set of 1 3/4 LT headers will always be better than the 1 5/8 shorty or mid length headers. All of the 1 3/4 long Tubes that I know of for a S-10 are gonna go around steering shaft and/or be fender well headers.

I have never owned an S-10 with or with out LT1 so I am not really sure what best would be.

I am sure Griffin, etc makes a nice alu radiator for the S-10 with V8 but I have never owned one so I cant speak from experience.

I would post on here or LS1Tech.com in the "transplant" section and see what others are running.

Lloyd

[HotRodV6]

I would run the sanderson swap headers that have 1 3/4 primarys and 3" collectors. I have these on my 93 S10 with a 95 vette LT1/T56 and they fit pretty good. You will need some tubular upper control arms though, they will hit the stock uppers. As far as i know, nobody makes long tubes in 1 3/4 for the SBC S10, they are available for the LS but not SBC/LT1. The only long tubes are the 1 5/8 hedmans, but they dont fit that great imo, and are only designed to work with an auto and certain swap mounts.

For the radiator, get the HD one from an 88 or so corvette, it fits in the forward position up inside the core support and will keep things cool with a good electric fan.

Ebay Item #230595457723

This rad has been used for alot if years and works well to keep things cool. The 2 speed tuarus fan fits this radiator pretty goood with some minor trimming, and you can hook it to the PCM and control it that way.

[DMBlack]

I have a 98 S10 with a L31 5.7 Vortec swap and I ran the Headman long tubes when it was still 2wd. The fit good if you used the motor mounts they recommend. I would use the motor mounts they recommend anyway because they are the V8 style and will be the strongest. The 2.8 and 4.3 mount set ups are very weak.

After the solid ft axle and transfer case addition I switched to the Sanderson 1 5/8 shorties/mids and they are also a good fitting header that gave me the clearance I need for the ft drive shaft.

I believe all the headers will wrap around the steering shaft. I did the Jeep Cherokee steering shaft swap to remove the rag joint style shaft that the S10 came with. That also gave me more room for my headers.

I am still running the factory S10 radiator but I did cut the core support an move it about an inch forward to make room for the Intrepid cooling fan set-up. I picked the Dodge Intrepid fans because they are supposed to be thinner and the do pull less amps that the Ford Taurus fans, but many people have had good luck with the Ford fans.

Check out the S10 Forums and you find a bunch of info on the swap pointers.