What to do, 2wd-V8, or 4wd-V6?

[Purplehaze]

Ok, so I am going to need a little help from my SMD family to decide what to do. Here is what I have going on:

I have 2 S10's, the first is a 1994 2wd Low-rider that I have had for over 10 years. It was a good truck, and I grew really attached to it. It was the first auto I bought and financed on my own, and I got a lot of compliments on the way she looked. It was a 2.2L auto = Low and Slow! But I always had dreams of giving her the V8 she so desperately needed. Here is what she used to look like a few years ago.

But after my brother and my ex-wife got thru using it, she got a lil ragged out. My ex blew the engine, so I pulled it out and junked it, making sure it would get no more 4 cylinder engines. I pulled the front clip for easy access, and I'll be damned if someone didn't steal my hood and fenders! So here is how she sets at the moment, a lil rough.

So on to the second truck. I bought it recently for parts, namely the front clip. It has a bad cab, and wouldn't run, but everything else is in damn good shape. I got a hell of a deal, couldn't pass it up!

But once I got it home, I realized this beast has some potential! It's a 1995 4x4 4.3L auto. And after tinkering w/ it a couple of days, she fires right up! Everything mechanical so far is in good condition! Here is a few shots of it. BTW the wires were just used to get it home.

So now I am a little unsure of what to do. My intentions were to simply pull off the front clip, and sell what parts I could, then scrap the rest. But now that it runs(runs good too!), my friends are telling me that I'd be crazy not to just "swap cabs" and paint it up, and have myself a decent 4x4 S10. And that's fine. But I really had my heart set on an LS1 V8 low-rider blow-thru.... What to do, what to do?

All help and opinions are greatly appreciated!!!

Edited May 30, 2011 by Purplehaze

[lombo352]

If your going to have a 4x4 would you use it for that purpose? Is it easier to live your dream on putting in a v8 by just swapping engines or doing the body panels......either way do what you always wanted to....you will be much happier...i say flip the new truck and get some extra cash and go back to your original plan

[Socky]

I would do the 2wd ls1 swap, i would say the 4x4 ls1 swap but theirs alot of things you have to change, unless you go straight axle in the front.

[n8ball2013]

What are your usage plans? mall cruiser? do the 2wd. field hopper 4wd all the way. im a low and slow kinda guy. to me there is nothing cooler than a v8 s10 with the exhaust reverberating off the pavement. Especially when the exhaust is 2 inches form the ground.

[Purplehaze]

If your going to have a 4x4 would you use it for that purpose? Is it easier to live your dream on putting in a v8 by just swapping engines or doing the body panels......either way do what you always wanted to....you will be much happier...i say flip the new truck and get some extra cash and go back to your original plan

Thanks man. Problem w/ fliping the 4x4 is that I would have to sacrifice the other truck, as I only have the one good cab. But your probably rt, I should do what is gonna make me happy in the end.

I would do the 2wd ls1 swap, i would say the 4x4 ls1 swap but theirs alot of things you have to change, unless you go straight axle in the front.

Thanks, that's how I'm leaning.

What are your usage plans? mall cruiser? do the 2wd. field hopper 4wd all the way. im a low and slow kinda guy. to me there is nothing cooler than a v8 s10 with the exhaust reverberating off the pavement. Especially when the exhaust is 2 inches form the ground.

As for usage plans, mall cruiser all the way. I've been wanting to give that truck an LS1 for a LONG time! And your right, they are super cool! Thanks for the input!

Her is what I really want out of it eventually!

[kryptonite]

I say v8, my buddy dropped an ls4 6.0 into his blazer and set it on 1-tons but that was a pain in the ass for a 4x4. Keep the 2wd and do your v8

[Purplehaze]

Yeah I probably will, anymore thought's?

I appreciate it guys!

[StatingROBIN]

I say take the engine out of the white truck and put it in the black one, sell that and put the v8 in the white truck with the 4 wheel drive. Get the best of both worlds!

[vettedude102]

V8 FTW

[bobobass]

v8 ,just because its a v8