Alright, so you found an S-10 here on ebay that has a V8 dropped into it...looks cool right? Well, as a former V8 S-10 owner let me give you a few tips on these little trucks.

1. Even though the truck has what looks like a V8, if the owner tells you it's a 350 NEVER take his/her word for it. All Chevy small blocks look like....305, 350, 400, 327....the only way to tell one apart is to get the casting numbers off of the trans. bell housing flage and get the suffix codes off of the pad that sits forward of the right cylinder head. You can go to www.nastyz28.com and decode them there. Then you will know what you have.....I say this because all too often someone drops in a 305 or a 283 or a 267....and tells you it's a 350....it's a common scam and it should be checked anytime you are buying an engine that looks like it might be a 350.

2. Does your state do emissions checks? Do they do safety checks? If so then by law the V8 that's in the S-10 HAS to be the same year or newer as the truck itself and HAS to have all applicable engine emissions controls. So in other words, a 1998 S-10 with a 400 small block out of a 1976 Impala IS NOT LEGAL. a 1994 S-10 with an LT1 transplant but not having the catalytic converters IS NOT LEGAL. A 2002 S-10 with an LS1 transplant out of a 2002 Z28, but still retaining the factory ECM, all factory emissions right down to the catalytic converters would be legal. Remember this when you go inspect the truck and ask questions.

3. There is a book that you can buy from www.jagsthatrun.com that details what constitutes as a legal swap.

4. Before you bid go see the truck in person. DO NOT BUY SIGHT UNSEEN! I don't know why anyone would want to do this.......all you are doing is taking a huge gamble on buying someone else's junk.

5. Test drive the truck. Make sure the back up lights and speedometer work. These are 2 things people who do the swap typically do not hook up. If they're not working I'd not buy the truck unless you know what is wrong and how to fix.

Why do I say this? Because these are two areas where people cut corners when putting in the V8. Their main focus is getting the engine in and hooked up, but could care less if the wipers didn't work, or the lights were inop....this is only testament to true shoddy install.

6. Look to see if there's a water temp gauge inside the truck. If there is keep an eye on it; people who 'cheaply" convert these trucks do not use adequate cooling systems....instead they make do with whatever junk yard radiator they can scrounge up. If not done properly a V8 converted S-10 WILL overheat, and fast!

On the subject of cooling any V8 S-10 should have at least 1 good electric fan on a thermo sensor so that it automatically comes on at around 220 degrees Fahrenheit. If running only a mechanical fan (not much room for one of these in an S-10) then a fan should should be mandatory.

7. Look for radiators installed with zip ties, heater boxes ripped off the fire wall to clear the V8's valve covers, motor mounts that are tack welded to the frame, "notched" parts of the cross member/frame area (for clearance).....this is another area where people who do the swap cut corners. The correct motor mounts can be bought thru www.jagsthatrun.com and they convert the 2.8 engine clam shells to V8's, for a very professional look and fit. The same website also sells the correct radiator to do the swap, which does not require zip ties to secure it to the truck.

8. These little trucks suffer traction issues, but it's best to make sure there is some sort of positive traction in the rear to help with traction issues.

9. All in all when converted right these little trucks are great haulers, they can be faster than the average Corvette and be very unsuspecting. A great website for all of your V8 S-10 questions is www.v8s10.org.