Anyone know why a 96 Blazer motor won't work in my 95 Stro?

[midwestls]

95 only. Thats what everyone tells me. Motor, tranny, 95 only! Why??? Does anyone know what thedifferences might be? I've got access to a very cheap 96 Blazer thats wrecked in the front but still runs and only has 35k on it. My 95 AWD Stro needs a motor. Can I do anything to make it work?

[Matrixx]

Hi midwestls
GM made a lot of changes to the motor and transmission that year. It does need to be "very" specific when your changing parts around. 95 was OBDI, 96 was OBDII with the introduction of Vortec. The computer spec calibrations are much more different than 95. These are some of the reasons why. Hope this helps.

[midwestls]

Mine is a Vortec and I believe theyve had 'em since about 92. Although OBDII does make sense to me. Can't you swap sensors or something to make it work though? I know with alot of cars including a 93 Intrepid I just put a 97 motor in you can sometimes get away with swapping misc components or the wireing harness to make it work. I'm kinda new to Chevys and it's a little harder on these vans then most to be able to just match them up by looking. Without already having the motor out that is.

[Matrixx]

Hi midwestls
Yes the Vortecs have been around for sometime in one form or another, but the astro/safari didn't see it until 1996. That's why you see the "Vortec" stamp on the 96 and up air filter housing and not on the 95 and earlier housings. A 95 W engine is different from the 96 W engine which Vortec resides (W-Series) Hope this clears things up.

[midwestls]

I guess I'm not understanding here. So my 95 4.3 Vortec that says Vortec in bright orange on the intake is not a Vortec because is don't say it on the plastic airbox? I just lookied up the spec's and 95 and 96 have the same hp. Sorry, what I'm asking here is why can't I swap sensors and wireing and make a 96 work for me? Under the hood of the 96 and my 95 there identical looking.

[Gary]

Yeah-the 1995 Astro was a transional yr where GM hadn't quite changed to the Vortec and haven't quite left the old w engines.Kind of sucks they do things like that.Sure enough anything is possible given the money and time.The easiest way to go about this is a complete wiring harness swap and swap the computer too.If I was you I would buy a factory service manuel for both yrs.

[ohvuser]

[midwestls]

Well I can get the Blazer for free but it's wrecked pretty bad in the nose. And my Stro, as I bought it sounds like some rods are trying to share the same piston. I'm just looking for the cheapest way to get this going through the winter (I live in North Dakota and it's coming really fast). I figured it'd be a pretty simple swap sensors, and wiring (on the motor) but as everyone knows it's not quite as simple to just yank the motor on one of these.

[Matrixx]

Timelessbeings post:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Vortec_engine

My post:
http://www.babcox.com/editorial/ar/ar40047.htm

Hope something their sheds some light for you,Good Luck.

[midwestls]

Timelessbeings post:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Vortec_engine

My post:
http://www.babcox.com/editorial/ar/ar40047.htm

Hope something their sheds some light for you,Good Luck.

already bookmarked. That explains alot. Thanks