chevy engine replacement - Tips for the Chevy Silverado, Impala, Blazer, Camaro and S10

Chevy’s renowned for the company’s small block engines, but that doesn’t mean they’re indestructible. Eventually, you’re going to have to replace your engine if you want to keep that car or truck on the road. There’s good news, though. Chevy Silverado, Impala, Blazer, Camaro and S10 owners will find that replacing their engines is easier with a few important tips.

Front or Rear Wheel Drive?

The Chevy Silverado, Blazer, S10 and Camaro are all rear-wheel drive vehicles, while the Impala is a front-wheel drive car (at least the modern model is). For rear-wheel drive vehicles, it’s usually easiest to replace the engine if you take the drive shaft loose from the rear of the transmission first. This lets you loosen the transmission if necessary and gain a bit of extra space.

Front-Wheel Drive

Unlike the Silverado, S10, Blazer and Camaro, owners of a Chevy Impala need to disassemble most of the front steering and suspension system in order to remove the CV axles from the transmission. While you won’t be pulling the transmission during engine replacement, it’s easier if you have a little more play in the transmission so you can ensure it’s out of the way when you drop the engine.

Don’t Forget the Components

An engine replacement generally doesn’t come with anything more than the engine itself. In many cases, your crate engine, rebuilt engine or used engine may not even come with an oil pan. What that means is that you’ll have to reuse the old components from the original engine in in your Blazer, S10, Camaro, Silverado or Impala. To ensure that you know exactly what components you’ll need, it’s highly recommended that you not discard any parts from your original engine before the replacement arrives.

Once your replacement is there, you know exactly what parts you’ll need to reuse. On average, you’ll need to reuse the starter, alternator, thermostat, valve cover and all the belts. Double-check that the oil pan doesn’t need to be reused. You should also make sure that you have replacement gaskets for the valve cover, oil pan, thermostat and any other components that need to be reused.

You should not have to reuse components like the timing belt or water pump – these are often included with your Chevy replacement engine. However, it always pays to verify before going through with the replacement just to be on the safe side.