Blue_IROC_86

iTrader: (2)

Has anyone on here done a 4.3 swap?

Blue_IROC_86

iTrader: (2)

nobody,.. awsome looks like i get the first shot

project89

iTrader: (1)

dont waste ur time

#1 the only 4.3 worth doing the swap with is a vortec and even then u cant keep the fuel injection the vortec motor has that dumb spider injector
unless u do a full ecm swap
#2 its the same exact amount of work to swap in a small block
u need a v8 transmission and front springs though with a 4.3 u may get away with the v6 front springs
#3 if u want to turbo or supercharge the 4.3 u will run into issues around the 400hp mark or so seems mostly what ive read and heard.seems after 400 hp u need to spend a decent bit of money beefing everything up.
if ur looking for that and u planed on turbo ir supercharging stick with the 2.8/3.1 that u got now
#4 the 4.3 and v8 get about the same gas milage

grimmcs

iTrader: (1)

There have been people that have talked about it, but I dont think that very many (if any) people have done it. I would search the engine swap section...there might be more info there.

If you do go through with it, keep us posted. Ive always wondered about this swap...and I love pictures of engine swaps

chevyracingrox

u got a 305, so a 4.3 wouldn't be too big of a project, but the spider injection thing that project 89 was talking about is kind of a hurtle. I say go bigger rather than smaller, a nice junkyard 350 would be good or a 327 would be ****ing awesome. why do you want a 4.3? I admit its kinda interesting to think about.

SBC383

Did the 4.3 swap a few years ago. Very easy to do. I had a '95 TBI 4.3 from a full size p/u with the harness and computer. Use v-8 mtr mounts in the V-8 location. You've already got a 90* transmission and the location doesn't change. I used Edel headers for an Astro van. Drivers side fit fine, but had to bring the psngr side closer to the block so that the collector would clear the sub-frame (no AC). Had to fab a y-pipe as I was using a Lakewood shield that is considerably larger than the stocker. Otherwise the y-pipe from the header kit would have worked (with a tweak or two). I used V-8 suspension and sways because it was past time to replace anyway and already had subframe conns and a strut tower bar (carb type) installed.
The car handled really well, no lean or plow, but a stock 4.3 isn't known for big power. Had to work the gears (5 spd) a lot to make it fun (which was part of the fun!), but I never got to the centrifugal or turbo stage......next time.