4.3 liter heavy duty version

[someotherguy]

FWIW, RockAuto lists the 4.3 under the 1994 GMC K2500.

No offense but means nothing. Also, see above and below, don't forget there are two very different 2500's - 7200 GVWR and 8600 GVWR. The 7200 is really nothing more than a 1500 with a better rear axle (9.5" 14SF), 6 lug pattern, and a little more spring.

I had a 91 Light duty SCLB C2500 with the 4.3. It was an ex Lincoln Co, OR school district truck. They used to run S10's but they needed something bigger so they bout the 2500's. They had 4-5 at the auction where I bought it in 98 or so.

Yep...I've seen them with 5.0's too. Talk about cheaping out to the max...4.3! Even better, get an early 4.3 truck with the 3L80 trans. Bleh!

Richard

 

[454/4X4]

Ive had quite a few GMT400's...and been around even more, I called a buddy just now that has a GMT400 parts yard he keeps up for himself and friends...and he said hes never heard of such a thing, but did say that Fleet orders could be had in all kinds of weird setups, so he said it is very possible they existed in fleet only, as a lighter..but not necessarily economical alternative to the 305/350...

Personally, I dont thing the 4.3 should have been optioned in the full size trucks, Ive driven a few and it just wasnt there, it didnt feel right. 4.3 In an S10...hell yeah!!!

305 was a dog...but it was better, especially towing...

 

[df2x4]

Personally, I dont thing the 4.3 should have been optioned in the full size trucks, Ive driven a few and it just wasnt there, it didnt feel right. 4.3 In an S10...hell yeah!!!

As someone who owns a 4.3 and a 5.7 truck, I dont think the 4.3 is as gutless as you're making it out to be. Mine isn't exactly stock but it's not far off, and it'll roast the tires whenever I want it to. Plus I get over 20mpg in it consistently. Equipping 3/4 tons and heavier with them may not have been a good idea, but in a half ton truck they're fine.

 

[thz71]

4.3s are fine in half tons and ive also owned "quite a few" 400s lol but yet they were available in 2wd 3/4 tins for sure ive never seen a 4x4 with one

 

[someotherguy]

As someone who owns a 4.3 and a 5.7 truck, I dont think the 4.3 is as gutless as you're making it out to be. Mine isn't exactly stock but it's not far off, and it'll roast the tires whenever I want it to. Plus I get over 20mpg in it consistently. Equipping 3/4 tons and heavier with them may not have been a good idea, but in a half ton truck they're fine.

Your '97 V6 is 200HP/255tq; OP's '91 is 155HP/230tq. A bit of a difference... That Vortec 4.3 might get you around just fine but if you hammer on the TBI version expecting V8 performance out of it, the results are usually poor. When I ran my GMT400 salvage yard I rarely got good TBI V6's but sure got a lot of calls for them.

Richard

 

[98chevyz71]

I remember one being posted by Charles when I first joined

 

[df2x4]

Your '97 V6 is 200HP/255tq; OP's '91 is 155HP/230tq. A bit of a difference... That Vortec 4.3 might get you around just fine but if you hammer on the TBI version expecting V8 performance out of it, the results are usually poor. When I ran my GMT400 salvage yard I rarely got good TBI V6's but sure got a lot of calls for them.

Richard

That's interesting, didn't realize there was that big of a difference between the TBIs and Vortecs. Good to know.

 

[Ruger_556]

I think the 4.3 TBI has more than enough power for a half ton. However, I may have a different perspective on this as I grew up driving 26,000 GVW farm trucks with 5.8L Fords (about 150 hp) and that was the big engine option... How much power a truck needs is completely subjective.

 

[454cid]

My dad used to have a 90 GMC RCLB C1500 with a 5-speed. When it was new, it was great. Years later it didn't really run right even after being "rebuilt". I'm convinced it was something that could be figured out now by those on the board, but this was before forums got big. It didn't get going loaded with sand as well as my Jeep Comanche, but I think it only had 3.08 gears. My Comanche had 4.xx gears and the straight 6. The GMC took the weight better, I think...... I can recall driving the Jeep feeling like the front wheels were kind of only dancing or tip towing down the road

 

[someotherguy]

I think the 4.3 TBI has more than enough power for a half ton. However, I may have a different perspective on this as I grew up driving 26,000 GVW farm trucks with 5.8L Fords (about 150 hp) and that was the big engine option... How much power a truck needs is completely subjective.

Most likely referring to the 351 Windsor which a detuned 150 hp medium duty truck example would still have a serious torque advantage over a TBI 4.3, plus medium duty truck will have steep transmission and rear gearing adding lots of mechanical advantage. It's not really a good comparison.

Opinions will vary but the TBI 4.3 really is barely adequate for a full size truck. That combination existed for cost and MPG reasons, not because GM thought people would really be happy with the power level.

Richard