4.3L to ?? swap.

[DeCaff2007]

Who cares about the camera? Tell us about the acquisition!

Can you not see the picture? That camera really DOES suck! Last weekend, the Wife and I took a day trip to pick up this new-to-me, low mileage (78K?) 94 5.7L. Complete from TBI to oil pan. My plans are to put lipstick on a pig (lol) and upgrade that oil spewing 4.3L.

4.3 TBI to....5.7 TBI swap?

Yep. How'd you guess?

 

[PlayingWithTBI]

Can you not see the picture? That camera really DOES suck!

Ha ha! Yes, but a 5.0 and a 5.7 look exactly the same. I was hoping you didn't buy a 5.0, congrats!

FYI, you'll probably need an old(flat) to new (round) style TPS connector for it.

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[DeCaff2007]

Ha ha! Yes, but a 5.0 and a 5.7 look exactly the same. I was hoping you didn't buy a 5.0, congrats!

FYI, you'll probably need an old(flat) to new (round) style TPS connector for it

Yes, so I've heard. I probably won't even get to dig in to this new toy until at least next weekend.

I've been reading that I'm going to have to change up some suspension components. I'd better bloody not!

 

[stutaeng]

Can you not see the picture? That camera really DOES suck! Last weekend, the Wife and I took a day trip to pick up this new-to-me, low mileage (78K?) 94 5.7L. Complete from TBI to oil pan. My plans are to put lipstick on a pig (lol) and upgrade that oil spewing 4.3L.



Yep. How'd you guess?

I just saw the 4 spark plugs and assumed 5.7...I forget the 5.0 even existed...seems like they got lost in history, LOL. You just don't hear about them anymore, either in TBI or Vortec generation. But they must be out there.

I'm glad you found an engine! It's a runner I assume? Do you know the history behind it?

 

[L31MaxExpress]

I just saw the 4 spark plugs and assumed 5.7...I forget the 5.0 even existed...seems like they got lost in history, LOL. You just don't hear about them anymore, either in TBI or Vortec generation. But they must be out there.

I'm glad you found an engine! It's a runner I assume? Do you know the history behind it?

They are definately out there. I had a buddy get a "LT1" WS6 about 10-12 years ago. I thought it felt slow. He took it to the track and it was really slow. Got to looking while we were tuning it up and it had the "baby LT1" 4.3 L99 in it.

6 months later we dropped a LT4 stroked to 396 with Lloyd Elliot ported LT4 heads and a custom cam into it.

 

[stutaeng]

They are definately out there. I had a buddy get a "LT1" WS6 about 10-12 years ago. I thought it felt slow. He took it to the track and it was really slow. Got to looking while we were tuning it up and it had the "baby LT1" 4.3 L99 in it.

Ah, yeah, the baby LT1 V8 4.3
Another forgotten child...

If it wasn't for Richard Goldener comparing the 4.3 V6 to the 4.3 V8, I really didn't remember "reading" about it. Even Holdener mentioned folks were saying he was nuts and no such thing as a V8 4.3 existed!

What do you do with them V6s as OP's case. I just loaded my old 4.3 V6 Vortec block on my truck...will take it to the landfill this weekend. Will do an engine god prayer in his name. RIP.

 

[L31MaxExpress]

Ah, yeah, the baby LT1 V8 4.3
Another forgotten child...

If it wasn't for Richard Goldener comparing the 4.3 V6 to the 4.3 V8, I really didn't remember "reading" about it. Even Holdener mentioned folks were saying he was nuts and no such thing as a V8 4.3 existed!

What do you do with them V6s as OP's case. I just loaded my old 4.3 V6 Vortec block on my truck...will take it to the landfill this weekend. Will do an engine god prayer in his name. RIP.

If the 4.3L runs well. Find a nice boat with a freeze cracked 4.3L. Throw it in the boat, run the dog snot out of it for a season or two, then sell it. I did that with a reman 4.3L I got with an Astro van. Bought the van for $300 at an estate sale out of some guys backyard that had passed away. Once I started cleaning the back of the van and going through what was there, discovered a 4.3L in the back cargo area burried under the grille, fan shroud and other parts. I got a really nice boat for $1,000 with a busted block 4.3L. I put the boat manifolds, ignition, carb and accessories on the 4.3L Vortec. Used the boat for 3 years. Good looking ladies come out of the woodwork when you have a nice boat and an ice chest of beer.

 

[L31MaxExpress]

I put a cheap L30 305 Vortec with a RV cam in the van and used it to tow the boat. I think I gave my salvage yard guy I used regularly $300 or maybe $350 for the 305 from intake to pan and it had ~70K miles on it. I would not have cut the crossmember but it had already been done. I actually sold both the boat and the van to the same man who had just retired and was going to take the grandkids out on it. I gave him a good price on it, still made good money and had 3 years of use from both. The van was faded pinkish but the interior was clean, it ran great, I got the ac working and did the brakes. When it was said and done I was $2500 into the pair. The Astro with a 305 Vortec with a RV cam, the factory 4.3 converter and 3.73s in the van towed the boat like it was not there.

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[L31MaxExpress]

I actually miss the plentiful stash of good running, clean low mileage 305s that I could get from that yard before they closed up shop. My 80 Z/28 had a $250 roller cam TBI 305 in it with a $300 700r4 behind it out of the same 90K mile Camaro. I put a 90s LT1 Corvette/Camaro cam in it. It ran better than any of the late 70s 350 Camaros and got double the mileage. Harness was a $25 junkyard score out of an early 90s 4.3L TBI truck. Cruised around and sounded great with long tubes and pypes 2.5" duals with magnaflows.

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[stutaeng]

If the 4.3L runs well. Find a nice boat with a freeze cracked 4.3L. Throw it in the boat, run the dog snot out of it for a season or two, then sell it. I did that with a reman 4.3L I got with an Astro van. Bought the van for $300 at an estate sale out of some guys backyard that had passed away. Once I started cleaning the back of the van and going through what was there, discovered a 4.3L in the back cargo area burried under the grille, fan shroud and other parts.

Thanks for the advice. I posted the 4.3 for almost free. Then offered it for free to by buddy and nephew. They both run that engine in 99 NBS and an S10. Neither were interested.

I don't know anything about boats, just know they are money pits...more so than old Chevy trucks, LOL. My youngest brother did have a boat for a while, I'll ask him if he knows anything about the 4.3 boats...

I did tear down the 4.3 just to take measurements: bearings were worn, and crank needed machining. I did a thread on a 6.0 I was trying to rebuild, but that didn't work out either; I included the V6 teardown as a learning experience since it was just sitting in the back yard, taking micrometer measurements, clearances, etc. It did still run when I pulled it, but it had low oil pressure...if it was dry and could get the darn thing fired up

...same issue as was posted on the distributor thread as the no-starts when damp. :-( Unfortunately, that was a kick in the nuts for me. Trying to explain to my wife truck didn't start when it was damp and couldn't get get the kids to school...you can imagine. SMH, but I just had to realized I could NOT have that anymore. I hope you understand...if you have kids of your own, you will...




I wish I could of rebuild the 4.3, but just don't have time... crank, pistons, rods, and valvetrain are already gone anyways last month.

And moving on to other projects. I'm stubborn on rebuilding LS 6.0 and I've got a complete 8.1/Ally engine combo that I bought for cheap... Lord have mercy on me!

That's cool on that Astro van you mentioned. Those Astros were pretty cool. My oldest brother had one in the late 90s/early 2000s, an early version. They eventually sold it.

One of my sisters bought a newer one and I think they still have it. They eventually bought a second generation Durango after that. The Astro is their backup. My BIL likes Chevy's, but has moved to Dodge recently because he says he can't afford Chevy's anymore (he bought a Ram 1500 ccsb salvage title because that's all he could afford)..and I honestly can't blame him.

A man has to do what he's got to do..
No harm, no foul.