High School Kid’s Build, Question...

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94burbk1500

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The 4.3 in my RCSB has enough power to do what I need it to but not enough for me to start whopping on it for fun. Keeps me out of trouble and the truck doesn't break.
Sounds boring, you mean you don't fix your truck weekly? What do you do with all the free time?:rotflmao:
 

Aarong23

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The 4.3 in my RCSB has enough power to do what I need it to but not enough for me to start whopping on it for fun. Keeps me out of trouble and the truck doesn't break.
I had a 97 GMC with the 4.3 and I loved that engine until a semi took it out. I was able to get that thing side ways and light up the one tire. Lol

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Z71Hobbs

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There’s a guy on here who regularly beats on his tuned 4.3, @DF4x2, and went through several trans, finally went 4l80e and seems to be doing well! Maybe he can shed some light here.
 

94burbk1500

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I had a 97 GMC with the 4.3 and I loved that engine until a semi took it out. I was able to get that thing side ways and light up the one tire. Lol

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You're lucky the truck was the only thing that semi took out!
 

df2x4

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There’s a guy on here who regularly beats on his tuned 4.3, @DF4x2, and went through several trans, finally went 4l80e and seems to be doing well! Maybe he can shed some light here.

:lol: I already posted on the first page! But yeah, I actually really do like the 4.3L V6. It's not quite enough for me any more, but prior to the 4L80E swap it had plenty of power. The extra rotating mass of the 4L80E took some pep out of it's step. It's still fine for a daily, but I can't get it to break the tires loose on dry pavement any more. The factory 3.42 gears aren't helping that I'm sure.

Back when it still had a 4L60E it was surprisingly powerful for what it was, though. I could do donuts on dry pavement at will and it ran a mid-17 second quarter mile, which I thought was pretty damn decent for a mostly stock V6 in a full size truck. Also worth mentioning that it's been just about the most reliable engine I've ever dealt with. I do beat on it very regularly, it sees WOT at least once every time I drive it. Roughly 150K miles and still running factory gaskets, injector spider, etc. Doesn't leak or burn a drop of anything. Runs 50 PSI of oil pressure at hot idle, in gear. I just change the fluids and it keeps on taking all the abuse I can throw at it.

I've been half-ass looking for an LQ4 to swap in but I really don't want to until the V6 has an issue of some sort, which at this rate may be never. They're great little engines.
 

Aarong23

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:lol: I already posted on the first page! But yeah, I actually really do like the 4.3L V6. It's not quite enough for me any more, but prior to the 4L80E swap it had plenty of power. The extra rotating mass of the 4L80E took some pep out of it's step. It's still fine for a daily, but I can't get it to break the tires loose on dry pavement any more. The factory 3.42 gears aren't helping that I'm sure.

Back when it still had a 4L60E it was surprisingly powerful for what it was, though. I could do donuts on dry pavement at will and it ran a mid-17 second quarter mile, which I thought was pretty damn decent for a mostly stock V6 in a full size truck. Also worth mentioning that it's been just about the most reliable engine I've ever dealt with. I do beat on it very regularly, it sees WOT at least once every time I drive it. Roughly 150K miles and still running factory gaskets, injector spider, etc. Doesn't leak or burn a drop of anything. Runs 50 PSI of oil pressure at hot idle, in gear. I just change the fluids and it keeps on taking all the abuse I can throw at it.

I've been half-ass looking for an LQ4 to swap in but I really don't want to until the V6 has an issue of some sort, which at this rate may be never. They're great little engines.
I can't agree more with this. Mine at 152k, I had replaced the distributor and the fuel pump. Other than that, it was rock solid. Eith those parts, new plugs and wires, and the dumped flow master, it was a little beast. Go to empty parking lots and could make all kinds of tire smoke. The 4.3 for what it is, is a great engine.
 

df2x4

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I can't agree more with this. Mine at 152k, I had replaced the distributor and the fuel pump. Other than that, it was rock solid. Eith those parts, new plugs and wires, and the dumped flow master, it was a little beast. Go to empty parking lots and could make all kinds of tire smoke. The 4.3 for what it is, is a great engine.

If it's a '96+ Vortec, a tune from a reputable place like Black Bear Performance really wakes them up, too. I did a full 3" Gibson exhaust with shorty headers and Magnaflow Y-pipe on my 4.3L truck and then got a tune. It was a night and day difference. I've had it altered a bunch of different times but right now I've got it set up to run on 91 octane with the factory shift points and firmness settings from a '90s 4.3/80E Express Van. It may be slow but that first gear pull to 55MPH is fun!
 
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