Hungoveraviator
Newbie
So I am just going the easy route and going back to a 4.3 Vortec in my 97 K1500, as this my first time swaping an engine and I want it to be reliable enough where I can drive it across country. My purpose for it is to be my daily driver for now and eventually to be my mountain truck for picking up building supplies and probably keeping at the cabin that I will eventually build. Transmission has been rebuilt and just ordered a Goodwrench Long Block for it. Basically, want this thing to last a long time and be used as a truck.
Previous engine is sludgy as ****, may have bad head gaskets and don't want to dick around with it anymore. Guy before me seemed to enjoy using stop leak to temporarily solve problems. The intake is also all carboned and sludged up but looks like it will be okay after being cleaned out. I have heard the spider injectors are a nightmare, so when I took it off, I avoided them the best I could. If a person gets new injectors is it as big of a pain in the ass? Seems like the only way to really clean it would be to get them out of the way.
Oil cooler lines are leaking, so I figure those need to be replaced, but don't know what the best brand is.
Figure that I might as well do a new water pump. Is there a benefit to high flow ones?
What is the best more long term fix for the stupid plastic intake manifold gaskets?
I am thinking that I might as well do a new radiator too, is it worth it to go with a 4 row?
All of the hoses look like they could stand to be replaced, so I am thinking about doing that.
Distributor has one of the screw holes broken off, so I will be replacing that and putting on new wires. Not sure what kind yet.
Had a code for the Cat, so am thinking that at the very least it should be taken off. The exhaust manifolds look pretty well fused on the block. Are headers worthwhile on a 4.3? Figure either those or new manifolds because it looks beyond the effort I am willing to spend to salvage.
What else should I be thinking about? Any suggestions for a first timer?
Previous engine is sludgy as ****, may have bad head gaskets and don't want to dick around with it anymore. Guy before me seemed to enjoy using stop leak to temporarily solve problems. The intake is also all carboned and sludged up but looks like it will be okay after being cleaned out. I have heard the spider injectors are a nightmare, so when I took it off, I avoided them the best I could. If a person gets new injectors is it as big of a pain in the ass? Seems like the only way to really clean it would be to get them out of the way.
Oil cooler lines are leaking, so I figure those need to be replaced, but don't know what the best brand is.
Figure that I might as well do a new water pump. Is there a benefit to high flow ones?
What is the best more long term fix for the stupid plastic intake manifold gaskets?
I am thinking that I might as well do a new radiator too, is it worth it to go with a 4 row?
All of the hoses look like they could stand to be replaced, so I am thinking about doing that.
Distributor has one of the screw holes broken off, so I will be replacing that and putting on new wires. Not sure what kind yet.
Had a code for the Cat, so am thinking that at the very least it should be taken off. The exhaust manifolds look pretty well fused on the block. Are headers worthwhile on a 4.3? Figure either those or new manifolds because it looks beyond the effort I am willing to spend to salvage.
What else should I be thinking about? Any suggestions for a first timer?
Last edited: