4.3 TBI in a 40

[Texican]

THe only area of the engine compartment that is "busy" is the area where all the AC hose, heater hose and computer wiring go thru the firewall........notice the GM junction block I use, this comes off the starter, with a fused link, and if you ever need a battery conneciton, it's right here.....I also had to move the sensors I had previously mounted insde the cab, the Vintage Air unit needed the space

 

[Texican]

I also realized when the passenger side fender went back on, there was no f'n way a battery would fit, so it got moved to the drivers side.....some random shots.....

 

[Texican]

We shortened the OEM skid plate, drilled some new holes and bolted it up, it fits like a glove, and we think, looks factory.
Butch

 

[Texican]

Interior all back together, note the vent below the steering wheel, keeps the old jewels nice and cold

Note also the OEM holes in the floor mat, I cut an old inner tube and cleaned it up good, layed it under the mat.........

 

[74fj40]

damn that looks clean. you did a great job, i just finished reading the whole thread

 

[1Fine40]

Awesome job Butch! I especially like the AC!! Wish I had it on my 350........meow,,,....err, did I type that? I mean, I can take the lack of air, but it sure would be nice not to have to....Is that radiator a stock 3 or 4 core?? I know Vintage sells a replacement one, but I don't think it would do much better than a 4-core.......anyway, congrats!

Cheers

 

[Poser]

Upper and lower radiator hose part numbers please....



Looks awsome Butch!

 

[Texican]

Upper and lower radiator hose part numbers please....
Looks awsome Butch!beer:

Damn, a guy over on POR just PM'd me wanting them......we stock NAPA molded hoses and Josh just started bringing them over and trial fitting them til we found a pair that worked.........the lables "should " be in the box in the back of the truck, which is SOP for us, I'll check tommorrow.......
Radiator is a CCOT 4 core replacement.......it was 100 today and I let it idle with the AC on for 20 minutes the CTS reading thru the scanner stayed right at 200, during the test drive it dropped to 190, it has a 195 thermostat....
Thanks for the comments...... my usual goal on these jobs is to the conversion to not look like a conversion........like it was born in there.....

 

[Poser]

You did a damn fine job man!

 

[SpaceGhost]

Very nice Butch, I think you accomplished you goal! Amazing how much more power the 4.3 has over the 2F. I know a SBC would have been too much in my rig. Still can't believe how long I stayed attached to the 2F and sm420, l can't even explain it...........

 

[seventysixforty]

Muchas Gracias Texican!

Hey Butch,

Man, it looks even better than I expected. There are also more vents with the Vintage Air unit than I expected. I'm sure I will appreciate the jewel cooler this summer.

I don't know what to say.

Cheers Butch and Josh

 

[Texican]

Well I just returned from the first extended test drive 50 miles.....mostly highway, had the scan tool hooked up so I could monitor all the sensors and data.....Ran the AC the whole time. Temp on the scanner stayed right at 200, the gauge on the dash was straight up the entire drive......computer CTS is on the drivers head, the gauge sender is on the thermostat housing.......Vehicle has plenty of power, engine is around 2300 RPM @ 70 mph......My impressions, I'm gonna be on the lookout for another 4.3, excellent swap into a 40. ......The Vintage AC heater valve is not closing all the way, letting hot water flow into the heater core and raising the temps from the evaporator......
Other than this one thing, no problems at all.
Butch
____________

 

[woody]

awesome Butch.....project sure turned out DAMN'ed nice!!

 

[Texican]

awesome Butch.....project sure turned out DAMN'ed nice!!

Thanks Woodman,
BTW It's 97 outside which makes the cooling figures more relevant
I'm on my 3rd Yuengling

 

[woody]

93-humid here....2nd beer down, heading out to a few bands fer the evening...

dammit...gonna have to move this to chat....

what's yer impression of torque in low range offroad? Think it'll lug down as deep as the I6 does??

(hyjack recovered...)

 

[Texican]

93-humid here....2nd beer down, heading out to a few bands fer the evening...

dammit...gonna have to move this to chat....

what's yer impression of torque in low range offroad? Think it'll lug down as deep as the I6 does??

(hyjack recovered...)

Who's the mod for this forum?
With the torque multiplication of the auto hell ya' and much easier to control, this rig is open both ends and we swapped 3.73's for hiway, but it climbed a 5 ft wall with very little throttle.
Honestly, I wish like heck I had swapped this setup into my 45 PU.
AC and all.....

 

[Ullr]

Can you make a guestimate at what the total parts cost was?

 

[Texican]

Can you make a guestimate at what the total parts cost was?

5-6K

 

[SHREG]

Man, that looks really good.... Guess we will be seeing more of those....

 

[Ullr]

Thats just kick azz Texican, I wish I could do work like that. Thanks for the pics.