Chevy 4.3 V6? (1 Viewer)

[Scottkcoop]

So I have been lurking planning to do the vortec swap in the near future, and I have a friend who has a Chevy 4.3 V6 of the ecotech3 variety...along with a 6l80e tranny mated to it. I can get the combo for a pretty good deal (a great deal actually) and was hoping for some advice...

1. Any reasons as to why this is a bad idea? (more complications in the install, etc)

2. The numbers say 285 horsepower along with 305? ft. lbs of torque. Seems pretty reasonable to me, I am not desperate to bark the tires but some power would be nice.

Thoughts?

 

[fjeng]

I am running a 03 LS that has a output around 285 and 325ft lbs which is pretty much the same thing. Diving it it has plenty of power and FUN. I say go for it! If anything you could put a cam in it for lower end torque. The blocks are the same just different cylinder stroke. I can't find anything wrong with your logic.

 

[dbleon]

Power numbers are one thing... look at the respective CURVES.

Or, go drive a Silverado with each power plant (4.3 and 5.3). the difference is night and day even though the power numbers are very similar.

IMO, if your going to all the expense and labor or doing a swap... you really want the v8 for a number of reasons.

 

[Output Shaft]

Below are dyno curves of some Land Cruiser engines and the Chevy 4.3 V6.
Couldn't find the 2F dyno.

The Land Cruiser that were mated to manual gear boxes got low end torquey engines. The ones mated to auto trannies have engines with torque peaks higher up in the rpm range... which is more suitable for an automatic transmission.

But that's just dyno stuff. The real issue is installation of a modern GM Engine.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

There is a local guy that put a Vortec 4.3 into his 40. He said he wished he had gone with the V8. Only reason he didn't was because the engine and transmission were free.

Said he has decent power but it is VERY DIFFERENT than the Silverado 1500 truck he drove to see if he wanted to make that swap.

Also, he said he has tried to sell the rig a few times and as soon as people find out the "6 cylinder" is a 4.3 they pass for some reason.....

J

 

[daytonadogie]

I say go for it! The 6 speed slush box could be a game changer in keeping the 4.3 on the torque curve. Besides, V8 swaps are getting kinda boring . Oh, and please post a build thread for inquiring minds.

 

[Elbert]

v8 is better choice....all things considered. Setup and rigging the 4.3 would be similar to 5.7 swap. Don't recall seeing any 4.3 swaps but thats just from where I sit. I would make sure that the price was a lot better deal over a v8 though...before going to the v6.

 

[wyomingben]

Not worth it.

 

[thatcabledude]

How about the Chevy 4.2 inline 6?

 

[SteveH]

I think resale/desirability of a v6 will be terrible. Given the marginal cost of the engine, do a v8.

 

[NCFJ]

,Seems to me that the only difference between this swap and a Vortec V8 is the price of the motor, trans is similar in both as well. The price of the motor is minimal in the overall cost of a quality swap. There is a reason 5.3L Vortec swaps are getting boring, they work.

If saving a few dollars and doing something different is what you want, go for it.

If building a reliable truck with a swap that has been proven across the automotive spectrum to be reliable and long lasting, go with the V8.

I also agree with posters above, I think the V6 would turn many away that would gladly go for the V8, if you decide to sell down the road. Swapped 60 series become more common every day so shoppers will most likely have other swapped 60s on their radar.

 

[Heckraiser]

That 4.3 would be the bees knees in an older pickup or 4runner.

 

[crashmonk]

I swapped a 3.8 v6 in my Toyota pickup. It was a very cheap swap and that's the only reason a V8 didn't get installed. I wish I had a V8!

In your case of the 285hp v6, I imagine you would be satisfied.

If it's cheaper than the V8, do it!