I was recently informed about a GM V6s from the 60's and promptly did some online research which yielded little useful info. So anyone have any practical info about them? I am considering them as a possible engine option for my worktruck/daily driver. Most important things I need to know are common problems, approx. mpg, how many thousand miles they will get to on average and transmission options. If I do get one I will get a crate motor so I am not worried about the low HP.
all i know about them is that when i first saw one i thought something was wrong because it wasnt quite symmetrical, then my dad explained what was going on with the heads
V6 from the 60's would be the Buick, was later referred to as 3800. Early had limited trans unless you could find stick bellhousing. Later ones shared front wheel drive bellhousing pattern including 200R4 and s10 sticks. Had a supercharged 95 Riviera that ran like stink and got 21-22 on the hiway. Chevy made a 4.3 V6 in the 70's that takes all 350 Chevy stuff. Probably going to cost you as much as a 350 Target motor when your done. If your looking for engine for your avatar how about a late model Trailblazer OHC 6 from a wrecking yard. If you can deal with the electronics, might be a neat rig.
I did presume you didn't want a GMC truck V6. They are terrible, a lot of torque, but lousy gas mileage.
Also look at an S10 with 5 speed transmission. It can be converted ti a non computer motor. Edelbrock has the intake gmcbubba here on the hamb makes a distributor. I had one in my roadster and loved it. Good luck
Probably the biggest downside to using the V-6 in the quest for mileage is it's lack of torque which is needed to move a truck with the aero dynamics of a brick,the smoother design of modern trucks is to promote better fuel economy by lessoning wind resistance.Since you cannot do that with your truck I would do some "old school" tricks from back when we had the "Jimmy Carter" gas crisis.Using a 305 as a base with a 2004R overdrive,Crower still has available the fuel saver torque cams,use an Edelbrock Streetmaster intake with a 390 Holley and 1 1/2" primary headers and you should cruise around 25 -27 MPG with a light foot.Have GMC Bubba dial in an HEI to match your combo.
Can't tell what truck that is in your avatar or if that's the same work truck/daily driver you are talking about but as far as 80s v6s in general the 4.3 would be the best choice. Good mileage and a fair amount of torque. I've had a few of them in S10s and Astro vans and 250k miles is no problem with regular oil changes, but thats with injection....probably less if you go with a regular carb setup. About as easy a swap as a SBC. I think crate motor options are limited though and if the truck didn't come with one in the first place then buying a good motor/Trans from a donor would be a lot easier. I have an 86 Astro with 60k miles on it that I'm saving to put in something. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
My father bought a new one in the early 60's in a pickup truck and didn't keep it but a few months. No power and ****ed gas
I use the 4.3 with a carb in my O/T S-10, it gets better mileage then when it was injected....Used the 229 distributor and 2101 edelbrock intake. Geat torque, 4.11 gears with a 4L60 (not the 4L60E) trans. On the 305 GMC, DO NOT run it hot...you WILL crack a head (ask me how I know)
They were called "paint shakers" for a reason. Three inch thick motor mount rubber.. Took GM many years to perfect that basic engine. Then they discontinued it.. Worked on the larger versions of the GMC 305 V-6 in school busses back in the sixties. What a turd!
The newer 4.3L engines will give good mileage, torque and have lots of support. I plan on using one in another Studebaker project with an automatic.
Put a '64 cast iron Buick V-6 in a Datsun pick up. The odd firing (90/120degree) was a problem. Stuck a warner t-10 four speed behind it, Other than the odd firing order, it was a pretty good combo.
all the Buick development went into the even-fire engine (1979-1987). From this engine came the stage 2 on and off center blocks. They make lots of HP but cost lots of money. A na 231 or 252 Buick will make a streetable 200 to 250 hp. TA Performance has a great set of heads for this engine but expensive. http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/photoguideindex.html some information on this site if you are interested. regards Greg Hornbostel
4.3 is a 350 with 2 cylinders missing from middle. Also missing center main feeding oil gallie which makes, as Txturbo says, frequent oil change is mandatory. On carburated motors drilled for fuel pump, use V8 pump upside down. Grind crank to 2.100 w stroke to 3 9/16 using 229 rods and V8 stroker pistons.
I'll second that on the high mileage.....I ran one up to 316,000 and it was still running good and using one quart of oil in 3,000 miles when I parked the truck due to rust.
I have read that a V8 pump mounted on a 4.3 V6 will leak oil thru the pump's breather. The 229 distributor is for an odd fire engine. The 4.3 is even fire. Old style non-computer distributors are available on Ebay. I put one together by combining a 75 straight 6 and a 75 v8 distributor. First 4.3 was in 1985. They had two piece rear seals in 1985 only. 1985-86 did not use roller lifters. GM added a balance shaft about 1992. Astro trucks had cast iron high rise quadrajet manifolds in 85-86. There were aluminum blocks and heads available from the GM parts departments but they were pricey!
Grab a 3800 drive line out of a Camaro. Them damn things run forever with minimal care. There's cheap parts everywhere Fwd 3800 is the same long block and good runners are 350.00 if you do wear one out.
got one in silverado 4.3 with manual trans, runs good, lots of torque, not fast , but very good normal operation
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