4.3 litre motor... Stupid, or not a bad idea

I hear everyone going with the Flatheads, or a smallblock. I would LOVE a HEMI, but can't aford one right now. HoweverI do have a Vortech 4.3 in the garage looking for a home. It needs a full rebuild, but it is there. I know it is not exactly "traditional" but the "price is right." Should i run it, or just grab a regular small block? I already have the TH400 on the floor in the garage.

Thanks
dIma

 

What Kind Of Car

 

Depends - what car and are you going to run a hood?

If you run a hood, keep it closed, and tell people you have a 265 without specifying how many cylinders, you'll probably be okay.

On the other hand, a 4.3 with vintage small block dress up parts could be interesting looking. Or maybe with a set of those aluminum Oldsmobile valve covers shortened up.

-Dave

 

I ran 1 in a Model A. drove it from Indy to SoCal with cruise and air on. Great gas milage and had enough power

 

Awesome little engine. Not a pretty one, though.

Either (A) hide it "as-is" or, (B) dress it up to look old.

I'd encourage you to try (B), only because I've never seen it done before on this engine, and it'd be cool as hell if you could pull it off.

Besides...if you don't like the way it looks, there's always (A)...

~Scotch~

 

That's stock in my '98 Astro, 200hp, 250 tq. It throws the Astro around no problem. It should do fine in a light weight rod.

 

It is ugly.... They can be built for good HP.. There are intakes for carbs available to get rid of the TBI injection... I got a 276 desoto hemi that was a runner. It has the heads off right now.. cleaning up to paint it.. The direction of my build changed and I am going to run a 440 now.. A gasket set and a water pump and you would be able to run it..I will sell it for $500.00 to move it.. Jason.

 

my buddy has used them in his last 2 32 ford builds.....with the hood on ....you'd be hard pressed to tell it....his old 4dr 32 is now out on the west coast living the good life....something about a crew car at the salt flats.... brandon

 

This (mounts to a four-barrel intake)...



...and these...



...would be a good start.

-Dave

 

Limited parts but Hot Rod put one on a dyno after monkeying with it and came up with almost 300hp, so probably in reality 250. I have one in my 2002 Sierra and it will pull a 22 ft boat on flat land without much strain.

 

The 4.3 V6 has always been the orphan Chevy engine. I can see that thing making a T roadster (modified, track, bucket or Fad car) or any Model A a good fast and dependable powerplant.
They're plentiful as hell 'cause every Astro van and GMC whatever it is, plus many S10 and other cars, used them, stick or auto.

 

It will be going in a 30/31 Model "A" pickup.

Bear, I may hit you up on that. I gotta see what directionthis build is going to go. I want to be completely done for under 5g's.

Dima

 

Buddy had one in a Model A and worked out great. 90's models are roller motors so don't have to swet the ZDDP oil issues.

 

4.3 is a stout v-6. Ive run a few of them and have about 3 dissasembled out in my ship right now. Bullet proof and will run with a stock 305 with little work. Best of all they use all the v-8 accessory drive brackets and bolt up to V-8 trans. Their just a 350 with two cylinders lopped off.

 

I would look for something else... A V6 just doesnt look right...or sound right in a hot rod...
Your going to have at least $500 in a full rebuild on it anyways....
Why not try to find a decent runner V8 instead?

 

My '96 S10 4.3/5 speed is an excellent comprimise between power and fuel mileage. The early ('85-'86) engines came in trucks with a high rise quadrajet intake. If you decide to retrofit it to a non-computerized ignition system, don't be tempted to use a conventional H.E.I. from the similar 200-229 V6; it'll drop in, but won't run right.

 

I personally like the idea of a V-8 but would never say never.. A buddy of mine has V-6s in two of his rides and they come off real well. This hobby/life style is about doing it your own way with the parts that ya have. It's been beat thru many-a-head since this has taken off that our founders of Hot Rodding used what they had.
Goforit.
What's the worst that can happen. An engine swap for the Hemi later. Sounds tuff to me.
SeeYa!

 

I'm using 1 in my next project. injected and automatic overdrive. Should make a fantastic daily runner I can take to Cali on a whim

 

I'd use it if it was good and I could make it work (IE electronics etc) but I don't think I'd drop the money on a rebuild. For what the rebuild costs you aught to be able to buy a whole running vehicle of some sort with a good motor and trans. Well, maybe not on the west coast, I don't know, but around here it's not hard to find a $500 runner, the truck I drive every day was a $500 runner and has a 350 in it.

 

they run great you can use small block chevy rods and pistons. they make a decent amount of speed parts for them. and everything can be made to look cool and old. you can always shorten valve covers to make them fit, im sure you could find a cool intake setup to run.

 

Good little motors but sound like crap. To use the small block pistons and rods, you have to run the earlier crank.

Had one in the fleetline. It moved it ok and go t good gas milage.

 

I'm running on in a very light '23 T roadster built in Lakes Modified style. Sweet little engine. Sounds a lot like a straight 6 with split exhaust manifold. I'd avoid the TH400, however. They eat up a lot of power and are overkill behind a V6. I'm running a Borg Warner T5 behind mine, and it works great.

Bob

 

I say go for it, but then again, I like reliability, being different than everyone else, and using what you got laying around.

They're not ugly, just 3/4 of a 350 V8.........
......tell everyone its got a 3/4 race cam!

 

I've had a lot of 4.3s and have never had critical problems with them. Even filled one with water/sand. it fired right back up after cleaning the cylinders, and even got 4,000 miles on no more than 10psi oil pressure..

Extremely durable engines, there are many mods similar to a v8 chevy motor.

Saying Vortec are you talking about a carb'd vortech, TBI, CPI, or multiport. i know they came in all of them. I'm most familiar with the TBI and CPI. Both can be a pain to setup if you dont have a donor vehicle. I would look for a beat up s10 pickup 2wd from early 90s if its TBI. I picked up a good running s10 for $200.

I would say dont be afraid to show it off! Be different, thats what its about. After a good rebuild, your hot rod will have some decent power (my 96 4x4 blazer can spin 32" BFG a/ts well into 2nd gear... stock motor and drivetrain). And youll even get some pretty good gas mileage. I would expect around 25mpg cruising.

 

A guy around here got one in a T roadster got chrome headers,finned aluminum valve covers,4 barrel,looks and sounds good.

 

run it

 

The pre-OBDII ones would work fine without fretting over electronics. Remember... they put these motors in boats for years and years. There's plenty of hi-po stuff (Intakes, headers, etc.) for the (I think) '92 and down (non "W" or "X" motors) out there... not cheap but dare to be different right?

Check out this if your feeling really handy and have money to burn... http://www.speedomotive.com/ps-502-81-43l-to-272-cid-v-6-stroker-crank-kit.aspx

Went back and re-read... "vortech"... forget it. Don't waste your time or $

 

I've always wanted to see what could be done with one using good looking speed equipment. Shortened early valve covers, intake for 2 carbs, points-type distributor, etc. It would take some work, but could look good and they do run well. The only one that really sounded good, however, was running open exhaust with a a 5' pipe that was 4" in diameter. Vintage it's not, but they run good and should be able to look decent also with some work.

 

Disregard the comment about the 229 distributor; it works great if you use a 4.3 capThe 229 is odd fire,the 4.3 is even fire;that's why you MUST swap the cap. I had a 4.3 in my shoebox,people looked at it and didn't notice under the early olds air cleaner. Ran quiet mufflers,2.79 8 inch and BLEW by many overcammed V-8's.

 

for what it costs to rebuild that 4.3 you could have a decent 350 chevy v8. that would give more horsepower and make the car apeal to more buyers when or if you sell it. i think i would go with the small block v8 since your v6 needs a total rebuild by your own admission.