Outer Limits 4x4 Board

G'day,

Does anyone know any general info on the Chev 4.3 litre V6??

I'm after everyone opinion on the motor.

Am lookin at buying a rig with one in them, I have always driven a Diesel.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a heap.

Cheers.

The 4.3 is basically a 305 sb minus 2 cylinders, 262 ci and shares many parts with sb chev - pistons/rods/timing gear/valves etc. They have split throw rod journals to help with balancing like a buick/gmh 3.8 v6. Heaps of performance parts are available from the us for them. Ideal motor for a lux or similar size 4by.

No direct experience but it seems to be reasonably well regarded; it's a cut down version of a small block 350 and there are stacks of aftermarket parts for them.

It is getting to be pretty old school tech though. It's also fairly oversquare ie short stroke compared to the bore which is not to my taste usually but you are always going to get that with a V engine.

Do you know which 4.3 V6 it is? There are some differences, the multipoint injected one would of course be the nicest to get; anyway, there's a bit of info here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Vortec_engine#4300

http://www.goodwrench.com/PartsAccessor ... ngines.jsp

I guess a V6 is a good option if there's not enough room for an inline 6 or a V8

Are you looking at the petrol or diesel version?

KiwiBacon wrote:Are you looking at the petrol or diesel version?

It would be the petrol, the diesel 4.3 was an oldsmobile donk i believe . The V6's were never fitted to local cars they are all imports and were pretty popular before holden started using the Buick 3.8 in 88. I have 2 Buick 3.8's from the late 80's, one with a holley performer manifold. A great resource is the book V6 Power by SA design.

G'day fellers,

Thanks a bloody heap for the info ay. I have never driven anything with a old donk in it except for a Holden VH SLE with the 5lt 308 in it and it gave me nothing but trouble.

This one has "a V6 262ci (4.3litre) chev in it, twin 2" system into single 2.5" Has falcon weber fitted for better driving when on steep hills. still has 5 speed toyota gearbox in it and gear driven transfer case. custom tail shafts front and rear (stronger than stock). rear diff has been welded for better traction off road."

Not to keen on the welded diff, but ah well.

Any other input would be great. Thanks to everyone who has posted and posts soon.

Cheers.

Fmx_Aus wrote:G'day fellers,

Thanks a bloody heap for the info ay. I have never driven anything with a old donk in it except for a Holden VH SLE with the 5lt 308 in it and it gave me nothing but trouble.

This one has "a V6 262ci (4.3litre) chev in it, twin 2" system into single 2.5" Has falcon weber fitted for better driving when on steep hills. still has 5 speed toyota gearbox in it and gear driven transfer case. custom tail shafts front and rear (stronger than stock). rear diff has been welded for better traction off road."

Not to keen on the welded diff, but ah well.

Any other input would be great. Thanks to everyone who has posted and posts soon.

Cheers.

Is it in a hilux or other toyo ? I remember seeing one for sale a year or 2 ago with a chev V6 in it.

Loanrangie wrote:Is it in a hilux or other toyo ? I remember seeing one for sale a year or 2 ago with a chev V6 in it.

Yes, and I think it got a mention on this forum because I remember it too.

Yeh its a Hilux mate.

What was said about the one a few years back?

Thanks fellers.

G'day

put the 4.3 chev in my lux and cant say enuff good stuff about it...initially had fuel problems offroad with a 320 holley,weber downdraft and later the holley version of the qjet but got a 601 rochester q-jet and never looked back...will idle up most hills and has plenty of grunt..I put a mild cam in mine that makes power from 0-2800 and nuthin stops it..things to watch, see if its an early 2 piece rear main, they seep a little.spend the money on a GOOD starter cause those shiny gold ones burn out quick, and (only my opinion) if it hasnt got the hei distributor then get one, points is trouble..bit heavy on juice but maaaaate drop the foot pop the clutch and hang on to your breakfast cause with 4.8 diffs she'll lift the front wheels 2 foot off the ground, (if you can keep traction to the rear)

jarrod
www.sugarloaf4wd.com

One of my fellow work mates had one 10years ago in a d/cab it was great swap but you would use the 4l lexus V8 now.

i had the 3.8 version(229) in my lux and it was great only problem i had with it was the oild screen coming out of pump which lost all oil pressure and i was in a situation where i couldnt back off. result ver smokey motor but i'm actually about to get it rebuilt with mild cam head work and crack tested and bored out block was great with 4.88's in it even on 35's there was pretty much nothin it woudl bog down in off road even with out transfer gears or duals. oh mine was on gas aswell so was cheapish to run

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Q5ej6SPKk3w
Nelson Racing Engines-1073 hp 4.3L V6 Chev....


yes, they go well with a bit of $$$

I'm currently fitting a 4.3 TBI together with a TH700 into my GQ. The complete package came out of a '92 S10 Blazer and weights less than the stock RD28T. The engine has a very good reputation and as said before, lots of aftermarket parts are widely available.

What are the std specs on these motors ? What kind of hp do mild mods make eg cam heads carb exhaust ?

well my 1981 v6 (3.8 litre) out of a camaro made 207 at the flywheel with torgue cam, manifold and on gas with a sweet tune couldn't drive the hilux in the wet without wheel spin through second

MrMaxi wrote:What are the std specs on these motors ? What kind of hp do mild mods make eg cam heads carb exhaust ?

Depends on model year and donor car they came from 165hp min. to about 210hp in stock form. Can be built cheap to about 280hp with cam, extractors, chip and manifold.

I have had a '93 model 4.3 V6 fitted to my Hiace work van which is weighs just over 2 tonne loaded. I find it very torquey down low a pulls strong at low revs, but it doesn't like to rev like a 3.8 buick/commodore engine. '92 is the first year of the balancing shaft and aftermarket performance manifolds fit up to 94 models, after that the bolt pattern changed.
Water pumps and all accessories from the V8 chev go straight on and the bellhousing is also like the V8, not the smaller 3.8 pattern.
No problems with it after 180,00 km except for blown head gaskets which was my fault when a leaky rad hose ran it out of water.
Highly recomended if you want a strong, reliable , low tech engine.

with a mild cam and the heads shaved for the rebuild, on the dyno it has >200HP at the rear wheels.Not sure how much more as the guys dyno only went to 200 and it was bouncing his needle.Thats with 4.88 diffs and 33's in 4th gear @ 2500rpm....plenty torquey

What's the cost of these motors ?

where abouts do you find these motors?

mundy wrote:where abouts do you find these motors?

was a fully reco one on ebay this week $2800 with cam and work done to it.

mundy wrote:where abouts do you find these motors?

In the mid to late 80's there was a huge choice of cheap imported V8's and V6's from the states by places like Eagle engines, John Cain etc, thats why i have 2 Buick 3.8 V6's. I bought 1 to put in my FC holden and the 2nd i picked up locally as it had re designed high port heads and a better range of performance parts available. Suburban Imports would probably have some or would be able to bring 1 in for you.