In-Depth Build Of An Old School Chevy 4.3L V6 Build - Engine Power S9, E1&2
Vložit
- čas přidán 1. 06. 2024
- Assembly on the 4.3L engine begins with a solid bottom end, including a set of forged pistons and a bigger cam shaft. Once we install ported cylinder heads, upgraded valve train, and induction...the 4.3L engine shows what it can do in the dyno cell!
0:00 - Intro
0:51 - 4.3L V6 Overview
3:10 - Block Prep And Start of Assembly
11:37 - Antron Brown Interview
17:38 - Balance Shaft Install, Degreeing
24:45 - Final Assembly
33:40 - Valve Train and Induction
38:19 - Dyno
Want to watch POWERNATION completely ad-free? Subscribe at the link below and receive the first month for just 99 cents: bit.ly/2DuRILC
Follow POWERNATION Everywhere:
www.powernationtv.com
/ powernationtv
/ powernationtv
/ powernationtv
PARTS USED IN THIS EPISODE
Matco Tools
Antron Brown
pntv.us/pn_pt_18346_61b113495...
Matco Tools
MATCO Tools are the Official Tool Supplier to Engine Power
pntv.us/pn_pt_18349_627d1f9dc...
Summit Racing
COMP Cams Camshaft
pntv.us/pn_pt_18347_61b113980...
Summit Racing
Total Seal Assembly Lube
pntv.us/pn_pt_18348_61b1140c2...
Summit Racing
Wiseco Pistons
pntv.us/pn_pt_18341_61b10f7ed...
ARP
Bolts & Fasteners
ARP
Digital Rod Bolt Stretch Gauge
ARP
Ultra Torque Fastener Lubricant
Goodson Shop Supplies
Goodson Ring Filer
Shacklett Automotive Machine
Shacklett Automotive Machine
Sunnen Products Company
Sunnen SV-15 Honing Machine
The Industrial Depot
Tools, Hardware, Shop Supplies
Matco Tools
MATCO Tools are the Official Tool Supplier to Engine Power
pntv.us/pn_pt_18357_627d1fad3...
Summit Racing
Cometic MLS Head Gaskets
pntv.us/pn_pt_18355_61ba18723...
Summit Racing
COMP Cams Camshaft
pntv.us/pn_pt_18352_61ba13c54...
Summit Racing
Scorpion Racing Products Roller Rockers
pntv.us/pn_pt_18356_61ba18b2f...
Summit Racing
Wiseco Pistons
pntv.us/pn_pt_18351_61ba139b9...
ARP
ARP Bolts & Fasteners
ARP
ARP Header Studs
The Industrial Depot
Tools, Hardware, Shop Supplies - Auta a dopravní prostředky
![Eminem - Houdini [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/22tVWwmTie8/mqdefault.jpg)
You can see Pat’s influence on Frankie. From the time he started to now the amount of items in his shirt pocket has grown exponentially.
💯
And he's already started telling Dad jokes. 😄
Pat must be feeding him plenty of snacks too, that kids looking more man than boy now!
@Chin-Sun🖤 Piss off troll. Sell spam elswhere.
😂😂👌
Finally after 30 years somebody finally put that motor to good use. Best motor of the '90s
Idk big chief, the Buick 3100/3800 was super great too
It runs, but GM has a knack of overcomplicating everything they touch. Running the 4.3l V6 on a 2004 Astro and it's gone from close to 400 miles per tank to less than 200 is atrocious. And that's after just replacing the whole fuel injection "spider" new valve cover gaskets and PCV valve, complete tune, plugs, wires, cap and rotor. And nothing has changed fuel economy wise, it's disappointing to say the least. My all time favorite V6 of the 90's is the Yamaha 3.0l SHO V6. I'd say it's the best one built.
@@RollingRigTraction lucky i saw this was contemplating redoing my fuel injection system for the same reason on my 02 astro. im getting about 300 miles per tank 3 years ago i was getting over 400. maybe its the gas??
@@slumerican6663 the weak link apparently is the distributor cap and the distributor drive gear that wears. I'm about to pull and inspect mine and order a new drive gear for it. I just did a full "tune up" with new injection spider, new valve cover gaskets, PCV valve, plugs, cap, rotor, and wires and it still gives a terrible 7.8mpg average. It's gotta be the distributor or the lock up convertor in the transmission, or the AWD transfer case fluid coupling that's going out and failing to transmit power efficiently. Personally I'm leaning more towards the distributor drive gear as the culprit.
@@02honeydew Ohhhhh, the 3800 Series 3... Mmmmmm~
I have a warm spot in my heart for this engine, my first truck I ever bought myself was a 1990 chevy s10 4x4 with the 4.3L. I could smoke the tires in that little truck for days. Some of my best memories as a young man. Hope you guys can do something else with this engine I would really enjoy it, thank you for what you've done so far.
I hear you, had an 88 gmc s15 4x4. Had a western 6.5 ft snow plow package on it. Plowed snow like crazy. (NYS)
They were great engines with awesome torque and horsepower numbers for being a V6. I had one in a S10 Blazer. Never had any problems with it. Plenty of power and decent gas mileage. I’ve seen some with over 300K still going strong.
91 Sonoma here! Loved that truck! Had over 300,000 HARD miles on it, the floors rotted out so it went to the scrap yard. Still ran good though!
Is this the same engine that came in the 1987 Monte Carlo luxury sport? 4.3.
@@papergatorzfedducca7998
Yes
Just pulled out my 4.3 to rebuild. Had 286k miles and was still pulling lumber with the truck before I pulled the motor! Great underrated motors.
The 4.3 was a phenomenal V6. I've had 4 different versions and all were reliable and tough
I worked for GM for 15 years and NEVER replaced one. Throttle body injection, you had it made.
Had one in my 88 Monte Carlo luxury sport….man that was the smoothest most reliable engine I’ve ever owned ! Would fire right up in -0 weather No Problem!! Great gas mileage in a vehicle like that too. Never expected it to run/pull so well. I miss that thing
Only thing that we’ll keep me from every rebuilding a v6 or 4 cylinder is that you can buy a v8 that has plenty power and can do just as much performance mods to a v8 as it cost to a v6 or 4 cylinder engine and make more power, any ford or Chevy v8 can be rebuilt or added performance mods for the same price as the parts cost for the v6 motor, no replacement for displacement, that’s just my opinion
What I love about this channel is seeing you build and upgrade unusual engines we don't often get to see, like the AMC i-6 or this 4.3l v6.
Yeah I love the 4.3, mostly because of the reliability and its not hard on fuel and a lot of 350 stuff fits these things like the starters, my 91, the 4.3 starters for it cost like $140 and 350 starter for the same years was $40, and it fits and works perfect. Love these engines.
I have this 4.3 on a 2003 chevy, really nice motor 👌
As a noOb, the fact that you guys slowed down and showed more details was EXTREMELY valuable, more informative, provided more satisfaction from what was learned, an made what you guys accomplished even more impressive
When i was a kid, my stepdad put a 4.3 in a Mustang LX and was giving those 5.0's the blues lol!
One of the best v6s ever built
Nah, the 3800 kicked it's ass.
im partial to the 305e V6 produced by gmc in the 60s. (very unusual motor)
It was absolutely refreshing to watch some guys 100% correctly build and assemble an engine down to checking the actual volume of the Pistons and combustion chambers. I love the little 4.3s. they are torquey little guys
Glad i wasn't the only one waiting for this episode. Great job fellas! Can't wait to see what a power adder can do.
I would like to see some after market go fast parts on this v6. I had a 89 Chevy 1500 Stepside that I loved and as of 2 days ago hunted it down and bought it back (15 years later). I will be restoring her back.
Why?
The 4.3 has a very special place in my heart. The very first engine I ever touched was the 4.3 out of our 83 Olds Cutlass, me and my dad rebuilt it on our living room floor over the winter. 😁 My mom couldn't wait for us to get it reinstalled. That 83 Cutlass eventually became my first car.
I will always have a soft spot for the 4.3 l, my grandad gave me a 91 S10 extended cab with a 4.3 l and an automatic and it was a great truck. At the time I was a teenager and it was hands down the fastest truck I was allowed to drive so I drove the crap out of it. It was incredibly reliable, never gave me any problems till the day I gave back to my dad. It also had an aftermarket exhaust on it that was on it when my granddad bought it and it's the only good sounding exhaust I've ever heard on a 4.3 l, it was nice and mellow and had a good rumble but it was still nice and quiet. I always wanted to pull that engine out and build it up a little bit instead of an LS swap but at the time I didn't have the knowledge or the skills or the tools or even a place to do it so it was a smarter decision to let my dad have it where it would stay in the family and stay taken care of and now it has a 4.8 l and A 4l80E.
It's just really cool to see these guys do what I always dreamed of doing to an engine I always wanted to work on, not to mention all the good memories of that truck that it brought back.
I have an 03 S10 ZR/2 with the 4.3. I have fiddled with exhaust on this truck several times over the years. Last year I put on a Magniflow header pipe with new Cats and a Borla muffler. Closest it's ever been to what I wanted.
i have a 4.3 out of a 79 camaro rs u can have the engine it use to run but we robbed a lot of parts for a v8 like all the front brackets and i need the car for parts i am building a t top 79 z28 rs putting a stroked 454 in it
@@jeffrey4547 Nice! Where is the 4.3 located?
I have that truck with 180k original miles. Love that truck. Never getting rid of it.
I hate when guys do the LS swaps, they're boring way to easy and not to mention you can make a lott of power from the Vortec V6's also the V6 will handle 20 PSI of boost when tuned properly.
I did this almost exact build when these engines came out. I used a little more aggressive cam, and put a 250 NOS kit on it, and put it in a 1973 Vega. One of the funnest toys I've ever had.
👀
Glad you found an engine to put in your Vega. Being a 90 degree V engine, was it a tight fit? As an aside, Pontiac had a version of the Vega called the Astre which had a 2.5 litre Iron Duke engine in it (iron block OHV engine)
Oh man perfect motor for the vega! My buddy's dad has a clean vega Cossie (Cossworth) with a big twin cam quad side draft 4 banger that revs to the moon. Not fast but very cool!!
I doing one for my monza.
I don't know if it's the same engine, but the Brazilian Blazer v6 used to have a 4.3L Vortec Engine. And man... I've seen some Lightweight Chevettes with this engine, and they're simply beasts.
When a 4.3L is referred to as anything "old school", I'm really
feeling "old". Great video. By the way I have a 4.3L , that I hope to rebuild myself.
Do it!! Fun engine to build and can fit in about anything!
lol especially since they were still made in like 2014
Great engines.
It has a cast iron block and can accept a carburetor and distributer. Pretty old school.
@@RickNethery modern truck blocks are still often cast iron, it takes a carb only because they put an aftermarket intake on it. They still made these in 2104 with vortec heads and spider type MPFI. The only real old school thing about it is its roots in the SBC that basically went unchanged for decades but the newest ones are pretty good.
I loved my 4.3 when I drove my s10. I didn’t haul much back then but it had plenty of power for the small truck and was fairly easy to maintain for a teenager just learning to work on vehicles.
Antron Brown really seems like a good guy, excellent driver too. 👌
I've been wanting to to see someone do this!!! I love my 4.3 and eventually want to add some snap to it
I'm weird but I love the way these old V6's sound, especially with a turbo like the Cyclone and Typhoon
The Syclone and the Typhoon were some of the most legendary/rarest pickups ever made man 😩 smoking vettes and Ferrari’s of their day. I had a 4.3 standard cab pickup loved it
Dude. All my friends thought I had a V8. I would romp on this engine
@@FootageFactory I wouldn't admit that... Your friends are fools. 🤦🏻
Yep. You are weird..
@@davelowets That V6 was cool when I was a kid, now the engines that I deal with would shit on whatever you deal with.
I would love to see you guys do a build on a vortec 4200 in-line 6
Check out Nivlac 57 on CZcams..probably the most in-depth 4.2 stuff on the web.
I think Richard Holdener videos do that Atlas engine...
Thanks guys for spending time on the 4.3L. This awesome!
0:24 Let me by saying that I love watching you work together in Power Nation. I suffer with depression and anxiety and watching your show helps me relax. I own a 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo LS 4.3 V6 stock and I wish to have my engine with all the upgrades you did to your engine, but I can’t afford to do so. Keep up the great job and have a safe and wonderful day. ✅
I like the fact that every build is a quality build.
I had a 2.8l 88 s10 when I was younger, was the best truck I ever had. I recently bought a 91 s10 with a 4.3l, and wow! This is a significant change from the 2.8! I spent $600 for the truck, I've spent $3000 so far fixing everything, from heads and exhaust, to a whole new interior and door and window seals..... and probably another 3 to go🤑. But it is a labor of ❤️ and she gives me every penny back driving her.
43 minutes for a lovely 4.3, I see what you did there.
I built my 4.3l by looking at it as a 75% sbc350. Chop off the back 2 cylinders and its nearly the same.
Great engine
my dad had an s10 with this engine and it was awesome. This build needs a power adder and a nice little home in a Chevette!
Took awhile for part 2 of this project but well worth it.. Thoroughly enjoyed the in depth style of build.. Good job fellas..
I've watched this video at least 10x now. I bought a 2003 S10 ZQ8 single cab, 5 speed. I want to do a tribute build to the old syclone using modern technology and products. This build is awesome and a similar one would be a great start on my truck.
I'd love to see you work on the iron duke, these underloved engine series you do are genuinely fascinating
Forklift/generator motor
@@jordanwaughtal7649 And Pontiac Astre (Pontiac's version of the Vega)
It was also used by amc/Jeep for a few years. I have a stock 1981 CJ-5 with an iron Duke 4 cylinder!
Thanks for telling me a few places they've been used! I'm also aware they were in the pontiac fiero thanks to young Ronald Finger and his fiero restoration project here on CZcams :)
@@joannaatkins822 yes, I had a 1988 Pontiac Fiero with a 4-cylinder Iron Duke as well!
This is really cool to watch.. I like how these guys build up different kinds of engines besides the usual 8 cyl. and respect the motors they build with awesome detail, quality parts, and professional workmanship. Great show!👍🔥🔥
I LOVE IT!!! A TRUE PERFORMER FOR A DAILY DRIVER!!!! TOTALLY AWESOME BUILD!!!! THANKS FOR SHARING!!!! SO MUCH FUN!!!!! I LEARNED SO MUCH!!!
We put over 400,000 miles on our Astro van when I was a kid, It was a RWD 1985 and pulled our boat all over the country, It was a great engine.
Had this motor in a new 89 blazer, loved the power with 4.10 gears, great vid guys!!!
4.3 is one of the toughest engines from GM. I've seen many of them with well over 250,000 miles that are still running fine.
My dad's has a 4.3 with a 5 speed manual it has 145k miles and ain't had an oil change in 25k miles and 3 or 4 years and it's still going strong starts right up
I ran my 4.3 with no oil and the lifters ticking for a yr. She still fires right up
@@ryans6449 sometimes I wonder which was more durable the vortec 4.3 or the 350 sb
@@gbux07 why don’t you just change the oil
@@theeoddments960
Cause stupid is as stupid does.
Before I retired, we had several older 1997 Gm mini vans with the 4.3L V6. I really liked those vans and wondered what they would be like with a stronger running engine. NOW I KNOW! Thanks guys!
I've got a 1999 Chevy Silverado 3 door extra cab 1500 with a 4.3L Vortec and it has 210,000 miles on it and it's still running great!
Power Nation should do a giveaway on the 4.3 there's still a lot of us that have S10 / sonoma /Blazer/Jimmy.
Part of me wants to know what an EFI kit would do to the power curves. Some of those bumps in the power curve seem like carb jet transition points.
These motors are popular with boat guys. You can get a marine manifold that fits LS style injectors.
@@komabass yup. I'm fortunately enough to say I own the MPI marine intake base which is what I want to convert my injection system over to from the stock system. However, I think the only con to the MPI intake base is the weight is twice as much then the aluminum base. I believe it's around 46lbs and it's pretty much a heavy cast iron piece but I heard you can do more with this unit when it comes to force induction.
Yes. I want to see it.
Would decrease power!!! The carb always produces more bulk hp than efi every time on the dyno there's thousands of videos made testing that comparison
@@jonathanlawson4667 yep, it’s a fact, the internet told us.
this is awesome seeing powernation building an old 4.3... imagine a old gen 1 astro with a stick and this motor!
I had a 2000 GMC Safari AWD and a 2005 Chevy Astro 2WD, both vans were awesome with the 4.3 Vortec, the previous owner of the 05 made the dumb decision to remove all the oil and fluids during the winter when it was stored, but the only side effect was that it had a bit of a sticky lifter on cold start, once it was warmed and the oil got flowing it was perfectly fine! Unfortunately I lost her in an accident when I first got my license but the 2000 became my daily after my grandfather passed, up until the winter of 2020 she was great but for some reasons due to some All Wheel Drive issues, record snowfall in my town, and the pandemic, I had to park it and by the time we could get it up and running the rear unibody was rotted beyond repair.
Both vans had over 186,000 miles on em and you could set you watch to those engines, It'd be cool to see someone give the Syclone treatment to a Safari as a cool sleeper build
I work on industrial equipment with several of these in service, rock solid engines through and through.
I believe you can also mill 0.020" of the heads for a 0.2 comp increase without having to do a valve job just like the small block. pretty cool to see, it's a nice motor. the way you built it for crazy torque is awesome
This motor looks to have 'rebuilder pistons' in it that sit too low! Have to insist on stock height pistons when doing a rebuild...
One can mill MUCH more than that off the heads...
@@davelowets Yup, But you start to mess with valve train geometry with stock pushrods.
@@jacobvanhalteren7452 Sure. Sometimes you would also with just a head gasket change.
Had a 4.3 vortec in my 95/96 blazer. Pulled the motor and wiring from the 96 and transplanted it in the 95 after the aluminum block cracked in the 95. Obd 1 to obd 2. Was a cool project when my dad was still alive. Good memories
What "aluminum block"...?! }:(
That little sucker would drop right into my 2002 Aztec, SWEET !!!
I love the 6 cylinder stuff all you see is v8 stuff mostly it’s nice to see power coming from a smaller lighter engine
How about a Typhoon/Syclone tribute turbo build for this particular engine? I know SPATurbo and CXRacing make single turbo exhaust headers for this application. Thanks for doing such a cool build on an otherwise forsaken little motor.
Where the hell was this video back when I owned my s10 lol. Nice video and great numbers increase. I realize it's not spectacular compared to today's engines but getting those kind of gains from a stock 4.3 is very impressive. 👏👍
Back in the day I had a gmc truck and did a lot of the things on mine you have done here I ran mine with a 600cfm holly 4br and a nx starter kit had lot of fun thanks for taking me back
Years ago I had my 4.3 built professionally by a NHRA builder and threw everything Edlebrock, ARP, and Crane made for it, put in front of a B&M stall converter & shift kit trans. in a S-10 Blazer with headers. Fun to drive
I am glad to see some new builds other than the typical V8s. I loved seeing the slant 6 and ford 300. I hope yall branch out even more and do some 4cyl and v6 builds, maybe from JDM manufactures. I am a car lover of all types/brands and can watch engine builds all day. I have a KA24E Nissan engine in my truck and a K24A2 Acura engine in my car. Both good engines I would love to see built up.
Yes but I don't think they want to see a properly built Supra or Skyline engine destroy some of those v8 builds. Even the late Evo engines made stupid power out of a 2.0L. Thinking the FQ400 spec.
They did a ford 4 cylinder a few years ago
13:30 wearing a tape measure, multi-tool, and multiple pens in a pocket protector while interviewing a pro dragster mechanic is a total power move 👍🏻
I have 400,000 miles on a Vortec 4.3 in my 1500 Express van .
Runs perfect uses no oil.
One valve job using used heads I lapped valves and a fuel Spyder .
Amazing motor good power good mileage cheap east to fix.
FINALLY!!! A 4.3L V6 build. I've been waiting FOREVER!
Man I love 4.3s I would to see you guys build this for the max power!!!!!
This is really awesome. Thank you guys for doing the build on a V6 especially the S 10 V6. Because this translates to my Ford ranger 4 L V6 build. Definitely would love to increase the compression ratio on this engine at least to a boost friendly 10:1 compression ratio.
Well I don't know about that 10:1 CR being boost friendly. Knock friendly yes!!
You couldn't go over 10 maybe 15psi boost unless you get some race gas with that compression unless you forge it most likely
Well the three different sets of pistons that I’ve found for the Ford ranger 4 L V6 are only nine to one compression ratio. So I guess I’m safe. Hopefully I can run 7 pounds of boost and stay at that level. The closer I get to 350 hp the better because that would be awesome in that little truck. The one pictured to the left.
I owned several Astro vans with the 4.3 over the years. Seems I had good luck with them, never had to rebuild or replace it.I had one go almost 500 thousand kilometers before I sold it. Other friends with the same vans either repaired the 4.3 or swapped in a 350 V8. Cool video.
I love my 2000 4.3 @ 249k. Thank you for doing a V6.
You must have at least 5 pens in your pocket to appear in this video.
Lmao 😂
I had a 94 S10 SS with the 4.3L V6 and it had a compression ratio of 11:1 and 285 hp it was badass
My neighbor just sold his S10 SS. He blew up the engine and decided he didn't want to mess with it and sold it. I have a 2004 4.3 balance shaft V6 with 197,000 miles on it I want to sell but when I saw him is when the guy that bought it was there to pick it up. He said he already had a motor for it so I am stuck with it until I can sell it.
Antron is a very well spoken representative of himself, and the brand he is sponsored by. What a cool chance to meet and talk with him it must have been for those students!
real good engines. some people complain but those are some of the most reliable engines. 500k daily driver, don't have to replace to much on the engine. time after time. pretty neat to see it all dolled up hahaha.
i think i ran one one time on 5 cylinders for 6 months, spark plug got loose. when i pulled it out, it looked like a small turd.. still ran just about the same i guess. put a new one in, torqued it. drove it for like two more years i think.. never gave me a problem. great engine.
great build really appreciate it but it would've been cool to have a full parts list of what you all used
Hey guys, great series, I have two of these in my 1999 Sea Ray Sundancer and that flat torque curve is fantastic. If it’s feasible I would love to see what it does with the stock Mercruiser 2bbl manifold and carb. I will definitely save this build. My question, anything special needed for a marine application? Thanks, Jon
My 91.4.3 is waiting for a rebuild, I got a few ideas from this video, glad I watched this. Good job. If this were a 350 that would be 325 hp 370 ft-lb.
I’m glade I looked up v6 builds first and found this video because I’m think of doing this instead of swapping it
You Guys Rock!
If you have a chance,try a performance build on a 4.2 GM DOHC Inline 6.
That would be Super Cool!
yes! I saw somewhere a 500whp one with pretty low boost and a basically stock engine.
What a great episode, Very impressed with the power increase
Love this episode. I have a 98 S10 LS 4.3 V6 I bought new off the show room floor. I’ve been the only owner, 190,000 mi and still going!
mine has 337k miles and still going good so youll have plenty more to go
Release a powerblock/powernation video every sunday. I used to watch these on tv back in the like saturday morning cartoons. Maybe start with season one if you don't have any new ones? All the shows too please? Now that I bought a jeep I have a lot of extreme 4x4 to catch up on.
Something like this would be an awesome upgrade for the 4.3 LX I have in my boat. I know they're not identical, but could probably get pretty darn close.
I’ve been waiting for this one. I had this same motor in my 87 Monte Carlo LS.
I had one in my 83 Cutlass. I had an 87 Cutlass with a 350 rocket.
Owning a car powered by a Chevy 90 degree V6 (229), I have to say that they are all around fantastic engines. Dead solid reliable, more than enough pull to move even my 83 Impala, plenty of room in the engine bay to work on it, and great fuel mileage (18mpg average). I am very much intrigued by the 4.3, and intend to own at least one vehicle with that engine
Why not? I pulled the 2.8 out of my son's Firebird and dropped in a 4.3 that took me 2 years to build in the garage. After he went 1 year without tickets I put it in and almost doubled the hp and he loved it until he bought his own car. The guy who bought it still has a blast driving it and its at 280,000 miles and still pulling strong and it makes 260hp at the rear wheels.
Got to meet Anton Brown. He's a great guy and gets so excited about whatever he does.
That's almost what we got with my 4.3L that was put into my Typhoon. They are very similar just mine had lower compression (8.7:1cr), Eagle H-beam rods, a .513 lift comp cam, SPA Turbo manifolds (ran stock N/A manifolds/Y-pipe on the dyno) and the Edelbrock 2114 intake was modified for fuel injection with Holley 120 lb. injectors (ran an untuned 850cfm on the dyno). We ran N/A on the dyno just so we wouldn't have to hook up all the turbo and fuel injection stuff but mine made 276hp @ 5300 and 306ft-lbs of torque @ 4200.
Can't wait to see what happens with it when you add a little bit of spice to it.
Outstanding video! I have a 2012 4.3 Chevy truck with 60k miles on it. I'll contact Powernation for a build when I hit the lottery.
Update: I forgot about the 1979 Chevy Monza 2+2 I bought new. All black, 4.3 V-6.
Fair winds and following seas to all.
I was thinking about twin turbos with a 6.0 in my 2010,but it just might be a little cheaper to build the 4.3.I will definitely find a engine builder now.
@@rodneyhickman598 Howdy, Jarhead! My friend, a certified mechanic who owned a repair shop, was going to help me with a build on my 4.3 Chevy, but he passed away unexpectedly last month. Instead of a rebuild on the 4.3, I'm now just planning on exhaust headers, a stainless catback, and lower it 2" front/rear. Holler if you rebuild your 4.3, would like to hear about it.
Fair winds and following seas.
@@GySgt_USMC_Ret. How are you doing Gunney? Sorry for the passing of the man who was going to help you. My grandfather was a master mechanic retired all he did after retirement was cowboy and collect cards. So I have always been around cars and people working on them. Wish that I had the space to work on my own stuff.
@@rodneyhickman598 Doing well here. Still missing the Corps and wishing I had stayed for 30. But I have a plan. Reincarnating somewhere in the multiverse as a Space Force Marine. I have an in-house garage, but it's only big enough for the yard equipment, so all my projects have to take place in the driveway. Best to all.
@@GySgt_USMC_Ret. Sign me up I will join🤣🤣🤣🤣. Did 12 years I am a E/7 as well or when I was inlisted I was. I am 100% got popped in Iraq twice,my most was 0313 but we were always with H&S Co Comm plt. Last duty station was Camp Lejeune.
In 1996, I had a delivery job at Modine radiator distributor. We used to fight over the S10 with the 4.3 Vortec. It had a live axel which made it sketchy on turns with rough pavement/railroad tracks but it had great midrange punch on the freeway
Watching this was really interesting and informative! Goes to show that a properly hand-built engine will have significant gains over stock. I've always heard that the 4.3 is a 350 with two missing cylinders, but I didn't realize how true that was until I saw 350 forged pistons being installed. I've also heard that turbos and certain 350 superchargers will bolt onto these with next to no modification.
Always had a soft spot for the 4.3s, especially because my truck has one. (2000 Silverado 1/2 ton, L36 engine.) It's currently sitting at 244k miles with plenty of life left in it! It specs around 200 HP and 260 Ft/Lbs stock, which is plenty of grunt for what I use my truck for. The stock exhaust also has a nice rumble to it that the v8 LS based trucks don't even compare to in my opinion.
Uses same rods, bearings, pistons etc...
Awesome job, Pat and Frank. The v6 runs like a beast. 262 horse power. Big👍🤘🤘
Yeah. 60hp/litre. That is amazing
Better off building a 350
Nice. Now that the friendly 4.3 is done, now do a build with a supercharger!!
Wouldn't survive. Anything over 400hp is a death sentence for a 4.3. speaking from experience.
@@evracer what breaks first tho?
@@savagesock3598 the crankshaft.... There is no option for a forged crank, and a billet is going to cost you 3 Grand at least. A lot of them won't survive 400 horsepower on a stock crank because the stock crank pending on the one you get can be a pool noodle. All it takes is a little bit of crank bendy and you grab a bearing and the whole bottom and destroys itself. Add to that that none of the stock blocks have priority oiling to the mains... Too much clearance and one lifter and the whole thing goes boom.
@@evracer a solid 300Hp with turbo/SC would be perfect. I can see that the crank and block can't handle 400, but it would be super cool if it could be done!!
I've always enjoyed the torque and reliability of the 4.3 V6. 👌
I have this engine in my truck 176,000 miles ! I’m happy you guys finally did this engine!
More than HP numbers I'm amazed by that torque. It's a very smooth, almost flat line, all the way until HP starts to peak.
It'd made a great engine for an off road project with that smooth torque curve and 262 HP isn't bad either- that's 100 hp gain NA on pump gas with off the shelf parts and a bit of work.
With fuel injection and a turbo like the Syclone/Typhoon had, this thing would SLAY! Maybe a 4 door "Typhoon" build to put that engine to good use? :D
Would have been cool to see some baseline runs. Like with the engine when first delivered, then either with the new cam or porting, and then both as they did here. Curious what the cam alone and porting alone was worth.
Yeah, this motor looks to have 'rebuilder pistons' in it that sit too low! Have to insist on stock height pistons when doing a rebuild...
Couldn't do a baseline on this engine. They started with a shortblock.
Is it just me or do you just wait and listen for the most satisfying click from the torque wrench 🔧 🤔
Good episode. Seeing the measurements is great.
Would love to see that 4.3 put into an old cj5.
i was just thinking that engine would be a great motor for an old jeep!
And this will be going in my saved video list. I've got a 92 V6 out of an S-10 that I'm gonna rebuild and put a centrifugal supercharger on it. Richard Holdener here on CZcams put a Torqstorm on one and got big numbers.
I suggest a turbo instead. The 4.3 was made for a turbo. Chevy made the typhoon and the cyclone for this reason. A solid turbo build will put down some huge RELIABLE numbers.
It is about time you did the 4.3
I once had a 2000 Chevy Astro cargo van with a 4.3L V6 in it. Loved it!
But the rear end has gone out and then the brake lines rusted through and the gas tank got a hole in it..... And that was the end of The rolling money pit 1.
Only a 3.08 rear-axke ratio in it but it still had pretty decent off the line from a standing start. I can see if one's a tradesman like a plumber with heavy tools you'd want to upgrade that to a bigger ring gear. The original owner I bought it from was a tradesman hanging electrical signs and did not carry much weight in it.
Replaced by a 1999 Toyota Solara V6 that has been kicking my ass working on it since I'm used to American cars and it's become rolling pit number 2.
I'd love to see a race build for around 500hp
I would like to see how that V6 would do with 10.2.1 or 11.2.1 compression
destroked and rev it to 8500
@@mrsquishyboots tried it.
Unless you find one of the old bowtie/nascar forged cranks they disintegrate well before that.
Heads are a problem as well the vortecs can be modified really good but the swirl ports are useless above 5k.. 6" rods, thin ring pistons, roller valve train lot can be done.
I know it sounds crazy but cheaper to to build a v8. Talked to lot of engine builders trying chase down a set of gm performance parts aluminum race heads, several mentioned the the cost was why nascar moved away from it.
You wouldn't see it long. Scatter traps when other than stock. The stock crank is a pool noodle.
@@deweysturgill6220 those cranks were all gone 15 years ago. Your only option now is billet.....For about $3,500.
@@evracer yeah I know. I searched a long time, even had family and friends worked on Cup cars chasing them for me. Finally come across some of the Bowtie tall port race heads, intake and an odd fire crank, but never followed up on purchasing them.
That was 20years ago, still regret it every time I see the occasional s10 or a Sonoma .
After the years of me waiting, I finally get rid of mine and you post it
Similar to my 4.3 Vortec. I used four valve relief pistons. But I also set my deck clearance at 0.00", and milled the heads. My cam is the Crane hydraulic roller. My heads are mildly ported. And I have 1.6:1 rockers. But I'm running the Vortec intake, and Hedman full length headers.
It's just 3/4 of a Chevy 350 small block. Treat it like one. I honestly wish that I had put a set of two valve relief flat tops, or a set of small domes in mine.
I'd narrow up the LSA, but mine is Vortec EFI, so I doubt very much that it would like the lower manifold vacuum at idle.
I’d love to see this in a grand national and turboed!
you would need to disassemble it,lower the compression with dished pistons and probably recam it
@@trillrifaxegrindor4411 The pistons are forged flattops and a 9.25 CR is fine for a turbo. It's the rods and crank that won't handle it. And yes, a cam change would most likely, be necessary to get the most out of it.
@@trillrifaxegrindor4411 I know all that I didn’t wanna get very specific with things I would just like to see the swap, but yeah there would be quite a few changes needed
ahh the ol 4.3.... the power of a 4 cylinder with the fuel economy of a V8
200 hp stock. How do you figure.
Had a 1992 GMC Sierra with 4.3 & 5spd. Good power and better MPG than my 4.2 V6 F150 & 3.7 V6 Ram.
So nice to see yall do good justice to some of these more interesting and less known about builds
I have owned 2 C1500s w 4.3 and 5 speed transmission. I have had the 140hp flavor rather than 190; TBI versus EFI. I will never forget the fist time I let one do a donut in a parking lot. Those big 6s have a lot more torque than expected. A buddy of mine always had auto trans models and was amazed how I could chirp tires shifting from 1st to 2nd...torque.
Too bad they don't offer many performance parts for them.
The weak part of the 5 speed is the shifter Chevy uses for the NV3500. I didn't want to spend $500 for a Hurst/Core shifter so never knew the advantages.