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 Post subject: 4.3 upgrade questions
PostPosted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 5:33 pm 
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Joined: Fri Apr 17, 2009 11:29 am
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Location: spokane, wa
I have read most of the forums on v6 upgrades here. I have a few questions about upgrading my 1980 2wd luv to a 4.3l. First off it seems that it would be easier to install a tbi instead of a vortec v6 because of the wiring harness and computer, is that a good observation? I have read some forums about staying away from engines with a balance shaft, why is that?


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PostPosted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 6:32 pm 
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Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:57 am
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Location: Minden, Nevada
Computer wiring is computer wiring. Get the harness and computer from the donor vehicle. Some people put a manifold and small 4 barrel on them. The TBI engine controls are a little less complicated. Actually all the factory did is cast a new intake and put the EFI on it, they first came out with 2 barrels.
The ideal engine is the even firing order engines.
The balance shaft is designed to smooth out the engine pulses. Something else to go wrong.

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PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 12:21 am 
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Location: spokane, wa
What kind of mileage can you expect out of a 4.3 in a luv with how light they are?


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PostPosted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:44 pm 
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Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2003 11:34 pm
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Location: Caldwell ID
i was getting 20mpg with 3.43 gears and a 5 speed .. but i had a monza 5 speed and it went tits up. im working on putting a s10 5speed in it and a monza rend with s10 axels. the rend has 2.55 gears in it. i had the monza rend in my v8 luv at one time and it was getting 23mpg with a 3 speed.

im trying to get 30 out of it. but good luck right?

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PostPosted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 1:35 pm 
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My LUV got 7-10 mpg. 4.3L 390 cfm Holley TH350 4.56 gears.


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PostPosted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 10:32 pm 
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Location: Vancouver, Washington
edelbrock makes an aluminum 4 barrel intake manifold for the 4.3, i have a 4.3 stand in the garage that will go in eventually when i get the rest of the truck sorted out. if your going to stick with the tbi try to pull everything from the donor with as few things disconnected as possible.
also 92 was the first year of the balance shaft 4.3, i opted for a 91 for that reason, the 96+ true vortec heads bolt right and are much better than older heads.. think chevy 305 heads vs LT1 heads... and edelbrock also makes an intake that fits the older block with the 96+ vortec heads for a 4 barrel carb so you can get the best of both.

small factoid. the pre 96 engines are called vortec but are not vortec by any means other than the name plate on them. the best combo for power is the pre balance shaft engine with the later vortec heads, some people use the mercruiser marine mpfi intake manifold and some take the edelbrock aluminum intake and weld injector bungs into it for mpfi.

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1993 Lexus SC400 my Daily
2004 Yamaha WR250F my new love in life
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 11:44 pm 
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Joined: Sun Sep 30, 2012 2:40 pm
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Location: Georgetown,tx
I'm doing a 4.3 swap out of A 90 s10 right now and its not that hard if your putting it in a 2wd but if your planning to put it in a 4wd plan for a lot of time, money, and fab work. The best place to get a bolt in set up is http://www.Powerbyace.com I used there motor mount brackets and they work great. And tbi is easier but gets tricky trying to find a place to mount the computer if you have A/C. I'm even using the serpentine belt system minis The P/S.


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PostPosted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 4:20 pm 
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Location: Watervliet, Mi
can i use a stock radaitor from a 1.8 for my 4.3 vortec?


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PostPosted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 5:02 pm 
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Location: Vancouver, Washington
maybe with a hell of a radiator fan and a cooler thermostat but you should probably look for an aluminum upgrade and an electric fan

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1993 Lexus SC400 my Daily
2004 Yamaha WR250F my new love in life
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 5:05 pm 
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Location: North Mississippi
The stock radiator will not flow enough to cool that engine. No matter the fan or the thermostat. There are plenty of better options out there that are cheap.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speedway- ... ,3557.html


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