4.3 to 5.3 swap
Oct 28, 2003 | 10:00 PM
#11
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: fayetteville AR
If this is truely what you want to do then good luck. There will be alot of , how does the old saying go, alot of blood , sweat, and tears go in it. It would be easier to put in a nice strong 406 or 383 sbc into it i would think
Oct 29, 2003 | 09:39 AM
#15
Staging Lane
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Before you S-can the 4.3, maybe you should look at doing something with it. For the money you'd spend on getting everything you'd need for the 5.3L swap, you could probably do some killer stuff to the V-6.
I know this is gonna ruffle some feathers because V-6's are sorta the red-headed stepchildren of performance, but keep an open mind here.
Let's set the wayback machine for the early 90's. Anyone rememebr the Cyclone and Typhoon trucks GM put on the street? These were S-10's with a supercharged 4.3L V-6. They were killer pieces.
Now, fast forward back to your current situation. Superchargers for the 4.3L V-6 are plentiful from the various companies. So, why not do a cam and valvetrain upgrade to your V-6 (There is stuff out there!) Upgrade the injection system with some earlier V-8 parts, and bolt on a killer blower to it? Hell, maybe even a nitrous set-up for the occasional extra kick?
Look at all the power the import guys are making with V-6's, and the ones they have to work with don't have near the performance potential or ruggedness as a 4.3L Chevy V-6. A lot of the performance parts you could buy are just V-8 parts in the right quantities for the 4.3
In the old days, a V-6 to V-8 swap would have been the way to go, but with the complications you'd have, a performance upgrade with the 4.3 would be more cost effective.
Plus, think of how cool it will be to kick some guy's *** on the street, then pop the hood and show him you did it with two less cylinders!
I know this is gonna ruffle some feathers because V-6's are sorta the red-headed stepchildren of performance, but keep an open mind here.
Let's set the wayback machine for the early 90's. Anyone rememebr the Cyclone and Typhoon trucks GM put on the street? These were S-10's with a supercharged 4.3L V-6. They were killer pieces.
Now, fast forward back to your current situation. Superchargers for the 4.3L V-6 are plentiful from the various companies. So, why not do a cam and valvetrain upgrade to your V-6 (There is stuff out there!) Upgrade the injection system with some earlier V-8 parts, and bolt on a killer blower to it? Hell, maybe even a nitrous set-up for the occasional extra kick?
Look at all the power the import guys are making with V-6's, and the ones they have to work with don't have near the performance potential or ruggedness as a 4.3L Chevy V-6. A lot of the performance parts you could buy are just V-8 parts in the right quantities for the 4.3
In the old days, a V-6 to V-8 swap would have been the way to go, but with the complications you'd have, a performance upgrade with the 4.3 would be more cost effective.
Plus, think of how cool it will be to kick some guy's *** on the street, then pop the hood and show him you did it with two less cylinders!
Oct 29, 2003 | 10:04 AM
#16
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 334
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From: Florida
I considered that route before and it came down to if i raced someone with an 8 and they had the same mods they would woop me. I had an old f-100 before my silverado with an 300c.i. inline 6. I put an offenhauser intake on it with three 2 barrel weber carbs and a nice cam grind and it was pretty sweet, but still couldn't run with a 302 modded up. That was ok I liked being the underdog cause nobody new what the hell was in my effie (sounded pretty neatcause it was an inline) It was just as easy this time around to buy a motor and completely rebuild it how I want with no time factor cause im not pulling my motor out.
Oct 29, 2003 | 06:09 PM
#17
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,708
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From: fayetteville AR
I have a 406 and a 383 for sale. I have a 6.125 rod 355 for sale but the price on it will make you choke. It has over $7000.00 in it and doesnt even have a intake, oil pump, push rods, or dressed. The 383 has a LA billet { brooks racing componets} crank that is almost $2000 its self. The 406 is stock but with SRP pistons. It has the pink rods and a set of p&p double hump heads with 2.02 manley stainless steel valves. I will let it gor for $2500.
Oct 29, 2003 | 07:35 PM
#18
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,617
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From: fresno, ca
Originally Posted by Beavis5.3
Before you S-can the 4.3, maybe you should look at doing something with it. For the money you'd spend on getting everything you'd need for the 5.3L swap, you could probably do some killer stuff to the V-6.
I know this is gonna ruffle some feathers because V-6's are sorta the red-headed stepchildren of performance, but keep an open mind here.
Let's set the wayback machine for the early 90's. Anyone rememebr the Cyclone and Typhoon trucks GM put on the street? These were S-10's with a supercharged 4.3L V-6. They were killer pieces.
Now, fast forward back to your current situation. Superchargers for the 4.3L V-6 are plentiful from the various companies. So, why not do a cam and valvetrain upgrade to your V-6 (There is stuff out there!) Upgrade the injection system with some earlier V-8 parts, and bolt on a killer blower to it? Hell, maybe even a nitrous set-up for the occasional extra kick?
Look at all the power the import guys are making with V-6's, and the ones they have to work with don't have near the performance potential or ruggedness as a 4.3L Chevy V-6. A lot of the performance parts you could buy are just V-8 parts in the right quantities for the 4.3
In the old days, a V-6 to V-8 swap would have been the way to go, but with the complications you'd have, a performance upgrade with the 4.3 would be more cost effective.
Plus, think of how cool it will be to kick some guy's *** on the street, then pop the hood and show him you did it with two less cylinders!
I know this is gonna ruffle some feathers because V-6's are sorta the red-headed stepchildren of performance, but keep an open mind here.
Let's set the wayback machine for the early 90's. Anyone rememebr the Cyclone and Typhoon trucks GM put on the street? These were S-10's with a supercharged 4.3L V-6. They were killer pieces.
Now, fast forward back to your current situation. Superchargers for the 4.3L V-6 are plentiful from the various companies. So, why not do a cam and valvetrain upgrade to your V-6 (There is stuff out there!) Upgrade the injection system with some earlier V-8 parts, and bolt on a killer blower to it? Hell, maybe even a nitrous set-up for the occasional extra kick?
Look at all the power the import guys are making with V-6's, and the ones they have to work with don't have near the performance potential or ruggedness as a 4.3L Chevy V-6. A lot of the performance parts you could buy are just V-8 parts in the right quantities for the 4.3
In the old days, a V-6 to V-8 swap would have been the way to go, but with the complications you'd have, a performance upgrade with the 4.3 would be more cost effective.
Plus, think of how cool it will be to kick some guy's *** on the street, then pop the hood and show him you did it with two less cylinders!
Oct 29, 2003 | 08:13 PM
#19
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 334
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From: Florida
even if i put 2500 just into a older style motor then what else will i have to do, i got my 5.3 dirt cheap and will have $2500 into that after stage 2 heads and a cam. doesn't seem much cheaper if any.
Oct 31, 2003 | 09:34 AM
#20
Staging Lane
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Originally Posted by hyperlite
comon buddy... we're talkin about a fullsize truck here, not an import or s10 which weighs a ton less
True, but power to weight ratio is power to weight ratio, no matter what the vehicle.
Obviously a V-8 is preferred to a V-6, just trying to give an alternative that might not cost as much.