I am asking this for a friend of mine out here with me in Iraq. He has an '05 RCSB 4.3 5spd back home in Tx waiting on him. Its completely stock and he wants to give it a little more pep in its step. He wants to spend 2 grand on it. I told him to get the parts and dont worry about labor because I would do all the installs. I was thinking intake/exhaust/pulleys/programmer. Things like that. I dont think he wants to do any type of forced induction. not for that $$ anyway. I built a 4.3 before I had my current ride. it was nice too so I know its very possible. Just wanting to get some input from some other die-hard chevy buffs. Let me know guys. Thanks for the help.

 

2 grand could buy a decent 5.3L. and a little more would get him a 6.0L

 

yeah I told him the same thing... LOL!! he is not very mechanically inclined. Thats why I am doing the mods and not charging him. Plus he's my boy.... he was just looking more at bolt-on's. I dont even think he'll consider nitrous. ... my kit is already ordered though... waiting on me in the box back home.

 

Install a LS7 engine out of a ZO6 Corvette and call it good!! LOL, just kidding... With all jokes aside, I think a LQ9 6.0 engine out of a Silverado SS or Escalade would be bad ***! I don't know if that will be within the $2,000 budget though. I just don't see the point in modifying a 4.3. Yeah, they have potential but if your friend wanted performance from the factory, he should have got a 5.3. Every time I think of a 4.3 RCSB truck, I think of a 4/6 drop with bags. If your friend doesn't care about hauling/towing I think the $2,000 should be spent on lowering the truck. Just a thought...

 

2k isnt going to do much for the 4.3. sell the truck and use that money plus the 2k to get a nice used truck with a v8. that is unless he is emotionally attached to the truck.

 

BUT... the question is.... what would you do with 2G's and a 4.3? good solid bold ons. he likes his truck and doesnt want to get rid of it. I believe he's going for the "you just got beat by a V6 truck" kind of thing. I know its very possible. I had a similar truck with all the goodies too and I beat up on my fair share of V8's. Yeah I got beat up too but I held my own for sure. The 5spd makes the 4.3 a little more alive feeling. the 4.3 autos feel like so the question remains... the best way to spend 2 grand in a 4.3 with bolt ons? maybe some head work or something?? Thanks guys.

 

4.10's, tune, torque converter and nitrous.

 

I would say a clutch instead of a converter. But I dont think the 6 is going to make cluth replacement worthy numbers unless its blown or turbo'd... I guess I will just suggest a 50 shot, TB spacer, intake, exhaust w/headers, programmer, pulleys and maybe a few other small items. ... any good programmers out there recently for the 6 banger?? I want him to turbo it.... he wont do it though...

 

i had a 94 v6 5 speed got it running mid 16's which is good enough to stomb tbi v8 autos , a lot of rice lol , any other v6 truck i raced i beat , a modded to hell s-10 with the same motor and 5 speed . seeing he has a 05 it has e fans already . id go with pulleys , shorty headers , no need for longtubes even though u can get them becasuse 4.3 longtube headers off a s-10 can bolt in there at least on a obs . but shorties are all u need because its a low end motor and the torque is good . no cats and a single 3 inch to your chpice of muffler . a nice intake , like the mac intake they make for them . then i had msd coil , dont go with 4.10's to steep i think for the first gear in them trucks , go with 3.73 posi so u can luanch it hard . then a 160 thermo , it was one of my best sotp gains on my old truck besides efans . hope this helps . i just woke up so i kno it dont make to much sence but deal with it lol

 

oops, i missed that it was a standard somehow 3.73 definately sound better on the standard. thats alot of money to make mid 16's...