Just bought a 4runner Frame with a 229 V6 CHEV fitted it has a edelbrock manifold and a rochester fitted and a HEI dizzy i was just wondering if these engines have any inherant prob i should know about.

Im in Aus so we dont realy have much info over here on these things.

Does anyone else use these engines off road and what are they like generally?

Thanks for any info.


I searched this and could only find a couple of threads on the 229 but there were heaps on the 3.8 buick.

My friend has the exact same setup in his '84 Toyota extracab. With the bigger, dual exhaust, headers, ect... It seems to have plenty power. I wouldnt put one in myself, but I also wouldnt throw that one away.

Just wheel it til it blows, then drop in a 4.3L

I had one in a sammy with a turbo 350 behind it. Never had any problems with. Its almost like a 4.3 but a smaller bore size.
mine was a dd 90 miles a day with 35s.

what would the 229 be in L??????? would that be the 2.8L????
just woundering........:flipoff2:

Originally posted by mud-magnet
what would the 229 be in L??????? would that be the 2.8L????
just woundering........:flipoff2:

The 229 is a 3.8 L The 2.8 L is a 173 CI they are not even close to being the same.. The 229 is just like the 4.3 but with a smaller bore.. It shares bore and stroke with a 305 (3.736X3.48) where the 4.3 shares bore and stroke with the 350(4.00 X3.48)

ok, good to know.................:flipoff2:

Originally posted by hy_desert_4wheeler


The 229 is a 3.8 L The 2.8 L is a 173 CI they are not even close to being the same.. The 229 is just like the 4.3 but with a smaller bore.. It shares bore and stroke with a 305 (3.736X3.48) where the 4.3 shares bore and stroke with the 350(4.00 X3.48)

Ok this is interesting the guy i bought this engine from told me it has 350 pistons in it. I am only going on it being a 229 because that is what is on the intake manifold.

Is there any other way i can tell if it is a 3.8 or a 4.3 other than pulling it down. IE; Casting numbers on the block? and how can i tell what year model it is?

4.3/262 is an even fire engine. All cyl's fire 120 deg from each other.
Chev 3.8/229 is a semi-even fire engine. Alternate cyls fire something like 108 deg/132 deg or something like that.

So you might be able to tell from the distributor. If it's a 4.3 the lobes on the HEI trigger will be evenly spaced. If it's a 229, they'll be unevenly spaced. Alternately closer and farther apart. Not sure about the holes in the cap. They may be evenly spaced.

Originally posted by Jason Lockwood
4.3/262 is an even fire engine. All cyl's fire 120 deg from each other.
.

This is incorrect

Not all 4.3's are even fire.. The first years were the semi even fire..

You can get the casting number off the back of the block and have your local chevy dealer check it..

Originally posted by hy_desert_4wheeler


Not all 4.3's are even fire.. The first years were the semi even fire..




Good to know. My research on the 229 for my neighbor's XJ Cherokee project hadn't turned that up.

Originally posted by hy_desert_4wheeler


This is incorrect

Not all 4.3's are even fire.. The first years were the semi even fire..

You can get the casting number off the back of the block and have your local chevy dealer check it..

Sorry im in australia we dont have a local chevy dealer :(

Anyone know where on line i might find this info?

Ok i just checked and its semi even fire. So where on the net can i find some info for this?
I found some sites that have 350s and other V8s but non on the V6s.

Originally posted by RUFF
Ok i just checked and its semi even fire. So where on the net can i find some info for this?
I found some sites that have 350s and other V8s but non on the V6s.

There should be a number stamped into the block above the waterpump on the right side of the block and one on the right side just below the head also stamped in.. Give me those tywo numbers as well as the casting number and I will see what I can find for you..

Thanks i will get the numbers from in front of the heads as soon as i remove the AC pump and the dodgy power steer pump (someone modified a factory toy pump to fit)

Thanks i will get the numbers from in front of the heads as soon as i remove the AC pump and the dodgy power steer pump (someone modified a factory toy pump to fit)