3.8 or 4.3 - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

DOUG38S · 10-26-2003, 11:04 AM

I figured I would post this here since I dont have experience with either engine. I need some feed back on the 4.3 and 3.8 chevy engines. Particuliarly parts options for the 3.8. Build options etc., weight, top hp and torque. Pro's and cons please. The rest of the drivetrain will consist of a powerglide/d300 and mog rears. Personal experiences please.

92 S-Dime · 10-26-2003, 01:40 PM

the 3.8 is a great little engine and makes good power, but id say for durability and brute torque i would go with the 4.3. plus the 4.3 will bolt up to any tranny that fits a SBC whereas the 60 degree'd 3.8 wont. parts will be easier and cheaper to find for the 4.3, and im not sure of the weight difference between the two.

Po' riggity · 10-26-2003, 05:19 PM

Go with a 4.3. There's not any reason otherwise to go with the 3.8 Like it was said. The 4.3 is a better choice for mating trannies to it.
Scott

Arya Ebrahimi · 10-26-2003, 07:53 PM

Not to hi-jack, but what trannies will work with the 3.8. I'm also debating this question. My motor will be on propane and I have a supercharger for a 3.8 sitting in the shop. However if the benefits of the 4.3 outweigh the free supercharger, the supercharger can be sold. Whatcha guys think?? I'm still undecided which I will go with, auto or standard. Thanks

Ary

DOUG38S · 10-27-2003, 10:17 AM

Good question Arya. Anybody know. Is it even feasable for the powerglide to mate up to it?

thundr undrgrond · 10-27-2003, 03:03 PM

i do beleive that there are adaptors out ther to mate the 3.8 to the normal bell, never looked into it that much. i dont know whay u would wanna run either, go out and get urself a nice tpi 305, itll run on any angle, and it does make more than enough power to make up for the extra weight. but if ur gonna go with a v-6, id say the 4.3, theyre cheap and plentiful, plus gettin them with tbi is ez thanks to the s-10. of course theres always the other v-6 alternative.....the 2.8

guardrail · 10-27-2003, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Po' riggity
Go with a 4.3. There's not any reason otherwise to go with the 3.8 Like it was said. The 4.3 is a better choice for mating trannies to it.
Scott

200-r4 I can't think of any others unless you go custom.

Ky_Chopper · 10-27-2003, 03:56 PM

It also depends on what 3.8 youre using. A favorite of 4 wheelers for decades have been Buick 3.8's. The distributor is in the front like a ford, so more firewall room, ton's of th350's w/Buick or BOP bolt patterns. I've got a BUILT Buick th350 with a AA to Dana20 or Spicer 18 tranny sitting in my garage right now.
If you really wanted power, get one of the Turbo 3.8 from an early 80's Regal. Just gotta watch where the water splashes then.
But there are a blue million of them around!! Tons of performance mods. Really one hell of a motor..

DOUG38S · 10-28-2003, 06:31 AM

Wanna stay away from the 8's because of weight. Dont have the big money for all aluminum this and that that would make a 8 really powerful. Can use either the 3.8 or 4.3 chip it and have power in the 240-275 hp range for a lot less and with a lot less weight. Less weight being the key ingredient.

Sooo that being said will the 3.8 go to a powerglide and has anybody done it?

Ky_Chopper · 10-28-2003, 09:38 AM

Um.. Buick 3.8 turbo is a V6

DOUG38S · 10-28-2003, 11:58 AM

8's as being v8s not 3.8s. Referring to the 305 tpi comment from thunder. I could dump a v8 in it all day long but at the cost of another what 100 lbs?

Soooo back to the original question: Has anybody run a 3.8 to a powerglide?

DOUG38S · 10-30-2003, 07:44 AM

Anybody have anymore info on this subject???

TerryHowe · 11-01-2003, 09:51 AM

JW makes an Ultra bell housing that looks like it has the BOP pattern. I run a 4.1 Buick V6 (same externally as the 3.8) with a TH350. I went with the Buick over the Chevy 4.3 because the Buick is lighter, an about an inch less in height, width, and length.

http://auto2000.com/jw/

I was considering going to the PG, down side is the high first gear.

Ky_Chopper · 11-01-2003, 10:53 AM

Ive got an old 4.1 w/3.8 turbo heads laying in my garage.. its my old motor. Do you need a really strong th350 Buick with AA/spicer 18? TC included? I dont use the Buick stuff anymore.

rockcrawler304 · 11-01-2003, 08:44 PM

I would go with the 4.3 for the power and reliability and also the parts are a bit cheaper. The EFI is a piece of cake too. Besides, they have the same bore and stroke as a 350. It's like cutting off 2 cyls from a 350. Bolts directly to all the same trannies. Just mt 2 cts.

Ky_Chopper · 11-02-2003, 11:23 AM

how hard is the efi on a 2003 4.3 to wire?

10-26-2003, 11:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
DOUG38S Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Member # 17107 Location: Sharpsburg, MD Posts: 5,348 Blog Entries: 1	3.8 or 4.3 I figured I would post this here since I dont have experience with either engine. I need some feed back on the 4.3 and 3.8 chevy engines. Particuliarly parts options for the 3.8. Build options etc., weight, top hp and torque. Pro's and cons please. The rest of the drivetrain will consist of a powerglide/d300 and mog rears. Personal experiences please. __________________ *TEAM YUKON GEAR and AXLE #4413* Bulldog Winch, Raceline, Maxxis, FOA, Tom Woods, Everlast Welders, Ruffstuff Specialities, Cool Shirt, Stage 8, Baja Designs, PSC Steering, AJIK Overland Exchange, Reid Racing, Artec, Powertank, DynoMax, Hinchman Racewear, DJ Safety

10-26-2003, 01:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
92 S-Dime Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Member # 17868 Location: Seth, WV Posts: 275	the 3.8 is a great little engine and makes good power, but id say for durability and brute torque i would go with the 4.3. plus the 4.3 will bolt up to any tranny that fits a SBC whereas the 60 degree'd 3.8 wont. parts will be easier and cheaper to find for the 4.3, and im not sure of the weight difference between the two. __________________ 92 S10/233/208/44/60/35's-Getting 4 linked, and other stuff... 82 K20/6.2 Diesel/SM465/Tow Rig-For sale 94 S-Blazer/4.3/3500/G80-Stock for now

10-26-2003, 05:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
Po' riggity HeiserOilMotorsports Join Date: Aug 2000 Member # 1515 Location: Lake Arrowhead, Ca Posts: 7,984	Go with a 4.3. There's not any reason otherwise to go with the 3.8 Like it was said. The 4.3 is a better choice for mating trannies to it. Scott __________________ Black Star Status!

10-26-2003, 07:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
Arya Ebrahimi Zeus of the Sluice Join Date: Oct 2001 Member # 7876 Location: Rockville, MD Posts: 4,233	Not to hi-jack, but what trannies will work with the 3.8. I'm also debating this question. My motor will be on propane and I have a supercharger for a 3.8 sitting in the shop. However if the benefits of the 4.3 outweigh the free supercharger, the supercharger can be sold. Whatcha guys think?? I'm still undecided which I will go with, auto or standard. Thanks Ary __________________ DD/Tow-rig: '06 GMC Sierra 2500HD Duramax Classic Rig: '88 FJ62, 100% stock In the weeds waiting for resurrection: '94 FZJ80, 33s, locked

10-27-2003, 10:17 AM	#5 (permalink)
DOUG38S Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Member # 17107 Location: Sharpsburg, MD Posts: 5,348 Blog Entries: 1	Good question Arya. Anybody know. Is it even feasable for the powerglide to mate up to it? __________________ *TEAM YUKON GEAR and AXLE #4413* Bulldog Winch, Raceline, Maxxis, FOA, Tom Woods, Everlast Welders, Ruffstuff Specialities, Cool Shirt, Stage 8, Baja Designs, PSC Steering, AJIK Overland Exchange, Reid Racing, Artec, Powertank, DynoMax, Hinchman Racewear, DJ Safety

10-27-2003, 03:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
thundr undrgrond Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Member # 21461 Location: shamokin PA Posts: 507	i do beleive that there are adaptors out ther to mate the 3.8 to the normal bell, never looked into it that much. i dont know whay u would wanna run either, go out and get urself a nice tpi 305, itll run on any angle, and it does make more than enough power to make up for the extra weight. but if ur gonna go with a v-6, id say the 4.3, theyre cheap and plentiful, plus gettin them with tbi is ez thanks to the s-10. of course theres always the other v-6 alternative.....the 2.8

10-27-2003, 03:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
Ky_Chopper Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Member # 22686 Location: Lost Creek, Illinois Posts: 104	It also depends on what 3.8 youre using. A favorite of 4 wheelers for decades have been Buick 3.8's. The distributor is in the front like a ford, so more firewall room, ton's of th350's w/Buick or BOP bolt patterns. I've got a BUILT Buick th350 with a AA to Dana20 or Spicer 18 tranny sitting in my garage right now. If you really wanted power, get one of the Turbo 3.8 from an early 80's Regal. Just gotta watch where the water splashes then. But there are a blue million of them around!! Tons of performance mods. Really one hell of a motor.. __________________ Duuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! Last edited by Ky_Chopper; 10-27-2003 at 03:58 PM.

10-28-2003, 06:31 AM	#9 (permalink)
DOUG38S Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Member # 17107 Location: Sharpsburg, MD Posts: 5,348 Blog Entries: 1	Wanna stay away from the 8's because of weight. Dont have the big money for all aluminum this and that that would make a 8 really powerful. Can use either the 3.8 or 4.3 chip it and have power in the 240-275 hp range for a lot less and with a lot less weight. Less weight being the key ingredient. Sooo that being said will the 3.8 go to a powerglide and has anybody done it? __________________ *TEAM YUKON GEAR and AXLE #4413* Bulldog Winch, Raceline, Maxxis, FOA, Tom Woods, Everlast Welders, Ruffstuff Specialities, Cool Shirt, Stage 8, Baja Designs, PSC Steering, AJIK Overland Exchange, Reid Racing, Artec, Powertank, DynoMax, Hinchman Racewear, DJ Safety

10-28-2003, 09:38 AM	#10 (permalink)
Ky_Chopper Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Member # 22686 Location: Lost Creek, Illinois Posts: 104	Um.. Buick 3.8 turbo is a V6 __________________ Duuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

10-28-2003, 11:58 AM	#11 (permalink)
DOUG38S Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Member # 17107 Location: Sharpsburg, MD Posts: 5,348 Blog Entries: 1	8's as being v8s not 3.8s. Referring to the 305 tpi comment from thunder. I could dump a v8 in it all day long but at the cost of another what 100 lbs? Soooo back to the original question: Has anybody run a 3.8 to a powerglide? __________________ *TEAM YUKON GEAR and AXLE #4413* Bulldog Winch, Raceline, Maxxis, FOA, Tom Woods, Everlast Welders, Ruffstuff Specialities, Cool Shirt, Stage 8, Baja Designs, PSC Steering, AJIK Overland Exchange, Reid Racing, Artec, Powertank, DynoMax, Hinchman Racewear, DJ Safety

10-30-2003, 07:44 AM	#12 (permalink)
DOUG38S Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Member # 17107 Location: Sharpsburg, MD Posts: 5,348 Blog Entries: 1	Anybody have anymore info on this subject??? __________________ *TEAM YUKON GEAR and AXLE #4413* Bulldog Winch, Raceline, Maxxis, FOA, Tom Woods, Everlast Welders, Ruffstuff Specialities, Cool Shirt, Stage 8, Baja Designs, PSC Steering, AJIK Overland Exchange, Reid Racing, Artec, Powertank, DynoMax, Hinchman Racewear, DJ Safety

11-01-2003, 09:51 AM	#13 (permalink)
TerryHowe Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Member # 13536 Location: Durango, CO Posts: 514	JW makes an Ultra bell housing that looks like it has the BOP pattern. I run a 4.1 Buick V6 (same externally as the 3.8) with a TH350. I went with the Buick over the Chevy 4.3 because the Buick is lighter, an about an inch less in height, width, and length. http://auto2000.com/jw/ I was considering going to the PG, down side is the high first gear. __________________ Terry Howe

11-01-2003, 10:53 AM	#14 (permalink)
Ky_Chopper Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Member # 22686 Location: Lost Creek, Illinois Posts: 104	Ive got an old 4.1 w/3.8 turbo heads laying in my garage.. its my old motor. Do you need a really strong th350 Buick with AA/spicer 18? TC included? I dont use the Buick stuff anymore. __________________ Duuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

11-01-2003, 08:44 PM	#15 (permalink)
rockcrawler304 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Member # 5601 Location: Far West El Paso Texas Posts: 609	I would go with the 4.3 for the power and reliability and also the parts are a bit cheaper. The EFI is a piece of cake too. Besides, they have the same bore and stroke as a 350. It's like cutting off 2 cyls from a 350. Bolts directly to all the same trannies. Just mt 2 cts. __________________ 06 Dodge Mega Cab 2500 4x4 CTD 325/610 6spd hand shaker, Smarty tuned!

11-02-2003, 11:23 AM	#16 (permalink)
Ky_Chopper Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Member # 22686 Location: Lost Creek, Illinois Posts: 104	how hard is the efi on a 2003 4.3 to wire? __________________ Duuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

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