4.3L vortec in my fj40

[77 pig]

I am forced to speed up my plan to swap to a 4.3 vortec, due to the wife driving my aging pig without oil. It seems fine, but the end is near. Can anyone help me with any information, or by pointing me at those who can help. Its supposed to go in just like a small block v8, but with less driveline hassle because of the shorter block. Also, has anyone thought of or heard of someone trying to drop in the new gm inline 6, I heard it had the same roots as the 2f, since rumor had it that the f/2f was based on the old gm straight 6.

[Berg]

I think the I-6 would be a great transplant.
Take some good pics of your conversion... I have not seen a good write up on a 4.3 conversion.
I belive you can not use a 4WD version oil pan as the diff goes through it??
someone chime in about that if you know. 2WD pan is rear sump.
Easy starter access...
Not sure if there is a Bell housing adapter out there yet.
Here is the six

[tornadoalleycruiser]

I would think the 4.3 swap would be easy to follow a minitruck thread. Let us know, I think it'd be a great swap for putting in doublers or auto's etc!

[77 pig]

the 4wd oil pan does have the front driveshaft pass through it, looks like you have something in mind for that engine. Can you pint to a source for either engine?

[Berg]

Not my engine.. I just had the pic on file.
FWIW.. that 4.3 is a hard engine to beat for install/HP/ in TBI or Vortec.
I have run 4.3 for over 10 years with 700 auto. Great proven powerplant and easliy sourced out parts and adapters etc.

[texican]

I'm thinking the 4.3 is gonna be a bit sluggish in a Pig, If it were mine, I would do a 350......
Butch

[cruiserbrett]

Originally Posted by texican

I'm thinking the 4.3 is gonna be a bit sluggish in a Pig, If it were mine, I would do a 350......
Butch

I'd agree for a FJ55. although there is some confusion he mentioned "pig" and FJ40.

[Rat70FJ]

Choreboy2 here on the board has one in his 40 and loves it. I'm sure he'll chime in soon.
Kent

[rockthedog]

yep dustin likes his alot............and dale knorr aka splitpea has a gm 6cyl





dale ?

dustin ?

[wngrog]

I do not see a single adventage of swapping a 4.3 over a 5.7.

Don't spend all the time and money unless you already have the engine when you can have a V8 instead of a weak V6. (by V6 standards these days)

[Rat70FJ]

But you should see how cute that little motor is in that massive 40 engine compartment!

[ginericfj80]

The 4.3 V6 is an excellent swap especially if you daily drive your rig. Plus is is lighter and allows for more transmission options. There are 3 running around the Boise, Idaho area. You'd be hard pressed to know there wasn't a V8 under the hood. So I'll disagree with Nolen on this one. Oh and the single advantage is MPGs. All of them are getting over 20 mpg in their 40s. Trannys being used 465, NV4500, and a 700r4.

The new Chevy Inline 6 is JUNK! in my opinion. My folks have one in their Trailblazer. After 48,000 miles they had to have a new engine put in. The sleeves came loose. This is a common problem. In the little town my parents live in (Wyoming) they've already had to swap out 3. Supposedly, the new motors have the problem fixed. But how would you know which one you had if you buying it used? And more importantly the new ones don't have the miles on them to know if they are going to grenade. It does have power and torque and gets got mileage which are the pluses.

[wngrog]

Weight saving is minimal and in my opinon not worth giving up a V8.

Again, just an opinion.

I would, however rather have a Vortec 4.3 than a TBI 350.

[Rockzar]

I have a tbi'd 4.3 (July of '94) mated to an SM420 with a 3 speed tcase and 4:11's on 33" tires in my 40. I did it mostly for MPG reasons, and the power is pretty good. I figured the displacement is pretty much what a stock 2F is (a little more I think), but puts out more power, can practically run upside down, WAY lighter than a 2F, and gets good mileage. My rig was a daily driver at the time, and I put about 80 miles a day on it at the time.

When in 4low, its got plenty of torque and power. Long uphill freeway roads (going up Donner pass to Tahoe on the 80) can feel a little sluggish though. The rest of the time, its pretty good. My rig isnt a sports car. It does way better at slow speeds. It pulls a loaded rig and trailer pretty well. I dont know how much more power that vortech 4.3 has than my tired TBI with vortech heads (yes, vortech heads), hotter chip, and moded air cleaner will put out, you may want more power than it will produce for your Pig.

The install is pretty much exactly like a small block. You can't push the motor further forward (away from the firewall) than a small block.

When this motor blows, I will be installing a tbi'd 350 though. My wiring harness from Howell will plug right in and run that motor too. Ever since I got my V8 4Runner, I am addicted to V8 power.

-Dustin

[tornadoalleycruiser]

"You can't push the motor further forward (away from the firewall) than a small block."

Why not? Pan interference? Different pan work?

[Cruzilla]

I would guess his shifter would end up in the engine compartment...

[Rockzar]

Originally Posted by Cruzilla

I would guess his shifter would end up in the engine compartment...

yeah. basically, whatever you can do with a small block 350, you can do with a 4.3

-Dustin

[ginericfj80]

Unless you go with an automatic!

[Rock Taxi]

Originally Posted by choreboy2

I have a tbi'd 4.3 (July of '94) mated to an SM420 with a 3 speed tcase and 4:11's on 33" tires in my 40. I did it mostly for MPG reasons, and the power is pretty good.
-Dustin

This is why you don't do a 4.3. It's a great little motor, but if you are spending to swap something in, swap in something that you can say is "great".

Ed

[Rockzar]

I did consider the power great at the time (especially compared to my old F motor), when my 4.3 was fresh and gas mileage was a consideration. I think its due for a rebuild at around 200k miles on it now.
I think going into it people understand that the 4.3 isnt going to break any HP records. And I think the 4.3 has more power than a non built up F or 2F motor. I really only desire a V8 when on the street. I don't mud bog or do sand drags in my Cruiser. 4low still gets me everywhere I need to go.

<edit> ...but I do agree that its not for everyone or every rig. Its an economical motor, and great for what it was designed for. Sooner or later, your going to probably wish you had more oomph. </edit>

-Dustin

[Halogrinder]

im in the market for a LT1 or LS1.....my worries are:

LS1, not a lot of torque on the bottom end

LT1, has the stupid ass distributor on the front of the engine.....get it wet...ur screwed

LS1....coilpacks on the heads, all aluminum

LT1....way cheaper than LS1

WHAT TRANSFER CASE TO USE WITH EITHER ONE?!

thanks

[CaverInaCruiser]

Originally Posted by Halogrinder

im in the market for a LT1 or LS1.....my worries are:

LS1, not a lot of torque on the bottom end

LT1, has the stupid ass distributor on the front of the engine.....get it wet...ur screwed

LS1....coilpacks on the heads, all aluminum

LT1....way cheaper than LS1

WHAT TRANSFER CASE TO USE WITH EITHER ONE?!

thanks

LT1/LS1 is still a 350 CID chevy small block.

You can always change out the cam etc. for something that will produce better low end torque...

That's one of the things that is cool about a SBC... there is an obscene amount of parts to make torque, horsepower, or whaterver, and they are usually inexpensive

Personally, I'd like to see one of the new LS6's in a Cruiser...

That or one of the Motown 454CI small blocks (yes, SMALL block)....

As far as transfer cases go, I wouldn't dick around with anything but an AtlasII, Dana 300 or an Orion....

[wngrog]

I don't have a clue who sold you that the LT/S-1 does not have low end torque. It has more torque than you will believe.

94-96 LT1s have a much improved distibutor. Sealed and of all the ones I run with (6-10) on a regular basis, none of us has ever had a problem. Once again, a "supposed" weak link that just never manifests.

As for the transfer case, whatever you run behind a 4L60E. Don't be one of the knucklehead hold-outs that thinks they need a LT/S1 and an SM420

Sunray Engineering makes a 3/4" adapter that gets you from the 4L60E to whatever transfer case you want to use as long as it has a female input shaft.

[Halogrinder]

no, you dont understand. you take a LS1 camero and a LT1 camero, and the LT1 will eat it on the line, but the LS1 will take it after a roll.....LT1's have a lot more torque than a LS1 on bottom end...thats what im trying to say.......and WHAT t case to run....a 300?

[wngrog]

A well built 300 is a damn good transfer case. Stock is fine, but I would at least upgrade the rear output.

My LT1 is actually an LT-4......it has the corvette cam in it. All 95 F body motors came with the LT-4 cam.

It is bad ass. I love it.