4.3L (262ci) FI V6

[Vendor Defendor]

I was wondering if the engine found in something like a '85-88 El Camino is the same as would be found in a '96 S-10

any one know?

 

[kshef]

i'm not sure what el caminos had
the 4.3 back in the late 80's early 90's was TBI, not sure what a 96 s-10 is
i have one in my 94 astro van...its a dog

 

[Shane]

I believe that they are the same block. And yes, this is the block that is the same as a Chebby 350 with two cylinders lobbed off.

 

[myclone]

Originally posted by Vendor Defendor
I was wondering if the engine found in something like a '85-88 El Camino is the same as would be found in a '96 S-10

As far as being similar to the point you could swap one long block for the other then the answer is yes. However, keep in mind that the early 4.3s were carbed and used a block mounted fuel pump where as the later (87 & up) 4.3s were FI and the fuel pump rod hole is not drilled in the block. The 85 4.3 had a flat tappet cam as well as a two piece rear main seal. In mid/late 86 they went to roller cams and one piece rear main seal so you'll need the flywheel/flex plate from for the correct year engine as the 86 up engines are all external balanced.

If you get into swapping intakes then keep in mind that from around 93 up the intake bolt pattern changed so if you go with a later engine but want to use an older factory intake you will need to redrill the heads for the old style intake bolt pattern. The 94 up engines use a balance shaft also so the cams are specific for the balance shaft motors (FWIW comp cams makes perf cams for these motors). The balance shaft blocks arent quite as meaty in the main web area as the non balance shaft engines so keep that in mind if youre going for all out perf with it. Personally I stay away from the balance shaft blocks while others have used them with success.

If you are just wanting to swap out an earlier carbed 4.3 for a later FI V6 then its 99.9% a bolt in assuming that you have a handle on all the little things like wiring and fuel delivery that are a PIA on any engine swap from carb to FI.

One more thing... 96 and up heads are the best of the bunch from the factory. The 93 to 95 heads say "Vortec" but still have the crappy detonation prone old style combustion chambers. Stick with 96 up heads with the good combustion chambers and you'll be fine. They are worth the hassle to redrill the intake bolt pattern and a few ppl on syty.net board offer this service if you dont want to tackle it (they are a little pricey but seem to do good work from what Ive heard).

 

[mytyphoon1993]

Re: Re: 4.3L (262ci) FI V6

Originally posted by myclone
As far as being similar to the point you could swap one long block for the other then the answer is yes. However, keep in mind that the early 4.3s were carbed and used a block mounted fuel pump where as the later (87 & up) 4.3s were FI and the fuel pump rod hole is not drilled in the block. The 85 4.3 had a flat tappet cam as well as a two piece rear main seal. In mid/late 86 they went to roller cams and one piece rear main seal so you'll need the flywheel/flex plate from for the correct year engine as the 86 up engines are all external balanced.

If you get into swapping intakes then keep in mind that from around 93 up the intake bolt pattern changed so if you go with a later engine but want to use an older factory intake you will need to redrill the heads for the old style intake bolt pattern. The 94 up engines use a balance shaft also so the cams are specific for the balance shaft motors (FWIW comp cams makes perf cams for these motors). The balance shaft blocks arent quite as meaty in the main web area as the non balance shaft engines so keep that in mind if youre going for all out perf with it. Personally I stay away from the balance shaft blocks while others have used them with success.

If you are just wanting to swap out an earlier carbed 4.3 for a later FI V6 then its 99.9% a bolt in assuming that you have a handle on all the little things like wiring and fuel delivery that are a PIA on any engine swap from carb to FI.

One more thing... 96 and up heads are the best of the bunch from the factory. The 93 to 95 heads say "Vortec" but still have the crappy detonation prone old style combustion chambers. Stick with 96 up heads with the good combustion chambers and you'll be fine. They are worth the hassle to redrill the intake bolt pattern and a few ppl on syty.net board offer this service if you dont want to tackle it (they are a little pricey but seem to do good work from what Ive heard).

Yeah what myclone said.

 

[Vendor Defendor]

From what I have found, the 85 and up 4.3L motors found in the el caminos were all TBI...

Just wondering... I am trying to look for an El camino with the 4.3 FI motor in it to have a beater, my buick has pushed me that far...

The reason why I was asking for a comparison to the ekly motor to the S10 is that my g/f has an s10 and I was wondering how the motor would compare to hers.

Thanks

 

[myclone]

Originally posted by Vendor Defendor
From what I have found, the 85 and up 4.3L motors found in the el caminos were all TBI...

Just wondering... I am trying to look for an El camino with the 4.3 FI motor in it to have a beater, my buick has pushed me that far...

The reason why I was asking for a comparison to the ekly motor to the S10 is that my g/f has an s10 and I was wondering how the motor would compare to hers.

Thanks

The G body TBI 4.3s are kinda rare. If its an 85 W/TBI then its prolly a 2 piece rear main/flat tappet engine from what Ive seen. However, I could be wrong as late 85 into 86 is when the one piece rear seal/roller cam 4.3s started showing up. Ive only messed with two 85 4.3s in my life and they were both out of astro vans and had carbs/flat tappet cams/2 piece rear seal.

To compare her later S10 (Im guessing its a 96 since thats the year you mentioned) with the 4.3 in the elky you'll prolly lose a drag race to her but they are basically VERY similar. The TBI stuff just isnt known for making a huge amount of power compared to the multiport FI so dont bet any money on the race . If you verify that the engine in the elky is in fact a one piece rear main/roller cam engine then you can swap it out for any 4.3 from 86-91 out of an S truck or full size truck (astro vans too but they are a PIA to remove being in a van) and its all a bolt in.

FWIW... The TBI 4.3s will (usually) go 150k+ miles if taken care of and Ive seen them go close to 300k before needing rebuilt. Valve seals are usually needed by 80k on just about every one I know of and if the oil pressure is low then do a cheap rebuild before one or more of the rod bearings comes out. The oiling layout on the 4.3 is NOT like the good ol SBC and low oil pressure will kill the rod bearings pretty quickly (which takes the crank with out too). You can do a rebuild on a 4.3 for less than 400 bucks if you catch it before the rod bearings junk the crank and that includes hot tanking, boring, pistons, etc. If the crank needs ground due to spun rod bearings add another ~250 bucks to the bill.

Prolly WAY more info than you needed but I had some spare time . If you need anymore info or specifics drop me a mail and I'll help you all I can. Heck, Ive got a spare 4.3 or ten in the garage if you should need one LOL..

 

[Vendor Defendor]

thanks, thats pretty helpful, I was just wondering about the motor, I am just looking for one right now. Thanks

 

[Vendor Defendor]

this is something like I am looking for:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2470711138&category=6153

what can you tell me about that motor?

thanks

 

[myclone]

Welp, without looking at it in person the best I can do is an educated guess and my guess would be that its the one piece rear main/roller cam motor. The things that make me think that are the somewhat uncommon factory tubular(sp?) exh manifolds and the center bolt valve covers. Ive found maybe 4 or 5 4.3s with the manifolds like that (all out of astro vans) and they were all one piece rear mains/roller cammed.

However, the things that make me wonder are the regular V belt accessory drive set up instead of the serpintine belt and what seems to be a LOT of vacuum lines going to the TB. TBI systems really dont have a huge amount of vacuum lines and what not like the carb systems of the mid 80s but then again Ive personally never looked under the hood of a 4.3 G body so those things may be completely normal (S trucks and astro vans are where I get my engines).

To sum it up Id bet thats a later more desirable engine but I wouldnt bet the entire farm on it.

HTH