Turbo 4.3 in a GN?

[BetMinesFaster]

Hey guys, Im sure this has been beat to death but im gonna ask, I tried to search it with little luck. I have a vortec 4.3 laying here, and im thinking......Why not turbo that and stuff it in the GN? Wont have head gasket problems, easy to get strong parts for, bolts right in, can use a chev 2004R and keep the overdrive, they are literally a dime a dozen, and are tuff as nails! Lets hear some input! TIA, Ryan

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

Hey guys, Im sure this has been beat to death but im gonna ask, I tried to search it with little luck. I have a vortec 4.3 laying here, and im thinking......Why not turbo that and stuff it in the GN? Wont have head gasket problems, easy to get strong parts for, bolts right in, can use a chev 2004R and keep the overdrive, they are literally a dime a dozen, and are tuff as nails! Lets hear some input! TIA, Ryan

I have been doing a lot of looking also and found the same thing you did.
I have been contemplating this for my car for a long time but I can't find any write ups on them.

Hit UR50SLO on this site he did one and sent me some pictures but he didn't do a write up on it.
He did say that I could Email or PM him with any questions.

Dude what ever you find please post it up.
David

 

["Turbo-T"]

What makes you so sure you wont have HG problems with the 4.3?

Not sure if they're "tough as nails", I had one spin a rod bearing on me at 48k miles. And it was in a 1 owner truck too.

One thing though on the Vortecs they have a 9.2:1 c.r. wouldn't you have to lower it? Heck for that matter did the Syclones use the same block as the TBI 4.3's?

 

[SouthernCal GN]

What makes you so sure you wont have HG problems with the 4.3?

Not sure if they're "tough as nails", I had one spin a rod bearing on me at 48k miles. And it was in a 1 owner truck too.

One thing though on the Vortecs they have a 9.2:1 c.r. wouldn't you have to lower it? Heck for that matter did the Syclones use the same block as the TBI 4.3's?

Ding ding ding...we have a winner!

Sy/Tys are as famous for breaking as Gn/Ts.....only they scatter the lower end- or send a rod thru the block.

 

[FreeBoost]

If you're going to do an engine swap go large. Use a twin turbo LS7 with a T56 6 speed. If it'll fit in a Vette it'll fit in a GN. Trust me it'll go like a bat out hell and still get 30 mpg

 

[BetMinesFaster]

The 4.3 is tough, you get bad ones like any other, ive seen ls1's and lq4's with rods out, it just happens. The thought was to do it right, nitrided stock crank, forged lower compression pistons, h-beam rods and splayed billet caps. The parts for a 4.3 are just way cheaper than a 3.8. The vortec heads move good numbers for a stock head, with some porting and a proper built bottom it should put down some impressive mumbers on a conservative tune. just a thought, not saying they dont break, but with WAY better head clamping force and a very solid bottom it should be a ripper......

 

[BetMinesFaster]

If you're going to do an engine swap go large. Use a twin turbo LS7 with a T56 6 speed. If it'll fit in a Vette it'll fit in a GN. Trust me it'll go like a bat out hell and still get 30 mpg

Im not against that thought, but I still like being the underdog with a really fast six, and a TT LS7 would ring up a hefty price tag that is just not in the budget......

 

[CTX-SLPR]

I would think the intakes would be a large limiting factor. Isn't the only true MPFI intake off of the Sy/Ty? The rest being the goofey central port injection or the monsterous box plenum with the injectors burried inside of it?
It would probably be smoother if you used the balance shaft engines and with SBC spin-off parts they would be cheaper and more prevelent. However, you drive a Buick, if you want to do a Turbo 4.3... get a Monte Carlo or a Malibu and scavenge the T-Type parts you need like the EFI tank, 8.5in Axle since the rest would really be the same level of custom either way.

 

["Turbo-T"]

I'd check first to see if the Sy/Ty blocks were the same as the typical 4.3 or if the Sy/Ty blocks are reinforced to handle the boost.

CTX-SLPR, not 100% sure but I think the later 1996 and newer 4.3's were another type of MPI, I am pretty sure they did away with the CPI by then.

 

[GNVYUS 1]

Before you get too deep in $$ with that block look into the LSX motor, $1900 block that will take anything you can throw at it and it uses Chevy parts, save a bunch of this $$ too.

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

These are the same type of replies I got the last time I inquired about the 4.3 in this site and every other site I posted the question.

And as cheap as every one says the LS base engines are the price tags that I have seen for the hybrids are not cheap at all. Custom made headers and custom relocating main accessory bracket.

The ****tt spider injector in the 4.3 ended in 1995 but some left over units made it into some very early 1996s.

 

[typhoon]

Syty block is the same, crank the same (non balance shaft). Main caps were not (nodular on syty). Pistons were different. (hyper)

Nothing really special in block.

They do have that extra head bolt, but instead you get weak rods.

The buick motors seem to make more power easier than in syty world.

But as mentioned a ls1 might be more budget friendly and make more power.

 

[CTX-SLPR]

I know the spider ended in the mid 90's but in the yard I've still seen the weird box plenums with the injectors burried inside of it and wondered how good of an intake they actually are. The plenum doesn't seem really designed to take much pressure before it warps and starts leaking. However you could always do what the Stage guys do now with a converted carb intake.
Custom headers would be required for both the Gen III/IV and the 4.3. The accessory bracket stuff can be avoided by notching the frame or getting a streetrod kit that moves them around. Remember that Gen III/IV engines still only have 4 head bolts like the Buick V6.

 

[mybuick]

the sy/ty and the jimmy/blazer is the same long block just the turbo manifolds and intake. and have a big problem when new about breaking pistons. and the sy/ty was discontinued 3 months after thay were built so the dealers couldnt do warranty work on them. there was no parts from them from gm they had to go to the aftermarket to get parts. a buick gmc dealer parts guy told me this. sure eric fisher will say the same.

 

[ijames]

Stock for stock the gn motor is much stronger than the sy/ty, but if you are going to build the shortblock with good internals anyway then that isn't a concern. Big questions would be headers, motor mounts, intake manifold, and what engine management would you use? The extra cubes would be nice. As always, it's your car so build whatever makes you happy. I know one guy who started doing this but he moved away before he got the engine fired up so I don't know if he ever finished it or not. He made his own headers and did some machine work on an intake manifold he had to make it work but I can't remember what the manifold was from.

 

[henschman]

if you want to keep it turbo six, i'd say go for a 4.1 out of an old Park Avenue, Olds 88, etc., which is nice since you can use all your same buick accessories -- its basically just a 3.8 with a bigger bore, and it can easily be bored to 4.3l or bigger if you must; or go to an L67 (which is the supercharged 3.8 they put in a bunch of the newer FWD cars) -- you use the intake off a v6 camaro and slap a turbo on it, and run a 4t60 tranny. some people have had some really good results putting this motor in a turbo buick. check it out: http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/general-turbo-buick-tech/257876-series-ii-l67-grand-national.html. Those motors run way smoother than our lc2s, and they have a better, more modern head design. they can make some serious power if you want.

If you are open to v8s, the fastest for the money would be a good ol small block chevy built for boost. You could probably build one of those and get all the turbo headers and everything else you need for less than you would pay for even the LS-x longblock, and that setup would kill an ls powered car.

also, my buddy who is into cadillacs gave me a good idea... take a 500 caddy, put it in a G-body, and turbo THAT. now you're talkin some power, and can you say torque? The motors themselves aren't too expensive, but parts for them can be pretty costly... probably no worse than parts for an ls1 though. But just to put things into perspective, if you get the right year, those motors had 400 hp and 500 ft./lbs. STOCK.

 

["Turbo-T"]

Sheesh, a 500 Caddy engine on boost?

I would guess go for a pre 72 model if you want an honest 400 hp/500 tq.

 

[SloGN]

Ok guys

I own a syclone so i know a bit about them. The rods are just as strong as the 3.8 but the pistons will break in the rings lands. This is due to knock and a bunch of it. The buick genarally get a HG before any damage is done to the bottom end. The 5 bolts per hole on the heads really keeps the spark knock in and it will kill parts. The biggest problem it a syty motor is they came with a really small cam shaft. Those motors don't make any more power after 4800 rpm and this is due to the cam profile.


The Block is the same as a Vin z s-series truck motor. The later model 93ty engine got a diffrent casting # on the head but other than that they are the same.


the best way to do the intake is use a Dry TB from holley and custom do the fuel rails and injector bungs on the ports and you will have a very good flowing intake that will fit under the hood.


there is a guy that turboed a stock 5.3 chevy burban engine and installed it in a ford fairmont and it runs in the 9's with a mp-70 and a set of homemade headers google turob fairmont and you will see

 

[henschman]

Sheesh, a 500 Caddy engine on boost?

I would guess go for a pre 72 model if you want an honest 400 hp/500 tq.

yep, and they make pre-made kits to put those things in g-bodies. i have an '86 Cutlass with a worn out 307, and I may still do that swap someday. its real easy to get those things over 1000 hp on boost.

plus those motors are tuffer than hell. there is a guy who ran a 300 shot on a stock junkyard motor with no problems.

actually the one to get might be the later design, after smog, because they had lower compression. It would be ideal for boost.

 

[BetMinesFaster]

Stock for stock the gn motor is much stronger than the sy/ty, but if you are going to build the shortblock with good internals anyway then that isn't a concern. Big questions would be headers, motor mounts, intake manifold, and what engine management would you use? The extra cubes would be nice. As always, it's your car so build whatever makes you happy. I know one guy who started doing this but he moved away before he got the engine fired up so I don't know if he ever finished it or not. He made his own headers and did some machine work on an intake manifold he had to make it work but I can't remember what the manifold was from.

Headers are still on my mind, motor mounts would be the same as a small block in a G-body, edelbrock performer Vortec 4.3 intake fitted with injector bungs, a Wilson manifolds elbow and throttle body, and SyTy billet fuel rails would take care of the intake. as far as managment im still looking. The cost of a strong bottom end on a 4.3 is just far less than a 3.8!