in that post on tire sizes, you made a comment about a 4.3 being the same as a 350 just minus the 2 cylinders. Eventually I plan on swappin out the I6 in the cherokee when it kicks the bucket (hopefully not soon) and I was debating on a 350 or a 4.3. How do the tourque and HP compare with each other?
The 4.3 has alot of power to be a V-6. The bore, stroke, and valves are the same from a 4.3 to a 5.7(350). Water pump, brackets, Bell housing pattern are all the same between the 2. I have seen Jeeps with both, they both do good. What I would think about is, what size tires, if you gonna drive it everyday, stuff like that. If you only gonna run like 35's and want to drive it every day, I would strongly consider a 4.3. I think you would be happy with it. They got cams, headers, etc.etc. for the 4.3. Probably get better fuel milage too. Are you going carb or fuel injection?
Im thinkin 33's for now since it is a DD. Super Swamper has come out with a TSB price is nice. 33x 13.5 x 15" is only $125.Once I get somethin else down the road, will prob go bigger. Dont know about carb or FI yet. Leanin more towards FI for off camber performance. Time will tell.
I have never owned a truck with the 4.3, but everyone I've talked to that had one like them. I think the 4.3 would have plenty of power to turn 33's or 35's for that matter. I had a Blazer,fulsize, with a 350, 350 auto trans,no overdrive, 3.73 gears, and 35's. I got around 14 MPG around town, and 18 MPG on the highway. It would drop down to about 10 or 12 if I hung my foot in it. I had a 268 cam, Edelbrock Performer intake,Edelborock 600CFM carb, headers, 3" exhaust,flomasters, MSD 6A ignition. You could hold the brake and smoke the tires.
Oh did I mention, My cousin had a "bad" Montey Carlo SS (he thought), I smoked him 0-60MPH.
sweet, I have had a 2wd S-10 with the 4.3 in it , and that sumbitach would fly. Everytime I got in it I tried to contact air traffic control. I was curious about the torque. With all the aftermarket stuff for a 4.3 should be no problem. I know Advance Adapters carries alot of the stuff I need to do the swap, also Novak Conversions has a nice write up on it. Its here if ya wanna check it out...
http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/kno...ateway.htm
On thr right side is a link to the Novak guide to installing GM engines in Jeeps, plus a whole crap load of other useful info.
That link just got me to thinking something else you could do, If you are going to build a 4.3. You need to try and pick up some Vortec heads. A buddy of mine built his motor, then later put Vortec heads on it, he said it made a world of differnce.
Yeah, thats what I was thinkin about doin. The 4.0 I6 I have now has almost 300k on it, but is pulling strong, and burns almost no oil. So Im thinkin about gettin a Vortec Block, puttin it on a stand and buildin a little bit at a time.
Yeah sounds good, check out
http://www.northernautoparts.com they have good deals on rebuild kits, tell them to send you a catalog. Its better than their web site,to me. A 350 rebuild kit is $154.00, comes with name brand parts and you can up grade anything in the kit. A master rebuild kit comes with, rod,main, & cam bearings, pistons, rings, camshaft, lifters, timing set, oil pump, freeze plugs, and gasket set. I've built about 10 motors using their kits and always have had good luck. Just figure out if you gonna need to bore your block or turn the crank, so you'll know what size pistons, rings, and rod & main bearings to order. The oversized stuff don't cost any extra.
I always change cams and get double roller timing sets. Only cost a little extra.
In their catalog they have about every rebuild kit you could think of, they have cams, timing sets, all kind of crap.
Novak now thats a place a man can spend all of the christmas money.