Thread: chevy 3.8 V-6 info needed

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Has anyone here ever run a 3.8 V-6 in their rod? Ive been trying to shoehorn a 289 into my fiat and its near impossible without recessing the firewall, theres no leg room right now. So I was thinking of running one of these short little motors in it.

Ive heard theyre basically just a 350 thats been redesigned to be a V-6. So are some parts interchangable? What kind of hop up parts are available for these little motors?

I know the 4.3 liter V-6 is basically a 350 short a couple of cylinders, but don't know about the 3.8, thought it was a completely different set up. I know of someone that runs one in a 40 chevy, the guy said it's more like the turbo grand national motor.
The 4.3 does have the same bore and stroke as the 350, not sure what parts would interchange, pistons, rods and maybe the timing chain setup. Did here you can make em go pretty good though, they make some pretty good torque numbers.

The only reason I was asking was because id seen a really hot little 3.8 in a 48 austin sedan. I was thinking if these motors were actually this good, then that would be what id use to remotor my fiat.

well i rebuild engines at a company we ship them out to all over the U.S. but i drive a 97 camaro with the 3.8 its a quick little engine but i believe the 4.3 is what u r looking for the heads on it look just like a 305-350 but ofcourse 2 less cylinders... the 4.3 has more aftermartket performance parts than the 3.8 as well i know because its hard to find parts for mine thats y im not keeping that engine.... well if u need anymore info id be glad to get it for u... or if i know i can tell u...

Not a lot of parts availbale for either the 229 (3.8) or the 262 (4.3L). But more stuff will interchange from a 350 to the 262. The pistons, rods, some of the valve train, the timing chain set, etc., should interchange. The problem is finding a good set of heads or an intake.

Check out the 3/4 350 article from Hot Rod magazine. There is also another article on how to get 500 HP from 270 CI (bored out 262) as well.

Another to engine to look at is the Buick 231 (3.8L). This engine has a lot of aftermarket support and there are blocks that will work with rear wheel drive. Good luck.

The 4.3 is a super little engine, and is just a 350 with two center cylinders eliminated. Some hop up stuff is available, like aluminum intakes, cams, etc. and in stock form a 4 barrel version puts out 220 HP. the 2 barrel is 175 HP. Later ones are roller cammed.

All standard Chevy stuff like transmissions, etc bolt up, and in 1997 (I think, either 97 or 96,) they started using the Vortec heads. You can find these in lots of S10's, cars, and vans, and the 4WD s10 version uses a cool aluminum oil pan that holds more oil. Have one in one of our boats, runs almost like the V8 versions, and quite a bit shorter.

Should make a great swap engine.

Don

Originally posted by Itoldyouso
The 4.3 is a super little engine, and is just a 350 with two center cylinders eliminated. Some hop up stuff is available, like aluminum intakes, cams, etc. and in stock form a 4 barrel version puts out 220 HP. the 2 barrel is 175 HP. Later ones are roller cammed.

All standard Chevy stuff like transmissions, etc bolt up, and in 1997 (I think, either 97 or 96,) they started using the Vortec heads. You can find these in lots of S10's, cars, and vans, and the 4WD s10 version uses a cool aluminum oil pan that holds more oil. Have one in one of our boats, runs almost like the V8 versions, and quite a bit shorter.

Should make a great swap engine.

Don

Yes, but those nice aluminum intakes won't fit the better Vortec heads (the bolts mount the intake differently). There used to be a lot of racing parts for these but they have been discontinued.