Thread: 4.3 v-6 buildup

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Does anyone have any experience building a 4.3?

Ive found a couple diff. intakes for it and I know that for the most part 350 parts will work (?)

Does anone know if there are aftermarket cams available?


I know, some are asking WHY waste the time? but Im looking for something a little diff for an early chevy II project. Kick a$$ performance is not the end goal.

hot rod did a paxton blower add on a few years ago for a 4.3 .. made 500 horses .. i`d like to do that to mine some day .. i have a stock one in my pinto ..

yep there parts like you said 350 parts will work theres cams erson makes them .the marine hyd roller is a good cam for some build iron and came with a 4 barrel intake . there was i think bush class or some road race class that gm made alum blocks intakes .at one time a friend of mine had every part that gm made for them i did some but very mild builds.chevy power book shows some stuff in it

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

yep there parts like you said 350 parts will work theres cams erson makes them .the marine hyd roller is a good cam for some build iron and came with a 4 barrel intake . there was i think bush class or some road race class that gm made alum blocks intakes .at one time a friend of mine had every part that gm made for them i did some but very mild builds.chevy power book shows some stuff in it

Yeah Pat I bought one of those Bowie 4.3 cast iron blocks against my partner's advise from a bush team when they stopped using them.It was a ruff casting with nothing done to it.No holes,nothing.Talk about expensive........I had to turn in my first born<well he ant worth much so it was a good deal-LOL>to finance the machine work needed and then the parts....... common pin crank,I had to be out of my mind.In the end,holding it back it ran in a chvette ran like a clock 10.90 every time.

Man, I read the info on the link---now Im more confused than ever-----it seemed such a simple idea in the beginning!!

But, to go on a saturday nite cruise in a lil chevy II, park, open the hood for all to see a cute lil 6 popper all dressed up like its big brother. With a mild build and a little cam, she ought to run adequately with a little bump!

Originally Posted by keotie

Man, I read the info on the link---now Im more confused than ever-----it seemed such a simple idea in the beginning!!

But, to go on a saturday nite cruise in a lil chevy II, park, open the hood for all to see a cute lil 6 popper all dressed up like its big brother. With a mild build and a little cam, she ought to run adequately with a little bump!

you do not have to make it hard just look for a gm roller cam engine .use some marine parts or buy a intake marine cam or a roller cam .abit of head work and some CR and you will have a runner .i all ways used 350 pistons in the 4.3 was cheaper then buying 6.there is a evenfire and odd fire engines new one pc seal is the block you want there not hard to find i would look a 1990 the newerVtec engine may have better heads you will have to find a intake or drill the heads a check port runner match up

Scott Sehr's shop sent me this link on a 229ci v6 they did - 503HP, 474ftlbs sounds pretty mean, engine's headed to Hawaii!! Scott's a great guy in Sioux Falls, SD.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddA1MgLex2Q

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

yep there parts like you said 350 parts will work theres cams erson makes them .the marine hyd roller is a good cam for some build iron and came with a 4 barrel intake . there was i think bush class or some road race class that gm made alum blocks intakes .at one time a friend of mine had every part that gm made for them i did some but very mild builds.chevy power book shows some stuff in it

Pat the cam you are talking about is it the 225hp cam or is there another production cam?

Originally Posted by sfort

Pat the cam you are talking about is it the 225hp cam or is there another production cam?

there are many cams made by many hyd solid . flat and solid roller and hyd roller . custom if they have cores .gm made many rollers cams and were made here in bay city

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

there are many cams made by many hyd solid . flat and solid roller and hyd roller . custom if they have cores .gm made many rollers cams and were made here in bay city

The "W" cams rated at 200hp are the best production cams.

"Factory 4.3L Cam Specs
* '96-'00, VIN W, w/ balance shaft
- Lift (I/E) - .415/.429
- Dur @ .050 (I/E) - .191/.195

* '93-'96, VIN Z, w/ balance shaft
- Lift (I/E) - .376/.402
- Dur @ .050 (I/E) - .183/.193

* '92-'95, Vin W, w/ balance shaft
- Lift (I/E) - .432/.440
- Dur @ .050 (I/E) - .208/.208

* '91-'93, ZR9/Z79, Syclone/Typhoon
- Lift (I/E) - .351/.386
- Dur @ .050 (I/E) - .179/.195 (Ductile)

* '90-'91, VIN Z, Astro/Safari
- Lift (I/E) - .403/.450
- Dur @ .050 (I/E) - .202/.213 (Steel)

* '87-'94, Vin Z, w/o balance shaft
- Lift (I/E) - .351/.386
- Dur @ .050 (I/E) - .179/.195 (Ductile)"

Gm did make L79 version 4.3L cam non-balance shaft both flat tappet and roller but is not in production anymore.

http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/perform...CATID=304.html

Comp cams and Crane cams are good streetable cams, Comp cams can make custom grinds for racing.

Go get a cup of coffee and read this complete list of 4.3's from engine builder:

http://www.enginebuildermag.com/Arti...chevy_262.aspx


You then know about as much as anyone else about the 4.3's and best choices for O.E.M. heads.The are stroker kits for 4.3's which is the same method as the V8 383 in that uses a 3.75 stroke crank and is built by Speed-O-Motive.They offer a number of different options in their kits.Base kit is $1,499.

Is there a block or head modification required to use the late model heads on the earlier block?

The 2114 Edelbrock manifold ( 4 bolt intake per head) is for the 1996 and up vortec heads, 2111 Edelbrock manifold is 1995 and under. The later 1996 and up vortec heads flow better. The 1992 to 94 eye brow heads flow the best of the six bolt intake heads non-vortec (2111 intake manifold). The 600 cfm 4bbl is about as large as you can go on a street engine.
Comp Cams has some nice cams for both pre 1992 engines and also balance shaft engines. Do not worry about balance shaft for the street can use either engines but remember to use the the roller lifter hold downs from a 1994 engine (p/n 12551431 from a GM dealer to clear the Edelbrock intake) instead of the metal tunnel cover type roller lifter hold downs on an early balance shaft engine. The balance shaft engine cannot use a sbc double roller cam chain kit but the earlier ones can.
You will need a HEI big cap even fire 4.3L V6 distributor with vacuum advance which can be found at different places. Procomp has them.

Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by keotie

Is there a block or head modification required to use the late model heads on the earlier block?

No you can bolt the vortec heads on the early block but you must use the correct intake for them (2114). Also use the correct rockers for the heads you are using. Check your rocker angle for the correct pushrod length. If you use a more exotic roller rocker then talk to a machine shop about what must be modified.

I have a never used vac HEI 4.3 that I bought new.I think I paid a little short of $200.00 for it.I had Jan-Cen re-curve it to total advance at 2,500.It is a bare dizzy without any cap or coil.I have no need for it and would sell it for $75.00 or best offer plus shipping.I live in Roch,NY,14559 if you want to see about what it would cost to ship.I have no pic's or ability to post any because of I am using a back-up old computer which doesn't accept my camera's program.PM me if you want to call me.I will stand behind this is exactly as I have described it.