Topic: 4.3 exhaust question

[billy hill]

Need to do this swap as cheap as possible.

I'm going to run a 91 TBI 4.3 with an SM420 behind it. In other words, the drive train (minus the axles) will all be Chevy. This will be stuffed into an 83 Toy 4X4 frame. With an 87 Toy 2X4 cab.

What exhaust manifolds will fit? I really don't want to buy headers for this right now. Cause there's just way too much other stuff I need instead. Is there any type of factory exhaust that will fit? Or fit with little modifactions?

[kneedownnate]

I'm pretty sure you'll be able to get away with the factory manifolds, or if you absolutely had to buy headers then there are block huggers available. 

[FIREBALL]

My motor's out of a '93 S10 Blazer and the stock manifolds work. It's a CPI vortec motor, but the manifolds are probably about the same. It's a little bit of a tight fit, but nothing rubs or hits anything.

[billy hill [OP]]

That's what I want to hear. And, if the stock manifolds fit. I figure that I'll be able to do this swap for under a couple hundred dollars. That is, if everything goes my way..

FIREBALL:  Is there any difference between 2x4 and 4x4 manifolds? Really, I have a choice between two different engines ( a 2x4 and 4x4) but the 4x4 has high miles and has had the snot ran outta it. Plus, I aint positive that I can get the 4x4 yet. Still waiting on the guy to give the truck to my brother.

[Ferg]

I run a '92 T10 4.3 in an  '80 frame.  Stock exhaust manifolds would not fit, they hit the top of the frame.  Found stock tubular style manifolds from 80's something 4.3 at the junkyard and still had to cut and bend the collectors to get them inside the frame rails.  1st gen frames are narrower than 2nd/3rd gen.  If you have the cash get the Sanderson Headers.  Blingin' good stuff!

[FIREBALL]

Bummer about the frame being narrower. I wonder if you were running a body lift if you could set the engine a little higher and then bring the exhaust inward to clear the frame rails.?.

[Ferg]

Swapped an '85 xcab onto the frame at the same time as engine swap.  Got about an inch and a half body lift just to make it work.  Still got brake lines, clutch interference so made stockers into semi custom headers.

Fireball you saw it at MCR4...

[billy hill [OP]]

Ferg: Do you remember what you pulled your manifolds out of? I'm going to hit the boneyards this weekend to do some shopping.

I dug through my brothers spare parts last night. And found two T18 trannies, Chevy 11 inch clutch, and a Dana20 case.
Really, all I need now (other than the little stuff) is the exhaust and a bellhousing.

Now, I just gotta convince my cousin that those Kaiser axles lying in his yard need to be donated to my cause. MMMMM, I like the idea of a fullwidth Toyota sporting a 4.3 built for under a grand...

[Jase]

My tubular manafolds were out of an 87 astro van and 85 chevy truck and with some modifacation (exstended the flange below the framerail.  I did it without a body lift but I have heard you can run some of the cast ones if you have a body lift.  Oh yah... 85 runner.

[Ferg]

Mine were from an Astrovan.  B/H was from A/A.

[Makman]

I managed to get a 2003 Blazer 4.3 with stock cast manifolds to work on my '85 but it was really tight between the frame rails and I had 2" body lift to work with.  A narrower frame would have made it practically impossible without liberal use of the gas-axe.  Whatever you come up with for manifolds, some creative tube work can do wonders to avoid interferences.

[billy hill [OP]]

Yeah, I plan to "Jesse James" the exhaust. Figure I'll have a shop bend me a bunch of tubing. Then make my own. As soon as I get around to actually doing this swap. I'll take some good pics so everybody can see the cheapest 4.3 swap ever done.