Which Engine and Why? (going 4.3L CPI, Posts pics please?)

[THK Matt]

they are all rear pans, no matter the engine size.....and might i add- a pregnant dog to work on

The 3.0L V6 is a pregnant dog to work on, I will take the 4.3L to work on anyday.
Thanks for the oil pan info Dan :]

Ok I just read your hole thread.

You got to build what you want.

There is nothin rong with all of these engines, a 4.3L has desent power. I have a 83 Toy with a 4.3L TBI, granny 4 speed, Klune and NP205, with a Dana 60 and 14 bolt. I run 39.5" TSL's. My truck runs great, I can move pretty well even with all the extra weight of my running gear. If I'm driving up a steep hill I have to drop to 3rd other than that I'm in 4th all the time. I pass most people on the freeway, back roads, ect.

I also used a Howell wiring harness and I got my pcm, fuel pump and filter though them as well. I wouldn't mind having more power but I am also a lead foot.

Good to know, I have a pretty good game plan so far :]

[crawlerdan]

i agree....but astros lick donkey ass

[THK Matt]

i agree....but astros lick donkey ass

Oh i know it will be majorly fun to remove it! lol

[COToy91]

Cut the core support and yank it out

[toybuilt]

Just cut the hole van up for fun. Thats what I did with the S10 blazer I got my engine out of.  

[THK Matt]

Cut the core support and yank it out

Good idea. I was gonna try and part out some of it... but ill probably just cut it up and junk it.

[COToy91]

The odds of someone needing the whole body is slim. Fenders interior. Wheels people will buy. Try to find a awd van so you have a 4x4 trans also, just thought of that

[THK Matt]

Hey Ryan, I got my AA Engine Conv. Manual to work!!!

The odds of someone needing the whole body is slim. Fenders interior. Wheels people will buy. Try to find a awd van so you have a 4x4 trans also, just thought of that

I will as i dont wanna hassle getting the smaller engine that isnt 4.3L that came in the non AWD sometimes.

[crawlerdan]

did you already buy a astro

[crawlerdan]

haha, heres the blazer i gave aaron for his swap....he defiled it like a german hooker in vegas!

[crawlerdan]

haha, and i drove it 342 miles in that exact condition!

[THK Matt]

No i havent yet. Im looking for a 95 and newer van.... which would restrict me to 95-00 I believe.

[THK Matt]

Haha thats awesome!

[crawlerdan]

just throwing this out there- i have a ford H.O-5.0 FOR SALE..... the whole car, drive it back to idamaho for 750....fuel injected 5.0 v8

[THK Matt]

just throwing this out there- i have a ford H.O-5.0 FOR SALE..... the whole car, drive it back to idamaho for 750....fuel injected 5.0 v8

Ive seen it, but ive looked into ford swaps into a toyota and they are not cheap!

[THK Matt]

Which Radiator are you guys running?

[COToy91]

this one, select 22"

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speedway-Chevy-Universal-Radiators,3557.html

[bigarms23]

running the same one

[THK Matt]

Oh damn Lol, well question... i will for sure upgrade to that. but if i had to, could I use the OEM Astro Van one?

[COToy91]

Oh damn Lol, well question... i will for sure upgrade to that. but if i had to, could I use the OEM Astro Van one?

It is a lot wider than the opening for the radiator, but if you want to make it fit... there is no reason you cant

[THK Matt]

It is a lot wider than the opening for the radiator, but if you want to make it fit... there is no reason you cant

I'm sure i could run a 3.0 V6 rad then? or is it too small?

[GNasty 82]

Just to chime in about the 4.3L and radiators.

I'm not sure about how the 4.3 in the Astro is configured, but the 4.3L in my '97 s10 has a semi-remote oil filter with oil lines running to the radiator for cooling the engine oil.  So FYI, you may want to make sure you match the radiator to the engine setup.

Just pointing this out b/c the radiator linked above doesn't mention anything about oil cooler lines.

[COToy91]

Just to chime in about the 4.3L and radiators.

I'm not sure about how the 4.3 in the Astro is configured, but the 4.3L in my '97 s10 has a semi-remote oil filter with oil lines running to the radiator for cooling the engine oil.  So FYI, you may want to make sure you match the radiator to the engine setup.

Just pointing this out b/c the radiator linked above doesn't mention anything about oil cooler lines.

You can remove the remote lines and adapter from the block and run a oil filter like normal.

[THK Matt]

Just to chime in about the 4.3L and radiators.

I'm not sure about how the 4.3 in the Astro is configured, but the 4.3L in my '97 s10 has a semi-remote oil filter with oil lines running to the radiator for cooling the engine oil.  So FYI, you may want to make sure you match the radiator to the engine setup.

Just pointing this out b/c the radiator linked above doesn't mention anything about oil cooler lines.

Keep that in mind. Thanks buddy.

You can remove the remote lines and adapter from the block and run a oil filter like normal.

Good to know.

[81yotalove]

i think a 4.3 would be cool for me to run in the future. what kind of mpg you guys who have them getting?

[bigarms23]

i get 22mpg on the freeway and around 16 in town everywhere i go im averaging 65mph

[81yotalove]

thats not bad at all for a large v6. i might put one in when my 22re takes a crap lol.

[jrw83]

  I've had a chev 350 lt-1 w/ turbo 350 in a '83 long bed
  tryed all rads. the one that worked best was a alum thick 2 core.
  also cut out rad support panel to move the rad foward.
  and I built a nice shroud w/o clutch.


  Now i built a chev 4.3 w/ 700r4 in a '83 short bed because i
  wanted more room for cooling. now running a alum 4 core i got from a.a.
  i also removed all surp. belt crap, and went with v- belts,
  w/180 themostat and no clutch just homemade shroud.
  runs nice and cool   it's a'89 4.3 fresh rebuild.  also the 700r4 is fresh
  rebuild.  i'm running the trans. cooler under the bed w/fan and heat sheilds.

  hope this helps

[THK Matt]

  I've had a chev 350 lt-1 w/ turbo 350 in a '83 long bed
  tryed all rads. the one that worked best was a alum thick 2 core.
  also cut out rad support panel to move the rad foward.
  and I built a nice shroud w/o clutch.


  Now i built a chev 4.3 w/ 700r4 in a '83 short bed because i
  wanted more room for cooling. now running a alum 4 core i got from a.a.
  i also removed all surp. belt crap, and went with v- belts,
  w/180 themostat and no clutch just homemade shroud.
  runs nice and cool   it's a'89 4.3 fresh rebuild.  also the 700r4 is fresh
  rebuild.  i'm running the trans. cooler under the bed w/fan and heat sheilds.

  hope this helps

That will for sure help.

whats your reasoning on going to V-Belts vs. Serpentine?

[kneedownnate]

Probably space saving.