4.3 swap

[KORNBREAD]

So im rebuilding my 93 2wd suburban now that it was recovered. Im really thinking of turning it into a slighlty lowered cruiser. Im super tight with cash and can not afford the $500-$650 people want for a 350tbi. I do have a tbi 4.3 from a 92 van with only 60k miles sitting on my engine stand in the garage. Almost all the electrical plugs are the same. Its ready to go. (really thinking of dropping it in for now) My question is, the fuel pressure is the same with the t.b.i's, almost all connectors are the same, its ready to go. Is there anything that would stop me from having it work? I dont want to hear "its to hard on the 4.3" or why would you do that?" Just wanting to make sure it would all work right. Please let me know if this is a go or a no.   

[Crazymays77]

i think u need to sell that 4.3 to me lol. not sure if there is any difference between them in fuel pressure and such.

[Crazymays77]

i can tell you this i'm sure you will get worse gas mileage with the 4.3 in there if that is any concern.

[old school truck dude]

350s are $350 all day long here in Bay County. Sell your 4.3 and buy one 

[Chevy Racer]

A TBI 4.3 uses the same fuel pressure as the TBI 350.  Motor mounts are the same but the distance between the radiator and fan will be different.  Eliminate the fan, run an electric one.  The bellhousing will match right up and so will the converter bolts.  The computer is different find one in a junk yard for a few bucks and plug and play to the best of my knowledge.  All wiring should be pretty much the same.

[RIP_K52007]

A TBI 4.3 uses the same fuel pressure as the TBI 350.  Motor mounts are the same but the distance between the radiator and fan will be different.  Eliminate the fan, run an electric one.  The bellhousing will match right up and so will the converter bolts.  The computer is different find one in a junk yard for a few bucks and plug and play to the best of my knowledge.  All wiring should be pretty much the same.

I have a 4.3L tbi computer or two down here and a Y pipe for the exhaust cant remember if they took that or not. Also have that 2wd 700r4... cant really afford to sell it cheap but I'll make ya a moundsville deal on it...

[KORNBREAD]

Thanks guys. Not running a 700r4 but thanks. I know all the bell bolts and hard ware will match i was more concerned on the running aspect of things.  Im stuck on why do I have to change the computers? everything on this 4.3 is almost a mirror match to what was on my old 350. Also I dont see it getting worse on gas millage seeing how the power from this to mine is not that far off. yeah the torque is less and I know thats what makes it or breaks it but i should be getting right around the same as when I had the  350 in it. The van got around 19 with the 4.3 and my suburban got around 14. So  id lose around 5 mpg. either way I just want it to move on its own lol.

[KORNBREAD]

350s are $350 all day long here in Bay County. Sell your 4.3 and buy one 

damn im getting quoted around $600 or so. I need to move lol

[RIP_K52007]

I dont know whats different, all i know is its required to swap computers from 4.3L to 350 in s10's so id assume its the same to reverse the order in a full size..

[rangerwheelinmike]

why did my ranger get 10 to 12 mpg with the 3.0 and now get 16 or 18 with the 5.0? lol motor has to work harder to move it

[RIP_K52007]

350s are $350 all day long here in Bay County. Sell your 4.3 and buy one  

damn im getting quoted around $600 or so. I need to move lol

I sold the 4.3 out of the baja for $100.. just gotta look for the deals from dummys like me

[KORNBREAD]

why did my ranger get 10 to 12 mpg with the 3.0 and now get 16 or 18 with the 5.0? lol motor has to work harder to move it

no kidding....glad you pointed that out

[old school truck dude]

The difference in the computers is one is figurin the firing on 6 cylinders and the other is thinkin on 8. Difference in fuel delivery as well.

[KORNBREAD]

The difference in the computers is one is figurin the firing on 6 cylinders and the other is thinkin on 8. Difference in fuel delivery as well.

Thats kinda where I was on that. Thanks man!

[KORNBREAD]

Guess Ill just keep saving up my shinny penny's lol

[Disturban]

You will also need to use a torque converter out of a 4.3 liter truck, the v8 converter will give your 4.3 a stall speed of about 700rpm's. Most people who do a V6 to V8 swap will keep the V6 converter because it will give the V8 a higher stall, if I remember it is like 1800rpm or so.

Seriously though I know you don't want to hear it but a 4.3tbi is a turd, I had a few of them and you need to floor them just to get a S10 to move, put it in a Suburban and it will be lucky to get up to 45mph with your foot to the floor, they only have 160hp. If you already have all the accessories such as power steering pump, TBI, computer, fan, ect, I would come over to Grand Rapids to LKQ and you can get a Motor for $150 with a warranty with no accessories or $250 with all accessories. They always have lots of 305's and 350's in the yard, you need to pull it yourself but they provide engine hoist. 

[Crazymays77]

Wonder if that is y I'm having issues with the tracker. I have the converter from a 92 full size blazer in there and i have it idled around 1000 but when I put it in hear it drops to around 6-700 and idles like crap plus when it shifts into second it is really hard. What u think disturban?

[Disturban]

Wonder if that is y I'm having issues with the tracker. I have the converter from a 92 full size blazer in there and i have it idled around 1000 but when I put it in hear it drops to around 6-700 and idles like crap plus when it shifts into second it is really hard. What u think disturban?

Possibly? All I know is I was going to do a V8 swap and I learned that if you use a 4.3 converter with a 5.7 motor you get a higher stall so I am going to naturally assume that if you use a 5.7 converter with a 4.3 motor you will have lower stall. Now if the 4.3 converter with a 4.3 motor stalls at say 1200rpm and it runs right what is going to happen when you drop in a 5.7 converter and it now stalls at 800rpm?

That would cause all kinds of drivability issues like stalling at lights, rough running, improper shifting, ect. Basically it would be like running a motor with a huge cam and heads and a stock converter and even have more issues since it is all computer controlled and fuel injected.

[KORNBREAD]

Crap I forgot about the stall. Derik (lilred) Told me once that he heard if you put a 4.3 converter in a v8 set up you will get a 1400 or so stall. Yeah im just going to wait and slap a 350tbi back in it. I know the 4.3 will be doggier but I was trying so hard to look past that to save money (sad face). I really need to find a way out there because the places out hear are crazy high with prices. Few years ago I could Get 350 tbi's all day fully complete for $300. Times are changing I guess.

[RIP_K52007]

Crap I forgot about the stall. Derik (lilred) Told me once that he heard if you put a 4.3 converter in a v8 set up you will get a 1400 or so stall. Yeah im just going to wait and slap a 350tbi back in it. I know the 4.3 will be doggier but I was trying so hard to look past that to save money (sad face). I really need to find a way out there because the places out hear are crazy high with prices. Few years ago I could Get 350 tbi's all day fully complete for $300. Times are changing I guess.

people keep scraping them.