Should I buy it if it has a 4.3? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bluec10 · 05-01-2002, 08:34 PM

I've been looking around for a good truck. I'm not thinking of turning it into a cruiser or anything, just a good solid truck for getting from A to B, that is reliable, and isn't too rusty. I found a nice '87 Chevy 4x4 with a pretty good body, but it has a 4.3 in it. The motor is pretty new (has 12000 miles). What's the word on the 4.3? Power? Reliability? Are there some performance parts? Any help would be appreciated.

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Dream: '68 C-10 Custom with a 396 and a 700R4
Current Reality: '68 C-10, 250, 3 speed, parts in two garages, but lots of hope.

**MJN** · 05-02-2002, 10:16 AM

4.3 have always been good engines. Powerful, reliable and have a few performance mods available through GM and others. Your truck should be around 200 or so hp, and you should be able to get a K&N filter, maybe put a cam in it and some aluminum heads and headers for it. They are basically a 350 with two cylinders cut off. We have one in our '94 GMC Jimmy and it has always been very dependable and powerful. I would get that truck if it will do what you want it to.

Jeep_willys · 05-02-2002, 11:23 AM

I think that you will enjoy this motor. I had a chevy astro van with a 4.3 and it towed 9000 lbs across the united states with no problems. Its very good for basic transportation.

lukecp · 05-04-2002, 10:25 PM

The 4.3 is a tough and long lasting motor. You should be able to get 200xxx miles out of it, at least. They are pretty powerful in a S10, and should be able to move the fullsize truck with no problems.

------------------
Lucas

"Another proud owner of one of the coolest trucks ever built"

drop_shift@hotmail.com

My Daily-Driver: '72 Chevy LWB Custom/10. Rebuilt 350, roughly 300 HP thanks to a 204/214 duration cam, Edelbrock Performer intake and 1406 carb, headers, and 40 seires Flowmaster mufflers. Ochre with a white top. Lots of fun

.

Longhorn Man · 05-05-2002, 12:02 PM

Is this 4.3 the early vortec with the Central Port Injection, or is it the Z code with a throttle body? The Vortecs with the CPI were pretty much troublesome.
I am not too happy with mine, but it wouldn't stop me from buying a truck...an 350 is just about a bolt in.

------------------
'69 G.M.C. 350/350. Trying to clean up the left over damage from the Dope-Smokin-Old-Man
I've been dubbed the Longhorn Freak/Fanatic/Expert, I just hope I can live up to it.
FINALLY got the HORNIAC...a '70 one ton Longhorn with a Pontiac 350/350 and lots of 'personality'. Check out The Longhorn Webite.
If you need a pic posted, E-mail me at longhornmail@yahoo.com
Andy, in Columbus Ohio

chevy72402 · 05-05-2002, 11:35 PM

My 1989 s-10 blazer has a 4.3 and I just turned over 170,000 I got it with 50,000 in 97 and have had hardly minimum problems with it!

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72 chevy super, long box, 402 big block (2,000 miles on rebuild 2wd orange and white.
84 k10 4x4 crate 350 with 330 hp

**MJN** · 05-15-2002, 10:42 AM

Longhornmail, Those CPI are easy to fix. We just replaced ours and runs like new.

**crossy** · 05-15-2002, 12:15 PM

4.3's = same bore & stroke as a 350. CPI wasn't available AS AN OPTION until 92. the first year or two of production they had a Q-jet on them. great little engnes , VERY small difference between it and a 305 as far as power goes , but gets better fuel mileage. sound sweet with good duals too.
BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. DAVE

------------------
with all the rocks that I turn over I should be finding more than slugs!

71Chev · 05-29-2002, 04:50 AM

My 91 S10 Blazer (2 wd) has 200K miles and running strong.

*Zkast* · 05-30-2002, 08:29 AM

4.3 is the perfect answer for the S10 series/Astro van but somewhat under powered in a full size (still not bad though)... BUT a 4.3 in a full size truck with 4x4? we have a saying for trucks like this in the shop, Gutless wonders. No offense to folks who have these but if I were looking at a 4x4 fullsize? a 4.3 v6 is the last thing I would want to see under the hood. Stock (if I remember correctly) these engines produced 171hp with the tbi version. cpi didnt come out till later....

TimT · 05-31-2002, 03:09 PM

its a good engine but it will never be a hot rod

**BOSS** · 06-02-2002, 01:00 AM

i think it would do fine for what you are looking for.Also is it auto or manual tranny?

05-01-2002, 08:34 PM	#1
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Should I buy it if it has a 4.3? I've been looking around for a good truck. I'm not thinking of turning it into a cruiser or anything, just a good solid truck for getting from A to B, that is reliable, and isn't too rusty. I found a nice '87 Chevy 4x4 with a pretty good body, but it has a 4.3 in it. The motor is pretty new (has 12000 miles). What's the word on the 4.3? Power? Reliability? Are there some performance parts? Any help would be appreciated. ------------------ Dream: '68 C-10 Custom with a 396 and a 700R4 Current Reality: '68 C-10, 250, 3 speed, parts in two garages, but lots of hope. __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

05-02-2002, 10:16 AM	#2
MJN Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Maquoketa, Ia/ Orr, Mn Posts: 3,051	4.3 have always been good engines. Powerful, reliable and have a few performance mods available through GM and others. Your truck should be around 200 or so hp, and you should be able to get a K&N filter, maybe put a cam in it and some aluminum heads and headers for it. They are basically a 350 with two cylinders cut off. We have one in our '94 GMC Jimmy and it has always been very dependable and powerful. I would get that truck if it will do what you want it to. __________________ '51 South Bend Model "9A" '56 Chevy 3600 NAPCO '74 Chevy Cheyenne Super K20-restored on 37's '72 GMC Sierra Custom K2500- in progress '08 GMC Envoy Denali '12 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali '17 GMC Yukon XL VCCA member #58596 http://www.nohrco.com

05-04-2002, 10:25 PM	#4
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	The 4.3 is a tough and long lasting motor. You should be able to get 200xxx miles out of it, at least. They are pretty powerful in a S10, and should be able to move the fullsize truck with no problems. ------------------ Lucas "Another proud owner of one of the coolest trucks ever built" drop_shift@hotmail.com My Daily-Driver: '72 Chevy LWB Custom/10. Rebuilt 350, roughly 300 HP thanks to a 204/214 duration cam, Edelbrock Performer intake and 1406 carb, headers, and 40 seires Flowmaster mufflers. Ochre with a white top. Lots of fun . __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

05-05-2002, 11:35 PM	#6
chevy72402 FARMER/RANCHER Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: SD Posts: 597	My 1989 s-10 blazer has a 4.3 and I just turned over 170,000 I got it with 50,000 in 97 and have had hardly minimum problems with it! ------------------ 72 chevy super, long box, 402 big block (2,000 miles on rebuild 2wd orange and white. 84 k10 4x4 crate 350 with 330 hp __________________ 1972 chevy super, long box, 402 big block (2,000 miles on rebuild) 2wd tach, tilt, tool box on bedside, a/c, sliding rear window, orange and white. 1972 Chevy Blazer 2wd, tach, tilt, a/c, my first engine overhauling experience, Orange, with white top 2006 Gmc Sierra, XM, Z-71, dark blue, onstar, leather, rear entertainment (audio only) heated seats, (the wife loves that feature) upgraded tires immediately after purchase to Goodyear Wrangler AT/S (hate those rock throwers that come from the factory) BWC

05-15-2002, 10:42 AM	#7
MJN Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Maquoketa, Ia/ Orr, Mn Posts: 3,051	Longhornmail, Those CPI are easy to fix. We just replaced ours and runs like new. __________________ '51 South Bend Model "9A" '56 Chevy 3600 NAPCO '74 Chevy Cheyenne Super K20-restored on 37's '72 GMC Sierra Custom K2500- in progress '08 GMC Envoy Denali '12 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali '17 GMC Yukon XL VCCA member #58596 http://www.nohrco.com

05-02-2002, 11:23 AM	#3
Jeep_willys Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: howell, MI. livingston Posts: 8	I think that you will enjoy this motor. I had a chevy astro van with a 4.3 and it towed 9000 lbs across the united states with no problems. Its very good for basic transportation.

05-05-2002, 12:02 PM	#5
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Is this 4.3 the early vortec with the Central Port Injection, or is it the Z code with a throttle body? The Vortecs with the CPI were pretty much troublesome. I am not too happy with mine, but it wouldn't stop me from buying a truck...an 350 is just about a bolt in. ------------------ '69 G.M.C. 350/350. Trying to clean up the left over damage from the Dope-Smokin-Old-Man I've been dubbed the Longhorn Freak/Fanatic/Expert, I just hope I can live up to it. FINALLY got the HORNIAC...a '70 one ton Longhorn with a Pontiac 350/350 and lots of 'personality'. Check out The Longhorn Webite. If you need a pic posted, E-mail me at longhornmail@yahoo.com Andy, in Columbus Ohio

05-15-2002, 12:15 PM	#8
crossy Oh,you can't buy that new Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Pennsville,N.J. 08070, USA Posts: 2,039	4.3's = same bore & stroke as a 350. CPI wasn't available AS AN OPTION until 92. the first year or two of production they had a Q-jet on them. great little engnes , VERY small difference between it and a 305 as far as power goes , but gets better fuel mileage. sound sweet with good duals too. BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. DAVE ------------------ with all the rocks that I turn over I should be finding more than slugs! __________________ "been there, done that, ruined the T-shirt". 2007 LBZ GMC Sierra, ECSB 2006 LM7 RCSB Silverado 98 Vortec project. 94,3500,6.5L 4L80 81 SWB GMC POS finally gone 73 Pinto, stock, w/CragarSS's-eww LOTS of Cummins trucks.

05-29-2002, 04:50 AM	#9
71Chev Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Indiana Posts: 3,074	My 91 S10 Blazer (2 wd) has 200K miles and running strong. __________________ 71 Chevy CST Long Fleet 350/350/3.07 leaf rear.

05-30-2002, 08:29 AM	#10
Zkast Account Suspended Join Date: May 2002 Location: Olathe, Kansas Posts: 929	4.3 is the perfect answer for the S10 series/Astro van but somewhat under powered in a full size (still not bad though)... BUT a 4.3 in a full size truck with 4x4? we have a saying for trucks like this in the shop, Gutless wonders. No offense to folks who have these but if I were looking at a 4x4 fullsize? a 4.3 v6 is the last thing I would want to see under the hood. Stock (if I remember correctly) these engines produced 171hp with the tbi version. cpi didnt come out till later....

05-31-2002, 03:09 PM	#11
TimT Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: naples, fl Posts: 8	its a good engine but it will never be a hot rod

06-02-2002, 01:00 AM	#12
BOSS Just here to help Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Norwood,Mo Posts: 3,890	i think it would do fine for what you are looking for.Also is it auto or manual tranny? __________________ Support our site Norwood Survivor



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