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Chevy 4.3V6 or 350V8?

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Offline 99Trackerconv

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Chevy 4.3V6 or 350V8?
« on: September 19, 2004, 11:01:53 AM »
The ebay Tracker that was posted a while ago with the Ford V8 in it has got me thinking.  ::) ;D Yes I do that alot. hehe

I've been wanting to do the Xl-7 engine and 5spd swap for a while but it's hard to find a 5spd. :'(

So I was wondering if the Chevy 4.3v6 or maybe a 350 or Vette engine would be a good fitting swap? It's easier to find them in a manual trans. But then I would also have to fabracate everything unlike the XL-7 swap that drops right into my 99 Tracker
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Offline Mike71

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Re: Chevy 4.3V6 or 350V8?
« Reply #1 on: September 19, 2004, 11:05:45 AM »
what kind of vette engine..ls1 lt1 5.7ltr??

the only thing u have to really worry about is width of the engine the heads might have a prblem clearing

also remember that putting more power in ur rig means that it will break things easier..kimball is having a piss fit with me on that lol

i am going down the same road u are thinking i was thinking the 2.5 from a GV but now i have moved on to a V-8 =)
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Offline 99Trackerconv

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Re: Chevy 4.3V6 or 350V8?
« Reply #2 on: September 19, 2004, 11:10:25 AM »
Well I haven't went over the pros/cons of the LS1 Vs. LT1 but I know that my brothers S-10 has the 4.3 in it and it's pretty fast thats why I thought about it too.

I'm thinking about the V8 so that I have more mod  choices either engine I go with.
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SpinalTap

Re: Chevy 4.3V6 or 350V8?
« Reply #3 on: September 19, 2004, 11:37:42 AM »
The guys at Chevy's skunkworks built a Tracker soft top with a 3.4L V6 and 4spd auto....they showed some footage of it ripping around their 4X4 test grounds...wicked fast little truck  :D
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Offline 99Trackerconv

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Re: Chevy 4.3V6 or 350V8?
« Reply #4 on: September 19, 2004, 11:40:48 AM »
WHAT!!! When did you see that? I wanna see!
3.4 or did you mean 4.3 V6?
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Offline explosivo

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Re: Chevy 4.3V6 or 350V8?
« Reply #5 on: September 19, 2004, 11:43:28 AM »
Whatever you go with, go aluminum to retain the Tracker's light weight. LS1... *drool*
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Offline trackinstile

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Re: Chevy 4.3V6 or 350V8?
« Reply #6 on: September 19, 2004, 12:17:11 PM »
Quote

  It's probably a 3.4, GM builds one, it's a relative of the 2.8 and 3.1 if I"m not mistaken, it's a narrow block V-6 it would fit a lot easier than a wide degree 4.3(which is derived form the famed small blcok V-8 just has two cylinders lopped off, verly durable too) If I'm wrong, anyone can correct me, but I'm pretty sure of this.  Hope it helped, Dave ;D
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Offline azrocktrash

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Re: Chevy 4.3V6 or 350V8?
« Reply #7 on: September 19, 2004, 12:17:56 PM »
a guy here in tucson had a 4.3 and 700r4 trans,put his zuk over backwards on flat ground.(plenty of power)
   i've been told it is a 350 with the back cylinders cut off.
       AZ
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Offline wildgoody

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Re: Chevy 4.3V6 or 350V8?
« Reply #8 on: September 19, 2004, 12:29:21 PM »
The 2.8 and 3.1 V6s are 60* Vs
the 4.3 V6 is a 90* V6, I would
go with a 2.8 or a 3.1, as there
are a bunch of performance parts
available for them should you ever
want more punch than the motor
offers, but remember Torque moves
mountains, not Horse Power

Wild
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Offline explosivo

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Re: Chevy 4.3V6 or 350V8?
« Reply #9 on: September 19, 2004, 12:45:32 PM »
Quote
but remember Torque moves
mountains, not Horse Power

Indeed. Now for the 4.9L Ford swaps... I even got one out in mah barn :o That would be crazy in a kick (read: impossible ;D)
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Offline 99Trackerconv

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Re: Chevy 4.3V6 or 350V8?
« Reply #10 on: September 19, 2004, 12:50:29 PM »
OK well does the 2.8 or 3.1 come in a RWD configuration?

I know that my old lumina had a 3.1 and some Cavaliers did too but those are FWD
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Offline wildgoody

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Re: Chevy 4.3V6 or 350V8?
« Reply #11 on: September 19, 2004, 05:28:57 PM »
Ya, they came in the S-10 pickups,
I don't know what the bolt pattern is,
bu tif it's the same as a V8 you should
be good.

My dad used to have a S-10 Blazer 4x4
with a 2.8, that might be an easy to do swap

Wild
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Offline Hemogoblin

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Re: Chevy 4.3V6 or 350V8?
« Reply #12 on: September 20, 2004, 12:17:23 AM »
Sorry but I have to suggest that you stay away from the 2.8L's.  I used to have one in an old Firdbird I had growing up and they have severe issues with oil lubrication, not to mention a whole host of other issues.  The 3.1L was built to replace that problematic motor, which was finally replaced by the 3.4L.  As for performance parts, you will find way more for the 90 degree engines vs the 60 degree ones.  The 4.3L is essentially a 350 shortened, so pretty much anything that bolts to a 350, bolts to a 4.3L.  

4.3Ls are:
a solid engine
lots of aftermarket support
various fuel systems (carb, TBI, TPI, CPI, CSFI)
90 degree pattern so lots of tranny options (the 60 degrees will limit you to that option)

Stay away from the V8's though.  I run an LT1 in my Ram Air now and without a solid tranny behind it, you're asking for trouble.  Mine has the T-56 manual 6 speed but to put that in a Zuk, well, it's too long, and very expensive.  The only other manual I would ever consider using behind the LT1 would be the NV4500, which is just as expensive and weighs in at a whopping 200 lbs!  Yes, cast iron case, and good luck finding one  :-/  If you go with the LS1, the problems are compounded as those are even more powerful.  Go the automatic tranny route and that's a different story.

Do yourself a favour and if you have to go big, go as far as the 4.3L.  In the end, you'll be happier and have a much more reasonable vehicle than the V8's.  I'm doing the 4.3L now in my Samurai, and I wouldn't do it again.  Too much $$$ and too much time wasted.  Oh well, live and learn.

Cheers,
Steve
« Last Edit: September 20, 2004, 12:18:26 AM by Hemogoblin »
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Offline jerryp58

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Re: Chevy 4.3V6 or 350V8?
« Reply #13 on: September 20, 2004, 03:54:14 AM »
OK, maybe a dumb question, but is a V6 or V8 with a matching trans, in a 2-door TracKick still going to be 4WD?  Can you fit a transfer case behind the engine and trans?  What kind of tunnel body work is this going to require?  I'm curious about this because I've been led to believe that I would have a tough time fitting a OD trans (from a 4-door) behind my 1.6.
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Offline Hemogoblin

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Re: Chevy 4.3V6 or 350V8?
« Reply #14 on: September 20, 2004, 04:46:08 AM »
I can't say what yours will require but my Samurai needed to have the tunnel widened and I put on a 2" body lift for several reasons, one of which to make things easier.  I would NOT suggest using the stock t-case but would rather suggest you use the Dana 300 from a 1980 CJ.  That year's case is 2" shorter than all the other years.  The way mine sits now, I will need to shorten my stock Toy CV shaft maybe an inch, so it's got lots of room.  That D300 will bolt up (NO adapter needed despite what everyone says!!!  I know, I did it) minus one bolt to the GM tranny.  The only mod is a new matching spline input shaft for the Dana (to match the either 27 or 32 splines on the tranny output shaft) and to widen the lower hole on the tranny mounting flange in order to have all the bolts in.  It will clock the D300 almost parallel to the ground, which is great for ground clearance, but not great for the floor, hense the body lift  ;)  I have tons of pics, info, etc. just ask.  If you really wanted the flexability to clock the D300 at your desire, buy or fab, a clocking ring.  I bought one for $80 and it was $$$ well spent.  

Cheers!
Steve
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