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Blown 3.8 or the Good ole 4.3L vortec

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Offline 89kick

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Blown 3.8 or the Good ole 4.3L vortec
« on: December 18, 2005, 09:09:05 PM »
Okay here are my two options i am looking at for a near future engine swap.

Chevy 4.3L Vortec stats
190-HP
220-ft/lbs or torque

GM 3.8L (AKA 3800) supercharged.
220-260 HP (Depending on what series i get 1-3)
280FT/LBS of torque

Okay i know ther eis the issue about wieght and frankly i'm just looking for pure RAW power that when i open it up will scare the living daylights out of all the little rice rockets in town.  Anyways i'm curious which ones you guys would suggest or if there are any other engines. (Sidenote no 4cyl or Ford engines, i'm doing the engine swap to make the engine compartment look full and i don't want hefty repair bills every few months from teh motor taking a beating)  The 3800 series III s/c is currently what is being put in the Pontiac Grand Prix GTP, Chevy Impala SS and several other GM vehicles.  NOTE IT COMES STOCK WITH THE BLOWER!  So i can pick up an already blown 3.8L for roughly the same price.  The 4.3L has the same bolt pattern as a 350 small block, as well as the smae BORE and STROKE so it would be cheap/easy to find.  Anyways lemme know what you guys think.
« Last Edit: December 18, 2005, 09:29:41 PM by 89kick »
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Proud2BCDN

Re: Blown 3.8 or the Good ole 4.3L vortec
« Reply #1 on: December 18, 2005, 09:13:07 PM »
I would go with the 4.3...not to hard to get one over 300hp...without a blower.
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Offline Dihnekis

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Re: Blown 3.8 or the Good ole 4.3L vortec
« Reply #2 on: December 18, 2005, 09:53:49 PM »
Careful, with 200hp on the stock trackick axles you will probably be snapping shafts all day. I dont know from experience though, let zaggy or someone come in and set me straight.
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Proud2BCDN

Re: Blown 3.8 or the Good ole 4.3L vortec
« Reply #3 on: December 19, 2005, 08:10:51 AM »
There's no question that a stock 4.3 or 3.8 will break parts in a stock Zuk drivetrain...my guess is that 89kick is either planning on upgrading the drivetrain as well or is planning to spend a lot of time under his truck ;)
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Offline zaggy

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Re: Blown 3.8 or the Good ole 4.3L vortec
« Reply #4 on: December 19, 2005, 08:19:17 AM »
Morning guys

     I don't need to set anyone straight, I think that combo will shatter drive line parts.
It's not the hp it's the torque...the driveline was not designed for that kind of twisting power.

     In spite of my preference for IFS, this is one place that going SAS makes sense as I don't know if you could beef up Suzuki stuff enough to take that kind of torque.

Zag
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Offline ppltrak

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Re: Blown 3.8 or the Good ole 4.3L vortec
« Reply #5 on: December 19, 2005, 08:45:44 AM »
Go with the 3.8 its smaller and makes more beans pluss it's lighter. Just my .02
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Offline 89kick

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Re: Blown 3.8 or the Good ole 4.3L vortec
« Reply #6 on: December 19, 2005, 10:38:19 AM »
I would be switching over to a chevy tranny and transfercase simply for durability sakes, and the axels would probably get switched out to something a little stronger.  The trick to it would be finding an axel that i could just swap under the rear so i wouldn't sacrafice my lift.  This is all under planning for the drive train.  The trick is whether or not to put in the blown 3.8 or the 4.3 as the 4.3L has over double the HP and Torque and the blown 3.8 has a little over double the HP and roughly 3x the torque, over my 1.6L8-valve.  Also i do plan on upgradign the front CV axels to handle the stress.
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*89 kick, witha  6" calmini super articualtion combo lift.  New interior 100% 1/8inch neoprene seats that 100% waterproof.  33x12.50 Wild Country EXTs on 15x10 slotted mag alumminum wheels.  Comp level Stereo system. and the Stock 1.6-8valve for now.
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Offline derekj

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Re: Blown 3.8 or the Good ole 4.3L vortec
« Reply #7 on: December 19, 2005, 10:04:43 PM »
the 4.3 would be an easier swap - you might have a hard time finding a tranny to match up with the 3.8 as it was only in front wheel drive cars.

derek
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Offline rockrat

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Re: Blown 3.8 or the Good ole 4.3L vortec
« Reply #8 on: December 19, 2005, 10:25:37 PM »
I vote 4.3, 1) because I have already done the swap and love it.. 2 yrs ago if someone suggested to do it I would have shook my head and asked why.. Now I ask why I did not do it sooner. The only way I would do the 3.8 is if you could get it cheaper..
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Offline 89kick

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Re: Blown 3.8 or the Good ole 4.3L vortec
« Reply #9 on: December 19, 2005, 10:27:11 PM »
hmm actually the 3.8 tranny i have a cure for, already have several trannys in mind for that one.  My dad is the one who is pushing the blown 3.8L hes been a mechanic for over 40 years so if he says the blown 3.8L will work in it i trust in his knowledge, but the decision is still mine what engine of the two.  As far as upgrading the Drivetrain i'm keeping my IFS life is too good with it.  I can find ways to beef it up and beef it up right...
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*89 kick, witha  6" calmini super articualtion combo lift.  New interior 100% 1/8inch neoprene seats that 100% waterproof.  33x12.50 Wild Country EXTs on 15x10 slotted mag alumminum wheels.  Comp level Stereo system. and the Stock 1.6-8valve for now.
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Offline explosivo

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Re: Blown 3.8 or the Good ole 4.3L vortec
« Reply #10 on: December 21, 2005, 05:30:20 AM »
I'm in the middle of a 4.3L 'swap'. You'll have to do the 3.8. Sorry :P
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Offline 89kick

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Re: Blown 3.8 or the Good ole 4.3L vortec
« Reply #11 on: December 21, 2005, 08:14:50 AM »
just a question to those of you who have done these engine swaps, have any of you done them in the Sidekick or just the Sammi?  Because i have seen kits from every zuk parts house online to do 4.3L conversians to a sammi but absolutly none for the Kick.
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*89 kick, witha  6" calmini super articualtion combo lift.  New interior 100% 1/8inch neoprene seats that 100% waterproof.  33x12.50 Wild Country EXTs on 15x10 slotted mag alumminum wheels.  Comp level Stereo system. and the Stock 1.6-8valve for now.
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Offline truckasaurus44

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Re: Blown 3.8 or the Good ole 4.3L vortec
« Reply #12 on: December 21, 2005, 09:53:18 AM »
The 4.3L would be alot easier to find a trans for (All blazer gear would be the most common donor).  You could try to find a 2wd s-10/blazer tranny and put a sammy t-case behind it for easy gearing options too.

I believe the 3.8L could be used with a trans out of an older buick v6 powered CJ but otherwise i have no idea what would work. 

As for the drivetrain, you will want to replace the aluminum front diff along with the cv shafts.  I'de look into swapping an entire toyota front diff and cv's into the front.  A toyota v6 rear axle or ford 9inch would be a solid swap for the rear.
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Offline 89kick

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Re: Blown 3.8 or the Good ole 4.3L vortec
« Reply #13 on: December 21, 2005, 12:35:08 PM »
I've been looking actually at getting the new axles from a S-10 just getting an entire donor vehicle and just gutting it for parts,  or possibly finding a wrecked buick to rip the harness/computer/engine out of
like i said earlier though, the question isn't about ease of finding parts its about what engine would be the best to put in regardless of difficulty.  In other words would the Blown 3.8L be too much or enougth that any other v-6 kick is going to go running for the hills when i fire it up...
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*89 kick, witha  6" calmini super articualtion combo lift.  New interior 100% 1/8inch neoprene seats that 100% waterproof.  33x12.50 Wild Country EXTs on 15x10 slotted mag alumminum wheels.  Comp level Stereo system. and the Stock 1.6-8valve for now.
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Offline explosivo

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Re: Blown 3.8 or the Good ole 4.3L vortec
« Reply #14 on: December 21, 2005, 04:15:49 PM »
Quote from: 89kick on December 21, 2005, 08:14:50 AM
just a question to those of you who have done these engine swaps, have any of you done them in the Sidekick or just the Sammi?  Because i have seen kits from every zuk parts house online to do 4.3L conversians to a sammi but absolutly none for the Kick.
I'm doing my swap into a Tracker, but I'm not using any kits.

4.3L TBI to SM465 to NP205 to D44's out of a Scout II.

If your bent on keeping IFS, I would recommend using Toyota stuff over S-10 stuff.
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