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  • 4.3L swap feasibility...

    I was sitting board in class, thinking how it would be nice to have a chevy extreme 5-speed and my camaro. Then I remebered people talking abotu a 4.3L swap into the camaro.

    I have an idea, what if say we took a complete 4.3L out of a Jimmy, extreme, Sonoma, or what ever along with the PCM and complete wiring Harness?

    I am pretty sure the most 4.3L truscks use the same tranny as the v6 f-bodies, so we could either get the bell hosuing off of wone of those, or get one off of a TH700R4. So you could keep your stock tranny, jsut switch the bellhousing. Then you could mount the PCm in the sma elocation I am sure, but may have to check part nujmers on it but everything would read ok. YOu would need a custom Y-pip, and maybe a custom headers, if the stock manifolds do not fit. Not sure about the Cross memeber, may have to make a custom one ro something, or an LT1 one might fit. I am not sure if newer 4.3L have a ditributor or if they have a coil system, if they have a coile system it would be easier, but since it is based off of the LT1, I am almost sure you could fit it in, and if not I think a hood cowl would be enough to keep it in.

    Now modding it depends on how the 4.3L aftermarket is, I know SBC are interchangeable, but I am sure the extreme has the usual stuff like a chip, and modified MAF(if they have a MAF)

    Guages I am not sure, Mayeb they will hook up fine, but I am sure the tach will be off due to it being a different motor, maybe the rest of the stuff will plug in and work. Alot of GM cars take parts form the same parts bin so maybe it will work. The Tach problem maybe can be solved with an aftermarket tach.

    What do you guys think?

    I still think its NOT the best bang for the buck, but I was jsut thinking about the feasibility of it, to help the peopel out that were looking at it. I know someone was looking at the race preped motor, but I am sure you could build one up to match it in performance.

  • #2
    Ok first of all you are taking on one hell of a project that is way more work than you will want to do. The tranny won't work you have to use a V8 transmission. I would suggest 6 spd. The computer won't work with ours vary easily they use different interfaces. Your best bet would be use all the wiring out of the truck and then adapt it to our guages and such. Your tach signal won't be a problem because they are both 6 cylinders. Clearance will be a problem unless you but a ramjet intake on it because the 3.4s use a throttle body on top.

    I have seriously considered this idea. It is a lot of work but would be quite kewl if it did work.
    2002 M5 Bright Metallic Silver <br />*Fully loaded and modded<br /><br />2005 GSXR 750<br />*Micron Serpent Race Exhaust *K&N Filter *Power Commander *Trying to hit 200 MPH!<br /><br />1970 SS 454 Chevelle Cortez Silver<br />*It can pass anything but a gas station

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    • #3
      you'd think those 4.3s would be something, but they're not.
      185 hp, 245 tq in a 3100 pound truck is somehow only good for high high 15's.
      those things have a peanut cam in them, so to say. however, GM parts directs has a crazy plethora of performance parts for them, no doubt a cam.
      2011 Camaro LS 6M, in black.

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      • #4
        <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by navyblue2000:
        you'd think those 4.3s would be something, but they're not.
        185 hp, 245 tq in a 3100 pound truck is somehow only good for high high 15's.
        those things have a peanut cam in them, so to say. however, GM parts directs has a crazy plethora of performance parts for them, no doubt a cam.
        <hr></blockquote>


        The new 4.3 that you can buy just as a motor is 290 hp with just exhaust. That is way better than any NA 3.8 plus more torque.
        2002 M5 Bright Metallic Silver <br />*Fully loaded and modded<br /><br />2005 GSXR 750<br />*Micron Serpent Race Exhaust *K&N Filter *Power Commander *Trying to hit 200 MPH!<br /><br />1970 SS 454 Chevelle Cortez Silver<br />*It can pass anything but a gas station

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        • #5
          I am not talking for a swap in my car, my 5-speed would get more trashed then it already is.

          I am jsut saying for a typical automatic v6 f-body all years. And why would you need a v8 tranny, they will not bolt up but if you change the bellhousings then it will hook up.

          What I meant with the PCM form the truck wold be the entire underhood electrical system.

          You would be using the same sensors off hte truck, and the computer form the truck. So in essence, the 4.3L and PCM will think its in the truck still, not a Camaro.

          The tach might work but it could be off, I am not sure what the redline is on the truck. My dad's dakota v6 has a 4k redline, my 3.4L has a 5500 redline, They would read differently, the 2k rpms on the truck motor might read 3.5k rpms on the tach in the Camaro.


          Jsut stating again, I am not planning the swap, I wold do a v8, some people jsut were looking into it. I am just exercising the mind trying to get something thats not easily working, working.

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          • #6
            one other thing is the breaking systems.. the abs and all works with the computer.. I doubt it would work with a 4.3 computer..
            just something else to throw in the mix...
            -Brad
            98 Firebird - gone from mod mode to keep it running and useable mode.
            2000 V-Star Custom 1100
            If all else fails use a bigger hammer!
            :rock:

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            • #7
              Well technically you jsut take the brake proportioning vavle system out of the truck, and can't you get aftermarket proportioning vavles to adjust it to get it to work right?

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              • #8
                <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by navyblue2000:
                you'd think those 4.3s would be something, but they're not.
                185 hp, 245 tq in a 3100 pound truck is somehow only good for high high 15's.
                those things have a peanut cam in them, so to say. however, GM parts directs has a crazy plethora of performance parts for them, no doubt a cam.
                <hr></blockquote>

                There are a ton of parts for them. Especially since a lot of small block V8 parts are interchangeable.

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                • #9
                  <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MustangEater8251:
                  I am jsut saying for a typical automatic v6 f-body all years. And why would you need a v8 tranny, they will not bolt up but if you change the bellhousings then it will hook up..<hr></blockquote>

                  No you would still have to use a V8 tranny. The 4.3 use V8 transmission. So you would need a new tranny

                  <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MustangEater8251:

                  What I meant with the PCM form the truck wold be the entire underhood electrical system.

                  You would be using the same sensors off hte truck, and the computer form the truck. So in essence, the 4.3L and PCM will think its in the truck still, not a Camaro.
                  <hr></blockquote>

                  No it won't work that way. Reasoning behind it is your taking different electrical systems. Its like trying to plug a electrical plug into a socket it doesn't work.

                  <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MustangEater8251:

                  The tach might work but it could be off, I am not sure what the redline is on the truck. My dad's dakota v6 has a 4k redline, my 3.4L has a 5500 redline, They would read differently, the 2k rpms on the truck motor might read 3.5k rpms on the tach in the Camaro.
                  <hr></blockquote>

                  Actually if you redid the wiring the tach would work. The tach senses pulses there would still be 6 pusles from 6 cylinders firing.
                  2002 M5 Bright Metallic Silver <br />*Fully loaded and modded<br /><br />2005 GSXR 750<br />*Micron Serpent Race Exhaust *K&N Filter *Power Commander *Trying to hit 200 MPH!<br /><br />1970 SS 454 Chevelle Cortez Silver<br />*It can pass anything but a gas station

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                  • #10
                    MustangEater, The reason the 4.3 block is so wildly popular with the aftermarket guys is because it's a 350 with 2 cylinders missing. It's the most popular block configuration in the world. That's why all the V8 tranny and stuff. Your 3.4l is an overbored 2.8l. The cylinder walls get a little weak after all that work. Most aftermarket guys get a little scared to put power adders on that sucker. I don't know this for a fact, but just the math would tell me that a 3.8l is 3/4 of a 5.0l. Is this right?
                    \'94 Camaro 3.4<br />\"No, Starvin Marvin. That\'s my pot pie.\"

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                    • #11
                      I know that about hte 4.3L and the 350 with the cylinders shut off.

                      Why is the transmission different? I know the bellhousing is different, the same as a V8 but what is different about the automatic transmission itself? The bolt pattern on the 4.3L is the same as a 350, so a v8, or 4.3L bellhousing will work. Whats different aren't they both 4L60E transmissions?

                      What i am talking about with the electrical systems, is taking out every single wire that has anyhitng to do with the PCM or engine sensors out. Then putting in all the electrical wireing, connectors and such that has to do with the 4.3L in its place, not reusing any of the v6 f-body engine management wiring.

                      Only wiring being left in is stuff for lights and other interior electircal systems.

                      As for the 3.8L being related to the 305 I think the 3.8l has been built up from the ground as a seprate v6, not a modified v8.

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                      • #12
                        The V8 transmission has a different size shaft. I don't know if it's bigger or smaller, but I know that V8 torque converters don't match up to V6s.
                        \'94 Camaro 3.4<br />\"No, Starvin Marvin. That\'s my pot pie.\"

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                        • #13
                          <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MustangEater8251:
                          Why is the transmission different? I know the bellhousing is different, the same as a V8 but what is different about the automatic transmission itself? The bolt pattern on the 4.3L is the same as a 350, so a v8, or 4.3L bellhousing will work. Whats different aren't they both 4L60E transmissions?
                          <hr></blockquote>

                          A truck 4l60E or a V8 F body transmission will work but an V6 f-body 4L60E won't work. Different bolt pattern and shaft.
                          2002 M5 Bright Metallic Silver <br />*Fully loaded and modded<br /><br />2005 GSXR 750<br />*Micron Serpent Race Exhaust *K&N Filter *Power Commander *Trying to hit 200 MPH!<br /><br />1970 SS 454 Chevelle Cortez Silver<br />*It can pass anything but a gas station

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                          • #14
                            ok didn't know the input shafts were different.

                            Seems like the other stuff would work out jsut fine.

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                            • #15
                              Camaro 3.4 and 3.8 both use a 60 degree bellhousing bolt pattern eventhough the 3.8 is a 90 degree motor. 4.3 use a 90 degree bolt pattern so the transmissions would not be interchangable. The 3.8 is a totally new design, it has nothing in common with the 305.
                              92 S10 2.5<br />3800 Swap under construction!<br />New SN: RedFrk13

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