4.3L easy mods?

[Ben Allen]

I've got a 1988 262ci/4.3L v6 with stupid TBI.. Bone stock.. (yes, it's in a monte carlo.. but why not ask anyway?)

Holley makes a 502-8 TBI replacement for this motor that claims 20-25 percent HP and torque, but only work with stock electronics, and costs around 300 dollars.

Several companies make chips for 100-250 dollars that claim 10-25 HP..

My summit catalog has maybe 3 parts for this engine, and none seem to be worth the trouble..

Has anyone built up one of these 4.3L motors, and what's a good place to start?

Got a source for headers or other bolt on stuff? Most sources seem to focus on either small import motors, or V8's..

Help?

[OneQuickV6]

Might check out the last 1 or 2 issues of CarCraft...I think it was them that just recently did a good article on their 4.3L motor. Got it to just over 300hp at the crank, and it was ready to handle an easy 150shot safely. Since it is just like the 350 of it's same year models, you can use alot of the same internal parts if you wanna rebuild. The bore is the same stock, so you can overbore and there is a large aftermarket of forged bottom end parts available. Cams are easy to find for that motor also, heads, and intakes shouldn't be too hard to find. Hope this helps some.

[Ben Allen]

Ok. Where would you start first? Also, you mention that cams, heads, intakes shouldn't be hard to find.. Where would I look? Summit's catalog is no help, and google searches only turn up info on the newer vortech 4.3's..

Thanks

[fred slawson]

Don't forget the factory did FI on this motor.

[toast]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Ben Allen:
Ok. Where would you start first? Also, you mention that cams, heads, intakes shouldn't be hard to find.. Where would I look? Summit's catalog is no help, and google searches only turn up info on the newer vortech 4.3's..

Thanks<hr></blockquote>

I have a Summit Catalog right in front of me and they list a cam and an intake for the 4.3 made by Edelbrock. Part # for the intake is EDL-3713 for the satin finsh or EDL-37131 for the polished finsh. They offer 2 cam choices either the EDL-2112 (204/214) or the ELD-3714 which is a roller cam (210/214). Also if you want an alumin head GM Performace parts makes serval differnt heads for the 4.3. These engines are very easy to get 350+ hp out of them N/A. Good luck and let me know if you have anymore questions.

[Ben Allen]

Cool, got a page number on those parts?

Also I've heard that cams only help power if you have already added increased breathing in/out to the engine?


Thanks for the tips..

*added:

Fred, what do you mean 'the factory did FI' .. ? You mean the stock TBI stinks? I know that, heh.. the Holley 502-8 that I mentioned is a drop-in replacement for the stock TBI.. 670cfm or some such compared to something like 350cfm stock.. Rough numbers.. I've got an extra holley spreadbore 600cfm sitting around, but my mechanic told me it wasn't worth all the modifications required to convert to a carb..

[ July 29, 2003: Message edited by: Ben Allen ]</p>

[street thunder racing]

get some vortec heads offa newer 4.3 that has been junked. you could take the manifold too if ya wanted.

www.fastchips.com otherwise

[navyblue2000]

he is talking about the syclone and typhoon, ben.

4.3 turbo.

[Ben Allen]

Ah, Forced Induction, not Fuel Injection.. Yeah, I contacted a GM dealer about getting the OEM parts for the syclone/typhoon turbo system, it came out to over 6000 bucks for all the stuff I'd need.. And even wrecked, those trucks are expensive..

[toast]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Ben Allen:
Cool, got a page number on those parts?

Also I've heard that cams only help power if you have already added increased breathing in/out to the engine?

[ July 29, 2003: Message edited by: Ben Allen ]<hr></blockquote>

Page 26 under Edelbrock power packages in the July/August 2003 Summit Catologe. With bigger cams the engine will breath better if you have headers a nice smooth intake and a bigger TBI to back up the cam.