spr250

Ok, My wife and I currently own a 1984 Camaro that came with a 2.8 but threw a rod and toasted the core. But my wife, the money handler, wants me to put a 4.3L into it. So what Im asking is, what parts would I need. Oh, the 4.3L that I found is a 1985 and also an 86. Oh, and what tranny would fit also? So if anyone can help with details and parts list I would greatly appreciate it. By the way, just to help with some people trying to get me to go another route, I am a mechanic for the Air Force and was prior Army mechanic as well so I do know my way around tools pretty well. Thanks.

2.8RS

iTrader: (5)

The 4.3 is a 90* block so you would need different motor mounts, V8 tranny maybe would fit?, and you may also need to move the tranny crossmember. If you go with a fuel injected then a different PCM. I would go carb, it would be a much easier swap. Now that I think about it you might could use the motor mounts from a F-body with a V8.

noahTHEpurdy

iTrader: (1)

You'd be best off just getting another 60*V6. The 4.3 is a 350 with two cylinders lopped off. If you really want to go that route, just get a 350 and swap it in instead.

Randy82WS7

yep you hvae a 60 degree, the 4.3 is not

i almost went into the army and to be a mechanic, i even went to the base in springfield and saw the new machine shop and the garage and such, and even took the test on the computer, and all but didnt go through with it after that point

im almost 30 now and still considering

nothing decent has come my way as far as employment still, around here

army is still an option, but....

hmm...


good luck

spr250

Well the Army upped its age up to 40 to 42 for first enlistment. So if its something you want to do, go for it. But back to engines, its what my wife wants since she pays the bills. If I remember the tranny crossmember is same for the v6s and the eights. Ive spent alot of time under hers and my Z28 before I sold it. And I thought the TH700R4 was for both V6s and V8s. Cause the tranny that was attached to my 305 looked identical to her 2.8. So from I can gather from everyones input besides going 350 is that the engine will fit with maybe a different tranny maybe v8 and possibly different motormounts fabricated or v8 mounts and stay orginal intake. If anyone has done this swap please add input. Oh, just

Bad-Newz

The TH700R4 are the same but have different bolt patterns between the V6's and the V8's...

2.8RS

iTrader: (5)

The bellhousings are different between the two 700R4s.

noahTHEpurdy

iTrader: (1)

Trust me, a 4.3 swap is opening a can of worms not worth dealing with. Just go V8, tell her this. Honestly, I'm not saying this from a macho-man type standpoint, just that it'd be fruitless of a swap to do.

2_point8_boy

I would suggest a on the topic. There are at least 100 posts about this.

wesilva

iTrader: (35)

Frankly, I don't know why noahTHEpurdy thinks this swap is fruitless. All depends on what kind of fruit you want. Spr, what were you hoping to gain from not just rebuilding the 2.8. I would guess you were looking for more power and driveability without sacraficing gas mileage. Am I right? If that's your goal, then a 4.3 would be a nice choice...all things being equal.
Here is some questions you need to answer.
A) Because the cost of swapping a 4.3 is basically the same as a V8, you have to ask what you want to spend. Because you already have the 4.3, you will be saving money on the motor. So....listening to anyone that tells you that you can pick up a V8 for cheap, is a waste of time because you already have the motor. You need a V8 transmission. There is cost involved there. Are you going fuel injection? Then the V8 would be cheaper because you can get a wiring harness from a V8 where as you would have to go with a aftermarket harness from Painless for your 4.3.
B) Is the 4.3 fresh enough to drop in? Other than about a 30 dollar saving on boring, there is no advantage in cost rebuilding a 4.3 versus a V8....almost.
C) The "almost" comes from the next question. Are you going to modify the motor in the future. The first modification any 4.3 owner should look at is swapping out for some Vortec heads from a 1996 or newer V6. As stated already, a 4.3 is just a 350 V8 with two cylinders missing. That's a fairly accurate statement. Vortec heads for a 350 that are ready to run are generally about $350 to $400. For a 4.3, the same heads with the same chamber and runner configuration of the V8 heads can be aquired from Ebay all day long for $100 to $175. I got mine for $50...ready to run....super low miles (less than 300 miles). You need a dedicated intake manifold and there are only two available for carbs, the factory marine cast iron intake for a spreadbore (Quadrajet or equivelant) or an Edelbrock 2114 for squarebore carbs like Holley. These babies are pricey new but they are another popular Ebay item.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/edelb...QQcmdZViewItem

You still need V8 mounts to put in your V6 but if your front springs are in good shape, you could get away without changing them. Pretty much every V8 part to improve handling, will work on the V6. I mentioned this because the handling parts will actually work better because the 4.3 is about 200 lbs lighter than the V8 depending on your combination.

Just some things to think about.

firstfirebird

iTrader: (3)

Here's the difference you can't see unless you have the tranny out...

90 degree pattern...



60 degree pattern...

blander66

the 4.3 uses the same bellhousing pattern as the v8, i know this for a fact, and als if he wants to fuel inject he can use a fbody TBI harness and it will plug into the V6 harness he will just need to burn a chip or switch to a V6 computer its pretty simple

firstfirebird

iTrader: (3)

Isn't that what I just demonstrated with the diagrams?
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I agree with the exception that the search engine on this site does not allow numbers. Try typing 4.3 swap in the search box and see what you get . I tried after sending spr250 here for info on the swap.

wesilva

iTrader: (35)

No kidding? Huh....learned something new today!