First is it hard or even possible, and what do you senior members think about 4.3 liter engines are they reliable and easily hot hot rodded. Any help at all will be appreciated.

 

they're good engines, and I think they're very reliable. what you need to do though, is try looking for speed parts for a 4.3 . I had an s10 truck i was going to hop up, until i realizews that there is a serious lack of speed parts. hot rod did a junkyard jewel one month and got over 300 hp, and about 400 ft lbs, if IIRC. so reliable, yes, feasible, maybe, would I do it? no. I'd hold out for two more cylinders, and get a 350 or something else. (a 4.3 is a 350 missing two cylinders).

 

It would cost as much to swap in the 4.3 as it would a 350, why not just do that? It would also be easier to make power that way.

 

I had a blazer with a good 4.3 in it an it ran great and got really good gas mileage. the gas mileage has been a main focus. cant decide if it is worth it

 

If i put the 4.3 in i would be able to swap to a 350 or higher at any time cause they fit the same as far as i know and if i do swap to a 4.3 what will be the best moves (considering money ) to hot rod it.

 

you're looking at a tough selection for hot rod parts. most manifolds (in performance apps...) are limited to custom jobs. there are some performance manifolds out there, but selection is highly limted, just like a for a 60 degree v-6, only not as bad, because the 4.3 v6 has the same bore and storke as a 350. so 350 rods and pistons work in a 4.3 (262 cid). BUT. the valves don't get much bigger, and a wild cam is non-existent. but there are some decent cams in jeg's and other places, and with some work to the heads, you can make upwards of 300 hp. forced induction is gonna be a custom job only, though, and nitrous is gonna be your best bet for any serious horsepower. your weakness with any high horsepower is gonna be the crank. you can use 350 rods and pistons, but the crank is unique to that engine. I'd recommend mapping out what you wanna do, and looking for the hop-up parts. if there's enough of those lying around that you can buy/beg/steal, go for it. it'd definitely be different. (i'd still rather do a 350 swap). and yes, you can always drop in a 350, especially if you don't mess up the mount holes in the k-member. good luck.

 

the crank is weak for preformance, good heads can be had from GMPP. lot of 350 parts work. it isn't a simple swap and a 350 could be had easier and for the same cost, or less.

 

now im habing second thoughts about which motor to go with, i like the 350 but everyone has it. i wanna have some different