what are the main differences between the 262 (4.3L) block and say a 350 block? i just bought a 2002 S-10 ZR2 and i was told that the 4.3 is pretty much a 5.7 missing two cylinders. and i was looking for a performance waterpump for my 4.3 and was told that up until 95, you could swap on a water pump from a v8. also when i was lookign up some water pumps, it would say "For 262-400" or something like that.. so what are the main differences between the 262 and 350\305? does it depend on the year? i did a search online to see if i could find a good site, but i can't find any info on the 4.3 and i would really like to learn. and i know that there are ALOT of knowledgeble guys in here. thanks

 

The 262 refered to is probably the 262 cube V8, along with the 267 it was one of the unmentionable crappy, low HP motors from the late 70's early 80's. They put 'em in Monzas as the V8 option.

Eric

 

A regular, late model SBC (reverse rotation) pump should work for you.

 

The 4.3 V6 is essentially a 350, missing cyls 5 & 6.

It uses different rods (or at least, used to, not sure about the newer ones). Alot of the internal parts are the same as 350.

The water pump I'm not too sure of. The accessory brackets are slightly different, at least on the V-belt ones, so the WP may be also.

Best thing to do would be to go to the parts store and just compare them side by side.

Back when the Busch series ran 6-cyl motors as the base configuration with a steep weight penalty for running a V8, there was a pretty complete racing progam around that motor at Chevrolet. That's been a few years now, 15 or more I guess, but if you can get hold of an old Chevrolet Power Manual from the early 80s, it should shed a little light on the subject (assuming they haven't changed the motor itself too much since then).

 

While I can't be positive about the '02 262, the 2000 262 uses the same water pump as a 1997 Vortec 350 truck (reverse rotation, standard coolant flow). Same P/N for the pump, but a different fan clutch.

Ede may be able to shed even more light on your 3/4 350, since he's built at least one for performance that I know of.

 

i've built a couple and as far as i can tell there is no differance except on the rods, rod bearings, and the missing 2 holes. the latest i did was a 90 so there's been more than a few years for gm to make some changes

 

I do know that the later (about '94-ish and up) 226s had a balance shaft that sits above the camshaft, and has no other purpose than to add load to the cam drive and couteract the torsional harmonics of the engine. The latest 262s are making 195-200 HP from the factory at moderate RPM (not insanely, oriental-high RPM), and have very respectable torque to go with it.

 

so does that mean that i can run the flywheel off of my 1990 Silverado's 4.3 on a 91 350 if i put it in there, along with the serpentine setup off of it.

 

the motors with balance shafts aren't holding up as well as motors without. Barowski Race Engines in Joliet, has been talking about how they're not staying together like all their other v6 engines they're put together without a balance shaft. Any thoughts on why this would be the case?