The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 4.3 v6 in my 50 gmc suburban - heaven or hell?

my wife said she'd drive the burb if it was an automatic and i can get a 4.3 with a buick roadmaster with overdrive complete for $200 that is running - is it practical to put it in my 50 gmc which already has a split driveline? i want the 235 to put in my canopy express as i understand i can bolt a t5 up to it and cruise the freeway. thanks for any advice, a new guy

The 4.3 part should not be a huge deal.
What year roadmaster? Does it have a computer? I have been exploring a 4200 inline and know that a stand alone computer is needed. There are a couple of companies out there that sell stand alone computers if you need one. From what I am told, programming them is the only hard part.

The 4.3 is a pretty good piece of hardware. The turbo boys can do some pretty cool stuff with them.

tnx for the come back - called and verified it is out of a 1994 buick roadmaster he thought it was a newer 350 turbo with overdrive - no computer info - i'm concerned about the steering box - i've beeen told the v8s won't fit yet as we type i've got the column out and trying to decide whether to buy the $80 kit or a rebuilt with core deposit of $385 plus tax then about $40 there and $4o back on my core shipping - ANYONE JUMP IN WITH EXPERIENCE! ENJOY YOUR LEFTOVERS!

You are talking about the 4.3L V-8 which will require all kinds of modifications to the steering, brakes, electrical, mounts, a capable cooling system and on top of that, you'll need a stand alone computer to run all of that. Sounds like fun, I wish I had the cash to do one like that, but I would hold out for the 5.7L myself,
Scott

Barnabus, if it is a '94, it had a 4L60E computer controlled trans. The ECM controls both engine and trans. Try to get as much of the harness as possible from the donor vehicle. mv

Aside from the computer control aspects this should be a lot like putting any V-type motor in your truck. Except you won't off the shelf parts to work with like with a small block Chevy.

You'll still have the steering to deal with, but if you convert to power steering, which I think you'll want to for your wife, it won't be a big deal.

THANKS-the tranny is not on the engine yet i am told - goin there monday but he has the whole 94 buick - hope i'm not headed into deep water here.............

Did this engine and tranny come out of the same car? I'd be a little more worried about them working together if they didn't start together, or at least I'd expect more trouble...

Watch craigslist and your local paper for possible V-8 motors. In the past week I've seen a 1/2-ton pickup with a running 454 and a '78 Suburban with a stroker 388 and automatic for $150.

That's two Chevy V-8s for sale cheap not far from Tacoma, and I'd bet there are others I'm not aware of.

Steve,
It is a small block Chevy, like the one in my 95 Caprice. Looks identical to the same year 350 in my Impala, just less cubes. Great engine though,
Scott

A 4.3 is a V6 engine. It's not as easy as a "drop in and go". You'll need a high pressure fuel pump and a return line from the engine back to the fuel tank. You'll also need to have "bungs" welded on your exhaust pipes for sensors. You need to have the ecm re-flashed if you buy an after market stand alone harness. Now where to put your water and oil senders for your aftermarket gauges? The existing oil and water sender provides critical info to the ecm so they can't be replaced. It's best to invest in a Haynes Repair Manual to refer to all the efi conponets and wiring.
I'm going thru the very same conversion but with a V8 5.3L Vortec engine and I can tell you it's not a "plug and play" effort...but in the end it'll be worth it .

My 95 4.3 is a V-8. I'm fully aware of the 4.3 V-6 but the Buick Roadmaster is a sister car to the Caprice which never had a 6. If the Roadmaster is rear wheel drive, it's a V-8 car,
Scott

Scott,
that makes perfect sense. The 4.3 Roadmaster V8 is a port injected hi-pressure (37-39psi) fuel system engine with decent torque numbers. Most TBI 4.3 V6 fuel systems were 11-12 PSI. Both engines used a return line to the tank. Since the V8 from the Roadmaster is a smallblock Chev, Barnabus could simply use a carb and intake from another earlier smallblock, along with the non-computer distributor, and have a complete old school setup, free of computer hardware. The newer blocks don't have provisions for a mechanical fuel pump, so an in-line low-ppressure electric pump would be needed. Also, the 1994 computer-controlled overdrive trans would not be good here, but a TH350 would be great. MV

Let me append to that post: The smallblock chev heads changed intake bolt patterns somewhere around the mid nineties. It would be a good I dea to identify the exact year of the engine and check with your local parts store to make sure the intake ports are the same as trditional small blocks. The later bolt pattern brings with it, a much narrower choice of intake manifolds. MV

THANK GOD AND STOVEBOLT YA'ALL ARE OUT THERE THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH

ya'all just saved me alot of grief i don't need to get involved with at this time - i think a txi once in awhile would be cheaper - or atleast an older automatic on the 235 that's in there for now - wifie just doesn't like drivin her cowgirl caddilac (71 K5 Blazer) in crummy weather - it's mint and just turned 100K. any recommendations as to what would bolt up to my bellhousing i think it's a 1956 235 (in my 50 burb) and has the granny 4 op[en drive line - i'd be fine with a floor shifter.
THANK'S AGAIN FOR SAVING PRECIOUS FAMILY (and wrenching) TIME - BLESSINGS