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#864316 07/04/2012 8:35 PM
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 60
R
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 60
The 46 1/2 ton I have purchased came to me without an engine or trany . I was thinking of using a carburated 4.3 V6 and T5 trany that I have on hand It was goingto go into a 28 chrysler I had but someone else wanted it real bad .Has this engine/trany combo been tried before . Your thoughts would be appreciated .
Thanks grin


Allan
1946 GMC
1949 Mercury M68
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,596
4
'Bolter
'Bolter
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I'm not sure what you mean by "has this engine/tranny combo been tried before"?

It was used in S-10's and some half-tons.

This combo should get you decent mileage, providing the rear tire size and diff give you a good final gear ratio. It should work just fine.

Do you have any photos of your GMC? I'm also building a 46 GMC and I'm in the Edmonton area.

Last edited by 46gmcpu; 07/05/2012 3:27 PM.

1946 GMC Pickup - S-10 Frame, 455 Buick, TH400, original patina.

My 46 GMC on Photobucket
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 60
R
Wrench Fetcher
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Posts: 60
I am going to pick up the truck from Saskatchewan on Saturday . When I figure out how to put pictures on this site I will be more than happy to .


Allan
1946 GMC
1949 Mercury M68
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 324
V
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
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Posts: 324
I've got a 4.3 v6 TBI and 700r4 combo in my 51 and she purr's real nice. Seems to have all thepower I need for a cruiser.

Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 133
D
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 133
got the 4.3 with a 700r4 in my plymouth and i like the combo. i've got a 500cfm edelbrock carb on mine.

daren



1952 GMC 1-Ton
1946 plymouth
1947 ford
custom builder
http://www.doublegcustoms.com
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,859
S
Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats
Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats
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Posts: 1,859
if you have the older carbed version, it was fairly limited in hp - I think 140hp to 150hp range, however there are plenty of parts available.

if it was mine, I would swap out late model vortec heads with matching intake, a decent cam, and a 600 cfm engine then again, I do that with nearly all my projects.


The problems we face today can not be addressed at the same level of intelligence we were at when we created them - Albert Einstein Or with the same level of $ - Me
Joined: Jun 2012
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Wrench Fetcher
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Its a vortec engine , Ihave the edlebrock manifold andcarb for it allready along with an early style HEI distributor .Cam is in the plan along with a bit higher compression pistons .Also plan to use the T5 and rear end out of the donor S10 .


Allan
1946 GMC
1949 Mercury M68
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,971
B
'Bolter
'Bolter
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I would thing the 4.3 would be as great of an engine in the old truck as it is i n new ones. I drive a 4.3 with TBI and love it.

Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,596
4
'Bolter
'Bolter
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I have a 4.3 I plan on using in a future project, keeping the fuel injection and the overdrive automatic. That way the other half can just turn the key and go.


1946 GMC Pickup - S-10 Frame, 455 Buick, TH400, original patina.

My 46 GMC on Photobucket
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 60
R
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
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Posts: 60
The donor truck was a 95 S10 with a 4.3 V6 and T5 . TBI had been stripped for parts when I got it . Also The other half (my wife ) loves to drive a standard and I grew up in the trade with points type ignitions and carbs (way more play value for me) .So for us It's a good combination .


Allan
1946 GMC
1949 Mercury M68
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 457
4
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 457
I have the 4.3 with 5 speed manual trans in my '89 and love it. My dream would be, if I ever want to dump the tired 216 in my '40, this would be an awesome, fun to drive combination! And, being shorter than the bolt, you can do AC, etc. easily. But then again, that old bolt sounds pretty good...... smile

Last edited by 40casey; 08/03/2012 9:22 PM.

1940 Chevy 1/2 ton pickup "KC"
A day without sunshine is like, well, ..... dark!
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W
Shop Shark
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I bought a Chevy truck new in 96 with a 4.3 & 5 speed. This truck would go 600 miles on a tank of gas.Thats about 19.4 MPG. My 06 with the 4.3 and automatic will only do 500 miles on a tank of gas. Thats about 16.2. So they are relatively thrifty. If I already didn't have the 283 installed I would go to the 4.3 in a minute.


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