hey everyone. well im new to this forum so forgive me if im in the wrong section or asking an obvious question. hopefully you guys can help me out here...

well i am a proud new owner of a 2001 blazer LT (picking it up sunday) and am looking to do some modifications. i am very familiar with chevy engines as i have a long history of working on the old v8s, and a 1990 pickup with the 4.3L engine with 320,000 miles and still running!

now i have a few questions... first. is this 4.3L a throttle body injection or do they have the multi port injection on them now?? im assuming multi port but just making sure.

also, what are some common upgrades for the blazer, engine wise? i was gonna do the whole tradition intake and exhaust on it to free up a few ponies, but i was wondering is there some part on this engine that is known for holding it up from its potential (ex/ intake manifold, throttle body, cylinder head ports.... ect). i know each engine has its weak point stock from the factory, just wondering where this one is.

and any other recommendations you guys would like to make im all ears. really excited to get back into the world of chevys and hope you guys can help me out

thanks for all your help.

 

[sm=welcomesign.gif]to the Forum. Your '01 is a MPI system. For performance, there is no single major bottleneck. Without a rebuild and internal upgrading, these engines are the way they are going to be. First thing I would recommend is exhaust upgrading then perhaps change the air intake (if you want to). There are lots and lots of threads on the forum dealing with these mods.

 

figured chevy did things right the first time around[sm=americanasmiley.gif]


i guess i will just do what i normally do, upgrade the ignition system and air flow... try to squeeze out a few more mpgs by getting a better burn.

ill read threw some other threads and see what are the common upgrades and where to get them.

thanks for ur help

 

Before replacing ignition parts with aftermarket brands (I feel the ignition parts on these trucks are pretty good) I would put my money into a complete tune-up package (plugs, distributor cap and rotor, wires, fuel filter, clean the MAF sensor and EGR) using OEM parts. You'll find that these engines tend to really like the AC/Delco parts. After that, I would look at the exhaust upgrade.

 

alright, sounds good.

now my old v8 chevys seem to really like the autolite platinum tip plugs... what is the spark plug of choice on these engines??

also what is the gapping on them also?

 

AC/Delco Double Platinim #41-993 gapped .060"

 

.060 is pretty large gap, must be a pretty high output coil on these things...

any way how do you clean the MAF?? i know where its located on the intake, but i never had a car with one of those before. do you just take it out and scrub it up with a kerosene based liquid?

also how do you clean the egr also?? i usually just take the egr valve out on my older cars, but dont know if i can get away with that on these newer cars with ODBII

 

Newer ignition systems operate at a much higher voltage than the old ones!

MAF cleaning & EGR cleaning - Its best to use MAF specific cleaner for the MAF sensor and both have to be O2 sensor safe.

And you probably wouldn't like the outcome of removing the EGR valve from a newer engine that requires one. The function of the EGR valve is to reduce cylinder temperatures (thereby reducing the formation of NOx). In newer computer controlled engines, the programming is such that without the introduction of spent exhaust gases into the combustion process, cylinder temperatures would be much higher, causing predetonation and possibly burning the exhaust valves, shortening their life. Your CEL would be on as well! With the proper programming changes to the PCM, both can be circumvented, but as more inspection stations check for the presence of things like EGR valves, catalytic converters, etc, do you really need to run that risk?

 

no i agree with you... this is the newest car i own, my other cars are a 90 pickup, 87 monte SS, and a 70 chevelle.

so all these new valves and sensors are pretty new to me... just trying to catch up with these new things haha