Well, I was set on a v8 swap, until I started discovering how good the CPI 4.3 is power wise. It makes more power than a TBI 305, and about as much HP as a TBI 350. So, I decided to build up what I had, instead of swapping in a V8.

The truck is a 4.3 CPI, 4x4, 4 door, automatic, and I swapped in a manual transfer case. I had tested my painting skills on it, having done a complete repaint, and kept it otherwise stock. I decided to wait until finished to upload all my pictures, and do it all in one shot. SO, here's the pictures.

When I first got it, on 31's with no lift, and lots of rubbing when turning:


Cleaned up, on stock-size tires


After home-done paint job, roof rack removed

 

Engine before teardown, lots of mud, it's been through some stuff



Some cleaning and painting



Back together after all the work, I'll describe at the end



Body lift installed, with stock size tires. I redid the gold pinstriping with silver, and replaced the stripe on the side trim since the gold was wearing off

 

All done, new tires on it, been driven about 25 miles

 

looking good man im planning a body lift for mine in the future

Im curious what you did with the bumpers

 

So here's what's happened. I did a 3" body lift, added 31" tires. I also did a top end rebuild. I kept the stock cam, as I understand it's the best 4.3 v6 cam that came stock. I did light cylinder head porting, and added 1.6:1 roller rockers with new valve springs. The whole top end has new gaskets. I also replaced the CPI unit, added an MSD coil. The exhaust has a hi-flow cat, and added a dynomax single-out exhaust with a stainless tip. The old exhaust was just beat and had numerous holes. There's a bunch of other stuff too that I'm forgetting, I'm sure. It runs like a raped ape at the moment. Stock it had 200 HP, I'd estimate it to have gained 20 or so HP.

I spent all winter chipping away at it, cleaning up all the parts, running a tap and die over all the bolts/bolt holes, and making the engine as new as possible. I'm hoping it lasts a long time. I'm doing all of this so I have a sort-of online diary of the build. Any questions, feel free to ask

 

For the front bumper, I just left it as is. With a black grille and fog lights, the gap doesn't stick out so much. The back bumper was a different story. The 3" gap was unbearable, as you could see the top of the gas tank and the body mounts. What I basically did was take the back bumper brackets out from the frame, and bolt them to the top of the frame, adding a steel plate between for support. The hitch still sits low, but I don't mind it so much.

 

yea im looking into a 2 inch body lift . I dont think the gaps should be that bad but yea =D

We will see when i get to it

your truck looks great tho

 

clean