I know there are a lot of threads on this but its easier for me to just ask. I have a 2002 4x4 blazer. I want to make a lil more horsepower but on a budget. Also I have access to a 4.3 out of 97 gmc safari. I might try rebuilding it and swapping it with my blazer engine. Let me know what you think

 

Rebuild it and change compression?
Supercharge?
Turbo?
Nitrous?
New airbox/piping cold air intake?
Upgrade all plugs, wires, etc?
bore it out?
Cam it?
New exhaust?

Many options...

 

The cheapest/quickest bang for the buck is gonna be cold air intake and exhaust. Thats usually where everyone starts. You can also get a handheld tuner or have a custom PCM tune done by PCM4less or Wait4Me. The handhelds dont give as much power, but for $100-150 on eBay, its a good deal. Ofcourse the best tune option is a dynotune. I'm satisfied with my Hypertech; the people who get pissy about handhelds are the ones who expect to get the same benefits from that as a $300-600 custom dynotune and are upset when the handheld doesn't meet those expectations. If you have higher miles on the engine then I say start with plugs & wires though, and then go from there.

 

I did a tune up at 14k ago. Cap and rotor weren't bad. Has no muffler, could use a cold air intake. My other option is to rebuild that 4.3 out of a 97 safari. I might start with a k&n and maybe a pcm tune. Would love to just drop in a 5.7 vortec but the vehicle is still on a loan and the 4.3 only has 114k on it.

by vehicle i mean my blazer and it only has 114k. the 4.3 out of the safari is a freebie with 180k on it.

 

Do you already have the 4.3 from the Safari, or would you need to buy that?

 

it's a freebie with 180k on it. my moms old van