Depending on the condition of the cylinder bores and crank bearing lands, a rebuild can easily be done in your garage. You may want to relap your valves or atleast check their contact pattern with some transfer ink. New valve seals, clean up the pistons and make sure that the wrist pins are moving freely. New bearings for the bottom end and new gaskets everywhere.

If your bores have a lip on the top from the top compression ring, you can get a ridge cutter to remove it, but if it is too much, you may have to have a machine shop overbore the cylinders which would require new, larger pistons. If you can just cut the ridge off, then get yourself a cylinder hone to put a nice surface finish (smooth is not nice on new rings) in the bores.

All of this isn't all that difficult. One word of advice, label everything! Grab yourself a box of zip-lock bags and use them to keep the hardware from various areas on the engine together. Nothing is worse than not knowing where things go, especially if this is your first time tearing down an engine.

 

Going Active Duty,

My Heart and Prayers go out to you and your family. We have lost way too manyDaughters,Sons, Mothersand Fathers already. Getting kind of hard to watch the news due to almost daily they are broadcasting more local people that have either been killed or badly injured over seas.

The rebuild will save you some in the long run, and you can build it up to what you would like. I have seen these 4.3 lt motors put out a load of power when built right. And I have also seem more performace items being released for these motors. Personally I like the "Stand Alone Independent Fuel Management System" its spendy, but SWEET. But that is more for the NEED for POWER driver over your daily wheels.

 

i have built engines before but usually it was older engines like 318 and 340 for old mopars but i have done a 4.3 from a 93 blazer for a guy and i know they are a pain to get out due to space issues. thanks for the prayers. they are really appreciated knowing there are people who do care.

 

Oh Dodge toys, did my 360 in my W200. Now that had space, but still removed the front clip to aid in smooth removal.

Plan on doing the same on my 95 Blazer when the time comes to go threw that motor. Yea a bit more work to remove the front clip, but well worth it in the long run. It will also give me a chance to go and fix any issues that might be hidden. Like you would find on the ones with the trim package. Water loves to sit behind those pannels and rot things out.

Only engine over haul that I hated was my Honda F22A6, darn 14mm head bolts that heat sez into the block. Pretty much have to grind off the tops and then remove them like studs.

I have always had the DEEPEST RESPECT for anyone who is willing to put their life on the line in the Millitary / Fire service / Rescue.