another think to keep in mind
max lift on stock 4.3 heads is .480
or around there
if you plan on going bigger then you need some machine work done
otherwise the comp cams 266hr cam is a good choice
do some searching on google, there is lots, and lots of info
i think someone on s10forum did a swap to the 266
took him a month and a half
basically with the money your looking at putting in to this 4.3
you could do a v8 swap and have your power
i see the 4.3 as a straight beast, how many v6 engines can make 250-260 ft lb of torque at 2800 rpm
not alot
the 4.3 is a trucks engine, not built for racing or really suping up at all
so in my mind a v8 swap is the best thing you could do
hope i helped
stevo

 

Well Steve you've helped me anyway lol... in the next year I'm looking at doing the
dana44 SAS with the 8" lift & probably 3:72 gears & some lockers of some sort.
I've noticed with the 33 x 12.5's it's a little sluggish now, thats why I'm in the "performance & mods" threads.

But a V8? omg, thats a LOT of work.
If I WERE going to go that route, it would be a 327, LOVE them engines!!!

 

why not a 350?

 

well im glad to help
a v8 swap seems like it is a bunch of work
but its not really that hard at all
if you do carbed
because you take all the wiring and everything out
and just replace an engine
the way i see it, getting more power out of your 4.3,
may not be more work, but more time, and possibly money
and that is most peoples limiting factors
time and money

 

Brother in law had a 327 in a '69 Triumph GT6+ with a 2sp Powerglide & 4:11's... that sucker SCREAMED!!! A 327 just seems to be better in low end than a 350. I know anything can be built/tuned that way, but I like to be different. :P

 

Low end grunt mostly favors higher cube motors. Most 327's are made for high revs. This is due to a more favorable bore to stroke ratio. But it all comes down to the head flow, compression ratio, and cam choice.

 

yeah the shorter stroke & smaller bore would make for a higher rev's = more torque... maybe my brother in law had it set up that way, that was 20 some years ago & all I knew was the seat of the pants feeling of OMFG & being so low to the ground made it more impressive lol

but a V8 swap is iffy at best, I still want the fuel injection & ECM & even though the DTC's are a pain, they let me know of upcoming issues before they can get TOO pricey
I'm just haunting these perfomance threads for ideas as I'm looking at doing the Dana44 SAS with 8" lift in the fall/early winter <insert evil laugh here)

<edit> actually, isn't it just the stroke that makes a 327 a 327 & not a 350? maybe combustion chambers are a bit smaller, yeah I think so... been awhile

hmmm talk about thread hijack... oops, but if the OP reads, he'll have more ideas!

 

Alright I have to say my buddy has a 99 s10 and he sprayed the **** out of it with a couple bolts ons and his trans went, figures. Then he did comp cams heaviest cam with stock heads and hes been having issues since then and I'm not too sure its running. You would almost be better trying to find a 5.3 out of a wrecked silverado and trying to make that work. That Maf is not going to free up any power because it doesn't seem to be a restriction. Upgrade your ignition and get a tune or do a swap.