4.3L Performance on a budget
 

Hello, I was looking at the 350 conversion, and am kind of interested in it, but not the way gas prices are going. I've gotan 02' Blazer LS. I'm wanting to upgrade the motor a bit, maybe put some cams in it and/or intake manifold, bore the throttle body possibly, is there anyone that knows anything about this? Can i even buy some mild cams or an intake manifold?

My car has 64,000 miles on it, and is slower than dog :(poop. I was even thinking about buying my friends Nitrous kit for $125.

Would this be a solution, how much can you necessarily spray on these motors safely?

RE: 4.3L Performance on a budget
 

Welcome. I will suggest that you browse through the forum for a bit and maybe try some searches to see what others have tried. The topic of nitrous on these motors has been covered fairly well by 02Vortech. Cams have been covered most recently in a few threads, but the cost might be a bit prohibitive...

Let us know if you still have some questions after reading through a few threads and please try to link to those threads that you have read so we don't duplicate previously suggestions.

Good luck and keep us posted.

RE: 4.3L Performance on a budget
 

my advice would be to start with the small stuff. headers,exhaust,throttle body,cai, and then work on the bigger things (cam,heads.....) that is if you dont want to do a engine swap. i think youll be better off in the long run that way.

RE: 4.3L Performance on a budget
 

i would go with the engine swap

RE: 4.3L Performance on a budget
 

x2 i think i have done pretty much every bolt on with mine and i have NOT noticed any power improvements. Millage i think went up about 2-3 mpg though [sm=smiley1.gif] to a remarkable 19 mpg. [sm=sigh.gif]

RE: 4.3L Performance on a budget
 

i have done alot too.. cant seem to get mch more out of mine either... try a hypertech tuner, k&n intake and exhaust... thats what i did and i beat stock blazers...

RE: 4.3L Performance on a budget
 

Unfortunately, the 4.3L TBI was at optimum power output when it cameoff the factory assembly line. Very little,if any, power improvements can be made with buget aftermarket modifications. The 4.3LTBI engine needs all the low end torque it can muster and if a hotter cam is installed such as a GM marine cam or a aftermarket cam withhigher valve lift andlonger valve duration, you will only succeed in killing what little low end torque the 4.3L engine possesses.

The improvementsyou can make to the4.3L engine is fordurability byusingthe following parts:
Ross#90459 +.030" OS, 350 Chevy V8 forged aluminum pistons with .0035" skirt clearance;Cloyes 9-3100C timing set; GM-12363753 2.02" x 4.880" intake valves;Melling #10555 oil pump; .750" ID Melling #259S or Sealed Power #224-14263 4WD pick up screen assy.; Melling IS-55E steel oil pump drive shaft; Comp Cams #7940 High-Tech 5/16" x 7.200" chromemoly pushrods; Crane 270-99148-2 rocker studs with3/8"-24 top x M10-1.5"bottom threads which willreplace stock screw-in rocker studs or install V8 GM-12495497 rocker studs, 3/8"-24 top x 7/16"-14 bottom threads which willmachining to replace OEM pressed-in rocker studs; GM-3927142valve springs with 110 lb. @ 1.700" seat pressure; GM-14011051 guideplates;Eagle H-beam CRS570063D,5.700"steel 4.3L V6 or resized OEM5.700" 4.3L V6 rods with SB Chevy ARP bolts and you must totally internally balance the engine. For more horsepower and torqueuse nitrous oxide or install a turbocharger.

The power limitations of the 4.3L V6 is why GM installedturborchargers on the 1991 Syclone and 1992 Typhoon engines and did little else.