Nobody said anything about the truck being a daily driver. the point is it's possible, without a ton of money. At 500rwhp even a v8 swapped blazer is on the edge of not having any driveability. I never once said it's the most valid option to use the 4.3, I merely corrected everyone when they jumped right on the bandwagon and said it couldn't be done.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/223703...evrolet-blazer

this guy daily drives a 330hp internally stock 4.3 blazer, and it's been around for quite awhile. The motor use to have a 100shot of nitrous on it and now it's boosted.

I don't know what your "273rwhp" 4.3 build consisted of, And I don't know what went wrong. A safe tune on any motor with the proper precautions taken will result in great results.

I'm not sure where you got your info about the sy/ty motor but the only internal difference is lower compression pistons to compensate for boost and bigger exhaust valves, different intake and exhaust manifolds (obviously) and non-vortec heads. Different fuel system too. The crank, cam, rods are all the same as the standard 4.3L.

Not bashing anyone, just stating. The 4.3L is a stout motor when built right, and in the hands of the right people it can definitely put down some power.

 

There's the key. Anyone can go out and beat the hell out of an engine and destroy it. If you know the engine's limitations and know how to drive most performance engines will last a long time.

 

i have done serious searching on building a high powered 4.3 and you really have the same options as a 350 you can buy heads cams intakes pistons steel cranks you can put 4 bolt mains you just have to ditch your fuel injection and use a pre 95 4.3 to get the best goodies had a guy at hawkins speed shop throw it all down for me brodix heads kennebelle intake comp cam kiethblack pistons short stroke crank you can do it all but it $$$$$$$ cha ching the heads and intake alone are over 4 grand thats why i just went with the supercharger i bolted on myself and was driving down the road later that day

 

02's blazer blew up a few years ago. Not helping your cause at all.

We aren't arguing that its not possible, its how reliable its gonna be. Why build something that is going to blow up 3 months later. Have you heard about the economy?

 

he blew it up because he ran 10psi with a stock fuel system. he ran it lean, that's why it blew. Not because the motor couldn't take the power.

all i'm trying to say is with the proper precautions and the proper parts, theres no reason you can't have a 400hp daily driven 4.3 that is reliable.

 

Actually if tuned correctly a 4.3L may live a heathy life with a conservative amount of boost. A turbocharger would be a little more forgiving to the internals than a positive displacement blower. A PD blower like an eaton root setup will create a good amount of boost right off idle when the motor has barley started to spin putting more stress on the internals and the belt connected blower adds stress to the recipocating assembly not to mention parasitic loss. A centrifugal while still having a belt will be a little softer as they are designed to push the air in the higher revolutions. A turbo "IF" sized correctly can come in soft and have a good boost to drive pressure ratio. Most motors should be able to take 5-6 lbs conserativly with a good tune.

 

I see this question quite often and Ive spent alot of time around race cars and shops.

Lemme put it into context.

ARCA supertruck class uses the 4.3 as its engine. You could buy one thats making between 375-400 HP on the dyno. Freshly rebuilt its gonna run you between $7500-10,000 and you still have to switch it back to a wet sump oiling system (not hard). You can find them in the racing classifieds. Yeah you could do it cheaper if you had acsess to a machine shop and got good buys on parts. BUT, look one up and see what all they have done to get these numbers and you will see what Im getting at. You arent gonna save that much and reliability/MPG is a real factor.

Heres an example
http://www.racingjunk.com/category/9...CHEVY-V-6.html

Dont get me wrong , I'd love to have one. It just isnt practical.

After all that you still gotta get the power to the ground, anyone thats done a V8 swap can tell you, thats not all that easy to do.

 

The reason I mention a set up like this. Ive had my hands in a few of these engines. From a reliability stanpoint, they're solid. This isnt your average block and bottom end. These are 4bolt (in some cases 6 bolt) mains. Now if you got lucky and pick one up on the cheap. I dont think the compression is so high that adding a S/C or turbo would be out of the question. Then spray it? Horsepower approaching 600? But now I'm dreaming sorry, lol. Youre 10 grand into a streetable V6. I dunno, I guess its up to the individual how they spend their money. Ive driven vehicles with HONEST 300-400hp, its alot.

There are some inflated HP numbers out there these days (even from the manuf.) 300hp is more reliable and obtainable with one of these engines. I'd shoot for that first. If that doesnt satisfy your speed lust, then get your checkbook out. But try an honest 300hp and get back to me with your thoughts, I think you will be plenty satisfied.

 

i dont know, i can see many better ways of spending 10 grand, even 6 grand. for that much you can swap in a decently built LS motor making much more power and torque

 

Totally agree. Im not advocating dumping $10k into the engine compartment of one of these things. I mean you could , if you were dead set on doing so. The question would be why? What is the application? If you absolutely must have a v6 making that kind of power, youre gonna spend. If you just want to make cheaper, reliable horsepower, swap to a small block. BUT you still gotta hook it up. 300 ponies will ring the tires off of a stock suspension and gearing set up. You have to control the throttle, therefore you still arent using its full potential. I'm more of an advocate that people go get a feel for what a true 300hp feels like in one of these and then decide if they really want more. If you can get 300 horses to the ground, you can run 12s-13s all day with a little practice and tuning and the right gear. Its not a high % of folks that have been in a car going that fast. I just think people see these inflated HP numbers that are being flung around these days and dont really know what 400hp feels like. I'm not trying to put anyone down and I know some of you guys do know. The point is 300hp is reasonably do-able and will fall well into the "sleeper" catagory and, you wouldnt have to break the bank to get there.