SS, you have a fundamental flaw in the logic used. You are comparing a 9 year old vehicle with one that is brand new. You are also comparing a top of the line fully loaded machine to your truck. A better comparison would be a '98 or so v8 pickup or Tahoe with the same amount of money into it that you spent (~$11k total if I remember how to add right). I know for a fact that I could pick up a '99 Tahoe 4wd for $6k tomorrow (there's one for sale just down the street). $5k into the drive train (not just engine)! Trust me when I say that $5k into a 5.7L v8 & associated drive train upgrades gets you MUCH further ahead. It is just simple HP gain for your money. Add to the fact that I can do most of the work myself and I could build a blown 5.7L capable of 500+HP motor HP (i.e. no bottle) and upgrade the transmission and diff for that $5k. But then again, you have never stated what your truck is producing only that you've had it dyno'd.

I'm not cutting down the v6 by any means. I used to own a L67 Bonneville (3800 supercharged) and that was one fun car with A LOT of potential. Quite a bit more potential than the 4.3L v6, again simply due to the following & after market. I know what they can do as I have ridden in a 9 second Grand Prix. Dollar for dollar, any v8 will far out perform a v6 simply due to the plethora & cost of after market performance parts.

If your comparison point is on rotating mass... well...

*EDIT*

In looking back through all of the posts that we've had on this topic, I found one thing interesting. You show your blazer up on a dyno, but yet we have seen no numbers as to what it actually put down. You state that you gained 130HP from the spray, but 130HP added to what? What does the motor do after all of the work that you have done to it??? So again, I'll ask what HP/torque is the thing putting to the ground (graph would be nice)? I don't like repeating myself.

 

Very very nice. I agree with swartlkk on the v8 potential. But I also agree with your viewpoint of the 4300. I've been thinking about either puting a 5300 Vortec in mine, or beefing up the 4300. I think it would be wicked to put down some mad numbers with the 4300, I think it's more unique. But like swartlkk said, v8 has a larger aftermarket and such. But anyways, parts listed maybe? I've been very curious in putting together something like this, especially the blower. My buddy has a '98 Buick Regal GS, blown 3800 V6 and that thing is sick. I would love to have one of those new Trailblazer SS's, 0-60 in less than 6? That's just impressive from such a heavy vehicle. But yeah, very nice truck.

 

Thanks to all that actually like the v6. I just wonder about the few that bash it. I wonder if they have ever built a engine, or if they have ever even built up a performance engine themselves. I'm talking about building a engine from scratch . Not just changing a head or putting on a muffler or even a air cleaner.

I also wonder just how much first hand knowledge that they actually have about the V6 4.3 motor. Dyno numbers to me are a great starting point. Just numbers to use in your build up. I have disclosed some HP numbers. I do use the dyno as a tool , Just like a wrench is a tool. What really counts is how a motor performs in a vehicle. The Dyno doesn't tell me that I can spin my wheels at 60 mph just by stomping on the gas. Also the feeling of going sideways at highway speeds when you let her rip. Then having everything blur out the side windows and passing cars as if they were standing still, from 60 mph.

I will say that I have more than the 371 hp at the rear wheels. That HP of 371 is measured at the flywheel for the SS Blazer V8 and Seirra. Mine is at the rear wheels after going through the trans, transfer case, diff, and drag of the front wheel diff from the front driveshaft. Not to mention that the Supercharger uses 30 hp just to run. See. Still want dyno sheets to gauge my truck? Or would you like to go for a ride ?

 

It's not so much bashing the V6...

It's unique to build it up, but for pretty much the same price, you can drop in a V8 with less mods and have more power...

Personally, I'll be dropping in a V8, but part of it is, I don't like the 90 degree V6 sound as much as I do the 60, or a V8

 

You STILL HAVE NOT ANSWERED THE DAMN QUESTION! This is SIMPLE!! What is so damn secretive that you cannot answer a simple question? You had your truck dyno'd and the video to "prove" it and all I am asking for is the numbers. The numbers would have sufficed a while ago, but this was asked MONTHS ago in the other thread where you went on your self righteous rant about how none of us has ever built an engine. Seems people always try to shift a discussion onto the qualifications of the ones asking the questions instead of just answering the damn questions in the first place.

You also are quite confused on the intent of my questions. I am not "hating" on the V6. As I have said, I have messed with v6 before and I know what they are capable of. But whatever deters the focus of this thread away from you actually proving your claims, right?... I have a responsibility to the members of this forum to maintain the integrity of the information found here.

Well, I'll answer some questions for you seeing as how my knowledge and experience has come into question. I think that everyone here knows and respects my experience and knowledge. Well, that is except you. So I'll give a run down for you of what I have done (deja-vu?), not that I have anything to prove to anyone...

You doubt the fact that I have ever built an engine. You assume that I am just some kind of computer jocky right? I rebuilt my first multi-cylinder engine when I was 9 (single cylinder at 8). It was a Chevy 350 from my dad's '71 3/4 ton farm truck. I did all of the work myself with the supervision of my father. I helped to rebuild a Detroit Diesel when I was 12. I installed pistons, filed rings, installed the fuel supply lines, dropped on the supercharger, etc. I have rebuilt a D8 dozer engine as well as a Cummin's turbo diesel from one of my dad's road tractors (tractor trailer for the lay-man). I raced go-carts from age 9 until age 11 and built the engines that I used (5HP B&S on alcohol).

You question if I have ever built a performance engine. I have, in my possession NOW, a 386HP / 425ftlb 355 Chevrolet v8 (350 w/ 0.030 overbore) that was in my Chevelle and is now on the engine stand in my dad's shop while I am restoring it. The engine was dyno'd on an engine dyno in Canandaigua, NY back in '94 when I, yes, I built it at the age of 15. I lapped the valves in the 2.02 cast iron heads. I polished the crank. I filed the rings. I plasti-gauged the crank journals. I clay'd the pistons to ensure that the 1.6 ratio rockers would not cause piston clearance issues due to the 10.5:1 compression that was expected. I degree'd the cam as well as took rough specs as to lobe separation angles, base circle, and lift. I'm not sure of the cam because it was what was in the engine when I purchased it, but I determined that it was going to be big enough for my purposes. I assembled it MYSELF. Oh and if memory serves me, I built this engine for under $500 and it is solid as a rock!

Call me a liar, I don't really give a damn. I have nothing to prove to anyone, but for the sake of getting past this impediment that you seem to have, I have answered your questions. Now, please, do the same. Scan in that dyno sheet for all to see what $5000 worth of parts into a 4.3L v6 is capable of. No more redirection of questions. Better yet, take that 'ss' of yours to the track and give us some 1/4 mile times instead of being dumb and racing on the street (I mean you did illude to the fact that you could run 8's right? - source). NO MORE FREAKIN' EXCUSES!!!

*EDIT* - In the thr

 

hell, for under 5 grand i could built a motor that puts out more than 380 at the wheels GUARANTEED

 

You're gonna need a lot more than 380 HP to get 8s... Unless maybe, that's the 1/8th mile... Unless you've managed to drop the weight a LOT from the stock 3500lbs or so...

 

Hell for that you could buy a create v8 from jegs that will put out those numbers.

 

This is funny. I hear a lot of "I have ", and I will. Not any, My engine. 380 hp big number !! at the crank , What would that be at the wheels? For a 4 wheel drive v6? Then remember that you also have nitrous and that 383hp is before the nitrous is on.

Sometimes people don't believe what they can't see or touch . Why does it matter so much ? I have seen differences of as much as 30 hp from dyno to dyno just because the base numbers and temps were inputed diffrently. I can give you some great numbers by telling the comp that it is 90 deg out. or -14 deg. The dyno is a tool ! Not a fact ! do one test today and the numbers will change for tommorows session. Time slips count not dyno's. there are so many teams that have never dynoed their engines or cars. Do you believe them when they tell you their HP numbers? Weight x time x distance can give you a rough HP # . Without a dyno.

And by the way some shops and dyno guys thought that I had a v8 when I pulled into their shop and looked mighty surprised to see a v6 on the valve covers. Sound can be made to be just how you like it.That is what the major carmanufactur do, they have whole sections of people devoted to just making cars and trucks sound good. Jba ceramic shorties, 2 1/2 inchstainles y pipe, High flow stainless cat, Jba 3 inch stainles exhaust system. It does sound good, the important thing is that it sounds good to me.

And i am not questioning any ones ability to build engines what i am questioning is what they know about the 4.3 v6. My engine is in my car and running. Not on a wish list or sitting in a corner. Go back to some of my past threads this has all been dealt with before. You can see outright some of the things that have been done to my Blazer. along with modifying parts to make them work on the v6, and tracking down this and that. Me and my Dremel are on a first name basis. the fun and headaches are worth it. Just want to share what I have done so far and to not start arguments or make foes. This is a fun project.

And where the heck did I say that I ran 8's? I wish, Not with a 4000lb Blazer . Where is this 8's thing ? And street racing is not what I do, I have raced on the street , But it is not a practice. That post is not from me!!

 

dude, wheres some time slips or dyno sheets??