Thoughts? '98 4.3L into a '87 Chevy Pick Up - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

daveM · 07-30-2005, 12:04 PM

Hi Folks,

I've currently got an '87 Chevy Pickup with a 4.3L TBI and a TH400 transmission. Pulling a trailer (3500 pounds)... well I could use a few more HP. I think in '87 the 4.3L had around 150 HP.

Locally there is a fellow selling a low mileage 4.3L from a '98 S10, CPI, 200 HP he says.

I've found a place on the web that sells a wiring harness but what kind of nightmare might this be.

Other than that does anybody have any ideas about getting a few more HP out of my '87 4.3L TBI unit. I'm not a power freak or anything like that but I would like to straighten out the hills a bit when pulling my trailer.

gchemist · 07-30-2005, 08:33 PM

http://www.cfm-tech.com/GM_tbi_tuning_tips.htm

87 STEPPER · 08-01-2005, 04:38 PM

The 4.3 CPI Engine is rated at 200HP!

I intsalled one in a '92 S10 that had the 160 HP 4.3 in it and trust me you dont want to run the CPI System they have a very expensive fuel injector in them and it gives alot of problems.

I went to a junk yard and pulled a TBI Intake manifold off of a 4.3 and installed it on the CPI block & heads and still kept all the TBI stuff that the S10 allready had.

I also had some edelbrock headers and a cat back system on it and a 14" K&N Air filter and that thing ran very good.

Alot of people thought i had a V8 in it

Here's a pic after the install.

**Captkaos** · 08-01-2005, 04:54 PM

I had a '93 GMC Sonoma with the CPI 4.3L and it had 195hp, the later ones had 200hp (all fullsize were 200hp). It ran 9.64 in the 1/8th mile all day long. Mustangs thought I had a V8 in it also, if it was a stock Mustang, and he wasn't paying attention, I would beat him. I loved that truck.....

If you got the wiring harness from the donor, it shouldn't be a huge problem. The ECM's should be the same.

daveM · 08-10-2005, 06:26 AM

[QUOTE=87 STEPPER]The 4.3 CPI Engine is rated at 200HP!

I intsalled one in a '92 S10 that had the 160 HP 4.3 in it and trust me you dont want to run the CPI System they have a very expensive fuel injector in them and it gives alot of problems.

I went to a junk yard and pulled a TBI Intake manifold off of a 4.3 and installed it on the CPI block & heads and still kept all the TBI stuff that the S10 allready had.

I also had some edelbrock headers and a cat back system on it and a 14" K&N Air filter and that thing ran very good.

Alot of people thought i had a V8 in it

Hi Bruce,

So you are suggesting that I take the TBI stuff from my motor to put on this new motor if I buy it. I thought thats how chevy got the extra HP... by changing the fuel injection from TBI to CPI?

If, say the heads changed (maybe bigger vales, etc.) from '87 to '98 then would my TBI unit I have feed enough fuel? Would I still gain some HP or have to go to a bigger throttle body (Holly comes to mind)?

Seems to me I'd be ending up with the same HP unless I keep the CPI stuff.

Russell · 08-10-2005, 02:46 PM

The newer engines have a lot more differences than the old ones. Your engine comes from the middle of the smog era. Its a low compression engine with very poor heads. The new CPI would be a much more powerful engine with just the rotating assembly and heads. Put the TBI intake on, get it some bigger injectors if you feel the need, and get a chip burnt for it, and suddenly that engine will come to life.

Or, if you are feeling up to it, Pick your Part is having a sale this weekend, 69.99 for any complete engine. Get that sucker a 350, and save yourself the trouble

I am planning on going there to get a 350 for my truck if I can find a way to be here this weekend.

rockman20 · 08-10-2005, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell

Or, if you are feeling up to it, Pick your Part is having a sale this weekend, 69.99 for any complete engine. Get that sucker a 350, and save yourself the trouble

I am planning on going there to get a 350 for my truck if I can find a way to be here this weekend.

Any engine?????? Does that hold true for diesel engines to? I would love a complete 6.2L.......

87 STEPPER · 08-10-2005, 04:57 PM

Thats what i did!

The CPI system is a part of the HP increase but most of it came from the newer fast burn heads that were on the '94 and up 4.3 Vortec.

I tried a set of 305 injectors thinking the engine needed more fuel and the SES light come on and threw a too rich condition code.

So i put the stock 4.3 injectors back in and it ran just fine with some tweeking of the timing!

Russell · 08-11-2005, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockman20

Any engine?????? Does that hold true for diesel engines to? I would love a complete 6.2L.......

I dunno if that is all pick your parts

We only live about 20 minutes away from eachother, so I know that our pick your part is having that sale

But yeah, it is for any engine, gas or diesel, of any year.

07-30-2005, 12:04 PM	#1
daveM Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Canada Posts: 30	Thoughts? '98 4.3L into a '87 Chevy Pick Up Hi Folks, I've currently got an '87 Chevy Pickup with a 4.3L TBI and a TH400 transmission. Pulling a trailer (3500 pounds)... well I could use a few more HP. I think in '87 the 4.3L had around 150 HP. Locally there is a fellow selling a low mileage 4.3L from a '98 S10, CPI, 200 HP he says. I've found a place on the web that sells a wiring harness but what kind of nightmare might this be. Other than that does anybody have any ideas about getting a few more HP out of my '87 4.3L TBI unit. I'm not a power freak or anything like that but I would like to straighten out the hills a bit when pulling my trailer. __________________ __________________ Dave '87 Chevy Pickup (Nice) '75 CB750K Four Honda (beautiful) Quiet (stock exhaust) Till you get on it then she... Sounds Like a Porsche

07-30-2005, 08:33 PM	#2
gchemist BAD BOW-Silverado XST Join Date: May 2000 Location: Senior Member from Austin, TX Posts: 6,431	http://www.cfm-tech.com/GM_tbi_tuning_tips.htm __________________ Gerardo a.k.a. Mad Chemist Silverado XST videos

08-01-2005, 04:38 PM	#3
87 STEPPER STILL PLAYS WITH TRUX Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Melbourne, Fla. Posts: 2,764	The 4.3 CPI Engine is rated at 200HP! I intsalled one in a '92 S10 that had the 160 HP 4.3 in it and trust me you dont want to run the CPI System they have a very expensive fuel injector in them and it gives alot of problems. I went to a junk yard and pulled a TBI Intake manifold off of a 4.3 and installed it on the CPI block & heads and still kept all the TBI stuff that the S10 allready had. I also had some edelbrock headers and a cat back system on it and a 14" K&N Air filter and that thing ran very good. Alot of people thought i had a V8 in it Here's a pic after the install. __________________ ~~Bruce~~ MY 87 STEPPER MY 99 2D/WD TAHOE Last edited by 87 STEPPER; 08-01-2005 at 04:47 PM.

08-01-2005, 04:54 PM	#4
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	I had a '93 GMC Sonoma with the CPI 4.3L and it had 195hp, the later ones had 200hp (all fullsize were 200hp). It ran 9.64 in the 1/8th mile all day long. Mustangs thought I had a V8 in it also, if it was a stock Mustang, and he wasn't paying attention, I would beat him. I loved that truck..... If you got the wiring harness from the donor, it shouldn't be a huge problem. The ECM's should be the same. __________________ Chris Lucas 1973 Chevy C-10 1978 GMC Jimmy (2WD) - SOLD 1987 R10 twin turbo LS 1991 R3500 SRW CrewCab 1985 K5 diesel swapped project 1989 K5 2WD conversion w/ Vette susp Project Captkaos Customs 73-87chevytrucks.com

08-10-2005, 06:26 AM	#5
daveM Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Canada Posts: 30	[QUOTE=87 STEPPER]The 4.3 CPI Engine is rated at 200HP! I intsalled one in a '92 S10 that had the 160 HP 4.3 in it and trust me you dont want to run the CPI System they have a very expensive fuel injector in them and it gives alot of problems. I went to a junk yard and pulled a TBI Intake manifold off of a 4.3 and installed it on the CPI block & heads and still kept all the TBI stuff that the S10 allready had. I also had some edelbrock headers and a cat back system on it and a 14" K&N Air filter and that thing ran very good. Alot of people thought i had a V8 in it Hi Bruce, So you are suggesting that I take the TBI stuff from my motor to put on this new motor if I buy it. I thought thats how chevy got the extra HP... by changing the fuel injection from TBI to CPI? If, say the heads changed (maybe bigger vales, etc.) from '87 to '98 then would my TBI unit I have feed enough fuel? Would I still gain some HP or have to go to a bigger throttle body (Holly comes to mind)? Seems to me I'd be ending up with the same HP unless I keep the CPI stuff. __________________ __________________ Dave '87 Chevy Pickup (Nice) '75 CB750K Four Honda (beautiful) Quiet (stock exhaust) Till you get on it then she... Sounds Like a Porsche

08-10-2005, 02:46 PM	#6
Russell Professional Grade Join Date: May 2003 Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta Posts: 7,915	The newer engines have a lot more differences than the old ones. Your engine comes from the middle of the smog era. Its a low compression engine with very poor heads. The new CPI would be a much more powerful engine with just the rotating assembly and heads. Put the TBI intake on, get it some bigger injectors if you feel the need, and get a chip burnt for it, and suddenly that engine will come to life. Or, if you are feeling up to it, Pick your Part is having a sale this weekend, 69.99 for any complete engine. Get that sucker a 350, and save yourself the trouble I am planning on going there to get a 350 for my truck if I can find a way to be here this weekend. __________________ 1995 Chevrolet 2 Door Tahoe (6.6L LBZ Duramax / ZF6 / NP241 with 1 ton solid axle swap) Last edited by Russell; 08-10-2005 at 02:47 PM.

08-10-2005, 04:57 PM	#8
87 STEPPER STILL PLAYS WITH TRUX Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Melbourne, Fla. Posts: 2,764	Thats what i did! The CPI system is a part of the HP increase but most of it came from the newer fast burn heads that were on the '94 and up 4.3 Vortec. I tried a set of 305 injectors thinking the engine needed more fuel and the SES light come on and threw a too rich condition code. So i put the stock 4.3 injectors back in and it ran just fine with some tweeking of the timing! __________________ ~~Bruce~~ MY 87 STEPPER MY 99 2D/WD TAHOE Last edited by 87 STEPPER; 08-11-2005 at 10:39 PM.

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