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#1 |
Active Member
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Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area.
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4.3 in a 68 truck
Question came up in a conversation with a friend. He has a 68 chevy that had a 250 six manual transmission. Engine is gone but he has a complete 4.3 engine out of an 85-86 truck that is in excellent condition.
His question was if he could use that engine in the truck and if anyone had made that swap? |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Midlothian, Tx
Posts: 156
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Re: 4.3 in a 68 truck
Never done that swap, but I've always been told that the 4.3 is a 350 with the front two cylinders cut off. I would think with small block mounts it would bolt right in. Don't quote me on that, but I believe it is true. I had a 4.3 in an S-10 and it ripped for what it was. It was alot lighter than a '68 though.
Chad |
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#3 |
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Location: Pemberton, BC
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Re: 4.3 in a 68 truck
Haven't done it but, I think it's a good idea.
Pretty much a bolt in operation.
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#4 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: FT STEWART GA
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Re: 4.3 in a 68 truck
i love the little 4.3 good deal of power for a six
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#5 |
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Re: 4.3 in a 68 truck
I've never driven a vehicle with a 4.3, but I had a neighbor with a Chevy blazer that had one in it. He always talked about how it had all the power he needed.
I'm not sure how much a Blazer weighs but it should be close to what a 68 shortbed would weigh, I think??? |
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#6 |
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Join Date: Jul 2006
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Re: 4.3 in a 68 truck
Well the block will bolt up to the bell housing. The motor mounts probably gunna have to check on the that because they do sit further back than on a V8. Use V8 motor stands, possibly move those back to fit the 4.3 and redrill the holes.
There are a ton of aftermarket parts for the 4.3 good little motors, If you have it and have the ambition to do it. I'd say go for it. Its worth a shot. Be sure to take pics and do a write up so we all can see the progress.
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#7 | |
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Re: 4.3 in a 68 truck
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#8 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: 4.3 in a 68 truck
the 4.3 bwllhousing IS the same as small blocks.
Its been done, there's been a few people come on this board running them. They all claim to love them and say they are powerful. The only 4.3 I have ever driven that I would call powerfull was the CPI vortec... 92 - 95... i may be off on those years, but in that era. They had plenty of power... when they ran right. They were a nightmare though. The rest of them, I never liked. I've logged 150,000 miles on a 2001 with a 4.3, and I still say the same as I have for many years. They are slow. |
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#9 |
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: huntersville, nc
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Re: 4.3 in a 68 truck
i have a 250,000 mile astro with the 4.3, and i towed 2 69 c10s to the house with it and it didnt even grunt. should be fine IN a c10
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#10 |
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Join Date: May 2000
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Re: 4.3 in a 68 truck
my grandfather had a 72 gmc with a 4.3 carbed v6 in it that me and dad swapped in 30 years ago, it was ok but not enough torque for the LWB truck. the efi versions have a bit more torque and are fine for average daily use. the good thing about them is yes they are essentially a 350 with 2 cylinders missing and that means all will interchange except the exhaust manifolds, dizzy, and other v6 only applicable parts. my wife had a 89 astro with the 4.3 for 12 years and that thing was tough as nails, and paid for itself many times over, we sold it to a school photographer in 2001 and he still drives the crap out of it with over 250k miles on the odo.
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#11 |
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Re: 4.3 in a 68 truck
I have thought of doing this myself, but then the sound of that sbc comes to memory and the 4.3 thought fades away, but I say go for it and let us know how the conversion goes together
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#12 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
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Re: 4.3 in a 68 truck
they had 4.3 V6's in 1979?
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#13 |
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Re: 4.3 in a 68 truck
I had a short wheel base full size 1987 Chevy van with a TBI 4.3, it had enough grunt to hop the front wheels. Dad had a 89 longbed 1500 with the same engine, getting 2nd gear rubber with the auto tranny was a common occurance and Dad's 71. I think it'd be a great engine in one of our trucks!
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#14 |
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Re: 4.3 in a 68 truck
Some one on the board did one many years ago, but he is no longer on the board and I think he sold the truck. Here is his web site. I am not sure how much remains on it. He did a very nice job on it, and makes me think about doing one sometimes.
http://www.truckwithaheart.com/67chevy.htm
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#15 |
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Re: 4.3 in a 68 truck
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#16 |
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Re: 4.3 in a 68 truck
It should bolt right in but it will sit way back in the engine bay if you use the six cylinder mounts(I would bet there would be at least two feet or more between the water pump and the radiator). If you move it up to the v-8 mounts then you will need to make the driveshaft longer but it will sit in the engine bay better.
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#17 |
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Re: 4.3 in a 68 truck
I think he may have meant a 305 GMC V6??? I don't think they had 4.3's back then. Last edited by 68gmsee; 08-09-2009 at 09:14 PM. Reason: site went haywire... |
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#18 | |
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Re: 4.3 in a 68 truck
Quote:
I'm beginning to wonder if it wouldn't be best to trade the 4.3 for a decent 350... |
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#19 |
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Columbus IN
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Re: 4.3 in a 68 truck
My grandpa has a 2008 silverado with a 4.3 and it is not enuff to move a full size truck with out ur foot in it at all times, it should work good with some lower gears and no overdrive.
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#20 | |
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Re: 4.3 in a 68 truck
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#21 |
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Re: 4.3 in a 68 truck
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#22 |
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Location: Grand Forks ND
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Re: 4.3 in a 68 truck
The 4.3 is the same distance from bellhousing mount to the motor mounts as a smallblock, bigblock and even a 250 straight six. It will bolt right in just if you use the six cylinder towers it will sit way back in the engine bay. I had one in a 87 c10 with 3.08 gears and a 4 speed plenty of power here in the flat country for anything I want to pull (up to about 6000lbs).
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