Good Or Bad Idea

[NTR72GMC]

I Have Been Thinking About Putting A 4.3 V6 Out Of A Newer S10 Pu Or Blazer In To My 71 2wd Blazer. Just Wondering What Anybody Thinks About This.

[Jtrux]

If all you want is a cruiser go for it, but personally I wouldn't do it. Not enought power in stock form. They are good motors though.

[Big J]

It'd be a different way to go. I'd think you mpg would be better than stock but maybe not better than a 5.3 or something like that. It should have enough power to move it ok. I have a 90 WT1500 that does just fine and will even pull a trailer. Gotta love this smiley

[Mint68]

I would think the smaller motor would use more gas because it has to work harder to pull the weight.

[Chevyman63]

Originally Posted by Jtrux

If all you want is a cruiser go for it, but personally I wouldn't do it. Not enought power in stock form. They are good motors though.

I agree!

Originally Posted by Big J

Gotta love this smiley

Is that not the coolest smiley?!

[NTR72GMC]

All I Realy Want Is A Cruiser But I Dont Want It Be Way Under Powered.

[stonewall618]

so find you a nice rebuild 307 or even a 327 with a 2barl carb maybe even fuel injected... idk its all about the budget... you should be able to get 20 out if it if you keep your foot out of it... and but a one of those 700/r4 transmissions in it... that should be a good combo

[stonewall618]

i have a 350 with a 2 barl carb and i get around 15 with a 3 speed transmission... if i got a 4 or 5 i could get up to 20...on the hwy.... wouldnt make much difference in the city.... the

[Rokcrln]

our shop tried the 4.3's for light work trucks to save gas from the 350's and it did not work. The 4.3 is a great motor but you have to work them to get one of these full size trucks going and that eats gas fast. Find a 5.3L Vortec with AOD and it will make a great cruiser and you can squeez over 20mpg as well.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[NTR72GMC]

so find you a nice rebuild 307 or even a 327 with a 2barl carb maybe even fuel injected... idk its all about the budget... you should be able to get 20 out if it if you keep your foot out of it... and but a one of those 700/r4 transmissions in it... that should be a good combo

TRUE BUT I HAVE BAD LUCK WITH CARBS AND I WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

[NTR72GMC]

our shop tried the 4.3's for light work trucks to save gas from the 350's and it did not work. The 4.3 is a great motor but you have to work them to get one of these full size trucks going and that eats gas fast. Find a 5.3L Vortec with AOD and it will make a great cruiser and you can squeez over 20mpg as well.

IM SURE THAT THE 5.3 IS WAY ILL END UP DOING IT. MY FRIEND HAS A S10 THAT I COULD GET A KILLER DEAL ON AND IT STARTED SOME WHEELS TURNING.

[stonewall618]

if i was you i wouldnt go with the 4.3... they dont have enough power to pull/push 2 tons with out uesing a lot of gas... TRUST ME... i have had 3 blazer with 4.3s and they are only good when you have a light weight viehicle... i would go for the 323 they they are putting in the newer trucks these days paired with the right transmission they get around 20...maybe more... plenty of power when needed and you could probly get one out of a 99' and up 1500 out of a junk yard that still runs... just needs some work... and yes the 323 is the 5.3

[vtblazer]

Originally Posted by NTR72GMC

All I Realy Want Is A Cruiser But I Dont Want It Be Way Under Powered.

Over-drive is your friend.

IMO the best case scenario we can hope for in our blazers is pairing up the right drive-train components.

Injection, over-drive and the right gearing will make ya happy.

[ABLAZN]

This was along the the same lines as my Pre-runner idea for fuel mileage. i guess we are all thinking about it now with todays prices. I also tossed the idea of the 4.3 , but when I mentioned the idea to my wife she asked if I was really willing to give up the power because she wasn't. I knew I married that woman for a reason.

[Critter]

What about splitting the difference between the 5.3 and the 4.6 and use a 4.8 V8? Anybody tried this? My dad has one in his 2000 work truck and he pulls ALOT with it. He actually broke a rear spring from having it loaded to heavy. I think he still gets around 19 mpg with 150,000 miles on the truck. Just a thought...

[DANTES JIMMY]

ive sold plenty of both motors in newer trucks i would go 4.8 all the way
i think that is an all round good idea same or better mileage than a 4.3 six
it just isnt there

[ANTHONY 67]

i have a 327 od 16-17 4.8 in newer trucks20mpg

[bdas70chevy]

what tires are u running to get 20 mpg

[NTR72GMC]

New idea!!!! Me and my old man where B.S.ing about what motor I'm going to run in the 2wd blazer and he suggested A 4.2 straight 6out of a trailblazer. Any opinion on this new idea is appreciated

[jorgensensc]

In my opinion only. I would stick with the original straight six, or a newer 5.3, 4.8, or even a regular old 350. If you get to far off the beaten path for installation of motors, then you will have major fab work involved, and a learning curve, which can get costly. I am not trying to nix your creativity, but I don't think the benefits of "possible" better fuel mileage outweigh the actual cost of installation of a out of norm engine. Don't forget about resale, you have to keep that in the back of your head. Personally I would stick with a good old mild 350. Cheap parts, decent gas mileage with an overdrive tranny, and dependable. Even though I really want to put a 5.3 in mine, and keep it fuel injected, the 2 mpg savings might take a while to payoff the extra expense of the fuel injected, computer controlled engine install. Just my opinion.
Shawn

[Critter]

100%...but don't let us stop you from doing something a little creative

[70rs/ss]

Food for thought, buick GN and GNX'x get like 20= MPG and throw down some wicked power with a TURBO!? I know a car is more aero and lighter, but C'mon a turbo charged 6 banger!! I am going to do a tb'd L^ before I leave this earth. 5.3, 4.8, etc, etc are cool but they are $$$ upfront and don't really get you a ton of MPG. I'd say the V6 is way more plausible than the 4500I6 as there is no aftermarket support for the swap, so it'd be new territory. BTW GM sold a carb'd intake for the V6 and it is a 350 less two holes, so everything fits, get a 4-barrel carb'd intake and lumpity cam and it'll suprise you, add on a blowthrough turbo and now we are talking different??

[LUV2XCLR8]

Originally Posted by vtblazer

Over-drive is your friend.

This and maybe a gear change can make a huge differance in MPG

[Critter]

Originally Posted by 70rs/ss

5.3, 4.8, etc, etc are cool but they are $$$ upfront and don't really get you a ton of MPG.

I disagree about the price issue. I have a few local salvage yards around here that I visit pretty often. One of them has alot of salvaged trucks. They quoted me $900 for a running 5.3 with computer and all the pullys/accesories/wiring. I could even see it run and check the odometer before they pulled it from the wreck. A 4.8 was slightly cheaper simply due to supply/demand. I didn't think this was a bad deal beings that a decent longblock from GM parts is $2,000 + and far from complete. However, maybe pricing is different in other parts of the country. There would be some cost in "adapting" but I don't I think anything major other than wiring and engine mounts are required. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong...I was thinking about doing this swap in a swb truck someday.

[jorgensensc]

Originally Posted by Critter

I disagree about the price issue. I have a few local salvage yards around here that I visit pretty often. One of them has alot of salvaged trucks. They quoted me $900 for a running 5.3 with computer and all the pullys/accesories/wiring. I could even see it run and check the odometer before they pulled it from the wreck. A 4.8 was slightly cheaper simply due to supply/demand. I didn't think this was a bad deal beings that a decent longblock from GM parts is $2,000 + and far from complete. However, maybe pricing is different in other parts of the country. There would be some cost in "adapting" but I don't I think anything major other than wiring and engine mounts are required. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong...I was thinking about doing this swap in a swb truck someday.

when I was researching this and reading other members encounters it really seems the price adds up really quick. Just for instance, you can get a longblock 350 from GM for 1400 if i remember correctly. Heck I have a fresh professionally rebuilt .60 over 350 with RV cam and fresh rebuilt heads, from oil pan to carb complete never been run and I want less for it than they want from GM for the one above. 350 motor mounts and towers are cheap and plentiful. You would probably spend about 1200 for a nicely rebuilt 700r4. Everything else hooks right up easily.
Now for a 5.3, start with the fuel injection, then you need a fuel injection pump., special motor mounts, driveshaft, tranny (if you don't get one with it), and computer recalibration, and possibly a new wiring harness if you aren't handy with electrical, etc. It can add up very fast. As I said before it is a really cool thing, and I would love to do one, but they are much more costly than a regular old 350 build, even if you carb the 5.3 it is expensive. Ask shifty or hartrod how much they have in their builds and they will tell you they can get a little pricey.

BTW Mike, I kinda dig the idea of a turboed 6 cylinder.
Shawn