engine swap or rebuild kit?

[quadtonechevy]

i have a 1989 chevy stepside (was a shortwide, but i did a bed swap) and it is starting to show it's age and miles. the 4.3l v6 that came in it now has about 212,300 miles on it and has never been rebuilt. i think now i want to clean it up and make it just a nice daily driver, but i am not sure which route i should go. i don't want to swap to a v8 or anything like that, i just want to replace the stock 4.3 with a crate 4.3 from summit or rebuild the engine, but what i need to know is which whould be cheaper, but also be better in the long run. please help!!!!

[ghostrider112]

why would you not want to swap in a v8? 350 would be great in that truck

[jtb16]

why would you not want to swap in a v8? 350 would be great in that truck

Probably gas mileage...

[ghostrider112]

Probably gas mileage...

depends how you look at it. the v6 has a harder time moving the weight, therefore using more gas. but the 350 doesnt have to work as hard to move the weight. the only place the v6 would really be better would be long highway trips. IMO

[cali customs]

if gas milage is a concern why not find a newer wrecked truck and put a vortec in it you will have better fuel milage and more power imo