Anyone here build a 4.3? Need advice.

[david068513]

I have a 97 extended cab Cheyenne truck. It's a 4.3 auto. Completely stock with 87k miles. No power options and a bench seat. I'm thinking about pulling the motor and putting a forged rotating assembly in it and porting the stock heads etc. Not sure on what cam im going with but I Want to do a single front mount turbo. What turbo do you guys think is ok for this size motor I've never done a v6 before but it is basically a v8 with 2cyl cut off.. How should I tune it? Tunercat? Any ideas?

[CustomChevyGuy]

im sure you'll have alot of people chime in about it being a 4.3 - but it sounds like a cool project.. you'd probably find some kind of build info in the tech sections - theres gotta be someone that's built one. as for the tune, you should contact Blackbear Performance when you've got a majority of the work done to it..

[Koots]

I'd see about using one of the Borg Wagner turbo's from the 6.5L diesels, they don't put out a lot of boost (14-15psi is where they start to become inefficient), spool very quickly and are readily available. I think it would be a great turbo for an engine not setup for a full out boost (meaning no custom low compression pistons, head gaskets, etc). I don't know if the syclone/typhoon turbo stuff can be easily found or bolted onto our trucks but it's always an option too. I know those truck were well known to pull extremely hard for a stock truck and are still terrorizing drag strips whenever they appear.

Otherwise, i'm not sure what else i can help you on. I haven't paid attention to the aftermarket for 4.3Ls in a long while so i don't know what's out there. I decided to work entirely on another engine that makes less power and is considered an even bigger paperweight...the 6.2L diesel :crazy: