4.3 worth making fast?

[BigMike9009]

Ok im wanting to take out the v6 and drop a ls1 in it BUT thats getting a little pricey. i have a v6 4.3L and was thinking about putting mods to it instead but i want to beat the shit out of stock v8s. what do yall think a cam,pushrods,rocker arms,full exhaust and a few other mods might do? or should i just go with the ls1 conversion. for the same price as putting the ls1 in i could make the 6 cylinder faster but im wondering what hp i might be able to get around.....so many questions...so little time... : (

[RedHeartbeat]

If you are not too emotionally attached to the truck you already have, I would sell what you have and buy you a newer truck with the 5.3L already in there. You are looking at about $7000 to do the conversion. Factor that in plus what your truck is worth to see the value. Doing the conversion is fun but factor in what amount of time you have available to do the conversion. Street and Performance claims 60-65 hrs for them to do one and they do them all the time.

[kinjo1977]

I'm sorry Big Mike, but a 4.3 is not anything you want to play around with if you are wanting to be faster. The only sure fire way for it to be faster would be a shot of nitrous and even then you would run the risk of blowing it to kingdom come. Best bet is to do the LS1 conversion, or sell that truck and go get one with a better engine. Prefferably the 6.0, since it is gonna put out that extra HP with very little modding.

My best advice for you would be to save your cash.

[LS1Nica]

I agree with them, go 8 or go home. If you go with the 8, buying a truck with the 5.3 already on it is a good choice. I did my swap because I already had a LS1/T56 combo in my hands.

[RedHeartbeat]

You of all people should know how time consuming a conversion is, LS1Nica. If I had not owned this truck for all of it's 305,000 miles I probably would have bought a new one. I have done two conversions so far and they both took me about a month to do at home in my spare time. I rented a car the first time I had it down putting the LT1 in and fortunately owned an extra vehicle this time around. Not to mention I has some spare room on my mastercard.

[BigMike9009]

yea but im not gonna back out on the ls1. i really want to try to get that bad boy in my truck and i can get the money with eas. i have about 3 grand now and could take out a loan for about 4 or 5 if i needed to get everything. I dont mind the time becuz i plan on keeping the truck for awhile.If i save money and buy a v8 ill basically be just buying the engine because then idhave to change the outside all over again. i already have a 2/4 drop, rims, tinted windows,system,clear corners and alot of custom painted exterior so all i need now is the engine.

[RedHeartbeat]

You can always turbo the V6 for power. That should set you back about $4000 if you can get STS to custom build you a setup or you can get someone to do a custom install. You might be hard pressed to find someone to tune it though. A suitable replacement for mas power is the 6.0L 345 hp LQ9 or the 5.7L LS1 or just bite the bullet and get a LS6 ready to bolt in. Go on one of the vette forums to find you a LS1/LS6 for a decent price. There is a LS6 on corvetteforum for $3200 right now, I think. Be sure you get all the accessories since the vette has a better layout IMO.

[Hay Hauler]

4.3 & fast is an oxymoron

[Mike V]

Hi Mike,
Sorry to play the evil voice of temptation, but if you're thinking of a boosted 4.3,
I have a stock turbo set up from a GMC Syclone. Well, I have turbo, exhaust manifolds, cross-over pipe and downpipe. You be on your own for
achieving enrichment under boost. It is a standard 4-bolt t-3 flange.
I don't have cooling & oil lines for the turbo. Very good shape though.
$500 for all it, or $250 for all the pipes, and you supply the turbo.
Shipping extra of course. Just so you know it&#39;s out there <g>.
Mike V Ohio

[BigMike9009]

Well after everyones opinions im still prolly gunna go with the ls1 swap. Ill be honest i know some things about it but some i dont. im in the process of learnin it all so if anyone would be willing to help it would be greatly appr. i know i need the engine and tranny and i can keep the same rear end(or so the guy at the truck shop told me). as for the computer and everything else im kinda lost. unless i can find an engine that has all of that already on it. i dont wanna get the engine and tranny and then be searching for the missing pieces for 3 months ya know. anyone here that has done the ls1 swap into a 2000 silverado ur help would be great.