4.3 V6 build

[Kdub]

I'm thinking of doing a future Chevy 4.3 1/8th mile drag race engine. Out of the few v6's I have sitting around there's a vortec a swirl port and an older one with a four barrel intake. Somewhere in the pile is a 200 or 229 V6.

I could just use the vortec for the base or would the semi-even fire crank in one of the other blocks have an advantage? More connecting rod options with the semi-even fire with minor machine work.

So the real question is -- is which might work best in a 1/8th mile motor, even fire or the semi-even crankshaft?

[Kdub]

Don’t look like much V6 interest. Bummer

[rustbucket79]

Build the vortec engine. Lots of piston options, with some head work, decent cam, 4 bbl carb and compression I don’t see 300 HP as being a hard target to hit.

We built one with a modified Wieand supercharger this year for a lake boat, made an effortless 360 HP on about 7 pounds of boost.

[V12MECH]

If you want to go the boosted route, check out what Ryan Falconer did many years ago with Chevy V-6, I am sure there are others more current, but the power is impressive. Looking at the turbo deal makes me think about building one.

[Adger Smith]

I've had lots of interest in V-6 Chevies for the last 25 years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZPI6eCN8pE
Use the Vortec engine.

[In-Tech]

It's very hard to find the bowtie v6 block and the newer aftermarket v6 blocks are money

The first one developed a small water leak so I took the spare apart to check and freshen if needed. #2 main saddle was broken BAD.

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[prairiehotrodder]

i would use the vortec as well. One advantage to the V6 is there is no end of cores out there. My son and I recently put a TBI 4.3 in his 83 malibu but with the intake manifold from a 229 out of an 81 iraqi taxi. He drove it for a couple months until we found a factory 4 barrel intake from an 85-86 chevy pickup. The 4 barrel made a big difference. Only problem is we are still using the log manifolds from the 229 as well. They fit the car better. I think if i was aiming for power i would take advantage of the shorter engine to put a turbo up front.
Brian

[Old School]

I've had lots of interest in V-6 Chevies for the last 25 years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZPI6eCN8pE
Use the Vortec engine.

That is impressive. What does the car weigh with driver?

[BOOT]

I still wanna do a 4.3 someday for the right car

[Mummert]

It depends on what kind of power you want to make. 4.3 Cast cranks are good for about 6200, 6500 MAX. The GMC Cyclone cranks are forged but I think they are common pin odd fire. The later vortec heads are very good and you can get the Edelbrock manifold to fit them on "non" counter balancer blocks.

Pistons, timing chain and all valve train components are a no brainer.

A well built bracket engine can make 375-400hp with the right components for not a lot of money.

I have a 4.3 in a dune buggy, very basic pump gas build , 10.0:1 224@.050 600 double pumper well ported late model vortec heads, edelbrock manifold. It dynoed 340hp @6000 rpm. Its been together for over 10 years and trouble free. It would be very easy to take the same style of build raise compression and throw a bit more cam at it and make 380 ish hp.

You always have to keep the cranks in mind, I believe there is well over 400hp potential with the vortec head, but it would come at an rpm that the crank would not be happy at.

I'm sure that there are 4.3 experts out there that can steer you better, but I have built 1 and helped a half dozen guys duplicate it, so I thought I'd share some info.

You can go big, with some of the aftermarket heads, blocks, and billet crank but it may be more than what your after.

[Kdub]

I’m not sure about horsepower but I’d like to run 7.50’s in the 1/8th in a 2800-2900 car. I’m planning on usual 13 - 13.5:1 compression and a trans brake.

[Mummert]

That take about 450 hp , I'm not sure how an oem 4.3 crank would live with a trans brake.

[rustbucket79]

There are much easier ways to go 7.50’s than with 6 cylinders, is this for the challenge or is it because you have cores?

I would look towards a centrifugal super charger setup, either methanol or E 85, so you can keep the peak RPM reasonable and make big torque numbers lower since the displacement is small.

[Kdub]

Yeah just want to do something different. It’s looking like I might have to keep the RPM down and foot brake it but what the heck it should be the only one at the track.