4.3 chevy swap?

coldoath said:
Stay away from the the 4.3. I have a 1995 s10 with the 4.3 vortec and it's a nice engine, but it's not better than the 4.0, by any means. Pretty sure you can fill the oil full of sand in a 4.0 and it would still run just fine. 4.0 is a beast of an engine, it has more torque than the 4.3. 4.3 doesn't even put out 200hp plus they get like anywhere from 16-20 mpg. Had a buddy with a 1997 Chevy 1500 4.3 v6 and he got about 17 mpg.

Summary:
4.0 > 4.3
Click to expand...

According to the wiki they are about even.
4.3 260ft/lbs @3600 92-94CPI 200hp
4.0 230ft/lbs @3000 2004 190hp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMC_Straight-6_engine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrol...gree_V6_engine
 
coldoath said:
In addition....by just going off those stats you posted, the 4.0 develops power a lot lower than the 4.3, which is what you want.
Click to expand...
Actually 600 rpms lower.Not a huge difference. My brother as 2 4.3s, one closing in on 300k with only basic maintenance, the other around 150k with no problems either. We used to have a Safari with the 4.3, now it's wit my aunt, and it's been going for 13 yrs with the family and lots of driving.

Reliability wise, I'd say about even. However, that doesn't change that it's still way too much work for minimal, if any, gain.
 
Darky said:
Actually 600 rpms lower.Not a huge difference. My brother as 2 4.3s, one closing in on 300k with only basic maintenance, the other around 150k with no problems either. We used to have a Safari with the 4.3, now it's wit my aunt, and it's been going for 13 yrs with the family and lots of driving.

Reliability wise, I'd say about even. However, that doesn't change that it's still way too much work for minimal, if any, gain.
Click to expand...

I'm sure we could sit here and banter back and forth all day with opinions and what not.

Bottom line....leave the straight 6.
 
We probably could, but numbers aren't really opinions. Either way, we're arriving at the same conclusion.
 
Stay with the 4.0l. I have had both. I've even had s-10' s one with a 4.3l and one with a 350 TPI all were 4wd. Great engines but the modification and franken parts needed why would you bother? My 4.3 with 5 speed and 31" tires I would get 22mpg at 70mph. If your 4.0l is running good I'd keep it. It will serve you well.
 
Is this jeep your daily driver? If you're doing a transplant swap, count on the jeep being out of service for a least a month. Seems like a long time, but if something goes wrong, it's better to have planned to not need the jeep then to have to stop what you're doing and go look for reliable transportation.

I have no experience with the swap in question, but I have done a couple, and helped with a couple more. In my experience:
Having a bell housing adapter and "plug and play" engine harness(if your friend comes through) is just the start.
Engine mounts, electrical integration(want the gauges to work?), cooling, drive shafts if you can't get the engine positioned right, exhaust, power tearing, braking(the valve cover on a 4.3 will clear the booster, right?)
Transplant swaps are always a pain. Unless you enjoy that sort of thing, and have the time and money to throw at it, don't do it. It's not that it's not a good idea, impractical, etc,... It's that THIS swap isn't worth the effort. All that work for 20 HP and 2-4 mpg. You'll easily end up spending $500-$1K in misc parts and fabrication, which is the cost of a basic rebuild.

It sounds like you're doing a "preemptive engine change": It's high mileage, and you're swapping it out before it goes "blooey!" How about buying a 4.0 "core"from a JY or private seller, etc, rebuilding it, and dropping it in when it's finished? Sell the 4.3 and adapter, part out the YJ, and finance the rebuild with that. As mentioned above, a 4.0 engine change is a weekend project.

The 4.3 swap is a great upgrade for the 84-86 Cherokees that didn't have a decent engine option from the factory, and no easy "bolt in" upgrade path. Not so true of the '87-up XJs.
 
I have a 2008 Silverado W/T model. It has the 4.3 in it. I think my lawn tractor would beat it. My 99 XJ with 105k will leave it in the dust with 2 flat tires and a missfire........ Don't ask me why I bought the Silverado...
 
jwebb85 said:
I have a 2008 Silverado W/T model. It has the 4.3 in it. I think my lawn tractor would beat it. My 99 XJ with 105k will leave it in the dust with 2 flat tires and a missfire........ Don't ask me why I bought the Silverado...
Click to expand...

Buying a fullsize Chev pickup with 4.3 is like buying a new Toyota pickup with a 4cyl.:confused:
 
R.DesJardin said:
Buying a fullsize Chev pickup with 4.3 is like buying a new Toyota pickup with a 4cyl.:confused:
Click to expand...

x2,we put a 4.3/4L60 in my sons 4runner(vs 22RE),install was extremely easy as the Chevy computer controls both engine/trans.The only interface between the 2 systems is a couple of gauges,otherwise each stands alone.
 
jwebb85 said:
I have a 2008 Silverado W/T model. It has the 4.3 in it. I think my lawn tractor would beat it. My 99 XJ with 105k will leave it in the dust with 2 flat tires and a missfire........ Don't ask me why I bought the Silverado...
Click to expand...

Apples to oranges my friend. Not even a remotely valid comparison.

I have a 93 XJ w/ a 4.0 and a 90 XJ with a 96 4.3 in it. I love them both. I didn't do the swap so I can't say how difficult it was but I can say it sounds mean as hell with true duals running out of the back! The 4.3 is a blast and is the head turner without a doubt.
 
I have a 85 xj i thought had about doing a 350 or 4.3 swap. I found it was way easier to just put a 4liter in. and yes you can put a 4liter in a 85 that came with the big power house 2.8 turd lol. alot easier & cheaper to do those mods than a chevy motor swap. one other thing to think about is your cooling system. everything i found said needs bigger radiator. Not cheap to get one that fits a xj. just my two pennys worth.
 
this surprises me , as i have both an XJ with 4.0 and a boat with twin 4.3,s

i often wondered about the possibilities of swapping a mercruiser to an off road vehicle,

especially as they are self contained, and by that i mean all the wiring and sensors and computer are on the motor, there is one huge connector that runs of the the opp panel
for gauges and starter etc

my 1999 4.3,s are tbi injected and put out 220 bhp stock (vortec motors, roller rockers and lifters) and happily run at 4000 rpm all day, i think they are amazing little motors and well worth consideration for a transplant, syncing the auto may take some work though
 
My 4.0 in my 96 XJ has spent approximately 7-10 hours at 5000 RPM in the last 2 months.

Did you know that a 4.0/AW4/3.55 gears/33 inch tires in an XJ will do 87mph while pulling a 2000 pound trailer? I didn't, and it will. It just takes a long, long time to get going that fast :o

I would run that motor at 4500 to 5000 RPM from now till the end of time without a second thought. Oil pressure is still at original stock spec (20psi idle, 40+psi driving) at 146k miles, I usually hit the rev limiter a couple times per wheeling trip as well.
 
kastein said:
Did you know that a 4.0/AW4/3.55 gears/33 inch tires in an XJ will do 87mph while pulling a 2000 pound trailer?
Click to expand...


Did you know that you are putting yourself, and more importantly others around you, in danger when you are driving your XJ 87 mph with 33 inch tires while pulling a 2000 pound trailer? I would be interested in hearing a legitimate reason why someone would do this?
 
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