Differences in 4.3 V6's

[jac6695]

Attempted a search for this information, but couldn't make any of my search terms work.

What changed through the years with the 4.3? My main question is can I take a 95-97'ish CPI 4.3 and bolt on a carb or TBI? Do those blocks have a provision for a fuel pump and distributor? thanks in advance for any info.

 

[chevyuser74]

they already have a dizzy, they dont have any thing for a mechanical fuel pump, and u would need a new intake to bolt on tbi or a carb, but i would just keep the multi port way better

 

[jac6695]

Oh, I know it would be better. This actually for a friend that needs a 4.3 for an older application (not even sure just yet what it is going into, but he needs to use a carb). My brother has a 96 (I think) Blazer with a good engine, but bad body and I am wondering if the other guy can use that engine for his project.

 

[chevyuser74]

the intake bolt patterns are probably different i know on the newer blazer, on the lower intake there is 2 bolts in each corner on the manifold, i dont know what it is like on the older engines though.

 

[USSkoval]

I was recently messing with one of these that someone had put into a '46 Chevy panel truck. The 4.3 was a '90 with an old carb manifold on it. I put on a TBI manifold from a '95, which used the same heads as the CPI. All the bolt patterns were the same. An electric fuel pump would be the best bet.

 

[73k5blazer]

I rebuilt my '86 4.3l.
Here's some good info, although it stop late ninteties:
http://www.enginebuildermag.com/Article/2427/rebuilding_the_new_chevy_262.aspx

'85 '86 full size truck/van had carbs. So carb intake. I have one in my garage if you want it. Most are 2bbl tbi intakes. These 85-86 where factor egr 4bbl intakes. Marine engines use carbs also, they are without egr provision. Edelbrock makes carb intakes for them as well, for vortec and non-vortec heads.
85 had elec. fuel pump, blockoff plate (same as 5.7l), 86 had mech fuel pump, 87-up had different things, most have no provision for mech. fuel pump.
96 up is vortec heads, only option for carb here is marine intake or edelbrock 4bbl intake.

Everything you want to know about 4.3l is better found in S10 forums. Here's where I found a wealth of info:
s10forum.com

 

[lectric80]

The newer TPI versions are Vortec engines and the heads are different. So if it is after 95 it is not going to work with previous years manifolds. Very few ever had provision for mechanical pumps.

 

[dyeager535]

GM was slapping the Vortec name on 4.3's way back in the 80's, and from what I hear, those motors did have the signature fast burn chambers just like the '96+ SBC Vortec heads.

They could be had as TBI as far back as what, 1985 or '86? Monte Carlo's got them in the G-bodies later in the run.

I can't answer what will bolt on, posing the above questions instead so the OP doesn't run into any surprises. It would seem to me different bolt patterns/intake patterns to be almost a given throughout it's long run, especially with the transition from carbs to FI.