Sagittarian Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 I am interested in putting a 4.3L v6 into my 91 pathy. The primary reason is because I doubt I'll be able to get the HP and Torque out of a vg33e conversion, unless I put a truck load of cash into it and then I'm not sure it will be as cost effective as just converting over to a 4.3 The vg33 is rated at 180 hp and 202 lb-ft. The 92-94 L35 4.3 is rated at 200 hp and 260 lb-ft I know I'll need to swap out the tranny and the transfer case I guess my question is, is it feasible? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 I believe it has been done, but everything will need to be custom. With a lot of work, anything is possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92Path_68CJ Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 Been done a few times. All custom work. The more you can do the better. Otherwise its all about the $. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sagittarian Posted November 29, 2015 Author Share Posted November 29, 2015 After researching... definitely not going that route! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gingy Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 What made you decide on that? a swap has been in the back of my mind. After researching... definitely not going that route! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sagittarian Posted January 2, 2016 Author Share Posted January 2, 2016 Due mostly to all the necessary custom work involved. I'm not in a position to undertake something of that nature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sagittarian Posted January 2, 2016 Author Share Posted January 2, 2016 It is something that I might look at again later... With a late model 87-95 4.3 I can get 160hp 235lbft. I can also change the intake and swap out the TBI for a carburetor and get rid of the computer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 And how is a carb any better than the current fuel injection? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sagittarian Posted January 2, 2016 Author Share Posted January 2, 2016 I don't need a computer for a carb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nunya Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 That and the 'spider rail' fuel delevery system on the early 'Vortec' 4.3s suck... (And the later ones are generally at the point of constant maintnance now) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmoor85 Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 Just sold my blazer that had the 4.3L. Had it 11 years so I feel I can honestly say I am an expert on them. It was reliable-ish. Always had a random cylinder misfire that no one could figure out. The spiders are a pain and always need replace or cleaned. Numerous timing issues. I've been on blazer forums for years and they are common issues. Most ppl have to get a new engine when they get the random cylinder misfire. I loved my blazer. It was had to let it go. But I'm glad I am no longer tracing all its issues. Just my opinion but I'd stick with Nissan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 Huh. A friend of mine has two 4.3s in his driveway (Astro and Blazer) and they've actually been pretty good. Both are '98, so maybe late enough that Chevy had worked some of the electrical bugs out. The balance shaft arrangement is kind of a weird compromise, and the fuel spider's kinda hokey, but most of the issues he's had were from the POs running them into the ground. They're fairly simple to work on when there isn't a van wrapped around them. They might not be my first choice if I was going to all the trouble of an engine swap, but you could do a lot worse. There's also no timing belt to go wrong... that has to count for something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 Not really. I would rather change the timing belt than change stupid issues because of poor designn. Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sagittarian Posted January 4, 2016 Author Share Posted January 4, 2016 I'm simply attempting to eliminate the need for a computer as much as possible. The 87-95 4.3 came with TBI, which I can replace with an Edelbrock intake and 4bbl carb. I chose the 4.3 b/c of availability and baseline hp and lb-ft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PathyAndTheJets Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 The 4.3 is a heavy pig. I doubt you would see a performance gain. It weighs at least 200 more pounds than a VG, produces 60 more hp? And IIRC it's much taller than a VG, so you'll have to do a body lift. And at that point you might as well put the last two cylinders back on and shoehorn a 350 in there. I've ridden in many blazers, never have I been impressed by their get up and go. Plus the cost of a new carb $200+ (don't buy used carbs, never ends up well) And a manifold $200 used And the cost of the engine 500 bucks You could buy a wrecked zx Turbo and Turbo the Pathfinder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sagittarian Posted January 10, 2016 Author Share Posted January 10, 2016 As I stated, I'm looking to get away from a computer. The reason I'm looking at the 4.3 isn't b/c of the 160 hp. It's b/c with minimal effort it can be around 300 lb-ft. If that block goes bad, I can pull the intake and heads, put them on another block and still be at that 300 lb-ft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nunya Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 I've ridden in many blazers, never have I been impressed by their get up and go. Go from a 3.slow 4Runner to a 4.3 Blazer, it's a friggin race car then! (Not standing up for 4.3s, I stand by my previous comments) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PathyAndTheJets Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 Went from a truck with maybe 70hp at the wheels, and weighs 3700lbs to a Pathfinder. I know the racecar feel. Though that would keep up with my buddies 3. Slow 4runner. I don't quite understand the need to ditch the computer. I get that a carb is simpler, but a computer and fuel injection can maintain a close to perfect a/f ratio. You'd make more power with a TBI setup, MSD makes one that has a super simple tuner. If you really want to go with the 4.3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 The pathfinder fuel injection is about as reliable as it gets. No one really has issues with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverton Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Why not put a carburetor on the VG? Yes, very possible. Or swap a VG33 over with VG30 cams, and then put the frontier/xterra supercharger on top? My truck on 33's with the 3.3 is night and day with my truck on 31s and a 3.0. It hauls ass for being a 5,000 pound brick. Your first post mentions not wanting to dump a truckload of cash in for more power, but you're talking about doing a triple custom swap just for a few more torques that won't matter from a heavy engine that doesn't "fit". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now