It seems everytime I get a few dollars saved up to start back on my car again something else comes up. My oldest son was driving my 1991 S10 2 door 2 wheel drive blazer right before he left for AF Basic Training when he noticed a water leak on it, looks like it is coming from the intake right on the front of the motor by the drivers side alt bracket. If the motor didn't have over 200+ on it I would just replace the intake gasket and go on but now I'm thinking about just doing a rebuild while its down. Its smokes a little oil anyway when started or at idel so it needs it anyway. My youngest sont just turned 15 so I have a little time before it needs to be back on the road. Any one rebuild one of these? Any tips or upgrades to do while its all apart? I want to keep the fuel injection on it so a carb setup is out. Headers? Slight cam upgrade? NO SMALL BLOCK DROP IN. I'm not dropping in a small block either. Thanks everyone on your thoughts and comments.

 

I rebuilt one years ago, and put it in my Suzuki Samurai.
A 4.3 is just a 350 with two cylinders missing. Pistons and rods were interchangeable too from what I recall. Mine was a 1989, from an Astro van. And as is yours, the engine has a roller cam. I put in a performance cam, and I believe there was only one available at the time. There still might not be a lot to choose from today, certainly not like the wide choices for a SBC. Headers are about $250-up, not sure if the payback is worth the investment. My space was limited though, so I used the factory "headers" on mine, which are better than the cast iron clunkers. They look like this: Factory 4 3 Chevy Headers for Astro Safari Chevy or GMC 1500 and s 10 s 15 | eBay

 

Camaro 69,

Thanks for sharing, I like the look of the factory "headers", I did not know about them. I bet they will flow alot better than my cast iron clunkers I have now. Did you sawp over to carb when you did the cam upgrade? I'm just wondering about a slight cam upgrade with the fuel injection.

 

The rod from a SBC with not work in a 4.3 being that the big end is smaller on the SB. Pistons are the same and so are the main bearings and cam bearings and piston rings BUT the rods are different.

 

Yeah I made mine carbureted. Here are some cam choices from Summit: 4.3 Cams
Be sure to watch the year fitment. Also, if doing a search for 4.3 stuff, don't get mixed up with the 267 V8, which is also a 4.3.

 

Good to know, thanks.