4.3 chevy guys??

alright, my cj bit the dust last night while driving it to a friends house to work on it. it seems as though the head gasket called it quits and sent anitfreeze all over the place under the hood, and my case of "while i'm at it" would have me rebuild the engine... it's 35 years old without any work done on it, i might as well have the head reworked, but then the heads wouldn't be the same anymore; might as well take the other one off to get the compression on the banks somewhat even, since everything is taken somewhat apart right now it seems like a waste to have reworked heads but have blow-by on the pistons, etc. etc.

so, before i proceed, i've read the writeups on 4.3 swaps, and i know i could get it done in a decent amount of time, but i don't know the real problems that were faced when performing the swap. i'm looking at using a sm465 that i've got with it and keeping the d18 xfer case... so the whole drivetrain seems to be changing. if anyone could let me know the finer points that would suck funds and time that you wouldn't think about to help me decide between the 4.3 or a fresh 225 i'd be more than thankfull, along with the power difference and fuel savings from switching to fuel injection... i've got alot to think about in the coming weeks concerning this. and needless to say, i'm out of windrock now..

 

Im doing the same swap in a 57 cj. I got the novack adapter to a sm465/dana18 $500+ and now wiring the engine has me cursing. Im tring to use the origanal harness to save $. other than cost I don't see a problem with it. I don't think people are fond of swaps.

 

Are you wanting to go with a FI 4.3 or a carbed?? Your going to need a wiring harness, elec fuel pump, radiator. Then your going to need all the stuff associated with the clutch. Also going to need a bellhousing, trans crossmember made, motor mounts welded in. Possibly some firewall triming depending on engine placememnt. Now depending on if you get a donor vehicle for the swap you can rob alot of parts off it, if not you'll need to do alot of hunting of parts. I put all the pt numebrs I used in the write up I did for the site in the tech section so that will help get you started.

 

1995 TBI vin"Z" I have all the other stuff, But I am having trouble with a harness. I should have a TBI but I have been told it is'nt or can't be is it possible that I have a older motor. It has a TBI system, looks like a electric carb. If so can I use painless 60101

 

Thanks for your pt # I have looked at your info many times

 

I believe they stopped using the TBI system in 92 or 93.... let me look I think I may have a wiring schematic that might help though

 

heres a link to the thread..

http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18014&highlight=4.3+wiring

 

Thanks life saver
My main consern is Smog. I dont need it but I dont think the ecm will work right without it

 

A 1995 should have central sequencial fuel injection (CSFI), not TBI. TBI could have been swapped in or it's an older engine. I have an Astro manual with the different diagrams for the different systems. I can scan them if that would help.

 

Contact this guy. He may be able to burn you a chip that shuts off the smog stuff and make the computer work right for what you want to do.
http://www.customefis.com

 

Not necessarily, my ’95 S-10 has the 4.3 with TBI.
The TPI came in with the “Vortec” engines, IIRC.

 

the full size C series trucks came with a vortec 4.3 TBI system. At least thats what my oem manual says.

 

Must have been just the Astro's that changed in 95

 

I am going to attempt the same swap in my '59 cj5. All the guys around here claim the carbed motor is the way to go because for the dollars you don't get the much improvement with the fuel injection. Depending on the tranny and transfer case you use, you may need a different flywheel and clutch, bell housing, adapters for the tranny/trans etc. I am beginning to get a little nervous from the sounds of the wiring headaches though!!!!! Good luck, I will keep checking to see what I am missing. Glad to know there are others out there doing the same thing!!!!!!!!

 

I don't know, I like spending hours setting timing, points, floats, mixture, lubing choke cables, etc. NOT

 

Amen Brotha!
Don't forget lack of performance with altitude changes, higher emissions (I like my breathing air to be clean thank you), more maintenance, etc.
Nickmil

 

I agree with the thought of not having to constantly tune on a carb. I am just saying that the mechanic guy here in town said...I repeat he said...that the cost difference to buy a fuel injected over arbed was significant (like double) by the time you get all of the wiring, computer, etc. Don't know for sure, just going off what he said. So I guess my question to you guys then is what do you need to get rid of the carb and put on fuel injection? Obviously the manifold is going to be different etc. but what do you do with the wiring and computer etc.?

 

If you have to buy the pieces individually, then yes it's more expensive. I'd buy a wrecked S-10, Astro van, or something similar for cheap and then you get all the wiring, computer, brackets, mounts, yada, yada, yada. I recently passed up a running a driving Astro van locally in good running shape for $500, but didn't need it. If you already have a motor, then a used Holley Projection would probably be the best bet unless you can buy a vehicle with a bad motor that already has everything you need. I guess I'm saying if you are starting from scratch, then buy a complete set up. If you have the motor already and it's carbed, then there are still inexpensive options out there to get FI. Another thing to think about, most carbed 4.3's were computer controlled. That means you're gonna have to find a non-computer carb that's in good shape or buy new, and change out the distributor for a non computer version. By the time you spend that kind of money you should be able to get a complete running motor with everything used for not much more. Of course, there are always incidental costs when doing a swap like this, but no swap is without cost. Nickmil.