V-6 with the best power?

So far i know little of the v-6 s-10 engines. Im buying one in about a month and i want to know the specs of all the engines. So far i know of the 4.3 MFI (vortec i think) has 190 hp and 250 torque and the 4.3 TBI OHV 12v has 160 hp and 230 torque. what are the other options i have??? im looking at anywhere from 1992-1998. thanks for your help!!!

it dos not git better than that as far as i know

Isn't there a regular 4.3L without vortec? Does the MFI mean it's a vortec?

Also, just wondering if anybody knows anything about the 4.3 TBI OHV 12v motor... I know the syclone and the typhoon have this motor turbocharged... has anyone ever heard of a s-10 4.3 TBI OHV 13v with an added turbo, and if it was easy to do?

What would need to be done ? replace the throttle body injection? and find a turbo kit? what about the compression?

OK backup. What you've been told is all wrong.

From the beginning there was the 4.3 TBI. It had around 170-180hp and around 240-250 ft/lbs

Then in 92 they came out with the "W" or the vortec engine. This is a Central Port Injection system that had 195hp and 260-265 ft/lbs.
This lasted until 95. This engine had the same lowerend, but from the heads up it was different. The CPI was/is known for going bad quite often.
During this 92-95 period, they still had the TBI engine as well.

During all of this 92-95(I'm not sure about these years btw) came out with the mulitport injection turbo'd syclone and typhoon. The multiport system was only used in the cyclone/typhoon.The pistons are different as well as the heads and injection system.

In 96 big changes were made. CPI and TBI were dropped and made way for just one 4.3 SFI. This new system put out 190hp and 255-260 ft/lbs. The heads flow alittle better but the piston are 9.0 to 1 instead of the 9.5 to 1 of the 92-95 CPI engines.

End result.

TBI is cheapest and easiest to work on but puts out less power then any other offering.

CPI: put out the most power of all the naturally asperated systems, but is prone to injector failures (the injector costs 200-250 to replace each time) and needs to run on premium fuel to get the extra 5hp and 10 ft/lbs compaired to the 96+ SFI. Will still run fine on regular.
Still OBD1 and fairly easy to work on.

MFi: special. Only for turbo'd cyclones and typhoons. Forget about this system.

SFI: Latest design. Reliable compaired to CPI. Doesn't require premium fuel to sqeeze the most out of the engine. Is OBD2 so is much harder to work on. Most expensive system(besides the MFI system of course).

Hope this helps.

Edited to say: Keep in mind all the numbes I gave you were for the 4x4 versions. For some reason, the 2wd versions of all of these engines (minus the MFI of course) had 10 less hp and 10 less ft.lbs.
I understand a 4x4 has more drivetrain to move, but the real question is where the extra power came from. (computer tuning, stock exhaust, etc.)

WOW!!!! thanks a lot man, that's a big help.


So in light of this new information, the best truck for me would probably be a 96-98 S-10 4X4 V6 Manual. That would be awsome!

Just a few more Q's:

When you say that the SFI engine is "hard to work on", what do you mean? It's hard to replace injectors/plugs/oil filter/sensors or how is it hard to work on?

This car will be my daily driver, and I'm planning on keeping it for a while, so i need it to be reliable! Do you think this is the best V6 engine in terms of reliability?

Also, I'm planning on doing simple bolt on performance upgrades, I'm assuming this 4.3 is strong and upgrade friendly like the others?

My car in about 4 months:

1996-98 S-10 4.3 SFI 4X4 5spd. 195hp/255lbs.
Cold air intake
Professional chip
headers/high flow cat/mild cat back
Platinum plugs and wires
High performance injectors
AROUND 250hp/300lbs.

That's the hp that comes out of a syclone, i think i'll be able to do it.
DAMN NOW THATS WHAT I LIKE TO SEE! Sounds great to me, what do you guys think?????

Just wondering if the S-10 engines apply to the GMC Sonoma also? I just found a 1996 Sonoma SLS 4X4 5spd.

ALSO>>

In 1996 was the 4.3 TBI still in the picture? cause i found a 96 s-10 with 170 hp and if the TBI wasn't being produced, what engine could it be?

found this engine from 92-95 on cars direct.com:
4.3L(262.0cu.in.) V-6 OHV SPI 12 valve engine
I thought it was a 4.3 TBI OHV 12 valve

and this from 96-2003:
4.3L(262.0cu.in.) V-6 OHV SMPI 12 valve engine
I thought it was a 4.3 CPI



I don't know if these are just other names for the same engine or what, but it made me a little curious.

I just want to say that when I said the CPI goes bad alot, I meant the injector itself goes bad alot. The engine it self is a rock.

Yes the newer engines would be your best bet if your looking for a daily driver.
They are alittle harder to work on, more sensor to know of, and things are cluttered a bit more then the CPI or TBI engines.

If your planning to mod it you've made the best chose. The 96+ have by far the largest modding support then all of the other engines.


Good luck making your engine as powerful as the sy/ty engine.
That plant puts out on average 300hp and 360ft/lbs. you'll never reach those numbers without gutting your entire engine or going forced inducted.

GMC/Chevy same things, so yes the engines are the same.

CPI was 92-95
Sequential injection came out in 96 and above.

Just so you know, the offical acronyms for the injection systems throughout the years have been confusing. I don't even know if there is an official term for them.

Thanks so much for the help, you cleared all of my questions! Now I am finally ready to start looking around for the truck of my dreams!



thanks again for your help,
Jamie

1993 4.3 CPI engine was rated at 200hp...I have seen this misquoted many times as 190hp...1994 was 190...check the factory literature.