2.8 upgrade to 4.3

[stepho]

Hi everyone. I have a 88 Camaro RS 2.8L. I was wonder if it would be practical to upgrade to a 4.3L from an S-10 or something. What would I have to replace with stronger components? Would I be able to use the parts from the doner car?

[89IROC&RS]

ive heard someone else talking about this, but i dont remember the thread, do a forum search on this topic and see what comes up.

Personally i think the 4.3 would be a great engine in the camaro. and they can be built to 300 naturally asperated hp. and higher than that with forced induction. I personally dont know why the engine wasnt offered in the cars to begin with, but thats just me. Just from guesswork im saying youll need the cooling system, electrical harness, engine mounts, ECM, and all the sensors from the doner car, then youll have to do alot of fabrication to make the mounts from the truck fit the camaro, make your own fuel lines, and all that fun stuff.

The only thing im not sure of is the bellhousing bolt pattern on the 4.3L V6, i think its the same as a small block, so you might need a tranny from a V8 equipped camaro to replace the one from your sixer.

[92EG6]

the 4.3's have the same bolt pattern as small blocks thats why you can never find 5spd's in s10's @ the junk yard there all T5's. If your not worried about emissions, Edelbrock makes a carbd intake manifold for the 4.3's and 300Hp would not be that difficult to make. With the typoon manifolds you could turbo it fairly easy. I agree 3.8 should have replaced 2.8 and 4.3 should have been offered. I am pretty sure 4.3 has the same motor mount as small block. Gut the electrical and run a carb (sorry i'm kinda old school) the easiest swap for trannys would be a TH350 but you will need the torque arm adapter from B&M 79.95 from summit and a driveline from an 80/81. Everything else is fairly simple, stock shifter will work just not 1rst positon, 2 is 1, 3 is 2 and 4/D is 3rd. You will also need a fuel press reg if you want to use the in tank pump. hard part of swap will be rewiring pump, gauges, dist and lights but if you know anything about electrical work it will be cake.

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[89IROC&RS]

92EG6, dont think ive done it yet, so ill take this time to include you and stepho to the forum at the same time. glad to have ya both.

Ill play the opposite side to EG6 here, and suggest getting a newer Vortec 4.3L V6 out of a junkyard S10 complete with wiring harness and computer controls, and transplanting it into the camaro. This will give you the driveability, fuel mileage, and emissions of the newer fuel injected engines. By doing so you can leave the fuel pump as it is.

[Vlad_Tepes]

Yeah well here down under we have the 3.8 but I was going to ask about the 4.3.... I was going to kinda put that in my car seeing how a 350 here will cost more than my car..LOL

[Pewter'01SS]

4.3's are great engines even though they are often overlooked. I would also lean towards a newer Vortec. They do have the same motor mounts as a small block but they are different than a 2.8L

And Vlad...is it expensive to have one shipped to you? If you had all the parts shipped seperatly, I could see, but wouldn't it be cheaper to find a long block on ebay and pay the shipping for the whole thing.

[camarosixer]

you would have to use the transmission that came with the 4.3 or i think one from a small block might work also, but the 2.8 trans has a different bell housing cause its for the 60 degree motor

[stepho]

Would the transmission that came with the doner car (S-10 pickup) work? If the transmission works from the doner there isn't much else holding me back from starting the swap.

[blindeyed]

Originally Posted by stepho

Would the transmission that came with the doner car (S-10 pickup) work? If the transmission works from the doner there isn't much else holding me back from starting the swap.

Well that depends. I've seen some S10's with floor mounted shifters and some with steering wheel shifters. So if it currently has a steering wheel shifter, then I don't know if it's possible or how hard it would be to convert it to a floor mounted shifter. And even still, you couldn't guarantee that it would line up properly. You may end up finding yourself cutting a bigger hole in your floor. What I would do if I were you.. Is I would just get an auto/manual tranny from a V8. That way there would be way less complications. Unless of course you're all gung ho about trying to use the one from the S10, then I'd say go for it.

And in case anyone was interested... I finally found the link to a Hotrod Magazine's article on their 4.3 build up. It's really interesting, and they explain in detail the major similiarities between it and the V8's (and they don't really state which V8). But even still, it's pretty informative.

EDIT: Sorry, forgot to post the link
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/engine/113_0208_v6/

[92EG6]

If the tranny is/was bolted to a 4.3L it will definately work i'm not sure about the 2.8L or 2.2L, my buddy has a 93 with the 2.2L(4cyl) and his 5spd bolted right to a small block as far as auto column shift the tranny is the same you would just need to hook the factory shifter cable in the camaro to the trans, the tranny would be the same. Worst case you would need to buy a new shifter cable and a shifter.

[stepho]

Originally Posted by blindxeyed

(and they don't really state which V8).

It says at the very top "3/4 350." So I think its talking about the 350.

[blindeyed]

Originally Posted by stepho

It says at the very top "3/4 350." So I think its talking about the 350.

Actually.. what the title at the top meant was more of a metaphoricle type thing. They're comparing the 4.3 to a small block. And practically everything between the two is the same. So they basically referred to the 4.3L as being 3/4 of a 350. And also, there are two different 350's it could be referring to. The 3rd gen 350's (not sure of it's technical name), or the LT1. My guess is it's referring to the 3rd gens 350 due to the 80's years that they mention alot.

[89IROC&RS]

the 4.3L engine is a small block chevy 350 (pre LT1) with two cylenders missing.