4.3 replacement

[msclcrmn]

I curently have a 1992 olds bravada. It has about 194k on it. It started knocking the other day. I don't want to drive it now until I get it fixed. I thought about v8 conversion, but smog is an issue here in CA. My funds are very tight right now. I was thinking about swapping in a newer, but used engine. I had a '96 offered to me for $200. I wanted to know if I could use the injection off of that engine as well. Will the wiring plug right in?? Any suggestions??

[Chris Stewart]

The 1996 engine and electronics are completely different to your 1992. You can use the '96 long block if it has the knock sensor holes in the same places as your '92. You'll have to use your '92 fuel injection and distributor too...really it would be better to use the '92 parts so you don't have to mess with the computer or factory wiring.
The swap seems like a good idea to me if the '96 motor is in good shape. It'll likely run better too since the torque is better and over a wider rpm range. If you had the '96 heads off and taken to your local racer, he might face the valves and put multi angle seats on the heads for an airflow/power improvement...an honest 10% which equals about 25% magazine advertisment horsepower..lol

[covman454]

I had a 4.3 replaced a little under a year ago. My Bravada had the vin "w" 4.3 engine and I had one hell of a time finding a good used engine. There were several around for 500 to 600 dollars, but every one of them had 100,000+ miles. Considering that the engine that I was replacing had 101,000, I felt that was a bad deal and I didn't want to get screwed further. The place that I had do the work took one out of a blazer, and it looks different but it runs well. I'm not sure the year but it bolted right in. The mileage stayed about the same and the power also. A junkyard that also does installations should be able to tell you what engines are compatible. The total cost for the engine and installation was 1700, an amount that I didn't want to spend since I had just bought the truck 2 months before.

I thought about doing the work myself, but after looking at the Chiltons, it was way too much for me to do alone.

covman

[msclcrmn]

Well, I missed out on the other engine, so I am not sure what I am doing yet. Thanks for your responses. All I can seem to find now is 60-70k engines for $750. Does that sound about average?

[Chris Stewart]

Sounds good if you can get a 30 day warranty. If it's good 30 days and you keep good oil in it, it'll go for years. If you get a long block and have to put your intake manifold on it, you'll be repairing a factory gasket problem, the factory gaskets leak a little in cold weather. Buy Felpro gaskets or equilevent. I think the factory uses Detroit Gaskets :>[

[herkyhawki]

the "92 intake will not fit with the heads from "96 or newer. You need a "95 or older engine.

[rlith]

Originally Posted by herkyhawki

the "92 intake will not fit with the heads from "96 or newer. You need a "95 or older engine.

Correct on the intake matching to the heads, but easy enought to swap the heads (bottom head bolt patterns are the same) I'm running a 99 block in my 95 just dandy.,..Motor only has 40k on it... Though I'm pulling it next month and selling it in favor of a 5.7 vortec from a 99 escalade.