Engine swap diary

[Stewart G Griffin]

Installed starter with heat shield

Mounted electric pump using custom bracket, but did not wire it----want to install more components to see where i can route the wires.

Installed P/S pump and brackets and belt.

Failed:
alternator
carb
ground wire to head

To be completed by next Sunday 7/24:

1) Research and order fittings for fuel pump
2) Fully connect pump to be operational
3) Alternator and brackets
4) carb
5) ground wire to head, temp gauge wire to sender

[Stewart G Griffin]

Plumbed and wired fuel pump (will provide pics asap)
Installed alternator/bracket and belt
Filled radiator
All hoses hooked up
carb installed
temp sender wire connected
ground wire to head
primed engine using the primer tool and drill.  Took longer than i would have thought, but eventually some oil did seep out of exhaust cyl #1  pushrod and #3 intake pushrod at least. 
Bought valve cover gaskets at Advance auto (Felpro)


Just didn't have enough time to start it up.  We're almost there.

[Stewart G Griffin]

Finally running.   

Feels exactly same as the one replaced, even with roller lifters.  These are not powerhouses.  If i wanted power i would have went with a 350, 383 or big block.



Anyways, fuel pump works well.  More quiet than i thought.  Used the existing v-8 mount holes in frame for the bracket.  i used two Simpson strong tie brackets i got at Home Depot, riveted them together and drilled 4 holes.    Yes, i know i need to work on the wiring, but i needed the truck running  ASAP.

 On top Russell # 660450  1/8" NPT to -6A/N male

Edelmann # 831260   1/8" NPT to 3/8" hose barb on bottom.

Installation was very easy----just hooked the existing 3/8" rubber hose line from the steel fuel line to the 90 degree hose barb fitting.  Did not have to cut or modify anything.   -6A/N to the custom fuel line to carb.    Ground easy.  Power direct from the fuse box when key is on w/ 7amp fuse.    This pump only draws 1.5 to 3 amps so it's ok although i will eventually use a relay.

[Stewart G Griffin]

(i'm mainly putting down notes here so i don't lose them!)

Truck runs really well at highway speeds.  i think all my other engines were tired.  i'm sold on roller lifters in SBCs.

Installing the distributor was pretty much identical to v-8 small blocks.  i'm thinking the procedure is pretty much the same for all engines at least in theory.

Truck really can't be driven further until i install the fan;  Had a close call today in the morning as there was an accident on the OPPOSITE side of the highway, but of course everyone on my side HAD to look, thus got stuck for a few mins in crawling traffic.  It got hotter than normal but i don't think overheated.

To do list:

1) Order fan
2) Install fan
3) re-do fuel pump wiring properly
4) recheck P/S pump hardware
5) seal EGR using gasket and/or permatex black magic
6) tidy up/ separate plug wires better
7) research carb----still not quite right as far as idle etc.   Also, jets (.73) may be too big?
8 Choke wiring

[MuddiGGEr25]

So im resurrecting your thread since you commented on mine and i finally found yours.

What gears does the truck have that the 4.3l went into?, if you read my reply on my thread, i have 4.10s, and the 6.2l with 3.08 or even 3.42's got alot of complaints as underpowered, but its pulls fine with my 4.10's

If the engine didnt have the rice under the valve cover, and you had left the TBI intact, and gotten the harness and ECM with it, would your swap have gone much faster?

[Stewart G Griffin]

The truck has 2.56 gears which is one of the reasons why i'm convinced it can get 18, close to 19mpg.

i don't remember what motivated me to take the right side valve cover off!   But i'm glad i did!   i'm pretty sure what happened is, i do keep non-perishable foods in the garage---probably not a good idea.  A jar of rice, that i rarely if ever cook, with plastic cover and i think the mice/rats got into it and deposited it into the oil fill tube.

The first 4.3, which i got from a private owner did not have TBI---it had the carb.  i think at the time if i had the TBI, the swap would have taken longer than carb.  Now, that i've discovered low pressure lift pumps and sump setups, an EFI setup would probably be as fast as a carb to setup.

If you really want a 4.3 i can help you, as you can see, but i don't think you should make that decision right now.     Will discuss more why in the other thread.

[Stewart G Griffin]

i just noticed 14,000 views on this thread?!?!   Is this swap really that popular?

[zieg85]

i just noticed 14,000 views on this thread?!?!   Is this swap really that popular?

I think most folks are curious as to the outcome.  Fuel economy is important to many.  For me I want to be proved wrong in my thought process

[Irish_Alley]

also each time you log on and view it the counter counts that.