Author Topic: 4.3 to 5.7 swap  (Read 10764 times)

Offline heavychevy91

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4.3 to 5.7 swap
« on: January 31, 2010, 07:46:32 pm »
I have a '86 C10 with a carbureted 4.3 in it, and th350 trans. I am planning to swap out the 4.3 for a 355 I am building and was curious as to what exactly would be necessary for this swap. I know the 4.3 is basically a 350 with the front 2 cylinders chopped off and that my trans and motor mounts and front acc. should hopefully bolt up. Do I have a computer-controlled carb in my truck? I plan on staying with a carburetor just for simplicity. Also what other little problems might I run into?

Thanks for the help in advance


Offline frito-bandito

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Re: 4.3 to 5.7 swap
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2010, 10:27:55 pm »
Are you sure its carburated? If your positive that its carburated, the only wires going to the carb should be your electric choke. If this is the case, the swap will bolt right in. The only thing you'll have to change is the fan shroud and possibly the radiator. Chevy didn't put throttle bodys (computers) in trucks until 1987. Hope this helps you out, good luck keep us updated!
1981 Chevy dually 350 4spd. (One piece at a time)
1994 GMC C1500 4.3L 4L60E. (340K Daily Driver/Resto-Mod)
1998 GMC C1500 5.0L 4L60E (179K Daily Driver)

Offline 4x4HighSierra

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Re: 4.3 to 5.7 swap
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2010, 11:21:47 pm »
i did a 4.3 to 5.7 tpi swap in my 85 lowrider and the only thing i had to do was go to the junk yard and get 350 motor mount brackets thats bolt to the front crossmember.  When i bolted them in and set the motor in i found it set to close to the fire wall. So i had to drill new holes in the crossmember to get the spacing right. 
1985 GMC High Sierra K10 mild 350 and rebuilt 700R4 with transgo shift kit

1985 GMC Sierra Classic C10 TPI 350 swapped in and 700R4 and 6 inch drop, with front drop spindles and a axle flip in the back and c notched frame

1995 Chevy Tahoe LT stock

Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: 4.3 to 5.7 swap
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2010, 03:57:35 am »
what years are the motors?
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes

Offline heavychevy91

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Re: 4.3 to 5.7 swap
« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2010, 08:33:54 am »
Okay yeah i was pretty sure i didnt have a computer but i heard rumors i had a "computer controled carb" and i had no idea what the heck that was haha, but the truck is a 1986 with the stock motor and im building a V8 for it the block is out of a early 90's chevy work truck, but i plan on carbureting it. Also should i upgrade the stock fuel pump or do you think it will be sufficient?

Offline three8six

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Re: 4.3 to 5.7 swap
« Reply #5 on: February 01, 2010, 09:38:40 am »
THey are probably referring to TBI. If you do this swap you will have to get a new fan shroud(a dime a dozen in the junkyards here). The 4.3 v6 shroud is alot bigger than the v8. Also v8 mounts out of a similar truck.

Offline eventhorizon66

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Re: 4.3 to 5.7 swap
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2010, 11:24:48 am »
Electronic Q-jet (notice the three pin connector to the right)
« Last Edit: February 01, 2010, 11:35:21 am by eventhorizon66 »
'85 C10 SWB 350 700R4 TKO600

Offline frito-bandito

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Re: 4.3 to 5.7 swap
« Reply #7 on: February 01, 2010, 11:43:19 am »
 ??? Wow?!
1981 Chevy dually 350 4spd. (One piece at a time)
1994 GMC C1500 4.3L 4L60E. (340K Daily Driver/Resto-Mod)
1998 GMC C1500 5.0L 4L60E (179K Daily Driver)

Offline Stewart G Griffin

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Re: 4.3 to 5.7 swap
« Reply #8 on: February 01, 2010, 12:19:17 pm »
What kind of mpg are you getting?

Offline three8six

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Re: 4.3 to 5.7 swap
« Reply #9 on: February 01, 2010, 01:34:12 pm »
wow........I bet that could get to be a mess....

Offline frito-bandito

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Re: 4.3 to 5.7 swap
« Reply #10 on: February 01, 2010, 01:47:59 pm »
wow........I bet that could get to be a mess....


Agreed!!
1981 Chevy dually 350 4spd. (One piece at a time)
1994 GMC C1500 4.3L 4L60E. (340K Daily Driver/Resto-Mod)
1998 GMC C1500 5.0L 4L60E (179K Daily Driver)

Offline heavychevy91

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Re: 4.3 to 5.7 swap
« Reply #11 on: February 01, 2010, 01:49:39 pm »
oh yeah my carb dosent have that connector, haha good. and right now im at about 14 mpg
« Last Edit: February 01, 2010, 01:51:50 pm by heavychevy91 »