Engine swap diary

[Stewart G Griffin]

Oil gauge sender or warning lamp switch is behind the distributor.  Choke and electric fuel pump oil pressure switch is above the oil filter.

Just like Pace says break her in on decent quality 10W30 or 10W40 Dinosaur Squeezins not Synthetics.  I usually put a heifer magnet or Hard disc magnet or two on the outside of the filter to trap small iron particles.  I also cut open the filters to make sure there's nothing nasty.

Do you know if the one above the oil filter uses a reducer bushing....or?       i'm pretty sure the 2-prong one goes there but the hole is too big on the 4.3, and my 305 and 350.  i don't remember how it worked in the 305 and 350.

[Stewart G Griffin]

Oil gauge sender or warning lamp switch is behind the distributor.  Choke and electric fuel pump oil pressure switch is above the oil filter.

Just like Pace says break her in on decent quality 10W30 or 10W40 Dinosaur Squeezins not Synthetics.  I usually put a heifer magnet or Hard disc magnet or two on the outside of the filter to trap small iron particles.  I also cut open the filters to make sure there's nothing nasty.

OK, nevermind----the 2 prong near the filter is 1/4" and the single prong near the distributor is 1/8".   i think there was a mix up with the old 4.3----a 1/8" two prong ended up near the distributor because that's what they may have switched to in 86?

[Stewart G Griffin]

Update 6/19:

--Installed water pump.  Remembered i had one from the 305 which was only 2.5 years old so decided to use that plus the old gaskets came off real easy.  One of the ribs did have to be clearanced because the 4.3's pulley was rubbing; i used a dremel for that. i think the newer "vortec" engines use pulleys with multiple belts plus the ribbed belt which makes them "longer" than older pulleys?

 -- i did recieve the new melonized distributor gear from jegs, but could not install it because i could not find a roll pin (the old one broke)

---i had to go into the city to get intake gaskets---because no one carries old style 4.3 intake gaskets.  Only one store in the whole area had them.  Did not get around to installing the intake.  Felpro #  MS 93040

--- didn't trim strut rod bracket because i have no hole in the new engine block to attach a front starter brace.  (?)

I DID, however, install the engine into the truck because i figure i can do all the little odds and ends stuff while it is in the truck and let's do the hardest stuff first.   4.3's are a little easier to install in cars than v-8's i think.

To be completed by next Sunday:
1) Get and install oil filter to seal bottom of engine and regular 10W-30 oil for break in.

2) Find and order both oil senders and distributor roll pin.

3) Inspect and clean intake bolts.  Install intake.

4) Change distributor gears and install distributor so as to have a reference for TDC cylinder one   (torque converter bolts have to be fastened)


Also, The last two weeks, i had a very strong hankering for a newer (92 and newer) style tahoe.....served up at the local CarMax.  Then i saw the prices and decided a TrailBlazer or Colorado would be more "appetizing."    Now that the engine is physically in the truck, my appetite for a new(er) truck has gone away.    But i really was considering doing it.   You have to be really devoted to the 4.3 to run one.  Otherwise i would just recommend sticking with a v-8 small block.  It's much simpler, faster, cheaper etc.

[Stewart G Griffin]

v-8 iron exhaust manifold (truck)  11 lbs.

v-6 iron exhaust manifold  6.5 lbs.

[fitz]

If you had to do it again would you go with a 350 or the 4.3?

[Stewart G Griffin]

If you had to do it again would you go with a 350 or the 4.3?

i would have definitely went with a crate 350.  The truck would have already been running a long time ago.  i DO NOT recommend to anyone swaping to 4.3 from 8 cylinders, UNLESS you have another truck and are treating this as a hobby.

For a repower situation, which this is, the crate 350 is such a wonderful thing.  i don't think there really is a "crate" 4.3 at least not in the earlier style like i'm running.  Maybe the newer LU3's and L35's 4.3's with balance shafts i think may come with valve covers, timing cover, oil pan etc.   And i will probably discover that eventually.

i think you have to be really hard-core to run a 4.3.   Now, of course those guys running mini 4X4's or miatas or fiat spyders etc. sort of have to run 4.3's vs. v-8s.

Now that it's in the truck it's all downhill from now and i will continue to run them as far as gas engines go.

[Stewart G Griffin]

If you had to do it again would you go with a 350 or the 4.3?

The other thing i've been lately wondering about is let's say you have, for example, an 84 cutlass with and olds 307.   It's time for an engine replacement, but you either don't have the time or inclination to rebuild the engine or maybe the engine CAN'T be rebuilt.   What do you do now?   As far as i now GM does not sell a crate or reman 307.

[zieg85]

260 or 350 Olds engine, same block

[Stewart G Griffin]

260 or 350 Olds engine, same block

But besides the junkyard or craigs, which is risky, where can you get a 260 or 350 olds engine?   Yes, jasper but their reputation is suffering.

[zieg85]

http://remanufactured.com/Oldsmobile_engines.htm  for starters just Googled it

[hatzie]

In the 80's and early 90s' GM used the 307Y in a bunch of Cadillac, Buick, Pontiac, and Chevy vehicles not just Oldsmobile.  The 307Y is as common as the 305 but IMHO the 307 is a better motor...  just like the 305 Chevy vs the 350 the seller will tell you they're sure it's a 350 Olds not the 307Y or if you're lucky the 307HO

[Stewart G Griffin]

The 307 may have had thicker cylinder walls than the 305.......anyways........

Installed intake.  Vinegar does a pretty good job at cleaning bolts.  Took off all the old sealant.

Installed oil sending unit.  Couldn't install the 2 prong unit near the oil filter due to interference----another block difference between v-8's and v-6's.
Single prong unit near distributor is Borg Warner part # 397S

Changed distributor gear to melonized gear to be compatable with the roller cam.   But did not get around to installing it in engine.

Installed oil filter and filled engine with conventional oil for break in.   v-6's use a different filter (smaller diameter) than v-8's.  Not sure why.

To be completed by next Sunday 7/3:

1) Make bracket for elec fuel pump. i will probably use the existing holes in the frame from the v-8 frame perch position which are now unused.

2) Order electric fuel pump.  i'm going to go with the facet dura-lift:  seems like the easiest way.
http://www.facet-purolator.com/dura-lift-pumps.php

3) Order fuel pump relay and wiring.

4) Wire fuel pump correctly using relay even though they say that pump doesn't need one.

5) Exhaust manifold gaskets and install exhaust.

[Stewart G Griffin]

---made and installed bracket for elec fuel pump.  Will provide pics when the pump is installed.

----ordered fuel pump

FAILED:
Did not get around to ordering fuel pump relay and did not install exhaust gaskets or manifolds due to problem with distributor;  i discovered that i forgot to put in the spacer washer that goes above the gear.   So i tried to take the roll pin back out and had big difficulty.  So i decided to get and use a press.  This made removing and installing the roll pin very easy.

i got this press from horror freight:
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-arbor-press-3552.html

$47.95 with the 25% 4th of July coupon.

Works good.

To be completed by next Sunday 7/10:
1) Research, order and install proper adapter for oil sensor near oil filter;  The oil filter area on v-6's is slightly different than 8's and you cannot simply plug a regular oil sender due to interference.  Need a 45 or 90 degree elbow adapter.

2) install and wire electric fuel pump.

3) install torque converter bolts and ground wire to head.

[Stewart G Griffin]

---installed exhaust manifolds with new gaskets using anti-seize on the bolts.

---installed 2 prong oil sender unit near oil filter using pipe fitting adapter----Edelmann # 220440----basically a straight 1/4" male npt to 1/4" female adapter.  i had to do this because the head of the sender was interfering with the oil filter mounting pad----another minor difference between v-6 and v-8.

--- torque converter bolts to 30-35lbs.   i think they are 3/8" but a 15mm seemed to fit better?

---installed power steering bracket to engine.

Failed:
Didn't get around to installing pump because it hasn't arrived yet.

To be completed by next Sunday 7/16:

Spark plugs
1) Exhaust Y pipe bolts and springs to exhaust manifolds.
2) Starter
3) Alternator bracket and alternator
4) carb
5) ground wire to head
6) install electric pump

[Stewart G Griffin]

Attached Exhaust Y pipe bolts and springs to exhaust manifolds.  Lots of bugs at night, but there is no other time to do it.