Engine Swap help

[cody_321]

I have a 1993 Chevy C1500 with a 4.3 and i am looknig to upgrade either to a 305 or a 350SBC. i don't really know how much trouble it will be to do the swap or where to find a kit or anything. so any help would be great! it has the 4 speed w/ O/D manual transmission so will i need to change the bell housing to match up to the block, will i need to buy a heavier duty clutch to handle more power?

[bradrhale]

being a model that old, you will have to buy a v8 computer module but you can go to a junk yard and get that fairly cheap. going to have to do something new with the exhaust but if this is one of your toys that you plan on keeping, it would be something worth looking into. where are you getting this replacement at?? another truck?? just rob the parts off of it. if you are buying a long block, than you can find lots of kits and parts you need at any of your local stores or higher performance parts at one of these bigger retailers such as jegs or summit. my best advice is to go with an elctronic dist and not one that has to have points adjusted every time you turn around.

[cody_321]

will i have to do anything to the transmission? or will it just bolt right up to it? because i know that the 4.3 is pretty much a SBC w/o the front 2 cylinders chopped off. so will i have to get a new housing for the tranny?

[bradrhale]

i dont think it will. i think the bolt circle on the torque converter is different. in that case, find a converter with the correct bolt circle and spline that fits your tranny. as for the housing, no, it isnt going to jsut line right up.

[mrjohnwayne]

Originally Posted by bradrhale

i dont think it will. i think the bolt circle on the torque converter is different. in that case, find a converter with the correct bolt circle and spline that fits your tranny. as for the housing, no, it isnt going to jsut line right up.

I disagree.

It is the same tranny and convertor. you should not have any problems there.

never mind. Just realized you said manual.

n-e-hoo the bellhousing is the same. the flywheel, clutch assy should work fine on a v-8.

as for the motor itself brad is right you will need a computer for the motor if you keep it factory. The acc. brackets on the 4.3 will all swap over. The only thing that might be different is the motor mounts.

[cody_321]

so i should pretty much just be able to get a new computer module, put in the v8 engine mounts and be able to drop it right in??

[bradrhale]

for some reason, i thought that the housing were different from the 4.3 to the 5.7. as soon as you said that, i realized he said manual as well. sorry.

[mrjohnwayne]

nah brad they are the same.

Cody. It should be pretty simple. There might be a few snags somewhere. I've never done it so I can't point them out but I can't think of anything would cause a big problem. Some of the sensors/ wiring maybe.

[cody_321]

okay. and i was thinking about it and i probably wanna run a holley 4 barrel instead of fuel injection so will i really need the ECM?? i should've said that in the first place.

[nate3436]

I just posted on shadygrady's ad yesterday about how to jerk the 4.3 and install a carbed 350 in a early nineties truck. The post was called newbie checking in with questions. It don't take that long to do and everything will bolt up except the motor mounts.