Thinking About Buying This Vortec V6

Vortec V-6 engine motor

Says some things were damaged during removal. I can’t tell what’s bent or how bad. Any trained eyes know if this looks like a deal or a nightmare?

 

There is also this one but it’s about an hour drive each way.

4.3 Vortec Engine for sale

 

How about a donor car instead? These are all going to be EFI, and you'll need the computer and such.

 

Yeh I’m really interested in an EFI 4.3 setup. Unfortunately i don’t have the space to deal with a donor vehicle. I was thinking about a wiring harness from a pick n pull type deal. Will any Chevy 4.3 harness work with any 4.3 Chevy motor?

 

No.

 

with any engine already out of car . you have no clue to it's real condition
so basically your just getting a core . second engine had manifolds

 

No. Nightmare.
That is missing too much.
You also need to worry about concealed damage.
The seller has no idea where it is from or is lying.
To me it looks like it is from a late 90s s-10 maybe astro but I doubt it. The cars I can think of of that era were using the 3.4 or front wheel drive (electric fans).
You really need to have a running vehicle if at all possible. Ideally one that is already a manual transmission.

 

^+1^

It only takes a solid day to pull everything out of a donor in your driveway. Call a yard to come haul off the rest of it the next day. Just make sure it has a title, or they won’t take it.

 

I believe ECU are very different for auto vs manual so concur with advice to get a complete manual shift running vehicle. Lots of early 90's 1/2 ton Chevy trucks were equipped as such. And I'd rather work in a truck engine bay than a car.

 

^
YEP

 

If you had a bare engine with no wiring or computer, in theory you could Megasquirt it and not need anything more from the donor. However, that takes on a lot of extra work in research and assembly, and gives away an appealing part of a 4.3L, a turnkey EFI system. Not an expert, but I thought you could start with an automatic engine and make it run with a manual transmission. I believe it's a matter of providing the signals that the ECU expects from the automatic, which are more or less a superset of the manual car signals. That's something to know before you llook for a donor, otherwise you won't be ready when those bargain donors come around. I suspect it will be a case of "do your homework" or "pay a premium price" - one or the other.

 

Your correct. You can swap a manual into an auto’s spot and it will run. The older tbi systems will probably be just fine. If you get the newer spider injection engine you will want to have a company like black bear performance reflash the ecm. It will run, but there will be some very annoying quirks and a check engine light if you hook it up. I did this on my 99 Tahoe when I removed the 4l60e and installed the nv4500. I drove it for a couple weeks before the new ecm arrived.

 

I would want a manual so you just replace the clutch and pilot bushing. Not have to deal with getting the right flywheel. Both my 3.3 and 4.3s were automatic with carbs but there may or may not be a big fat weight on the flex plate or flywheel. The 4.3s were all 168 tooth flywheel like the bigger v8s which is best. If it has 153 teeth or is missing threaded bosses below the timing cover it is not a 4.3 damhik.

 

Great info . I like the donor vehicle idea, I’ll do some serious homework and figure out a plan. Thanks all.

 

I went with the doner running truck. I picked one that had the manual transmission. Keep in mind that this is not an easy swap. There were different ECMs from year to year. Wiring color code changes. Among other problems I ran into. Wiring, fuel pump, and exhaust.
FYI.

 

If possible. Stay away from 1995 S-10s.