Buick V6 to Chev 4.3 swap?

I currently have a Buick 231 V6/ sm420. Dana 20 combo under my rig, sitting on a CJ5 frame. The Buick.....well....sounds like I might throw a rod through the side pretty soon. I have a Chevy 4.3 TBI in the garage, complete with EVERYTHING....from exhaust to mounts to computer.

Has anyone done THIS particlar swap before? If so, I'd value any expertise or this in general that you could give. As far as I am aware, the frames are the same width - I'd need to measure to make sure - so I figured it might be better to look for info here, as I will be dealing with the body more for fitting. I'm also told that the exhast for the 4.3 dumps right in the middle of the Dana 20, so I need to work around that too.

The Buick 231 is a popular swap, as is the Chev 4.3.....I'm hoping someone has been here before me.

Thanks.

 

mpc and I were just at a car show and there was a 4.3 with a automatic in a gpw,that driveshaft was short.wow .mike might have looked at the exhaust I did not.

 

Unlikely that someone went from the 3.8L Buick to the 4.3L Chevy ... possible though. The Buick is easier because the distributor is in the front and it does not interfere with the firewall. With the Chevy, I'm pretty sure you'll have to either move the drivetrain forward or indent the firewall. If you move the drivetrain forward, you'll have to change the lengths of your driveshafts, and adjust the TC shifter and floor pan to fit. You may also have to cut the core support and move the radiator forward. You'll definitely need new mounts (frame towers) and a different bellhousing.

Novak has quite a lot of discussion of the 4.3L swap and CJ swaps in general on their web site. http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/early_cj_gm_engine_conversion.htm

Personally I'd prefer to find another Buick or rebuild this one.

 

I'm not sure why it would be unlikely....the 4.3 is a very popular swap.

One problem I found with the Buick is that out on the trail, while the distributor is in front, it is at a location where even the minor splashes of mud and such get to it.. Having it located at the rears seems a plus to me. I'd also like the reliability of fuel injection.

The other thing is that the last three Buicks that have been in it have died easily....maybe bad luck, but the one I have currently has a bad knock in it alread, and has very few kilometres on it.

Did I mention I have a free complete 4.3 in the garage?

 

Correction.....I guess it dumps into the driveshaft, not the Dana 20.

 

Well, it seems rather logical that nearly all V6 engine swaps were from a 4-cylinder, either the L134 or the F134, to a V6 engine, not from one V6 engine to another. Plus, there are plenty of issues to address when converting from the Buick to the Chevy, as I pointed out. When the swap is from the 134 to a V6, the major issues for both engines are roughly the same. The Buick is easier to fit, but the list of systems you need to change is basically the same for both engines, when starting with a 4-cylinder Jeep.

There are plenty of Jeep owners here who are very happy with the 225/231, even with its odd-fire quirks. I think your experience with the Buick is rather atypical, considering the near cult status the 225 has on this board. If anything, I hear more often about what a slug the 4.3L is - but Chevy donors are cheap and so are the parts... it's not a bad engine, but in Chevy circles I believe it's considered reliable, adequate and unexciting - thus the low price for donors.

So, you have to decide if having this engine outweighs the (significant IMO) additional work required to install this engine in place of the Buick. I gave my opinion, but opinions are like elbows...

 

You make some real good points. I've never seen a 225 for sale here, let alone seen one.

 

Another question...is there a later Buick with fuel injection that would work?

 

Trying to find what you are referring to.....

 

http://www.earlycj5.com/technical/engines/chevy-4-3-sm-420-swap/

 

Thanks, I'll check it out.

 

Lots of good info there.

I know they are hard to find, but what about a Buick 4.1? Should be a straight over from the info I can find.

 

FWIW I just did a 4.3 TBI swap in my 81 CJ5 and the power is fine. The 258 has more torque. As for the exhaust . Yes it can be a problem so I went to a local wrecking yard and bought a driver side manifold and installed it on the passenger side and ran the exhaust pipe forward and down the driver side. I LOVE it!!

 

Hmmm interesting idea....got any pics?

 

No but I can take some if you would like.

 

That'd be greatly appreciated.

 

I will try later today.

 

Heres pics. This was done with scraps I had. A shop could make it much tighter. With my lift its fine.