Vannin' Home Forums Chevy General Discussion 4.3 fuel injected

Recently bought an 88 GMC with a 4.3 fuel injected motor. I'm very familiar with GM however I don't know any possible details about this motor being in a truck. Is it more heavy duty such as 4 bolt mains? Anything stronger about this engine at all?
Is the tranny any beefier than usual?

Anyone out there even know what a 4.3 GMC motor is?

I'm told by my mech, that its a 305 with 2 cylinders cut of. I have a 4.3 in my stro and its a good little powerhouse! Still want to put a 350 in it though! Wouldn't we all!!!

A 4.3 is a 350, short 2 cylinders. ( it has a 4" bore) Depending on year and fuel system it goes from 150/160 - 200 HP
No it does not have 4 bolt mains, nor can you get one with 'em.
Nothing special about them at all.

I assume you are asking about what your 88 GMC van came with.The earlier models probably will be on the lower spectrum of horsepower ranges mentioned in an earlier post.The 4.3 liter may not be special (As Astro4x4 said)but it did come in a lot of configurations.The later ones are peppier, the Vortec version available in both the Astro/Safari and some of the full size vans is at least. My 93 Chevy Shorty G 20 does not have the same engine as the Astro even tho the bore and stroke is the same.A good share of the full size late model (Pre Ugly Toaster Body)Chevy/GMs came with the balance shaft equipped engine, if yours did (I doubt it unless someone stuffed one in there since new)it will have a Z in the vin #. Very important to know when ordering parts.Puters, sensors,cylinder heads, etc vary between the 2 engines.Myself, I love the engine, have had 3 vans and a few cars with 6 cylinders and 7 vans with V8's and this is the most reliable ,strongest, 6 yet.A well cared for 4.3 can give you in excess of 200k before a rebuild,and 250 K is not unheard of. That in itself impresses me.It pulls hills better then any 305 I've ever had and is as gentle on fuel as anything CAN be in a full size box.Mine has 181 K on it,120k of it by me and I routinely do 1000 mile plus round trip van runs with it.That doesn't mean when I find a clean Astro/Safari cargo body I'll leave the 4.3 in it. I have the 350/350 out of my beloved 79 Chevy Van sittin on an engine stand just waiting for a home!!

You make a good point Donnydj, A 4.3 and 305 are on about the same ground as far as HP numbers go. The early 4.3s ( without balance shaft) have been known to feel rough do to many things related to the design. The balance shaft smooths things out quite a bit. And as you stated, a well cared for 4.3 will go a long way. But I'm still sticking the Vortec 350 in my 'Stro ! !

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1990 AWD Astro Van

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Originally posted by Astro4X4:
But I'm still sticking the Vortec 350 in my 'Stro ! !

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I agree,as I said I'm stuffing my 350 in an Astro/Safari as soon as I find a reasonably priced cargo.

(Thats cargo as in a no/min windows panel, I notice a lot of Astros called cargos appear just to be passenger window vans)

My 350 isn't a late model vortec, it's a vintage 60's hi compression ,with hi rise weiand alum. intake,650 Holley.It's a gas piggie but should move an Astro shell along pretty good. Fuel injection may be more efficient but nothing beate the wahhhhh! sound you get when those secondaries kick in!

(Actually, if I gave a sh^t about mileage I wouldn't be driving a van to begin with!!)

Speakin of which, anyone that sees an Astro/Safari panel goin reasonably cheap please let me know.