4.3 vs 5.3

[Grumpy Bear]

 

Horsepower is only half the equation. How much does it weigh? Ever see a manufacture give ALL the information up front?

[Jessie Schutters]

On 12/22/2016 at 3:53 PM, Andy Seibel said:

If you want to go to home depot and buy 6 bags of mulch- no problem.

 

small fishing boat- no problem.

 

1000 lbs of junk in bed, or large trailer, you will have harder time getting up to speed on the freeway and taking off from stop, but if you rarely do this stuff, you can handle it once in a while.

I beg to differ- I drive a '14 4.3 Ecotech (flex fuel), and I pull a 18' flatbed frequently with well more than 1klbs, in fact, I pulled a 98 extended cab K1500 w/a extra 350 in the bed of it, up a pretty good mtn a while back,and was still up to a good speed at the top, I wasn't wanting it to be going any faster either (makes a turn at the top). I have no problems getting up to speed on the interstate with 1200-1500 lbs in the bed either, or hauling 2 or 3 large round bales of hay... These v6 are a whole different breed then the v6 from the vortex years or before... I have a 93 4.3 5 speed too, peppy as it is, it can't do what the '14 v6 can... It does more then our 91 and 94 v8s easily 

[diyer2]

I agree 6 cyl. engines have come a long way but a V8 is my preference.

[KARNUT]

My mind goes right to bench racing when I see most any vehicle. Lots of time it became a reality. The V-6 replacement now a blown 4 in a single cab could be a rocket with minor tuning. Imagine a little lowering and tweaking the suspension. I haven’t checked but now I’m curious. A hand held tuner adding a premium tune or E-85 tune. I’ve seen 100hp gain in the Fords with just a tuner. What fun on the cheap. Now I have to check. 

[Jay Ratliff]

I had a '98 Silverado with the 4.3 in it. Traded it off when it had 268k miles on it and would have driven it anywhere without worry. Have a friend who had pretty much the same truck at the time, only his had the 5.7 in it. From a dig he couldn't put more than a truck length on me until I shifted into 3rd gear, then he'd start driving away. 

 

The 4.3 is, in my opinion, about the best pushrod v6 ever made. 

[Grumpy Bear]

58 minutes ago, Jay Ratliff said:

I had a '98 Silverado with the 4.3 in it. Traded it off when it had 268k miles on it and would have driven it anywhere without worry. Have a friend who had pretty much the same truck at the time, only his had the 5.7 in it. From a dig he couldn't put more than a truck length on me until I shifted into 3rd gear, then he'd start driving away. 

 

The 4.3 is, in my opinion, about the best pushrod v6 ever made. 

 

98 is a different motor than than the Ecotec3 4.3. The early motor was a unkillable beast. Dad had two at more than twice the milage you have on yours. Keep servicing it and it will keep servicing you. Sound like you have a good one.