Anyone added significant horsepower to their 4.3?

Jon A · August 16, 2018

4 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

You've never actually driven one, have you? An old Ford 300 or GMC 292....

I honestly wouldn't remember. My high school buddies had all sorts of old trucks back in the day. I remember the particulars of the V8's but didn't pay much attention to the details of the 6's. There was one particular old Chevy with a straight six that would "lay a good patch for a six cylinder!" Cool, but I sure as hell wouldn't try and pull a 12,000 lb trailer all over the West with it. We actually still have and use a 1949 Chevy 6400, straight 6, 4 speed, 2 speed axle, so I'm quite aware of what such a truck can and cannot do well. Thanks for the trip down memory lane, but it has nothing to do with this discussion. My first car came with no seatbelts. We have standards that are a little bit different now.

5 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

They would do their work in reverse quicker than those standards.

You've either never done any actual "work" in one, or you've never owned a stopwatch.

5 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Did you know 2/3 of Americas population lives within a few hours of the Appalachian ridge? Where is the need for the mass acceleration and speed in West Virginia? Upstate New York. The Dragon in Carolina. Along the Appalachian trail. You know, the places people actually GO and camp.

Tell it to the SAE. People who understand what standards are. Not the minimum an "average Joe" might need to get by with on back roads. Maybe you should inform them, they should have location-specific ratings. A guy could buy a 1500 with a 15,000 lb "Ozark Trailer Rating" but the same truck would have a 6,000 lb "Mountain West Trailer Rating."

5 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

No one is doing 70 mph up Wolf Creek pass or Loveland nor Glacier National. Acceleration means nothing there nor does speed.

You haven't driven much in the Mountain West, have you?

5 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

We talking about Joe Average doing a weekend with the family in the Ozarks on the back roads.

No, that's what YOU decided to talk about. That's not what the OP asked about. The question was specifically regarding the RATINGS and PERFORMANCE of two different trucks and how one could be modified to match the other with respect to those parameters. That's the question I answered.

You decided to answer the question, "What's the bare minimum HP needed for the average Joe to go camping in the Ozarks?"

Nobody asked that question.

Donstar · August 17, 2018

5 hours ago, pickmeup said:

Donstar my opinion if you got a v-6 truck and you are pretty happy with it but wish you had a little more for occasional towing . I would regear to 4:11 ratio and leave the motor alone. For a 4 wheel drive doing it yourself roughly $700 or so. You will notice a nice change if you got 3:42 ratio now . Worst thing you might lose 2 mpg or so but small price to pay for what you will feel . But you know what they say about opinions !! LOL.

I believe this makes the most sense. I have not experienced any lack of power with my 4.3 V6 (3.42 ratio) towing my current trailer. In all likelihood we will upgrade to a trailer that will exceed the tow rating of this truck and so a new truck is in my sights. However, we have also been giving careful consideration to a 25' trailer that is technically within the tow limits of my current truck. If I don't need to buy a new truck...

Grumpy Bear · August 17, 2018

6 hours ago, Jon A said:

You haven't driven much in the Mountain West, have you?

I lived and worked, fished hunted, toured by motorcycle and camped in West Texas, Colorado and Utah for years. Over half my life right on the back bone of the Rockies. Driven all over those ranges. Been all over the Ozark and the Appalachian. In fact sport I've been over nearly every inch of the USA and much of Canada and some of Mexico. Car, truck, bike and walked some of it.

Know what I avoid. Interstates. But when I have to those monster motored 18 wheelers are moving slower than I can walk up to the Eisenhower tunnel then running you over on the down side.

Loveland pass at 70 mph pulling 12,000? Bull. Wolf Creek? Really? 15 mph switch back you to death roads the both of them. US 34 through Estes ditto. You've never been over the divide on anything but Interstate if you can make those statements and expect anyone to believe them. We're done. I expected more from an engineer.

Jon A · August 17, 2018

5 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

We're done. I expected more from an engineer.

And once again, you completely miss the point. The point was there are LOTS and LOTS of mountains, foothills, really big hills (big enough to be called "mountains" if in Appalachia). There are THOUSANDS of "divides," "passes," "really long, steep grades," areas where the road goes UP, DOWN, UP, DOWN, UP, DOWN....

The point was picking a couple of choice passes where other factors may keep speeds down and then declaring that "Acceleration means nothing nor does speed" for the entire area of the country is completely ASININE. For so many areas in this portion of the country, really steep, long grades (that are not on 15 MPH switchbacks) are a daily encounter if you go anywhere.

5 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Over half my life right on the back bone of the Rockies. Driven all over those ranges.

And how many of those were towing large trailers? I get the feeling, little or none of them.

While you personally, may have the "patience" to sit there and smile behind the wheel when you're slowed to jogging speed every time a steep grade is encountered, please recognize you are extremely "unique" in this regard. I've never met a single person who tows decently sized trailers with a pickup very often who lives or works in these areas who would, on purpose, choose a pickup that would put themselves in that position with every hill they encounter.

lew-e · August 17, 2018

Listen up old men, both of your balls are hanging to your knees. We respect all the places you’ve been and the knowledge you both posses. Now shut up and get along little donkey.

If the 4.3 works for you man then keep at it. A friend of mine downgraded from the 5.3 and has no issues whatsoever. And I use downgraded lightly. He loves the increased mpg he’s getting. The truck does everything he needs it to. If you outgrow your truck then move on without compromising your safety and doing more than what your truck can safely do.

TXGREEK · August 17, 2018

Listen up old men, both of your balls are hanging to your knees. We respect all the places you’ve been and the knowledge you both posses. Now shut up and get along little donkey.

If the 4.3 works for you man then keep at it. A friend of mine downgraded from the 5.3 and has no issues whatsoever. And I use downgraded lightly. He loves the increased mpg he’s getting. The truck does everything he needs it to. If you outgrow your truck then move on without compromising your safety and doing more than what your truck can safely do.

This same crap has been going on fo so long in this forum quite possibly same folks, always comparing to a V8. Just go buy a V8 and be done with it. Geez [emoji29] looks like some folks have to much time on their hands.

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TXGREEK · August 17, 2018

A truck with the same configuration as mine with a 5.3 as opposed to my 4.3 is rated to pull 2100 more lbs. I know that aftermarket modifications cannot legally increase tow or payload ratings and I have no plans to modify my engine. I am just curious. Has any member modified their V6 to rival the power of a stock V8? Ford offers a couple of V6's with more power than the 5.3 and both are smaller than the 4.3. Is the use of turbo technology a practical or realistic enhancement for an ecotec 4.3?

I’d scrub it and go buy a real tow vehicle. What you’re asking is irrelevant, you bought this little motored rig as a budget truck in the first place so what’s up with starting this up “again” asking about spending for added upgrades when all you have to do is go buy a real tow vehicle.

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Donstar · August 17, 2018

39 minutes ago, TXGREEK said:

I’d scrub it and go buy a real tow vehicle. What you’re asking is irrelevant, you bought this little motored rig as a budget truck in the first place so what’s up with starting this up “again” asking about spending for added upgrades when all you have to do is go buy a real tow vehicle.

53 minutes ago, TXGREEK said:

This same crap has been going on fo so long in this forum quite possibly same folks, always comparing to a V8. Just go buy a V8 and be done with it. Geez looks like some folks have to much time on their hands.

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2 hours ago, lew-e said:

Listen up old men, both of your balls are hanging to your knees. We respect all the places you’ve been and the knowledge you both posses. Now shut up and get along little donkey.

If the 4.3 works for you man then keep at it. A friend of mine downgraded from the 5.3 and has no issues whatsoever. And I use downgraded lightly. He loves the increased mpg he’s getting. The truck does everything he needs it to. If you outgrow your truck then move on without compromising your safety and doing more than what your truck can safely do.

I have no plans to modify my engine. I am just curious. (Quoted from original post) There are many threads on this forum discussing upgrades for the 5.3 and 6.2 such as gear swaps, tunes, E85 conversion etc. I simply want to hear from the knowledgeable forum members about modifications they may have done to their V6 trucks. I personally chose the 4.3 based on my 45+ years of owning pickups. The only reason I'd switch to a V8 is to legally pull a travel trailer exceeding 7,000 GVW. I am fortunate to have the experience of owning a variety of 6 and 8 cylinder trucks. The best motor ever, imo, was Ford's 300 L6. I owned four of them in various gear and transmission combinations. GM's ecotec 4.3 has over twice the horsepower and probably 30% more mpg of my previous favourite. Why would I want more? The post was legitimate and there is no need to participate if it is of no interest. BTW- Comments like "old men with balls hanging" really make no sense to me and I'm old. I don't particularly like being old but I'm glad I did got old. Many of my friends and siblings didn't. I hope you are as fortunate as me and become an old man.

TXGREEK · August 17, 2018

I have no plans to modify my engine. I am just curious. (Quoted from original post) There are many threads on this forum discussing upgrades for the 5.3 and 6.2 such as gear swaps, tunes, E85 conversion etc. I simply want to hear from the knowledgeable forum members about modifications they may have done to their V6 trucks. I personally chose the 4.3 based on my 45+ years of owning pickups. The only reason I'd switch to a V8 is to legally pull a travel trailer exceeding 7,000 GVW. I am fortunate to have the experience of owning a variety of 6 and 8 cylinder trucks. The best motor ever, imo, was Ford's 300 L6. I owned four of them in various gear and transmission combinations. GM's ecotec 4.3 has over twice the horsepower and probably 30% more mpg of my previous favourite. Why would I want more? The post was legitimate and there is no need to participate if it is of no interest. BTW- Comments like "old men with balls hanging" really make no sense to me and I'm old. I don't particularly like being old but I'm glad I did got old. Many of my friends and siblings didn't. I hope you are as fortunate as me and become an old man.

My sympathies for your loss but, the older we get the more death we see around us. But as a response to your quote:
I for one have watched you jump into others discussions belittling V8’s throughout my being in these forums and quite frankly I believe (and I’m sure others feel the same way) either you’ve got to much time on your hands or just some A’hole troll that feels less of a man because it makes you feel better to cut down other people that have more. People that cut down other people’s things while boosting their own are EXTREMELY INSECURE!

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Donstar · August 17, 2018

1 minute ago, TXGREEK said:

My sympathies for your loss but, the older we get the more death we see around us. But as a response to your quote:
I for one have watched you jump into others discussions belittling V8’s throughout my being in these forums and quite frankly I believe (and I’m sure others feel the same way) either you’ve got to much time on your hands or just some A’hole troll that feels less of a man because it makes you feel better to cut down other people that have more. People that cut down other people’s things while boosting their own are EXTREMELY INSECURE!

Wow. The joys of the internet. I'm sorry that my posts have brought you to this understanding. My intentions were never to "belittle" the V8 but to promote the V6. As far as me being insecure or having too much time on my hands or being an A*hole, these comments hurt coming from a member who's comments and insights I respected.

TXGREEK · August 17, 2018

Wow. The joys of the internet. I'm sorry that my posts have brought you to this understanding. My intentions were never to "belittle" the V8 but to promote the V6. As far as me being insecure or having too much time on my hands or being an A*hole, these comments hurt coming from a member who's comments and insights I respected.

I still have respect for you but there is no joy in watching you down play V8’s. I’ve owned them all, bought a V6 first and last time for my company a few years back and it had great spunk but loading down with heavy products sent out for delivery burned it up, just couldn’t handle being a work truck. Quite frankly it was a POS. Each and every day I have some idiot the pulls up to me in an under powered truck that thinks he’s got to prove something to me. Ever hear of “gotta own one to know one”? The way I see it is that You’ve got two options, trade it in for a V8 powered truck or just live with what you’ve got. Be safe, God Bless!

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Donstar · August 17, 2018

6 minutes ago, TXGREEK said:

I still have respect for you but there is no joy in watching you down play V8’s. I’ve owned them all, bought a V6 first and last time for my company a few years back and it had great spunk but loading down with heavy products sent out for delivery burned it up, just couldn’t handle being a work truck. Quite frankly it was a POS. Each and every day I have some idiot the pulls up to me in an under powered truck that thinks he’s got to prove something to me. Ever hear of “gotta own one to know one”? The way I see it is that You’ve got two options, trade it in for a V8 powered truck or just live with what you’ve got. Be safe, God Bless!

I agree that I have these options with the current generation of GM trucks. If I hated V8's so much I could always go to Ford to find a V6 rated to pull a 10k lb. trailer. Was the V6 you previously owned the ecotec? I ask because this could explain our differing experiences. I might add I've owned GM 1/2 tons with a 350, 4.8, and 5.3 and loved all of them.

TXGREEK · August 17, 2018

I agree that I have these options with the current generation of GM trucks. If I hated V8's so much I could always go to Ford to find a V6 rated to pull a 10k lb. trailer. Was the V6 you previously owned the ecotec? I ask because this could explain our differing experiences. I might add I've owned GM 1/2 tons with a 350, 4.8, and 5.3 and loved all of them.

For entertainment purposes, all I remember was it was a 2016, with cloth seats, 4.3 6speed. It was fine for two people in it but was horrible enough that no one wanted to drive it. Kept it about a 1 - 2 yrs, used it as an errand boy truck. They’re not bad trucks for just being a simple full sized truck but you do not buy a V6 for towing, it’s like buying a cheap tire just because it rolls doesn’t mean it’s going to last you. In mid 90’s I bought a new Jeep Cherokee, V6, loaded. I let a buddy of mine tune it, even put a cam in it, headers the whole sha-bang, perked it up a bit, made people’s head turn but the only thing I got out of it was a major $ minus along with a headache from the headers and exhaust. The hard lessen I learned was don’t buy something if you’re going to have to spend additional cash to make it drive like something you should’ve bought in the first place.

Thank goodness it fell off the delivery truck along with a very expensive 60” chuck Lathe while the delivery guy used “underpowered” fork lift.

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Donstar · August 17, 2018

We all have experiences that inform our opinions. I currently pull a travel trailer that weighs around the 4500 lb. range when en-route. I have a canopy on my truck and carry lighter, bulky items in the back. The 4.3 pulls this load easily through hilly terrain and no issues going through the mountains. I never hold up traffic and don't shy away from the passing lanes when necessary. My worst fuel consumption average towing has been 12 mpg. The fact that the 5.3 and 6.2 are even more powerful speaks very highly of the V8's! I wouldn't hesitate to buy one if I should find the need.

TXGREEK · August 17, 2018

We all have experiences that inform our opinions. I currently pull a travel trailer that weighs around the 4500 lb. range when en-route. I have a canopy on my truck and carry lighter, bulky items in the back. The 4.3 pulls this load easily through hilly terrain and no issues going through the mountains. I never hold up traffic and don't shy away from the passing lanes when necessary. My worst fuel consumption average towing has been 12 mpg. The fact that the 5.3 and 6.2 are even more powerful speaks very highly of the V8's! I wouldn't hesitate to buy one if I should find the need.

It’s quite obvious you are in need. Stop with the whining, now is the time, go [emoji125] to your nearest dealership, pick up a V8 and then you’ll have no more need to be comparing your V6 to a V8 only looking to find some sort of upgrade that will help your little V6 perform better than a V8. If then you’re still finding something else to complain about at least the 5.3’s are very easy to upgrade as well as the 6.2’s.

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