4.3 tbi

[Ken94]

Wondering if i can swap tbi to carb on a 4.3 with just an adapter and not have to cgange the intake?

[Jsdirt]

Not that I'm aware of. I've done FI to carburetor on a '00 4.3 before, and swapped the whole intake manifold with an Edelbrock performer. Really easy.

 

Used ones are harder to find for the 4.3, but you might get lucky. I paid $300 about 7 years ago for the intake, and another $300 for the carb. I made that all back selling the spider, both intakes, EGR and other emission crap, and the fuel pump off the '00.

 

TBI is even easier, but you'll still have to reduce the pump pressure a bit with a regulator. Or, you could just run a Walbro reciprocating pump inline, and leave the pump in the tank - there's one model that's got a 10k hour salt spray rating, and has a built-in regulator. Was a no brainer for me, since a Holley regulator was $90 at the time.

 

EDIT: Looks like I was wrong! You'll have to check fitment, as these may just be for V8s: https://www.summitracing.com/search/part-type/throttle-body-adapters-carbureted-manifold

 

EDIT AGAIN: That Walbro pump I spoke of earlier is a FRB-13 - it's noisy, but reliable as a stone ax, plus eliminates the need for a regulator - you'll just have to disable the OE fuel pump. No issues pulling fuel through the old pump - mine did it for years on a '89 TBI.

[Ken94]

But there is adapters you can buy online for tbi to carb so thats why i was asking?

[Jsdirt]

Yep - I edited my post above.

 

[Mikebtte]

Looked through the link and All I see if adapters to install a TBI on a carb intake. While that makes since and I would understand why someone would want Fuel injection over carb, I dont think it goes the other way.

You may have to do a new intake with carb mounting.

[Jsdirt]

Ahh, I should've looked closer.

 

Your cheapest way out would be a very heavy iron marine intake manifold. Luckily, the marine industry used the 4.3 heavily.

[KARNUT]

I remember when after market TBI first appeared. People were switching their carburetors to TBI. We did my nephews Trans Am. It ran smoothly no wasted gas, better mileage, more power. Hit the key it started, no flooding pumping the gas pedal. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to go backwards.


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[Jsdirt]

I prefer being able to manually adjust, or repair the carb - no such luck when a magic box goes up in smoke. 

[KARNUT]

My latest TBI is going on 9 years without needing an adjustment. I never got that out of a carburetor. Usually carburetor vehicles engine would need service from mishaps caused from the fact it had a carburetor and no engine management.


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[Jsdirt]

I had an Edelbrock 1404 carb on a '00 4.3 in a '89 S10 Blazer - 8 years, 60k miles, never touched it - slapped it on right out of the box.

 

Body rotted off the frame, unfortunately.