What Else Can I Do?

DanNEBTD · March 31, 2008

I dont know what else I can do to gain more power from my lil' 4.3L without doing a swap (out of question).

All I have done now is:

K&N CAI w/ 3" "ram air" to behind tow hook

MSD 6A Ignition, wires, & NKG Iridium Plugs

Wait4Me Tune

Optima Red Top

Corvette Servo

on the list:

LS1 Fans

I hear headers do little and I have a "ravin" muffler which I actually love the sound of. I would descreen the MAF but I hear too many conflicting statements. same goes with changing the pullys. I would like a little more power for passing etc but I dont know what else to do. any advice is appreciated.

BigHerky · March 31, 2008

Well if you have the money you could probably get a cam or even a blower, but for the price of the blower I'm sure you could just drop in a 5.3 or 6 liter engine.

Schmids5.3l · March 31, 2008

Headers would probably net more than the K&N and all that ignition stuff. On the flip side 4.8/5.3's are cheap. You can probably pick one up for $700.

DanNEBTD · March 31, 2008

Headers would probably net more than the K&N and all that ignition stuff. On the flip side 4.8/5.3's are cheap. You can probably pick one up for $700.

I was told that only long headers would do anything and that would take away from one of the "ends" or torque or something . .which I need more power off the line than anything else.

Wingnut · March 31, 2008

Headers would probably net more than the K&N and all that ignition stuff. On the flip side 4.8/5.3's are cheap. You can probably pick one up for $700.

I was told that only long headers would do anything and that would take away from one of the "ends" or torque or something . .which I need more power off the line than anything else.

Yeah, you'll lose bottom end.

And a decent set of coated long tube headers will cost you about as much as buying a used 5.3 engine anyway.

For a full-size truck, you're pretty much farting in the wind trying to eke much performance out of a 4.3. The engine is fairly tapped as-is.

DanNEBTD · March 31, 2008

Headers would probably net more than the K&N and all that ignition stuff. On the flip side 4.8/5.3's are cheap. You can probably pick one up for $700.

I was told that only long headers would do anything and that would take away from one of the "ends" or torque or something . .which I need more power off the line than anything else.

Yeah, you'll lose bottom end.

And a decent set of coated long tube headers will cost you about as much as buying a used 5.3 engine anyway.

For a full-size truck, you're pretty much farting in the wind trying to eke much performance out of a 4.3. The engine is fairly tapped as-is.

Yeah, thats what I thought. I got the truck from my father, who also bought it used so we didnt have much of a choice about the engine. I want to make the most of what I have and I dont have 6 or $700 to piss away on a new motor + labor + tools + downtime though

svensk · April 1, 2008

you could supercharge the 4.3. And if it blows...big whoop it's only a 4.3.

DanNEBTD · April 1, 2008

you could supercharge the 4.3. And if it blows...big whoop it's only a 4.3.

uh . . if it blows its still the price of an engine + a supercherger to get it fixed . . and Im just a college student entering the job market in a recession . . . yeah

optimus_prime0787 · April 1, 2008

i have the 4.3 in my truck as well and i just ordered a set of 3.73's for it today...mathmatically i will see 15% more power to the ground with the gears. i will be doing the wait4me tune as well (how do you like it btw). other than that im sure you could pic up a turbo kit like the typhoon/cyclone has on it for a grand or so. im looking at a better muffler and intake system and maybe an underdrive crank pulley?? im in the same boat as you and i thought about switching to 4.10's but the 5 speed in my truck would be more like a 4 speed with 4.10's...ill let you know how it goes

DanNEBTD · April 1, 2008

i have the 4.3 in my truck as well and i just ordered a set of 3.73's for it today...mathmatically i will see 15% more power to the ground with the gears. i will be doing the wait4me tune as well (how do you like it btw). other than that im sure you could pic up a turbo kit like the typhoon/cyclone has on it for a grand or so. im looking at a better muffler and intake system and maybe an underdrive crank pulley?? im in the same boat as you and i thought about switching to 4.10's but the 5 speed in my truck would be more like a 4 speed with 4.10's...ill let you know how it goes

Thanks . . is re-gearing an easy process? . . if so what is involved? . . . what do you lose the process and which way should I go? . . it isnt something I have considered before now.

Thanks and please keep me updated

optimus_prime0787 · April 1, 2008

well personally i have never done it...on a vehicle that is...i do work with gears on c-130 (airplane) so i know a little bit about how they are supposed to track and about bearing preload and whatnot...my dad is kinda skiddish of me doing it myself but im a self confident person (that could be a downfall). it cost me $275 for the ring and pinion and new carrier bearings, pinion bearings, and shims, crush sleeve, and the works that are needed to install it. My truck is an 06 with 60k on it so there really isnt a need to replace the bearings, but i figure while im in there i might as well so i dont have to do it later.

as far as if you pay someone to do it, im guessing probably at least $400 for the install (not including the gears). im installing them this weekend so i will hopefully get a thread up about the installation with tons of pics on how to do it.

**ive learned most of these types of jobs are all about confidence and not knowledge. most people mess things up because of a lack of confidence. if you take your time and read up about it, you should be fine.

the tech at summit told me that i will be around 1900 rpm at 60 mph in overdrive (that is the equivalent to about 400-500 rpm increase in 4th (1:1 ratio) at 65 mph

svensk · April 1, 2008

you could supercharge the 4.3. And if it blows...big whoop it's only a 4.3.

uh . . if it blows its still the price of an engine + a supercherger to get it fixed . . and Im just a college student entering the job market in a recession . . . yeah

you wanna make power? it aint cheap.

optimus_prime0787 · April 1, 2008

you could supercharge the 4.3. And if it blows...big whoop it's only a 4.3.

uh . . if it blows its still the price of an engine + a supercherger to get it fixed . . and Im just a college student entering the job market in a recession . . . yeah

you wanna make power? it aint cheap.

funny you say that...a buddy on base has a RCSB silverado that he swapped an LS1 w/turbo in...its all about who you know really as his brother has a junkyard where he got a LS1 out of a wrecked camaro/firebird. hes making 590 something at the wheels and hardly has any out of pocket loot in it. definitely enough to embarass my buddy with the all mighty 5.7 hemi charger!! (priceless look on his face btw)

but on topic i think your best bet would be gears if you arent too concerned about mileage...plus send the PCM back to jesse and he will hook you up with the retune

DanNEBTD · April 1, 2008

you could supercharge the 4.3. And if it blows...big whoop it's only a 4.3.

uh . . if it blows its still the price of an engine + a supercherger to get it fixed . . and Im just a college student entering the job market in a recession . . . yeah

you wanna make power? it aint cheap.

I want to improve my power . . Im not concerned about taking it to the strip or anything. I know in other cars headers, throttle boys, cams, pulleys, TStat, misc swapping of sister-engine parts (akin to the 'vette servo) and alike can improve performace quite cheaply and easily. I just didnt know what was availible. . . I think Ill look a little more in the S10 forums as this is one of their bigger engines so more people mod it.

Thanks to all for the gearing info, Ill be sure to look more into it.