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4.3 Vortec On 08 Silverados

bowserb

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bowserb Enthusiast

bowserb

Posted
Posted

I am getting ready to graduate college, and I have worked construction for the past 5 yrs through school. I have fallen in love with trucks, and after some troubles with a FoMoCo's tranny in an F-150 I currently am driving the parents Buick Century.

 

I have looked into the 4300 Vortec, and was curious as to what problems were occurring in these new models 07-Present. I know they still have the Hydra-Matic 4 Speed, but was wondering has the valve body flaw been fixed?

 

How well do these tranny's and 4300 hold up over time? I know alot of chevy's last forever. I know my parents want me to lean towards a Honda or Toyota after each of theres have done 150k + with just a couple small issues.

 

My dad once had a celebrity, and had 3 fords that all crapped by 100k, because of transmissions, head gaskets, etc. and we take care of all the maintenace, new fluids every 30k etc, not driven hard.

 

What should I know about this engine and tranny...........I know they last forever, but was curious and advice or problems.

 

What I am looking for when I buy:

Long Bed, Regular Cab

4300 Vortec........Unless someone else can convince elsewhere I know its no powerhouse.......

LS Chrome Package, A/C, Am/Fm/Cd, Cruise, and Locking Diff.......

 

Any advice............

Thanks, Brandon

Woodcutter Enthusiast

Woodcutter

Posted
Posted

I had a TBI 4.3 in a '90 K-1500 that ran strong all the way up to 147K miles when I traded for something newer. The 4.3/4L60s are a venerable combination.

svensk Senior Enthusiast

svensk

Posted
Posted

The 4.3 does not die...you cannot kill it. Powerful, and fuel efficient it is NOT. But, it doesn't die.

planorick Enthusiast

planorick

Posted
Posted

I had an 03 Silverado with the 4.3 in it. It was a good engine in that it ran good. But, when carrying a load in the hill country of Texas, hunting and camping equipment plus 4 people, it just didn't have the power you would expect from a full size truck. I resently traded it in on an 08 GMC Sierra with the 5.3 with the fuel management system. It has all the power I was looking for and gets better gas mileage.

Zembonez Senior Enthusiast

Zembonez

Posted
Posted

The engine and transmission combination will last a long time. The 4.3 is a great engine but it doesn't have tons of power. I'd recommend the 4.8 V8 with the automatic. You'll get the same fuel economy and same durability, but have enough power for the vehicle to be used as intended. The cost is very minimal for the upgrade.

 

Sounds like your folks like to keep cars forever. I find life much more fun when I trade every one or two years... You only live once.

2000DV4.8 Senior Enthusiast

2000DV4.8

Posted
Posted
The engine and transmission combination will last a long time. The 4.3 is a great engine but it doesn't have tons of power. I'd recommend the 4.8 V8 with the automatic. You'll get the same fuel economy and same durability, but have enough power for the vehicle to be used as intended. The cost is very minimal for the upgrade.

 

Sounds like your folks like to keep cars forever. I find life much more fun when I trade every one or two years... You only live once.

 

 

I agree, go for the 4.8 if you can afford the initial extra cost. You will get similar fuel economy to the V6, and it will be a much more 'rewarding' truck to drive. I've got over 170,000 on my 2000, and the only major things I've had to replace are the fuel pump and alternator.

ZZ327 Senior Enthusiast

ZZ327

Posted
Posted

that is all my company uses for work trucks, and Ill tell you they take a beating and keep on tickin. theyve got a 02 with up over 208,000 miles still running without problems. My 95 takes 1/2-1 qt of oil a week and I cant seem to kill it!. And the NBS 4.3s they just got in are really nice!

nbscanuck Enthusiast

nbscanuck

Posted
Posted

I had a 91 S10 with 4.3. Sold it at 75,000 miles to a oil field worker. He drove the stuffing out of it for another 40,000 miles and he sold it. A young kid has it now and I saw it doing a smoke show in the high school parking lot the other day. Talked to the kid (scared him actually when I walked up to the window, he thought I was a cop) and it now has over 175,000 miles and he said the drive line is strong. The 4.3 is a strong motor, not great gas mileage, but with maintenance will keep going and going and going.....

Genuinefine409 Enthusiast

Genuinefine409

Posted
Posted
The 4.3 does not die...you cannot kill it. Powerful, and fuel efficient it is NOT. But, it doesn't die.

 

 

I agree, its like a damn cockroach. only a cockroach and a 4.3 will survive nuclear armageddon.

vranasaurus Enthusiast

vranasaurus

Posted
Posted

I bought a 1989 S-10 4x4 in 1999. It had 90,000 miles on it. I ran it then sold it to my dad. The motor was still running at 147,000 when just about everything else on the truck ceased working, to include the body. They are very reliable motors.

 

The only bad things you can say about a 4.3 are that it has the power of a V6 with fuel economy equal to or worse than a V8.

wlvrn1215 Senior Enthusiast

wlvrn1215

Posted
Posted

I had an 85 monte carlo with a 4.3 tbi .....couldnt kill it even with 1 cylinder constantly fouling the plug...valve seals were gone, We called it the diesel....I once burned 5qts in one trip, which was about 320 miles...still she kept running.

  • 1 month later...
sledneck_03 Enthusiast

sledneck_03

Posted
Posted

i had a 97 4.3l 2wd reg cab short box serria, cant kill it, could get over 500 miles per tank, and it can do crazy doughnuts and burnouts, the guy that owns it now drives it with the pedal to the floor as well and it still runs great.........amazing engine as long as you get a manual trans

  • 6 months later...
Nick The Great Senior Enthusiast

Nick The Great

Posted
Posted
The 5.3 w/ afm is advertised as the most efficent in the new truck line

 

No offense, but are you in some sort of time warp????

 

All your posts have been on these older topics. :P

 

Join the fun in 2009! :thumbs:

rvsahs Senior Enthusiast

rvsahs

Posted
Posted
The 4.3 does not die...you cannot kill it. Powerful, and fuel efficient it is NOT. But, it doesn't die.

 

 

I agree, its like a damn cockroach. only a cockroach and a 4.3 will survive nuclear armageddon.

 

 

+1 The 4.3 is bullet-proof. But move up to the 4.8 based on the comments above. :thumbs:

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