Guest yatsen Posted September 23, 2003 Share Posted September 23, 2003 While searching for yet more info on the TH200-4R I stumbeld upon this very interesting site from a company that specialises in Suzuki Samurai conversions. These guys actually install Chevy V6 and even V8 engines in this tiny crawler, which should have a vaguely familiar ring to it for every person on this board. Basically it's the same filosophy as the hybrid Z guys, albeit of the off road variety! Now I was wondering; what about the performance of a Vortec V6 engine out of the box? Does anyone have experience with this type of engine? They sell this kit that includes everything needed for a conversion and parts are also sold seperately Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS1370 Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 190 HP out of the box, although the Mercury Marine version is rated at 205. Many of the parts that are used on a SBC fit the 4.3 except the obvious things such as crank, exhaust, cam etc. as well as connecting rods. Pistons, flexplate or flywheel, timing chain, front cover, pulleys, oil and fuel pump, rockers, harmonic damper, +++ are interchangeable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest yatsen Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 Do you know of any companies specialising in this type of engine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David K Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 I wanted to do a turbo 4.3 a while back. Lots of room in the engine bay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS1370 Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 Yatsen, Katech builds 4.3 performance motors. I don't have any contact info, but you should be able to find them by doing a web search. Be prepared to spend big $ though. Any competent engine builder should be able to build a 4.3 for you. As I mentioned above, many of the speed parts that fit a small block chevy will fit this engine. This engine was used years ago in the Nascar Busch series. Some parts are a bit harder to come by. Aluminum heads, manifolds, bow tie blocks etc are available from Chevy performance, Brodix also has a head and intake manifold for this motor. MSD has a distributor, electromotive a crank fire ignition system. Sanderson makes headers. Edelbrock has a manifold. Cams are available from the usual sources. If you are willing to buy used you can pick up many of the high dollar speed parts for a lot less than new retail. I picked up a complete motor with High Port aluminum heads 2.1/1.65 stainless valves, the chevy performance manifold, roller rockers, melling pump......for $1,000. I also have a set of the 18 degree heads and a Brodix manifold sitting on the shelf in case I want to get real serious. David, Hot Rod magazine a year or so ago put a Vortech Blower on a 4.3 that was slightly built. 501 HP was the result. The felt they could have made more but they blew a head gasket. A good copper head gasket would fix that. This with with stock chevy 4.3 heads. The 4.3 has good potential at a lighter weight than a SBC. However, the same horsepower with a SBC is cheaper to achieve than with a 4.3. If you want to go a slightly different route than the crowd and put a 4.3 into a Z like I do then it is a good option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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