ok i have looked and can't seam to find what i'm looking for so,I was wondering what the performance diff is between the
3800 and the 4.3. i know a guy with a 4.3 just laying around the (200hp one)i could probably just pick up for free. I was wanting to come up with a new project/pipe dream. LOL well i know the 4.3 has lots of aftermarket just as the 3800. so not trying to say one is better than the other just wanting to know for one how hard is the 4.3 swap?? i heard its just like doing the v8 swap.

Can you build more power out of a 3800 comapered to a 4.3?
Witch revs faster?
Witch weighs less? and by how much?
What kinda cradle mods you would have to do for 600hp+? like if you went a turbo 3800or4.3
Are you limited to a certain power output to a 3800 or 4.3?
Sorry if this is already been asked

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BabyVet

http://s298.photobucket.com...all/BabyVet%20Build/

bump

Can you build more power out of a 3800 comapered to a 4.3?

3800 will do more or less unlimited power on a stock block, i am sure the 350 (aka 4.3) could be built to that or more.

Witch revs faster?

Who cares?

Witch weighs less? and by how much?

Neither are light.

What kinda cradle mods you would have to do for 600hp+? like if you went a turbo 3800or4.3

Little to none, 88's I usually gusset the east west cradle rails.

Are you limited to a certain power output to a 3800 or 4.3?

power = money. I imagine pistons would be needed on the 4.3 to get the compression ratio where you want it, so your most likely limited on the 4.3 if you leave it stock bottom end.

both would be modded form bottom to top

I wonder what kind of work it would take to retro-fit a 3800sc's supercharger on the 4.3? Would it produce enough boost?

Vinny

quote Originally posted by vinny: I wonder what kind of work it would take to retro-fit a 3800sc's supercharger on the 4.3? Would it produce enough boost? Vinny

it sound like a good idea. But i don't think it would produce enought boost. idk isn't the m90 limited to a 2 something pully
and doesn't that just make like 18lbs of boost?

quote Originally posted by BabyVet: both would be modded form bottom to top

If your going to put money into a bottom end, run away screaming from a v6.... The ONLY advantage a 3800 has over any motor is a decent starting point. They dont get any faster with heads/bottom end work (most get slower). I am sure the 4.3 is limited in the same ways, and I THINK the mains are a bit weaker than most sbc's and 3800's being they are just 2bolts.

When making huge power with unlimited budgets like your saying, big displacement is the only way you wont be wasting your money.

A 10.00 second impala is getting parted out over here. You should just take that setup and bolt it in a fiero for the money.

http://www.clubgp.com/newfo...&p=1&tmode=1&smode=1

anymore input??

If you wanna be differant then go with the 4.3 but be ready to have to put more work into it. If you wanna do the norm then go with the 3800SC or a 3800 turbo and be done with it. The 3800 has been done so much that its a common swap and can be done for cheap and in a few weeks. Both motors can make the same amount of HP and get you the same end results. It will just take more money into one then the other.

I will say go with the 3800SC or 3800 Turbo and be done with it. You get fast, cheap and reliable all in one package.

^^^ idk thought i want to do something diff but than i want to do something easy and i can find all the info for you know??

I've got a 4.3 block machined, lower compression pistons, heads are stock. just sitting here.

Possible to do an NSX swap? I know you can swap the NSX tranny in. Not sure what the limits are on that though either, plus it's a bit off topic, because you said 4.3 and 3800. From everything I've heard. The 3800 is a much better motor out of the box. Better fuel economy, same power, more reliability. The one thing the 4.3 has over the 3800 is displacement. Bigger displacement means more air in the engine at one time. More air means the possibility of more fuel which all adds up to more power.

Ok i will be geting hell for this but I would go 4.3 it takes 350 small block chevy piston we know how hard them are to get you can have again 350 4 bolt main caps put on the block splayed or streight steel. Cam can be had at crower , comp cams ,crane cams and I have looked at those sites for cams for the 3800 and dont see them they have them for the old 3.8 buick turbo but thats not the same engine. the best stock heads for the 4.3 are the 96 and up vortec heads they are the same port design as the 350 chevy vortec heads they flow 210 cfm on the intake and 145 cfm on the exhaust . edelbrock makes a preformer intake you can use small block roller rocker and eagle makes H beam conecting rods if the stock forged rods dont make you happy.

go to this web sites and check out this 4.3 they start out with the junk heads and make real power

http://www.hotrod.com/techa...ine_build/index.html
http://www.hotrod.com/techa...r_install/index.html

quote Originally posted by BabyVet: ^^^ idk thought i want to do something diff but than i want to do something easy and i can find all the info for you know??

Then hands down do a 3800SC swap--

The 4.3 would be more unique... which is one of the reasons I did one. I have seen up to 28 mpg commuting to work each day (19 mile trip each way) with my 4.3/4 speed auto (3.33 final drive). If I had a numerically lower final drive version of the tranny, I should be able to easily get past 30+ on the highway. The 4.3's get a bad rap for fuel efficiency because in original applications they were pushing a brick. My Bravada with the same 4.3 CPI as in my fiero would get 17 mpg on the exact same commute and 21 to 23 on the highway.

If you want major power out of the 4.3 engine, get in touch with the Syclone/Typhoon guys... they have a lot of experience modifying the 4.3 so it is not like you have to be a pioneer.

Vortecfiero on here has a turbo 4.3 and his is the only forced induction 4.3 in a fiero that I am aware of.

[This message has been edited by fieroguru (edited 10-28-2008).]

The 3800SC bolts right in. The 4.3L has the SBC bolt pattern and as such you'll need a V8 Archie adapter kit. Price the swap cost out and decide what your budget will allow. The 4.3L V6 has never been a popular Fiero swap option but it will make a more unique install than the 3800SC which seems to be one of the most popular swaps. As to what the 4.3L is capable of; seek out the websites on the Sy/Ty turbo trucks and see what those guys run.

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87GT - 3800SC Series III engine, 3.4" Pulley, N* TB, LS1 MAF, Flotech Exhaust Autolite 104's Custom CAI 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
87GT - 3.4L Turbocharged engine, modified TH125H
" I'M ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

Ok so i have always wanted a typhoon LOL so i was thinking about doing a 4.3 big N/A build that work all my bugs out and
track it and see how everything goes.Than run a power adder like the vortech supercharger,turbo but i still want to be able to have
all the comfirts to. so it kno it would be hard to put a/c and a vortech supercharger on the 4.3 and fit it into the compartment.
but i think maybe it you could just cut one side of the truck out to fit the poweradder. i like that 500hp 4.3 idea!!!

I like the 4.3 due to it's big brother the 350 you can share alot of parts like the valves ,rocker arms, pistons and rings main bearings, timing chain and gears ,oil pump plus you can get a intake and put in a HEI and Holly . Just remember that the 96 and up have the good vortec heads 95 and down had the swirl port stone wall heads

[This message has been edited by engine man (edited 10-28-2008).]

so what your saying is that i can take almost every part from a SBC? if so that means the 4.3 would be so much easyer to build/and so many parts out there for them. so i could do a 4.3 with 10/somthing for compression and with a carb and not really have
any probs? so what are the weak parts to the 4.3?
and does anybody make a wireing plug and play for this motor? (4.3)

Don't forget about the important part of the swap--The transmission--What you going to use for all this power?

quote Originally posted by MstangsBware: Don't forget about the important part of the swap--The transmission--What you going to use for all this power?

if i was to do this swap like it say's up ^^^^ there in the first part its a (pipe dream) i would run a
auto or a 84 4spd

quote Originally posted by BabyVet: so what your saying is that i can take almost every part from a SBC? if so that means the 4.3 would be so much easyer to build/and so many parts out there for them.

This is exactly why the 4.3 is not a popular swap in the Fiero. If you are going to go to all the trouble to install a 4.3 you can get a 350 for pretty much the same amount of work.

quote Originally posted by jscott1: This is exactly why the 4.3 is not a popular swap in the Fiero. If you are going to go to all the trouble to install a 4.3 you can get a 350 for pretty much the same amount of work.

yet if you broke it down would the 4.3 be light,rev quicker? i'm just thinking for a v6 big power.

there are many parts that can be used from a SBC . The reason i would do a 4.3 over a 350 no need for doing special water pump or pullys. I like the fact that there is no need to do a wiring harness you can put a carburator and HEI distributor and it will run no computer tuning just need to do the jets in the carb

[This message has been edited by engine man (edited 10-29-2008).]

"any probs? so what are the weak parts to the 4.3?"


I have the 4.3 vortec in my 2001 truck. It is a wonderful, smooth engine. Our resident drag strip denizen where I work says it can handle a 100 HP shot of nitrous without any upgrades. I would be torn between your two choices, but would most likely prefer the 4.3 because as someone else said, I can carb and HEI the thing and avoid a ton of tuning problems. You can hotrod them just like a SBC. Same thing minus 2 cylinders.

[This message has been edited by weaselbeak (edited 10-28-2008).]

I think that 350 N/A Horsepower that is streetable from the 4.3 is not a pipe dream because Hot Rod made 300 HP with the heads tht wernt as good as the late modle vortec heads .after doing there port job on the heads they used they flowed 208 cfm on the int 190 cfm exh the 96 and up vortec heads wich i think have the same port as the 350 chevy vortec head flow stock 210 cfm on the int and 145 on the exh . so you can see if you port the latter modle vortecs you should be able to get around 240 cfm on the intake and around 200 cfm on the exh and Edlebrock makes a intake now to fit the late modle vortec heads

oh ya the weak part would be the 2 bolt mains but there again you can just use 350 4 bolt main caps and have them put on by your machine shop read the hot rod article i posted in one of my earler post it has good info

[This message has been edited by engine man (edited 10-29-2008).]

Don't worry about 4 bolt mains. SBCs have been hotrodded for a fair number of years quite nicely without. I know some circle track boys who don't even use them.

I agree 2 bolt mains are good but if you feel you need 4 bolt mains the 350 4 bolt mains can be put on

quote Originally posted by BabyVet: ok i have looked and can't seam to find what i'm looking for so,I was wondering what the performance diff is between the 3800 and the 4.3. i know a guy with a 4.3 just laying around the (200hp one)i could probably just pick up for free. I was wanting to come up with a new project/pipe dream. LOL well i know the 4.3 has lots of aftermarket just as the 3800. so not trying to say one is better than the other just wanting to know for one how hard is the 4.3 swap?? i heard its just like doing the v8 swap. Can you build more power out of a 3800 comapered to a 4.3? Witch revs faster? Witch weighs less? and by how much? What kinda cradle mods you would have to do for 600hp+? like if you went a turbo 3800or4.3 Are you limited to a certain power output to a 3800 or 4.3? Sorry if this is already been asked

Man, I already took you for a ride in my car,you should know the answer to this by now

quote Originally posted by engine man: there are many parts that can be used from a SBC . The reason i would do a 4.3 over a 350 no need for doing special water pump or pulleys. I like the fact that there is no need to do a wiring harness you can put a carburetor and HEI distributor and it will run no computer tuning just need to do the jets in the carb

OMG WIRING SO SCARY!!!

When trying to make 600whp out of anything, dicking around with the 350 swap requirements is chump change compared to what your doing to the trans, mounts, and motor build... Comparing the effort required of wiring something to anything else is equally embarrassing...

We might not like fooling with the fuel injection you dont just have to wire it but must tune it to and it is alot differnt to tune the computer to get it right and any one who said they can do it as easy as changing jets in a carb is full of sh**t the only way is to use a stand alone computer on it adn then to get a good intake you need to fab it and the guys that run big HP on the 3800 are geting rid of the suppercharger and going to a turbo . you can pick up a ton of hot rod parts for the 4.3 cheap just go to a swap meet 350 pistons cheap and fit right in the 4.3 rocker arms cheap how often do you find 3800 SC parts at the swap meet plus you have the option of fuel injection or a simple carb on it and 4.3 are cheaper to buy than a 3800 SC engine
but you will need an adaptor kit for the 4.3

[This message has been edited by engine man (edited 10-29-2008).]

The fact is, Ye artist of words, is that 3800's come pre built to handle 600whp, they dont need a pile of peoples used and ragged out SBC parts to make power.

quote Originally posted by darkhorizon: The fact is, Ye artist of words, is that 3800's come pre built to handle 600whp, they dont need a pile of peoples used and ragged out SBC parts to make power.

Let's see if I have this right. You are dissing the most successful engine on the planet? And I have a hard time believing that prebuilt for 600 HP thing as well. When 3800s rule where the big boys hang out, let us know. Every Friday or Saturday night I can watch 24 SBCs running dirt tracks all across America, followed by maybe one lonely Ford. Where are these almighty 3800s at? I'm surprised I don't see one in the Corvette. Really, just show a little respect for the king.

I think the 3800 is a good engine but it dosnt make the 4.3 a pice of crap I just know that there are valves ,pistons ,rocker arms, cams, timing chains and gears, aluminum heads , Conecting rods and intakes that are built by majore after market manufactures like Cran cams ,Comp cams, Eagle specalty and Edelbrock. 3800 blocks will not take Stage 2 Aluminum heads they go on stage 2 race blocks and thats based on the old 3.8 as far as cams Cran ,Comp and Crower dont list any thing for a 3800 but they do for the old 3.8 I would like to know what the flow numbers are on stock 3800 sieres ll heads are i will do a search on it i would like to know

quote Originally posted by weaselbeak: Let's see if I have this right. You are dissing the most successful engine on the planet? And I have a hard time believing that prebuilt for 600 HP thing as well. When 3800s rule where the big boys hang out, let us know. Every Friday or Saturday night I can watch 24 SBCs running dirt tracks all across America, followed by maybe one lonely Ford. Where are these almighty 3800s at? I'm surprised I don't see one in the Corvette. Really, just show a little respect for the king.

show me a small block in the back of a fiero that doesnt overheat and can beat my 3800. guess what? you wont.

4.3's are only 75% as capable as a 350.

Put a car together that runs as fast as mine, then show me 24 mpg on the highway.

[/thread]

Geez, let the poor guy be. He never said he wanted to have the fastest fiero in existance he just said he wanted to do a swap, and he's torn between two engine choices. Offer your opinion but don't go around bashing others.

Wow a small block cant run with a 3800 I just looked at time in the 1/4 mile and there is a SBC that is right there with you one slip up by one of you the other would win the race and they are runing a standard and standard trans are slower in street cars then an automatic thats why when you go to the drags you see mostly automatics you just cant shift a standard as fast as a good automatic

First of all, if looking for performance, don't get rid of fuel injection. It's much more efficient, allows for bigger power gains and has increased reliability over carboretion.

Secondly. You can't be dissing the 3800. It's the most reliable V6 GM has ever made. On top of that, you can get 30 mpg highway with one in a huge buick lesabre. On top of that, you also get great performance, because the 3800sc comes stock with about 260 crank hp. Good luck getting the same reliability, fuel economy and performance out of a 4.3 in the fiero.