I have a 1995 chevy truck with a 4.3 "Z" motor, and an RL-460 trans. All bone stock of course. Now, when the day comes that my beloved truck needs a new motor, I was wondering if I could replace the V-6 with a V-8 and use the existing TBI set-up and trans in a fairly seamless transition. So my questions are:

1. will a V-8 bolt directly to my RL-460

2. other than needing a V-8 intake and distributer, will the factory TBI run the V-8 from the V-6 without any mods needed??

The TBI seems to be a fairly simple system, governed only by a few sensors and brain box, so I am thinking how would it know if their are 2 more cylinders added? Would it care?? Would it matter ?? BTW, the V-8 I would like to replace it with would be a 307. Any thoughts or opinions will be appreciated.


-Del

yep, it will care, its not as simple as it looks

if you want to run a 307 you would have to have a carb, stand alone hei from 70'* bop, stand alone 4l60 controller, etc..

if you got a tbi 350 and the computer, wiring, intake, tbi. the acc. and most everything else will bolt up. i think the computer and everything would have to be after they went to the 4l60 i think it was 92ish

it would seem that eliminating the ECM would be the answer and go old school, but that would create another issue. The RL460 trans might not be useable in this scenario, so I would need motor and trans to replace the existing. Not to mention other probs like drive shaft length. This can be done, just more work than i thought.

oh yea one more thing, I do not know what the difference is between the 60'*/70'* - 307, and the 80'* - 307 is. I always thought the 307 was a bastard in terms of interchangeability with other chevy small block parts.

307 is an olds engine, and is mostly traded in for weight, even the highest output version was 180hp, most being less than 150. i think the 4.3'* are around 180hp so there is no sense, why did you want to put that in there?

i was talking to a guy at work here that has a similar truck except he has the 5spd, but anyway he said the jy will give him the whole 350 setup for $300-350. i think you would pay that just for a fraction of the parts you would need to use that 307.

Well basically its eliminating all the wiring and computer setups..I would keep it around instead of cutting it out..Also the 4l60-e trans you have is electronically controlled..thats why if you notice you have no kickdown cable..your best option for putting an older engine in is to swap the trans with it to..in that case if you want an 4 spd auto like your current you want the 4l60-e'* older brother the 700r-4

if he gets a 350 with the computer from a truck that came with the 4l60, it should be good. theres reasons they dont make them like that anymore, power, efficiency, easy starts, etc.. i used to get over 20mpg highway with my reg cab lng bed tbi350/5spd 2wd

I know that i was just answering his orig question..honestly i would leave the 4.3 i have a truck with one a 1993..It is 2wd its not a race truck not fast off the line but has plenty of torque..Good truck..my wifes truck actually..for the winter

some years ago my brother had a 1977 4x4, he wanted the stock 350 for a build project so he removed it from the truck. he replaced the 350 with a 307 and what we found was, the 307 pulled the truck as good or better than the 350. it also had improved economy we were both impressed. the 307 sports a long stroke for making torque along with the smaller displacement. ever since then i wanted to do the same.

your defintaly correct about the stock set-up, this truck pulls every bit of 25 mpg with the 4.3. she is also an oddball that makes the dealership scratch their heads when ordering parts. it is a 3/4 ton with a 4.3 Z motor, 2 wd, and some other options that make it a strange duck. i will never own a half ton again after this one.