GM 4.3L V6 and 5 speed manual transmission

[pacem]

which vehicles used the 4.3L V6 with the 5-speed manual tranny? I know late 90's through early 2000s 1500 trucks did for sure, but what other combinations? Was there ever a Suburban in that configuration? What kind of MPG can one expect with the 4.3L engine? low 20's perhaps highway-only and highway gears?

 

[GenesisGuy70]

GMC Sonoma Chevy S-10. My uncle has an S10 with that combo in it. He's got over 200,000 miles on it and it's pretty trouble free. He says that motor actually scares him because it runs so well and can hit so and so mph in such and such gear. He is pushing 80 though so doing 55 in a 70 is fast for him.

 

[wheelman1991]

The 1980's - 2011? c/k 1500 trucks had that combo, mostly the "stripper model" (w/t iirc). 1991? - 2005-ish s10/Blazer/Jimmy MAYBE some of the Chevy Astro /GMC Safari van. MPG? The 2006 Chevy Silverado 1500, 4.3, 4 speed auto 3.23 rear axle, rwd that my step grandfather has gets about 12-17 depending on traffic. He managed 18 MPG once at 52 mph.

 

[AZjeff]

Knew a guy who bought a new 2000 Silverado xcab with the 4.3/auto hoping for decent mileage. He hated every minute he owned the truck and was constantly [censored]that I got better mileage with my 2000 xcab with the 5.3 motor. Been a long time but I don't think he ever saw 18 highway. Never heard of a Sub with a 4.3

 

[rubberchicken]

There was never a Suburban that used the 4.3 V6. I have had 3 Suburbans, a 1977 2wd and a built 454, a 1985 with a 350 and I currently have a 1997 4x4, 2500 454. I do not recall a Suburban ever having a manual trans at least from late 70's onward. The 1985 Sub with the 350 was slow as a dog. The 77 was pretty quick- the engine was quite stout and probably put out about 400 to 425 hp but tipped the scales at close to 6000 lbs. Not sure why you want a 5.3 and 5 speed, but maybe a S10 ?

 

[umungus1122]

Originally Posted By: wheelman1991

MPG? The 2006 Chevy Silverado 1500, 4.3, 4 speed auto 3.23 rear axle, rwd that my step grandfather has gets about 12-17 depending on traffic. He managed 18 MPG once at 52 mph.

If you're gentle you can do FAR better than 18mpg on the highway, and not at 52mph either. My uncle had the 2000 Chevy 1500 with 5spd and 4.3 and averaged around 19mpg COMBINED hauling lumber/ equipment/ windows to jobs (contractor). I avg. 17.5mpg winter/ 18.5 mpg summer COMBINED in my 1500 305 with 3.08/ 4L60e. My previous 2500 '92 with the 305 3.73/ 700R4 got about .5mpg less. I keep track at every fill up.

 

[Silverado12]

FWIW I have a 2012 4.3 auto and it gets 18-19 mpg average. On a trip it gets 20.

 

[FastLane]

I had a 1998 C1500 WT 4.3 5 speed 3.08. It was wicked on fuel economy. I sold it st 300000 km on it. Last I hear it was over 500000 kms. Speaking imperial mpg, it would get 28-30 mpg on the highway. 20+ in town. Way easier on fuel than my 4.8 V8.

 

[wheelman1991]

Originally Posted By: umungus1122

Originally Posted By: wheelman1991

MPG? The 2006 Chevy Silverado 1500, 4.3, 4 speed auto 3.23 rear axle, rwd that my step grandfather has gets about 12-17 depending on traffic. He managed 18 MPG once at 52 mph.

If you're gentle you can do FAR better than 18mpg on the highway, and not at 52mph either. My uncle had the 2000 Chevy 1500 with 5spd and 4.3 and averaged around 19mpg COMBINED hauling lumber/ equipment/ windows to jobs (contractor). I avg. 17.5mpg winter/ 18.5 mpg summer COMBINED in my 1500 305 with 3.08/ 4L60e. My previous 2500 '92 with the 305 3.73/ 700R4 got about .5mpg less. I keep track at every fill up.

He is in his 70's, he is the typical 25mph in a 30 mph zone putt putt type of driver. Most of his driving is city stop and go. When my stepdad and I drive it, we get about 18 MPG (mostly highway, beating the h&ll out of it)

 

[wheelman1991]

The cruddy ethenol gas doesn't help either. My old 1989 f150 with a built 351w could only run 91 octane or higher. the 91 octane with ethenol would only net 12mpg, the ethenol free 91 octane gas would give me 15mpg (only a few gas stations in my area sell the ethenol free gas). Same driving style and route.

 

[JTK]

We had a 1990 and a 1995 Chevy C1500 W/T 4.3L 5spd in the family. The 1990 needed the trans replaced at some point because of a bad idler shaft bearing (believe that's what it was). IIRC, fairly common for the NV3500 or 4500? 5spd manual gearbox. The second trans started whining at some point as well, but the truck was badly rusted by that point and sold as is. My 1995 I only kept 3yrs or so.

 

[FastLane]

NV3500. They lasted forever if you changed the synchromesh fluid.

 

[Blokey]

Originally Posted By: wheelman1991

MAYBE some of the Chevy Astro /GMC Safari van.

This was the case. My in-laws had an old Astro van with the 4.3 V6 and 5 speed. I remember them asking me to drive it one day... it took a while getting used to the shifter that was right next to the seat belt buckle.

 

[Silverado12]

Originally Posted By: FastLane

NV3500. They lasted forever if you changed the synchromesh fluid.

I agree. I had a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500, 3.9 with the 5 speed and I found a lot of stuff on the magnet the first time I changed it.

 

[homeyclaus]

Originally Posted By: rubberchicken

There was never a Suburban that used the 4.3 V6. I have had 3 Suburbans, a 1977 2wd and a built 454, a 1985 with a 350 and I currently have a 1997 4x4, 2500 454. I do not recall a Suburban ever having a manual trans at least from late 70's onward. The 1985 Sub with the 350 was slow as a dog. The 77 was pretty quick- the engine was quite stout and probably put out about 400 to 425 hp but tipped the scales at close to 6000 lbs. Not sure why you want a 5.3 and 5 speed, but maybe a S10 ?

There were late 80's Suburbans with 350's, 4-on-the-floor manual transmissions, and the dual shock front ends on the lot at the RCMP auction yard when I bought my 1988 Caprice there. Working at a fleet shop full of those Saginaw 4 speeds made me kind of want one.