how good is a 4.3 in a full size

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Dakota1820

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I'm seriously considering this truck I found. Its a 92 wt1500 new transmission 206xxx on truck. My question is how good is the 4.3 in a truck for pulling and durability.? Thanks guys
 
Wouldn't tow much with it, but not a bad truck. Gearing varied widely...seen as deep as 4.10 and as tall as 3.08 with a V6. A V6 with 3.08's could top 25MPG on the highway.
 
my dad had a wt 1500 4wd great engine but underpowered fore a full size truck but if you dont care about get up and go a great enjine
 
its a lot better in a midsize than in a full but its acceptable. Full size really patches the power to the weight of the vehicle. Good torque, 4.3 is an SBC with two cylinders chopped off. True!
 
A 1990 C1500 longbed,2WD regular cab with 5 speed they used to have at work (a rusted/busted up mess) could be coaxed to 22.3 mpgs with short shifting and very light loads.It probably did a bit better when it was newer.If it wasnt for the granny 1st gear,it would have been a total dog.150hp back then new.
 
I have a 4.3 V6 in my Astro, tow a 4500lb travel trailer with it. The van is around 4000lbs itself. I would assume a full size truck weighs more? I would not put more weight than that behind my van, and if the trans does not have a cooler, I would highly recommend one. The engine/trans have been reliable, not so much for the rest of the van. Those motors can go 300-400k if taken care of. The '92 version of the 4.3 likely still has throttle body injection, so less hp than the Vortec engine that I have. My van has 3.42 gears. Check the gears in that truck, that will make a world of difference.
 
Why was the transmission replaced and what is the warranty on this replacement unit? I have issues with "rebuilt" anything.
 
As a general rule, I don't buy GM. But I do have a 1990 Rinker run-about boat, powered by a 4.3L (GM made v6) inboard mercruiser. And Ive never in 22 years had an issue with that engine, imo its bullit-proof. And again, this is coming from a non-GM fan!
 
He has the paper work on it. The transmission casing broke something about a governor switch or something broke off and it broke the transmission casing . So he had a different rebuilt trans put in it about 12,000 miles ago
 
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
Will a 4.3 have enough power or is it just a dog?
Enough power for what?? Several replies here say unless you plan on doing some heavy towing, you'll be just fine. Take a test drive.
 
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
Will a 4.3 have enough power or is it just a dog?
Have enough power to what? tow a john boat, take off the trash? pull a small trailer with a lawnmower? the answer is yes. Or power to "man handle" a boat like I described in my above reply? the answer is no. And like others pointed out, its all in the gearing. Its basically a 350 minus 2 cylinders
 
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
Will a 4.3 have enough power or is it just a dog?
In a midsize, its a blast. In a fullsize, you are doggin' it. Think Jeep Wrangler (*for power comparison on the 2.5.)
 
I probably wouldn't pull a whole lot but I kinda like the idea of being able to get out of my own way. Any one know the towing capacity? It has 206,000 on it you guys think it'll be alright with that many miles
 
I dont think anyone could answer that with anything but a WAG unless they inspected it.
 
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