Well if its in good shape. I plan to haul scrap with it and haul wood
how good is a 4.3 in a full size
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I used to work for a livery company...they had many 4.3-powered Astro vans. I drove several with over 400,000 miles. Of more than a dozen vans over 250K, only one had a rebuilt engine. These were livery vans, driven hard and often idled for hours every day.
A 4.3 fullsize will not be fast, but will be perfectly fine for most uses.
A 4.3 fullsize will not be fast, but will be perfectly fine for most uses.
I had a buddy with a 93 similar to what your speaking of, with a 5 speed (2wd), and he could "churp" his tires hitting 3rd gear. It was pretty impressive for a small engine in a full size. I had a Ford 4.2L V6 in a full size (2wd) that could rip up the black top for that matter. Put a load behind his 4.3L and it was lack-luster to say the least. My 4.2L V6 Ford could way out pull it, heck it would out-pull my current 4.6 V8 4x4 Ford for that matter. The nice thing is with that 4.3 he had, parts were readily avalible and cheap (like most GM's), alot of things interchange, like I said, its basically 3/4 of a 350, or in other words a 350 minus 2 cylinders. Perfectly suited to haul a rick of wood as youre describing, but id stay away from car hauling for sure!
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I don't need fast I need reliable . Can haul wood and scrap and maybe pull a car on a trailer once in awhile
A 1/2 ton truck with the 4.3 V6 is going to have light duty axles, springs, brakes, etc. Towing a car will be iffy. Look up its specs online and on its door frame sticker.
When they advertise that a new 1/2 ton truck can tow 9000 lbs, that's "specially equipped" with all the HD stuff that basically makes it a 3/4 ton, even though still in the half ton class.
Of three vehicles I've seen stranded at my work with catastrophic engine failure, there's been a hyundai with blown timing belt and two GM 4.3s. Anecdotal, sure...
When they advertise that a new 1/2 ton truck can tow 9000 lbs, that's "specially equipped" with all the HD stuff that basically makes it a 3/4 ton, even though still in the half ton class.
Of three vehicles I've seen stranded at my work with catastrophic engine failure, there's been a hyundai with blown timing belt and two GM 4.3s. Anecdotal, sure...
Aren't the trucks exactly the same as the regular half tons only with a 4.3 instead? I thought they had a ten bolt just like a regular silverado and has a 700r4 to
With the 4L60E, you will NOT want to tow ANYTHING in overdrive, it will be slow, and there will be minimal engine braking going downhill in 3rd, add that to the standard (weak) disc/drum brakes, small 15" passenger P-metric tires, no full-float rear axle, soft rear springs-see where I'm going here? I wouldn't tow over 3K with that setup, I'd be looking for a heavier duty truck, preferably with the full float axle, and a manual transmission.
I read it says 5000 is the limit
Not bad in the newer trucks, but in a 1990 it has what 140hp? Going to be a bit slow.
My Vortec goes pretty good and has almost 300 ft pounds of torque.
3k-4k pounds is nothing to tow, no problem.
My Vortec goes pretty good and has almost 300 ft pounds of torque.
3k-4k pounds is nothing to tow, no problem.
I read 165 and 236 torque. Sounds close.
JTK
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I owned two of them. A 1994 reg cab, short box "W/T" with 4.3L and 5spd manual. The heaviest thing I towed with it was a U-Haul double axle car hauler with a 1970's Camaro on it. Not the most powerful hauler in the world, but it did fine both going and stopping.
I also owned a 1998 K1500, reg cab, short box, 4.3L, automatic. Hauled a few small boats (18ft and under) and various other heavy loads in the bed. It did extremely well. The 1998 felt much more powerful than the 1994. Prolly due to gearing. Dunno what either one was.
If the price is right, go for it. If you're doing it for fuel savings, it's minimal over a V8.
Joel
I also owned a 1998 K1500, reg cab, short box, 4.3L, automatic. Hauled a few small boats (18ft and under) and various other heavy loads in the bed. It did extremely well. The 1998 felt much more powerful than the 1994. Prolly due to gearing. Dunno what either one was.
If the price is right, go for it. If you're doing it for fuel savings, it's minimal over a V8.
Joel
That makes me feel better. the guy is asking 1500 needs no work has 206,000 12,000 on transmission. Seats has a tear and fenders have a little rust but nothing big wrong. Had valve seals done to.
I used to have a 1990 C1500 with the 4.3 and a THM400 (Yes I know, its a weird combination, and yes, it did come from the factory with it, it said so on the window sticker and the RPO tag). It was the best beat around truck I ever had, with the only drawback being that the 3 speed automatic didn't do much for gas mileage. The motor still ran strong when I sold it at 175k, and I'm sure it would've kept on going just fine. I couldn't say much about the towing part of it myself, because I never used it to tow anything (it only had a bumper hitch, I have 3 other trucks with reese hitches) but the previous owners said they used it to tow small trailers and had no issues.
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