4.3L V6 in place of 2.4L DOHC4?

[gir]

This is gonna sound totally stupid, but, my dad had a lease on a 2003 GMC Sonoma (lease is over now) with a 4.3L V6. I was wondering how much of a pain would it be to try and fit that same 4.3L in place of a 2.4L 4cyl DOHC. I know it's probably not possible without heavy modification, but I was just wondering what would needed to be done to get it to fit.

[DomestikDemon]

Well, you need to start by setting the car up for rear wheel drive....Have fun.

[gir]

oh yeah, forgot about that. From the interior, it almost seems that there's a tunnel running down the middle of the car, is this actually a tunnel or is it just some random hump? Also, is it possible to get the V6 as a FWD, or is the original positioning of the 2 engines gonna prevent that (I didn't really pay attention to the mounting of the V6).

[DomestikDemon]

If you look underneath the car, your exhaust runs through this tunnel. After driving the car for a while reach down behind you and put your hand on that hump. Itll be kinda warm from the exhaust....

To make a GA RWD, lots of heavy modification is required (modify frame, steering rack, rear axle, driveshaft, hook up new motorto make it work with guages....etc)

[DomestikDemon]

Oh sry, didnt answer your question. As far as I know, the 4.3 isnt in anything FWD. The most feasible engine swap really is to go with a 3.8 or a supercharged 3.8 from a buick, gran prix, bonneville, some oldsmobiles etc...

[gir]

I just realized that the GA engine is a transverse mount, while the Sonoma one is a front mount (whatever "regular" is) I guess it could fit in as a front mount, but that's something i'll mess with in the future. The 3.8 sounds great, but what's the difference between that and the GA V6 (other than displacement)

[sudden_impulse]

If he has the money he could also try a North* engine swap from a Caddy. I'm sure the 3800 has more power than the 2.4 stock, there's probably no real difference in the availability of S/C parts.

[DomestikDemon]

2.8
3.1
3.4
3.5
3.9-- these arall 60 degree motors, meaning the angle of the cylinders with the crank shaft as the common point

3.8 is a 90 degree motor, like GM V8s, and your dads 4.3 for that matter. (4.3 is a 350/5.7 with 2 cylinders missing, it has the same bore, cams spec, stroke, everything)

The 3.8, even the non-SC models are signifigantly more powerful than any of the stock 60 degree motors of similar years. Obviously the variable cam timing 3.9 form a G6 GTP is gonna perform better than a series-I 3.8, but a series-III will spank it...

Just throwing this out there-

Gran Prix GXP and Impala SS is now available with a 5.3 FWD V8 putting 300 ponies to the wheels in stock form. IIRC- 5.3 is a 327...but yea, it may be pricey, but theres a feasible V8 swap as well (caddy northstar as sudden impulse pointed out)

[gir]

you guys actually think engines like those would fit under the hood? Or is it gonna take some heavy modding?

[ManktheTank19]

I wouldnt recommend any engine swaps for a daily car. If you have the money, time, and knowledge - then go ahead. I have seen GA's with 3.8L SC, a drag GA (member here), and a 5.7L SC GA named Betty. In the end - you are better off building off what you already have or buy a car with the engine you want in it already

[urweak]

buy the GM supercharger for $1,700 and call it a day.

[The Artist]

it was on sale thru gmpartsdirect.com for like 14 hundo or something even cheaper than that (perhaps that price has changed since the last I knew though)

[gir]

i wasn't very serious about doing that right away, I have no money or knowledge on something like this, thought it'd be a cool frankenstein project someday. Also, with the supercharger (which I've never even heard of for a 4 cyl) how much power does it usually gain, and where exactly can I find it on the gm parts site (I checked it out, but couldn't find SC's for a GA)

[urweak]

http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results.cfm

Then you add on the price of shipping which they calculate by the price of the item, so shipping is around $300 or so. After that, you will need to buy some more items to make the kit work on your car. The kit is only for 00-02 2.4L's and you have a 98. You will need HPtuners software, different injectors, different starter, and a few other things to make it all work. Search on here for more info on what needs done to run this on a 96-98 2.4L

[TA^Guy]

I have a complete '01 Vortec 4.3 sitting in my garage that I might part with if you want, all it needs is a nice rebuild.

[gir]

That souns great, except I probably couldn't afford it, my parents would probably give me no place to put it, and I don't know if I have enough knowledge or experience to do an engine swap. Also, what kind of engine is it (I looked it up online and got a ton of different types)

[TA^Guy]

It's the stock 190hp, 230ft/lbs of torque Vortec 4.3 liter from my '01 Xtreme. It was deprived of oil and seized. Internals would need to come out and inspected maybe replaced. Might get away with a just crank and bearings if lucky. It had only about 60k on it when it happened so the heads and all that are still in very good condition. :D

Not sure if I really want to sell it, I've been pondering a 400hp NA V6 build up.

[gir]

I would love nothing more than to buy it if it's available, but it wouldn't happen anytime soon. By the way, I love your avatar

[car audio dave]

my buddy is selling the 3800 out of his grand national.
http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/south-western-area/208267-ok-so-here-goes.html

thats the only v6 worth swapping in. lol jk

[TA^Guy]

^ Cough... it's a 3.8 not a 3800. Cough... lol

[gir]

I just realized after looking at that engine that I won't be able to afford something like this for almost 10 years

[sudden_impulse]

That engine's expensive because of the parts in it and the time it pushes. Getting a stock engine like that won't be nearly as much. A supercharged 3800 long block out of a 2003 Grand Prix GTP costs you $2125 plus shipping from Rock Auto for a remanufactured engine. There is an additional core charge of $350, so you end up paying around $2600 in all if you live about the same distance from Madison as I do.

[TA^Guy]

Originally posted by gir
I would love nothing more than to buy it if it's available, but it wouldn't happen anytime soon. By the way, I love your avatar
Thanks, it's a photo of my new favorite shirt. :D

And to be honest it wouldn't be all that pricey, maybe $500 or less. To be honest I picked up another 4.3 out of a 2003 with only 14,000 miles on it for under $1000.

[gir]

Hey even I could afford that!!!!

[DomestikDemon]

4.3 blocks can be found in:

S-10
S-15
Jimmy/Blazer/Brevada
Astro
Silverado

and theyre all over the place...I know for a fact you can pick one up for 200 dollars

[gir]

My only question then would be are the 4.3 engines tranverse mount (like in the GA), or like I said earlier in my dads Sonoma as "regular" mount. I would love to put in the 4.3 from a Sonoma/ S10, but I know it would probably need alot of modding just to get it to fit right.

[TA^Guy]

If your going to mount a motor transverse just pluck a 3800 from a Grand Prix, Monte Carlo or Bonniville

[DomestikDemon]

:agree:

[gir]

ok, do the 3800's need alot of special modding to get them to fit? I talked to my dad about engine swapping and he was telling me how the 3800's were really well-built engines, and how he might actually let me swap one in place of the 2.4L.

[randizzle]

no matter what swap you do, it WILL take a lot of custom work unless you were to swap a different quad 4/twin cam.

[gir]

I'm willing to do an engine swap, but I don't have the money, equipment, or all the experience.

[Matt95GT]

Originally posted by gir
I'm willing to do an engine swap, but I don't have the money, equipment, or all the experience.

That's like saying I'm willing to go get and eat an ice cream cone but I don't have hands, feet or a mouth. In other words, start with something more basic... E.g., bolt-ons. It's ok to dream big, but work your way up to it before trying something so extreme.

[gir]

yeah I was just curious about what could be done with certain engines, so I might know what to look for when the time comes.
p.s. nice analogy matt :D