What's the Most Popular V6 Engine for Light Weight Crawlers Currently?

[Ghetto Fab.]

I'm usually pretty leery of eBay....but it appears that's the place to buy less expensive 4.3Ls.

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This is an old-school 4.3 based off the small block motors. Pre-LS stuff. You can find running S10 blazers with those for $600. Not a bad deal all things considered, get a motor, trans, harness and computer for $600, but its not like the newer direct injection 4.3 thats been posted here. Dunno about that 2nd link.

 

[Bebop]

I'm usually pretty leery of eBay....but it appears that's the place to buy less expensive 4.3Ls.

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First one bad
Second one good

 

[Sean]

This is an old-school 4.3 based off the small block motors. Pre-LS stuff. You can find running S10 blazers with those for $600. Not a bad deal all things considered, get a motor, trans, harness and computer for $600, but its not like the newer direct injection 4.3 thats been posted here. Dunno about that 2nd link.

Oh shit...thought those years were the newer ones. Duh. The 2nd link is the LV1 from the 2018 model....which is the correct engine.

Edited the original post to reflect that 2014 is the first year of the LV3 in the 4.3L in Silverado/Sierra 1500.

 

[woody]

That one Woody just posted, I’d run that and parts I could pick up from anywhere. Partly because I see what he does with a nice little GM V6 and that adapter to a regular transmission.

My 700R4 was built 15 years ago. I probably spent $1500 on it then, which translates to $6000 now. BUT, it was done right and has had zero issues....I replaced nothing other than the pan/gasket and filter when it was installed in my buggy. Even the torque converter and cooler are unchanged from 15 years back. (tho that SPAL fan is starting to squeek a bit....)

Finding a good trans shop and quality parts to install is the challenge anymore. I hear nothing good about TCI parts.

 

[woody]

The guys I know with them love them. But they put them in portal cars and did dry sump right off the bat to keep the engine as short as possible because in lines are taller overall than V engines. My buddy Jeff is beating the hell out of one in this buggy. Backed with a shorty ATI C4. Woody has a cameo in the second one. Jeff has me convinced to run a 2.3 in my rear steer car when I get around to it. So now I’m looking for C4 cores.

I'm planning the same, 2.3 C4 D300(ish). The tunes for the 2.3 aren't quite there yet, but visibility and weight are spot on.

I need to stop doing breakfast with Jeff every week, it gets expensive :)

 

[Bebop]

The tunes for the 2.3 aren't quite there yet.

Standalone ECU and a good tuner and you're GTG.

 

[JR4X]

I'm planning the same, 2.3 C4 D300(ish). The tunes for the 2.3 aren't quite there yet, but visibility and weight are spot on.

I need to stop doing breakfast with Jeff every week, it gets expensive :)

🤣 I wasn’t even there and that was also an expensive breakfast for me.

I’ve had pretty good luck with a couple Hughes built 700R4’s with the TCI valve body I mentioned above behind my S/C3800. I have one with a broken case from a crash. Richard Hulse bought my other one.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

Why, when you can go pick up the same transmission in 60 degree as well? They're OEM, lol

Same reason you can just go down the street and pick up a rust free 90s or older truck. Certain parts that are everywhere on that side of the country are scarce over here and visa versa.

The guys I know with them love them. But they put them in portal cars and did dry sump right off the bat to keep the engine as short as possible because in lines are taller overall than V engines. My buddy Jeff is beating the hell out of one in this buggy. Backed with a shorty ATI C4. Woody has a cameo in the second one. Jeff has me convinced to run a 2.3 in my rear steer car when I get around to it. So now I’m looking for C4 cores.

I'd actually like to run one with the 6r80 in my trail rig.

I'm assuming those guys are buying mustang take outs?

 

[Grendel]

Same reason you can just go down the street and pick up a rust free 90s or older truck. Certain parts that are everywhere on that side of the country are scarce over here and visa versa.

There was mention of Summit Racing, as sourcing.

They're there.

 

[Sean]

There was mention of Summit Racing, as sourcing.

They're there.

Unfortunately for me, I don't think there are any OEM 60° GM V6 "High Value" to TH400 though. :( If anyone knows otherwise, please post up.

 

[Grendel]

Unfortunately for me, I don't think there are any OEM 60° GM V6 "High Value" to TH400 though. :( If anyone knows otherwise, please post up.

Much older, but AMC did 60 degree TH400's in the late 60's/70's in the Jeep/truck line.

Not sure we're finding one on Summit's shelves, but they were done.

 

[JR4X]

I'd actually like to run one with the 6r80 in my trail rig.

I'm assuming those guys are buying mustang take outs?

Low mileage Mustang take outs are $4500. Jeff has done some of those for other guys. For himself he’s been doing the ford performance 23T crate engine and putting a bunch of his own stuff on them.

2.3L HO MUSTANG ECOBOOST CRATE ENGINE KIT

2.3L HO MUSTANG ECOBOOST CRATE ENGINE KIT|Ford Performance Parts

performanceparts.ford.com

 

[benw]

Much older, but AMC did 60 degree TH400's in the late 60's/70's in the Jeep/truck line.

Not sure we're finding one on Summit's shelves, but they were done.

That would be BOP pattern not 60 degree.

 

[dirtzuk]

I ended up going with a volvo 2.3 T5 in my current portal buggy.. These motors can be found extremely cheap and they can be found in a 20 year span in cars and suv's .. Very good power to weight .. Extremely simple to wire stand alone with the stock (tuneable for free) ecu... I also really like the 2.3 ecoboost and ill likely do a build with one some day.. Ive always prefered inline motors but if I went v6 it would have been an LV3

 

[Grendel]

That would be BOP pattern not 60 degree.

Ah shit. Forgot it was a Buick 231 we dropped into it, in place of the Dauntless 225.

Well, screw that one.

 

[WaterH]

So I didn’t read every post, but did someone answer the question about a 4.3 having the same pattern as an LS for trans? I know the have adapter plates for an LS to go in my Delorean. I would be happy with 4.3 power in that thing. (Don’t have to worry about oil starvation in it.)

 

[benw]

I ended up going with a volvo 2.3 T5 in my current portal buggy.. These motors can be found extremely cheap and they can be found in a 20 year span in cars and suv's .. Very good power to weight .. Extremely simple to wire stand alone with the stock (tuneable for free) ecu... I also really like the 2.3 ecoboost and ill likely do a build with one some day.. Ive always prefered inline motors but if I went v6 it would have been an LV3

What trans works with this?

 

[dirtzuk]

What trans works with this?

Im running a r151f / ax15 hybrid behind mine with an adapter meant for a 1UZ manual swap.. But the volvo 960 bellhousing im using has a toyota/jeep aisin warner pattern so it would be very simple to run with an auto

 

[dirtzuk]

 

[dirtzuk]

 

[Bebop]

I mean, if we're spit ballin ideas...
Turbo VR6

 

[Grendel]

So I didn’t read every post, but did someone answer the question about a 4.3 having the same pattern as an LS for trans? I know the have adapter plates for an LS to go in my Delorean. I would be happy with 4.3 power in that thing. (Don’t have to worry about oil starvation in it.)

That is correct. A 4.3L has been every generation of GM SBC/LS/LT V8, with two cylinders cut off, to save on multiple architectures.

 

[BDK]

Watching.

I have a 60* 700R4 in my 1994 Explorer. When the 4.0 gets a little more tired, I'll be swapping in a GM V6 or a TDI.

 

[Bebop]

That is correct. A 4.3L has been every generation of GM SBC/LS/LT V8, with two cylinders cut off, to save on multiple architectures.

Not LS. I’d love a V6 LS but was never made.

 

[Treefrog]

Is there any reason to not use a 6l80e behind the LV1/LV3 since that was the factory setup?

If you want 300 hp, go get a small block.. Your choice of Ford or Chevy, we discriminate here.

 

[Hubbler]

FWIW, the LV1 is used as a spec engine for the pro-spec corr class. They're sold as a sealed package for like $9-10k with a standalone ecu & harness, 5qt aftermarket oil pan, & fead.

 

[chaplinfj60]

I ended up going with a volvo 2.3 T5 in my current portal buggy.. These motors can be found extremely cheap and they can be found in a 20 year span in cars and suv's .. Very good power to weight .. Extremely simple to wire stand alone with the stock (tuneable for free) ecu... I also really like the 2.3 ecoboost and ill likely do a build with one some day.. Ive always prefered inline motors but if I went v6 it would have been an LV3

that is a neat engine just reading some on it... inline 5 looks like decent power to weight for sure.

 

[Bebop]

FWIW, the LV1 is used as a spec engine for the pro-spec corr class. They're sold as a sealed package for like $9-10k with a standalone ecu & harness, 5qt aftermarket oil pan, & fead.

Can't find anywhere to buy it / any info. Do you have links?

 

[Grendel]

Not LS. I’d love a V6 LS but was never made.

Sorry, I meant GM stuck them anywhere a V8 would go. When they changed the bell housing depth, etc.

Like you can stick a 2009 6L80E on the back of a 2009 4.3L, etc.

 

[Bebop]

Sorry, I meant GM stuck them anywhere a V8 would go. When they changed the bell housing depth, etc.

Like you can stick a 2009 6L80E on the back of a 2009 4.3L, etc.

Absolutely. I gotcha.