I wanna join someone swap for me ill give you beer.

We still dont have any that have been converted from the 3.0. No I do not volunteer to be the first.

Not to ruin the party guys, but to be honest my parents have a 4.3 Vortec in their GMC Jimmy and they had it since new. I personally would rather take my Mitsu 3.5L V6 with over 100k miles on it than their Vortec when it was brand new. Why? B/c they have seen the repair shop with that new Vortec for little problems here and there much more often than I have with my 115k Mitsu engine. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

Sure the 4.3 has more power, but I would rather have less power in conjunction with longevity and durability. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

BTW: I guess this means I am banned from the club automatically then <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/oink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rodent.gif" alt="" />

The flipside to that is that when the 3.5L does start having problems they're usually 1)BIG problems that will be 2)costly and 3)labor intensive. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Scottie,

No problem.
That 1994 4.3 vortec I'm using will be in and out of the shop for the rest of it's career.

...not unlike its current situation!

The Mitsu's been in the shop so many times already that I've lost count:
Re-arc rear leafs, and add one extra leaf,
Replace radiator 3x,
Add over-size ATF cooler,
Add rocker skids,
Remove rocker skids and install new rocker skid design,
Torsion bar adjust and wheel alignment,
Replace front center-link,
Re-wire extra fuse box,
Add CB in-dash,
Replace Mitsu oil gauge with Autometer gauge,
Blown 2.6 head-gasket 6x,
Full 2.6 re-build 2x,
Carburetor headache #1 - #20, and counting,
...and the list never ends!

Actually, I'll suggest it may depend on WHO is involved in the care and maintenance of the engine. And the engine's just one more detail where known weaknesses require you to carry spares. And they're way easier to find.

I doubt the 4.3 will give me as much pain as the 2.6L engine has over the past 18 years, and even if it does, at 2x the torque and the lower crawl gears, I think I can live with it!

I'm actually looking forward to spending time in the shop with the new set-up!

When you own an 16 to 20 year old truck in the shop is its normal state.. Till you get it stabilized.

Then hopfully it only visits the shop for checkups and mods.

My new Raider is gettng the top to bottom cleanup / freshenup, starting wth brakes and suspension.

Every bushing on the front end, leaf spring bushings, tie rods all get replaced. The motor will get a teardown for inspection.

Any of the engines discussed can be made to work properly and reliably.

A 4.3 is nice because its hard to beat displacment and GM has done a lot of refinment to reduce engine friction and get good power out of a pushrod design.

The 3.5 is nice as well. Four valve per cly and a bunch of modern fearures, like a one piece bearing cpa put it up on the hgh tech modern list.

The 2.6... Well its an old design using old tech (the 4.3 has a similar situation with its valve layout) but it's at least a hemi. Its small is displacment but has a very easy rout to go turbo. It is a long stroke motor so its does ok for torque (for its size) and a lot better wth the turbo.

I would be happy wth any one of these in good condition in my SWB. I already own the 2.6, so it makes sens to stay with it.

Kevin

Well maybe in place of the smaller gen I engines I can see the trade off, but we had a 91 Montero with the 3.0L V6 and it ran 213k miles with just about nothing but normal service (oil changes, brakes, and tires mostly). We did a T belt service at 120k but that was it. I am just saying that through our experiences with Monteros vs my parents current GM vehicle, the GM vehicle definately loved spending time in the shop instead of on the road, and that was with only 60k miles, not 213k. I would take a Mitsu over GM anyday <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />

but is a a mitsu if its got a GM engine? i think the swappers may have to do some soul searching... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cyclops.gif" alt="" />

Scottie,

So far I think it's only the 2.6L rigs that have been getting the 4.3L GM...

This isn't about "perfect reliability", it's about "capability", and "future usefullness".
Once you take any vehicle into a heavy off-road environment (like I do with mine), shop-time is a fact of life. Mostly it's preventative or upgrades.

This is not about which engine will be better throughout the life of a typical family hauler.

It is about what makes you happy! There is no rational explanation to do any of this other than its fun or you get a feeling of accomplishment from having something unique.

Kevin