4.3L Vortec vs. 283 SBC

[Brauap]

Hello! I found a deal on a 93 s10 with a blown motor and I have 2 motors I can use as a swap, a stock 4.3L Vortec and a modified 283 SBC (cam, 650 4bbl Holly, Edelbrock Intake, Headers, .60 overbore, etc.)

I'm liking the 283, however, I never had either motor in a vehicle and I do not know the adverage mpg for either vehicle...

Which motor do you think would be better for overall around town.. but also be pretty cool?? I can't make up my mind!!

Thank You!
Colton W.

[brian76708]

Originally posted by Brauap
Hello! I found a deal on a 93 s10 with a blown motor and I have 2 motors I can use as a swap, a stock 4.3L Vortec and a modified 283 SBC (cam, 650 4bbl Holly, Edelbrock Intake, Headers, .60 overbore, etc.)

I'm liking the 283, however, I never had either motor in a vehicle and I do not know the adverage mpg for either vehicle...

Which motor do you think would be better for overall around town.. but also be pretty cool?? I can't make up my mind!!

Thank You!
Colton W.

if you going to do something other then what came with it you might as well do a 5.3 or 5.7 IMO they will get the same mpgs if not better then what was in it more then likely at least thats what a lot of the guys with 4.3 that do a v8 swap say. the biggest issue with the swap is cooling at least with the newer ones but i think the swaps even easier in the first gens like yours but not positive. check out s10forum.com lot of good info there

[CJM]

Dont bother with the 283, drop in a 350 and be done with it. very common swap and tons of info for it.

[Brauap]

But I am looking for the cheapest route.. I already have the 283.. and I am not sure if I can afford the mpgs.. what kinda mpg could I expect if I swap my 283 in? My 4.3? What does the stock 2.5 I4 get?

[brian76708]

Originally posted by Brauap
But I am looking for the cheapest route.. I already have the 283.. and I am not sure if I can afford the mpgs.. what kinda mpg could I expect if I swap my 283 in? My 4.3? What does the stock 2.5 I4 get?

just find a 2.5 to put back in if thats what came in it and you want cheap as possible and it will be the easiest. not sure on mpgs for that motor though. but if you swap any other motor the 350 is going to be the next cheapest and one of the least complicated since its so common these days. Also they are pretty dam cheap and i have heard of people getting nearly 20mpg with there in 4x4 s10s.

[trailrider894]

They will all get under 23mpg... the 283 will get less...

[PaRedneckRiders]

Ya id just find a decent 350 with a 5spd or even 383 with a 5spd and drop in it

Way better than the 4.3 or the 283 would be, but u may have some weak points just like most s10s with a v8 swap
Which is axles and driveshafts unless u change them for something a little more suited for the power

[chucked]

I LOVE when someone tell me they want to put a v8 in something and the word "economical" is said at ANY point in time.

[CJM]

Originally posted by chucked
I LOVE when someone tell me they want to put a v8 in something and the word "economical" is said at ANY point in time.

Small truck that weighs very little with powerful engine gets good mpg IF you keep your foot out of it.

[chucked]

Yea, no one puts a v8 in something and does that lol!

[beags86]

283.. way cooler... and it will get some decent mpgs. then as soon as you can spare some money get yourself a fuel injection kit, or get a tpi off a late 80s camaro. then sit back and enjoy 25 mpg....

[Ruby Soho]

buy a truck thats ready to drive and be done with it?

[trailrider894]

if you do get a 350 or something like that, make sure its not an R engine it needs to be an LS. The R's were made in the 90's and get literally 1mph.... my old Monza Spyder gets like 10mpg... its a killer on the wallet but i wouldn't replace that engine for nothing. Afterall that fuel is going somewhere....

[CJM]

Originally posted by trailrider894
if you do get a 350 or something like that, make sure its not an R engine it needs to be an LS. The R's were made in the 90's and get literally 1mph.... my old Monza Spyder gets like 10mpg... its a killer on the wallet but i wouldn't replace that engine for nothing. Afterall that fuel is going somewhere....

I dont think you really know to much about chevy engines.

The most common swap is an L69, LB9 or most commonly an L98 out of a camaro/FB/TA, vortec 5.0 or 5.7L aka L31 or if you want carb'd engines you want a LM1. If you want top of the line fuel injection its either LT1 or LS1. All of the older engines will bolt up, some need an adapter but they all work and with very little effort too.

What engine are you talking about, cause I have never heard of an R code except maybe late 70's totally detuned junk ones that are LF4 engines totally killed for emmissions. They are basically junk.

Overall mpg should be tossed out the window here, you stuff a v8 even a 283 into it you wont get good mpg. You want mpg buy a civic or put a 4cyl in your truck.

[trailrider894]

Originally posted by CJM
I dont think you really know to much about chevy engines.

The most common swap is an L69, LB9 or most commonly an L98 out of a camaro/FB/TA, vortec 5.0 or 5.7L aka L31 or if you want carb'd engines you want a LM1. If you want top of the line fuel injection its either LT1 or LS1. All of the older engines will bolt up, some need an adapter but they all work and with very little effort too.

What engine are you talking about, cause I have never heard of an R code except maybe late 70's totally detuned junk ones that are LF4 engines totally killed for emmissions. They are basically junk.

Overall mpg should be tossed out the window here, you stuff a v8 even a 283 into it you wont get good mpg. You want mpg buy a civic or put a 4cyl in your truck.

Well, My Dad is a 25yr ASE Certified Master Tech For GM and has the GM Mark of Excellence for 10 years, so i am pretty sure my information is more than valid. I am not familiar with whatever swaps people do in s10 and stuff, just what i have. The engine i have that is an R code is from a 95 Silverado. I also own a 96 Suburban with an R code. It says clearly in the V.I.N if you have an R or not.

[feuerstack411]

I had a s10 with the 4.3. The 4.3 got TERRIBLE TERRIBLE TERRIBLE TERRIBLE gas mileage.

[YFZ-FoFiddy-TC]

Originally posted by chucked
I LOVE when someone tell me they want to put a v8 in something and the word "economical" is said at ANY point in time.

Funny because I laugh when people buy a V6 camaro or mustang and say they bought it for gas mileage....... The V8's get better mileage.

[trailrider894]

Originally posted by YFZ-FoFiddy-TC
Funny because I laugh when people buy a V6 camaro or mustang and say they bought it for gas mileage....... The V8's get better mileage.

LS1 Trans AM gets around 27mpg on the highway.

[CJM]

Ah R code vin, that makes more sense.

Was probably an L31, however looking up "R" code vin it denotes back to an L81 corvette engine which was a pos. I could be wrong.

[chucked]

I never said it would get bad mileage. A v8 swap requires lots of money. I put a v8 in an s10 before

[YFZ-FoFiddy-TC]

Originally posted by trailrider894
LS1 Trans AM gets around 27mpg on the highway.

That's my point. '02 LS T/A gets 28 while the V6 gets 24.

[chucked]

My 4.3 and 5.7 s10s both got a little over 20 mpg, driving normal with a 3.08 rear. Both engines were stock

[trailrider894]

Originally posted by chucked
My 4.3 and 5.7 s10s both got a little over 20 mpg, driving normal with a 3.08 rear. Both engines were stock

Yeah my 5.7 has 2:53's so it hauls around town which i think is probably why my gas mileage is so bad. It would be better if i had 3:?? somethings. I rock on the highway though.

[chucked]

No, a higher gear ratio gives you worse fuel economy

[trailrider894]

Originally posted by chucked
No, a higher gear ratio gives you worse fuel economy

trust me on this... Driving in the city is near impossible its a highway car.

[chucked]

Oh ok I understand. Engine is straining in stop and go. 3.73s would be a good medium. Thats probably most popular.

[CJM]

Originally posted by chucked
No, a higher gear ratio gives you worse fuel economy

This totally depends on the engine, vehicle and tires your turning.

Usually lower gear sets with small tires get good mpg. EX: 95 F150 straight six with 3.08 gears. Its gutless but you get mpg, swap to 3.55 and its much better at the cost of mpg.

Best gears for most uses on a V8 car is 2.73, 3.08, 3.55, 3.73, 3.90 3.91, 3.93, 4.10/4.11 etc. It depends on the make and model of the rear, but those are the general list of best to worst mpg with power increasing for in town driving/towing.

As an example: a 4.10 gear set in a truck is a good thing if you tow or like power. On highway it tends to scream a bit. Whereas most mustangs, camaros, etc use a 2.73, or 3.08 rears usually.

In trailriders case a 2.53 rear is way to low a gear to run as it gives you all highway power.

heres some good info: http://www.thirdgen.org/gears

[trailrider894]

Originally posted by CJM
This totally depends on the engine, vehicle and tires your turning.

Usually lower gear sets with small tires get good mpg. EX: 95 F150 straight six with 3.08 gears. Its gutless but you get mpg, swap to 3.55 and its much better at the cost of mpg.

Best gears for most uses on a V8 car is 2.73, 3.08, 3.55, 3.73, 3.90 3.91, 3.93, 4.10/4.11 etc. It depends on the make and model of the rear, but those are the general list of best to worst mpg with power increasing for in town driving/towing.

As an example: a 4.10 gear set in a truck is a good thing if you tow or like power. On highway it tends to scream a bit. Whereas most mustangs, camaros, etc use a 2.73, or 3.08 rears usually.

In trailriders case a 2.53 rear is way to low a gear to run as it gives you all highway power.

heres some good info: http://www.thirdgen.org/gears

thank you. I do mostly all street driving and the occasional highway, but with a 5 speed, i run about 2000rpm in 4th gr at 55.... ha ha so thats just nearly an enitre gear off...

[CJM]

Thats quite high, whats really killing you is if it is a 4 speed you dont have an overdrive really.

You might want to see if you can throw a 5 speed in it from say a camaro/TA/FB from the 80's.

Sadly most GM vehicles were automatics, they made very few sticks.