Topic: Moving to the dark side

[Jeffy]

With the 4.3 swap, you still plan to use a Jeep tranny, the AW4?  Would the GM tranny be better? They have 4-spOD autos and bolt right behind the engine. The 4.3 was in many GM trucks as well as the 4-spOD auto with a driver's drop NP231 behind it.  Though not a Jeep NP231, but a GM NP231 with slip yoke. There isn't much following for a SYE for them, but H&T should work. Or look at doubling or other options on the tcase?

You could look at adapting the Jeep tcase to the GM trans or Jeep trans/tcase to the GM engine.

How about a 3.9l Dodge V6 as an option? They are in the fullsize trucks as well as the Dakotas.

AW4's a robust transmission.  The normal transmission for a 4.3L Vortec would be either a 700R4 or a 4L60E.  They're 4-speeds so he wouldn't be gaining anything with then really.  Although 700's and 4L60's can be built to handle some huge HP.

There is a huge aftermarket for the 4.3L compared to the 3.9L Dodge.  Like the 2.5L to the 4.0L/4.2L the 4.3L is a 5.7L with two cylinders lopped off.  Probably the easiest to swap in is a pre-OBDII but stick with early to mid 90's.  If you go OBDII then you have to make sure you don't get one with an immobilizer.  My favorite was the 1992-2 GMC Syclone and Typhoon which ran a TPI Vortec with a turbocharger.  They were making 291-296hp.  Sub-5 second 0-60.

Although if you're going to go that route it would be better to go with a L05 swap and keep it stock.  I really like the L05's.  basic 5.7L V8.  Go with a TBI pre-vortec to keep it simple...

[oldjeep]

With the 4.3 swap, you still plan to use a Jeep tranny, the AW4?  Would the GM tranny be better? They have 4-spOD autos and bolt right behind the engine. The 4.3 was in many GM trucks as well as the 4-spOD auto with a driver's drop NP231 behind it.  Though not a Jeep NP231, but a GM NP231 with slip yoke. There isn't much following for a SYE for them, but H&T should work. Or look at doubling or other options on the tcase?
You could look at adapting the Jeep tcase to the GM trans or Jeep trans/tcase to the GM engine.
How about a 3.9l Dodge V6 as an option? They are in the fullsize trucks as well as the Dakotas.

Already have the AW4 and it's fully manual shifting with my thumb - no way to do that with the GM autos.

As for the 4.3L, they are cheap and plentiful with easy parts availability.

[oldjeep]

AW4's a robust transmission.  The normal transmission for a 4.3L Vortec would be either a 700R4 or a 4L60E.  They're 4-speeds so he wouldn't be gaining anything with then really.  Although 700's and 4L60's can be built to handle some huge HP.

There is a huge aftermarket for the 4.3L compared to the 3.9L Dodge.  Like the 2.5L to the 4.0L/4.2L the 4.3L is a 5.7L with two cylinders lopped off.  Probably the easiest to swap in is a pre-OBDII but stick with early to mid 90's.  If you go OBDII then you have to make sure you don't get one with an immobilizer.  My favorite was the 1992-2 GMC Syclone and Typhoon which ran a TPI Vortec with a turbocharger.  They were making 291-296hp.  Sub-5 second 0-60.

Although if you're going to go that route it would be better to go with a L05 swap and keep it stock.  I really like the L05's.  basic 5.7L V8.  Go with a TBI pre-vortec to keep it simple...

I'm looking at the 94-95  W vin engine.  OBD1 and makes the best power of the available engines.  Pretty sure that is the same motor that Nutter runs in his.

[oldjeep]

good luck.. my DD is my future donor vehicle for my 4.3lswap... sure its only the tbi version but we paid $2400 for it 7 years ago so by now i consider that free parts when the body rusts beyond DDbility (about 4 or so years down the road)...

1 thing ive learned from my dad is that planing can go on for ever.... we have a cj2a in our backyard and a front d44 and ford 9inch rear for it + a t18 and rebuilt 4.3l in our garage, + the stock suspension from our 06 Rubicon... and its been at that point for about 4 years now.... but i have a strong felling your swap / build will progress allot faster.

It'll take a while to accumulate the parts.  I'll probabally just buy a wrecked 94-95 Jimmy/Blazer/Bravada so I can remove the motor, computer and harness myself.  Then I'll need a conversion radiator, set of guages, motor mounts and the trans adapter.

I figure once all the parts are in the garage that it's about a 2 weekend job to get the majority of it done.