![1994 chevy truck s 10 pick up v6 4.3l 1994 chevy truck s 10 pick up v6 4.3l](http://smclassiccars.com/uploads/postfotos/1994-sport-43l-vortec-used-43l-v6-12v-automatic-rwd-pickup-truck-premium-9.jpg)
![1994 chevy truck s 10 pick up v6 4.3l 1994 chevy truck s 10 pick up v6 4.3l](https://carbuyingandselling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2010-S10.jpg)
The engine continued to be used in other pickups, vans, and SUVs (although it had been phased out of most of GM's car line-up), and by mid-decade the Vortec family had finally expanded to cover the small block V8.
![1994 chevy truck s 10 pick up v6 4.3l 1994 chevy truck s 10 pick up v6 4.3l](https://images.autoauctionhistory.com/uploads/8y0gFQDgsDnAAIpxDkbeh73yvJe4SriJH93SMehBZQRt8sN6zi4lgbD4DpK9bTmkO679KUQM0dIDzAqQKtZeBkCg7U8rP6ZSksL4uUhNTXzwlKAFcmsVD157648IgtfcmThM17UU1Q/chevrolet-s-10-1GCCS14X538105434.jpg)
Even apart from the Syclone and Typhoon, Chevrolet and GMC were able to deliver a number of unique performance models that leveraged the 4.3's power gap over the Ranger. This was a major move for the S10 and S15, as its main rival, the Ford Ranger was stuck at the 145hp mark with its own 4.0L six-cylinder. This heavily reworked version of the LB4 would delivery 280hp and 360 lb-ft of torque, and it would be available until 1993 in the GMC Typhoon SUV, which was based on the S15 Jimmy.įor naturally-aspirated trucks, a balance shaft was installed in 1992 in order to reduce vibration at higher speeds, followed closely by a central port injection system that would boost output to as much as 200 horses and 260 lb-ft of torque. In the early '90s, General Motors would make several changes to the 4.3 to keep it competitive with other six-cylinder truck motors that had begun to populate the market (such as Jeep's 4.0L I6 that was on the verge of its 'high output' model).Ī unique turbocharged 4.3L V6 would debut in 1991 in the low-production GMC Syclone. Gaining 50 ponies and, more importantly, 70 lb-ft of torque, would help the S10 and the S15 add a new dimension of utility to the mix. Previously, their respective small pickups had been restricted to the rought-and-tumble 2.8L version of the previous-generation GM six-cylinder, which provided a mere 110hp when the model launched. This was an important move for Chevrolet and GMC. It was around this time that the smaller members of the Chevrolet and GMC truck family-the compact S10 and S15 pickups, as well as their Blazer and Jimmy equivalents-would graduate to the 4.3L V6. The following year throttle-body models would gain an extra 10 horsepower, and by 1987 the truck version of the 4.3 had graduated to a 160hp version of the same fuel injection setup. For a time, even the El Camino would feature a 4.3L option. A throttle-body injection system was also available in a less-impressive 130hp LB4 tune in full-size cars like the Chevrolet Caprice and the Monte Carlo coupe, as well as their Pontiac (the Parisienne and Grand Prix) equivalents. Initially, the carbureted LB1 unit was rated at 155hp and 230 lb-ft of torque, and would be offered in Chevrolet and GMC full-size pickups as well as vans. The larger bore of the 4.3 would help it push past previous GM V6 engines in terms of performance. GM also began to advertise a new air/fuel mixing method using a 'vortex' inside the combustion chamber that it would brand 'Vortec.' Eventually, all of GM's truck motors would fall under the 'Vortec' banner that the 4.3 was introduced under. The engine was converted to an even-fire setup, matching that of the V8, with an external balancer. There were a few key differences that separated the 4.3 from previous GM V6s. This would allow the entire family of engines to move forward and evolve together through time, and the motors even shared the same main bearings, cam bearings, pistons, and valvetrain. This was an inspired decision on the part of the General, as not only did it have almost a quarter of a century of experience with the small block's architecture (including production, design, and maintenance), but it also linked the V6 to the V8 in terms of design. That's because its bore and stroke are a perfect match for the 350 cubic inch version of Chevrolet's legendary small block V8, leading some to call the six-cylinder a '3/4' version of the SBC. The Old, Familiar FeelingĪt first glance, the specs on the 4.3 V6 feel familiar. What made the 4.3L V6 such an enduring engine, and one that still today has thousands of dedicated enthusiasts working together to support a thriving community? The answer lies in GM's clever decision to build on its past success by bridging the old and the new in a simple, yet well-engineered solution. The Chevrolet/GMC 4.3L V6, which first appeared in 1985, became the backbone of the automaker's small truck and SUV lines, and it would continue to evolve for the next three decades as engine controls and designs became increasingly sophisticated. While the small block Chevy and its LS successor might get all of the glory, there's another motor from General Motors that deserves just as much praise in the truck world. The History Of GM's 4.3 Vortec V6, The King Of Compact Truck Motors