Technical Carb/manifold/ dist combo for chevy 4.3

I have a OT 4.3 in my 40 Ford. I'm toying with hopping up the engine and don't want to try to hot rod the TBI.

I saw a guy out my way last summer that had a Model A with a carbureted 4.3 so I know it's been done. Who has suggestions on how to do it. Please don't tell me to put in a SBC. I have been scolded already.

 

mid 80s Astro vans had a Quadrajet, and HEI. they were computer controlled. but you can change the module in the HEI to make it work right, and use an older Qjet carb, on that intake.Or spend money on an aftermarket intake, carb, and distributor.

 

Did the computer controlled HEI have centrifugal advance?

 

Some did...some didn't.

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/d...=Search_02780_1027864_3090&pt=02780&ppt=C0334

make sure you use a 4 pin module in it. Also make sure you connect the pickup wires to the module in the correct order, if you reverse them it will kind of run but not very well.

 

This is interesting!

 

I built one for a '37 Hudson project and used an Edelbrock manifold and carb with a proform HEI unit. It ran good and made about 200HP. The stock 4.3 is a great engine, I had one in a 2001 GMC pick up and put 300K miles on it with no issues.

 

The first year or 2 of Astro van had 4bbl. and large dist. 85-86

 

I am working on a 4.3, but it is not running yet.
I located a 6 cyl, HEI with vacuume advance, changed the module to a 4 pin unit.
I made an adapter to to fit a Holey 4412 500cfm 2 bbl to the aluminum throttle body manifold.
The manifold has lots of area and could be modified with a die grinder to take a 4 bbl with an adapter.

 

The factory Q jet manifold seems quite rare. I have only see two, on full size 1500 PU,s, and they were cast iron, although I was told an aluminum factory Q Jet unit was available.
The Throttle body manifold is aluminum, soft and easy to modify.

 

Check out used boat parts. 4.3 still in use today and most all are 4 bbl carb with HEI. Boaters repower boats all the time or fail to winterize and crack the block or heads. Then they sell off these cracked motors dirt cheap.
Called "Mercruser" but they are just Chevy motors.

 

Volvo and Mercruser, both used the Chev 4.3 engine for I/O marine engines.
Volvo used a 4 bl manifold and a Holley 4160 carb. It had a small distributor, without vacuum advance. Not sure if a HEI would fit.

 

There are non-computer controlled HEI's for the 4.3.
Edelbrock makes a nice "carburetor" intake manifold.
Both Edelbrock and Chevy have various cams available. I'd guess most of the cam grinders do also.
GM has several different cylinder heads depending on the power you want.

Sometime back I had a 4.3 in my 67 Chevy II. That car was a lot of fun. I tested many different combinations of parts over the years on that car. Even put some hurt on some Chevy and Ford V-8's..!

Mike

 

I was staring at the top of that manifold myself, wondering if I could open it up and add a plate to take a Q-jet or 2 GC or some small Holley 2 or 4 barrel. This is good information for sure.

I was on Jegs or Summit (I don't remember which) and was looking at the Edelbrock manifolds but there was a note with one of them saying it wouldn't accept an automotive carb.I was wondering what that meant. I do need to call them and ask.

 

Edlebrock makes both manifolds for the old style 4.3 ( #2111 ) and the vortec headed ones (#2114) ( have to know what year motor is and what type of heads due to head bolt pattern ) . they have many racing classes for them in roundy round and you can find them occassionally on e bay or craigslist . the manifold you were probably looking at was the aluminum replacement for the TBI motor (#3713) and the manifold will not accept a carb due to the bolt patern of the TBI units , it was purposely done like this to prevent people from changing over to a carb for emissions regs ..

 

Hey, where do you get off in stating facts and clarifying the situation????

Thanks!

 

Ok fine , I'll be like the guy at autozone , Nope don't make it never did ....

 

I hope you knew I was yanking your chain Stimpy! That was a lot of helpful information !!

 

thats what the smileys are for ... no problem for helping , have to say a 4 bbl and headers on a 4.3 90 really wakes them up , you'll have some fun .

 

I'm using a 4.3 in my '27 Ford modified, it has a 4 barrel intake and a Chev V-8 dist.
thats been converted to a 6 cylinder configuration . Jim Linder did the modification
to a standard V-8 points distributor. He installed a 6 cyl. reluctor and full electronic
guts, really a nice conversion and came fully tested for peak performance.
Jim is a H.A.M.B.er and can be found at Bubba's Hot Rod Shop , at the Indy. speedway.
He's a great guy to do business with.

............................. Jack