Re: What issues should I expect to convert from a 4.3 to a v8
Windedv6 said:
To run low 11s or high 10s you willl be maxing a stock converted 4 bolt block and stock crank. You can get there it just won't be dependable in the long run. To do a bowtie block and billet crank build the right way... figure $15k+, if you can even get the parts. You can make the same power in a v8 block cheaper and by not pushing it as hard it will be more dependable. The custom parts will cost you some extra, but headers, intake, etc are easier to come by for the V8 and not any more costly than for the v6. The issue is that you will have to track most everything down yourself vs the proven receipies of the syty board for the 4.3.
My advice is unless you want to go all out and spend a year and alot of dollars to only enjoy your Ty on the special occaisons (vs a more semi daily driver), do a typical proven build and enjoy driving your Ty.
converted 4 bolt block
treated stock crank
Eagle rods
JE/srp pistons
vortec heads
412 or 415 cam
stock style intake
50 or 75# injectors
upgraded fuel pump
Alky kit
GTQ67 or simular turbo
Waller 700r trans and converter
Phil Long, Waller or other good chip
New poly bushings and moog suspension rebuild parts
A rear sway bar and cal tracks
hydroboost kit.
Enjoy a wonderfull mid 11 sec truck that you can drive anywhere and at any time while saving your money.
I promise you that you will have a great time driving your truck, your resale value will be better for what you will have in it than a full out build that you will keep working on more than you will drive it. Also you will not need to spend 5k+ on a 4l80 trans setup as the 700r4 will be all you need.
If you want to chase the fastest on the board and go all out then you will need to spend twice as much as your ty is worth or more. Everyone will all congratulate you on you efforts and watch you spend your money. Someone will always come by and be faster no matter how fast you go. And the the biggy thing that you need to know is that most of us fast guys tune our trucks down on the street anyway. Our max times are custom bred for the strip. With pump gas and lower boost we are barely faster than anyone running the above reciept. We just are overbuilding everything to turn it up for the occaisional race day...usually just to see if we can beat an old record one more time and while hoping not to break again.
How do I know...because I got addicted to it and couldn't quit. Looking back I recall putting about 8k miles on my Ty the first year when I bought it new. I have since put about half that on in the last 13+ years.
Take it from me...these trucks are fun to drive. Spend $10K and have fun...or spend $30k and barely drive it. In the recent years, with the input and efforts of many on this board, we have come very far towards perfecting these trucks into a decently reliable, fantactic performing, 15 year old vehicle that still turns heads of most every car/truck enthustist. The receipe above is probably the most popular for the dollars spent because of reliablity vs performance. It gets a Sy in the tens and a Ty in the mid 11s. As the Larry the Cable Guy would say "now that's fast right there...I don't care what anyone says"!
Sorry for the rant everyone. I love my trucks, but I often wish I would have stopped years ago and just enjoy driving more.
John
LISTEN to John.....he really knows what he`s talking about (owning two of the finest,
fastest Typhoons on this site, and also modding/owning a Syclone). Parts are a major concern nowdays
as exhaust manifolds, cast iron bowtie blocks, steel cranks, and such are rare (and
thus cost a fortune if located). No doubt you can go custom on some of these items
but then thats $$$$.
Not mentioned in many posts are the emissions/certiifcation testing (required by
lots of states)....the cost of race gas (so plan on alky, meth, or such to provide
detonation prevention)...suspension mods to handle the increase power....wheels
and tires (there are threads on this site listing the cost of larger tires) ....the breakage
of parts ....not to mention a good engine tuning/management system.
And SyTy vendors are far and few between (Ken Bell, ATR, and a bunch more
have gone bye-bye) due to low production numbers of these trucks. Magazines
(other than GMHTP) never cover these trucks due to their advertising sponsors revenue.
Sadly most vehicles listed for sale are partially modified (or broken) vehicles that
owners lost money, time, and expertise in finishing. A stock (or stock appearing)
vehicle will always have more buyer interest than an unproven, one-of-a-kind
SyTy (in my opinion), especially one with good documentation and low mileage.
But even these are not immune to price drops, as maintenance must be performed
or seals, corrosion, vacuum leaks, and rust will kill stored trucks as well (and
GM didnt do these trucks any favors with their painting process which fades rapidly).
Lastly, trends change dramatically in the hi-perf industry. While the 4L80 tranny, ball bearing
turbo, a2a IC, STUFF or FAST, and Disk Brakes from Corvettes (or Wilwood or Baer)
are now popular, 5 years ago members were experimenting with ultimate chip/3-bar,
shurflo pumps, blade-of-death IC scoup, fiberglass springs, and stock turbo porting
(my point is that these items were considered costly-state-of-the-art then and now
are bit normal/routine/cheap). Im sure E85 and some other technology will be "hot" in the
future (and thus make the current highly modded trend devalued as compared to
a lightly/stockish truck). So your high dollar parts become 50 cents on the dollar (if that).
We (as a group) used to draw 95+ trucks at SyTy events (in the old days). Now
were lucky to get 50 (and if you talk with the other 35 attendees without trucks, their "working"
on getting theirs to run as something is always broken, missing, or in-the-state-of repair).
Be prepared to buy a trailor (for insurance against being stranded).
Finally, a broken down "fast truck" by the roadside is a gift for thiefs/theft
(the cladding alone is worth 4-5K). If your not a car vendor (or business that can
write off the expenses) then simply enjoy your truck in a sensable affordable manor.
Or be prepared to join the ranks of the broke, frustrated, just-one-more-part,
sleep-on-the-couch (because you spent both your and her "play money") owner
of one-of-those-fast-corvette trucks (another myth of many that half the ignorant population
believes) that stays in the garage 60% of the time. Given the Big 3 are making
fast production model vehicles today....you`ll be hard pressed to be "competitive"
on the street with a 15 year old SyTy against supercharged, awd, twin-turbo`d trucks,
corvettes, mustangs, cameros, or chargers (not too mention $$$ for insurance,
court tickets, and the risk of vehicle seizure). The flip side is that NHRA is
always increasing their rules to maintain safety so to be competitive and race
means sacrificing interior room, comfort, driveability, and ease.
Again, others will disagree, but listen to John.
-Larry
