I agree with this 100%


I also get the hand-me-down vibe. For the money you spend on the exhaust, intake, and tune, you can drop a 5.3 in it. and be faster than the modded 4.3. BUT.. if you want to keep the 4.3, and see what you can do with it... go for it

 

im going out to buy it but in that case ima look for a 4.8 v8 or 5.3 its just that theres not many single cab short box v8 silverados and if there is any ppl have raced the crap out of them but ima try to look for one

 

good move the ls engine is very durable and will take a beating.

 

I wouldn't worry about it they are pretty tough. Plus the platform is already there if you want to swap the engine later. Those 4.3's really are crap they have intake gasket problems, and the injector spider takes a dump. Those two things alone are enough to hate it.

 

I also get the hand-me-down vibe. For the money you spend on the exhaust, intake, and tune, you can drop a 5.3 in it. and be faster than the modded 4.3. BUT.. if you want to keep the 4.3, and see what you can do with it... go for it [/QUOTE]

Well, I was going to suggest a swap as well, but... he DID ask what he could do to mod the 4.3. I'd hate to scare the new kid off with information that he wasn't asking for. I do enjoy putting down 8.80's on my 2.8 Colorado though, while I finish my LS build. So, I can't say a bigger shot 4.3 wouldn't be fun. You might could handle a few random V8's with it.


OP, I agree 100% with your decision to go with a 4.8/5.3 truck. You'll be happy that you went that route.

 

I was on the same boat, i wouldn't spend cash on the 4.3 trying to make it fast, its way more $ for what its worth, the best mod for your buck is a 4.8/5.3
Look at your junkyards, the whole motor with harness will run about 400-800. I don't wanna discourage, i just don't want you to be spending cash and not be happy. I did the swap my self, not hard just need alot of pacience, if you ever decide to go this route and have questions just PM me and ill gladly help

 

Yes, find a 4.8/5.3L and you will be happy.

 

throwing this out there, the 2000+ chevys are overall one of the most teenager proof trucks out there...their only real fragile part is the 4l60 trannys, they don't like the RPMs associated with full throttle burn outs but they're pretty cheap to replace/fix as far as a modern truck goes

 

I can't stand the 4.3 in the fullsize trucks. It's best left in the mini's.

 

Yeah I have to agree with everyone else... I have a 4.3 in an 09 sliverado and as everyone else has said get rid of the 4.3... ls powa is the way to go I'm hopeing to save enough money so I can get a 6.2 for mine