Race/Street Engine Builder for Chevy 4.3 V6 (6/8's of V8)?

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Thu Jan 05, 2012 7:36 pm

A co worker is looking for a good engine builder to create a "street race" Chevy 4.3 V6. I'm not sure what he means by "street race". Hopefully a "street driven" "race performance" level of prep compared to stock. Vehicle is a much modified and lowered, etc. small Chevy truck.

I don't know if he could handle a "Dennis Shaw" type of budget or lead time. Are there any other trustworthy engine builders around here that know Chevy's? As I understand it the 4.3 is pretty much a small block Chevy with 2 cylinders "missing" on purpose.

Thanks,

Dick

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Thu Jan 05, 2012 7:49 pm

I'm simply not sure why you'd do that when a "real" SB Chevy will fit in there just fine and there are kits to solve every part of the swap. *shrug*

But if anyone does performance builds of the 4.3, I'd bet you can just buy a pre-built one, too, just like with every other Chevy engine out there.

--Donnie

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:06 pm

Donnie Barnes wrote:

I'm simply not sure why you'd do that when a "real" SB Chevy will fit in there just fine and there are kits to solve every part of the swap. *shrug*

But if anyone does performance builds of the 4.3, I'd bet you can just buy a pre-built one, too, just like with every other Chevy engine out there.

--Donnie

Donnie,

Beats me too . . . but a crate engine makes lots of sense . . . maybe even directly from GM.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:10 pm

http://www.carolinaautomasters.com/

i know they tune, but do they build?

Bernie Baake · **Posted:** Fri Jan 06, 2012 9:39 am

steve remchak wrote:

http://www.carolinaautomasters.com/

i know they tune, but do they build?

No they don't build engines, But the builder they send their work out to is Charlie Hemphill. He was the builder for all of Rick Hendricks late model cars for many years. He also builds for drag racers now. His last six cylinder build produced 460 hp @420 ft/lbs on a chevy straight six. But he isn't cheap, he's comperable to crate engine prices with more hp for the buck. Go to CAM and they'll set him up with Charlie.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Fri Jan 06, 2012 10:21 am

Thanks Steve and Bernie!

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Not an answer to your question, but related interesting article:

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/engi ... ewall.html

I read this a while back while I was getting to know the 4.3 in my boat.

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

Bernie Baake wrote:

steve remchak wrote:

http://www.carolinaautomasters.com/

i know they tune, but do they build?

No they don't build engines, But the builder they send their work out to is Charlie Hemphill. He was the builder for all of Rick Hendricks late model cars for many years. He also builds for drag racers now. His last six cylinder build produced 460 hp @420 ft/lbs on a chevy straight six. But he isn't cheap, he's comperable to crate engine prices with more hp for the buck. Go to CAM and they'll set him up with Charlie.

I talked to Charlie before building my engine from Bernie's recommendation. In retrospect the little amount of money I managed to save was probably not worth the amount of effort that went into it.

I noticed Bernie you have some dyno numbers now on your signature, is that with the new heads?

Bernie Baake · **Posted:** Fri Jan 06, 2012 7:41 pm

Yeah. I got the new heads put on but they didn't produce like I had hoped. Only about fifteen hp. I guess I'll have to get it super charged next.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Fri Jan 06, 2012 11:50 pm

My co worker has located a source of 4.3 performance stuff including engines set up to be similar to the Syclone/Typhoon turbo versions. It will be interesting to see what he decides to do.

Thanks,

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

Bernie Baake wrote:

Yeah. I got the new heads put on but they didn't produce like I had hoped. Only about fifteen hp. I guess I'll have to get it super charged next.

Well, you did at least beat me by 2hp. :wink:

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Race/Street Engine Builder for Chevy 4.3 V6 (6/8's of V8)?

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