Using a Vortec Engine in SyTy (was budget engine rebuild)

dgoodhue

dgoodhue

BuSTeD 4.3
I really need to get my butt in gear about rebuilding my motor, spring isn't that far away. I have decided to basically do a budget rebuild, so I can actually drive my truck this year. I am going to save my number matching original block for another day.

First where do you recommend finding a core block & crank? Anyone in the Northeast have one for sale :) I supose I could reuse the crank from my orignal block if I have to. I am planning on reusing SyTy nodular main caps (either reusing my originals/buy used).

On my main caps do I use ARP bolts or studs (ie Is their any cleareance issues on studs)

Block Machine work, what should I expect to do and what should I expect to pay. I imagine I need to clean, deck, align-boring & hone, install freeze plugs & cam bearings.

Connecting rods, I am thinking about doing the used L35 route, assuming its works out to be cost effective. What can I expect to pay to recondition a set of used rods. I imagine I want to have them shot peened & magnafluxed. Also I have read about resizing the big end to spec? What does that actually mean?
 
canadian

canadian

sy in progress
Re: Budget Engine Rebuilding & Machine Work

Re: Budget Engine Rebuilding & Machine Work

Find yourself a good machine shop first. That is the key to everything. You can have the best parts, but if your machine shop blows you're going to be doing it all over again. Once you decide on a place, ask if they have anything lying around. Sometimes people will drop stuff off, but never come back to get it for whatever reason. They may sell it for the machine work alone.

Get prices on labor from them. You may find that buying a set of rods and having all the work done to them may end up being just a little less than buying new Eagle rods. Ask about any warranty they may offer on their work as well. We've all read stories about motors taking a dump after only a few hundred/thousand miles of break in because something wasn't done right.

Make sure you discuss all the work that the machine shop is going to do and the timeline on it. You don't want to get everything back only to realize you paid for only half the work they said they'd do. You also don't want to keep calling them only to hear "we'll get to it next week". Once they have your stuff, they've kind of got you by the short and clurlies, so make sure you choose wisely.
 
jjorgensen52

jjorgensen52

NHSTE - I'm the only one!
Re: Budget Engine Rebuilding & Machine Work

Re: Budget Engine Rebuilding & Machine Work

I have an L35 block, crank and balance shaft in my garage that could be salvaged
 
4C FED

4C FED

Absolutum Dominium
Re: Budget Engine Rebuilding & Machine Work

Re: Budget Engine Rebuilding & Machine Work

When you do find a machine shop, make sure they inventory everything you are leaving with them, you get a copy & they get a copy.

Last 2 places I've been to haven't done this. I wound up losing a new ring pack & now have to buy another.:rant:
 
E

E-Rue

New member
Re: Budget Engine Rebuilding & Machine Work

Re: Budget Engine Rebuilding & Machine Work

just go get an 01+ 4.3 from the boneyard for $700 with low milage.
yank the intake and accessories off it, portmatch the heads and modified syty intake, redrill the heads for the new bolt pattern, surface the heads as little as humanly possible, and bolt them back down using ARP head bolts and cometic headgaskets.

i love this combo because you can do the build for lesss than $1k and you will have an awesome motor. the newest version of the block, upgraded rods, vortec heads, shaft mounted rockers, and a smooth wide powerband from the ballance shaft and new style cam. can beat it if you ron a budget. watch your boost tho these motors are around 9:1 iv been running these with great success at and above 15psi when i have good gas in them.

theres a couple things that have to be swapped to the new style motor when you do this swap, but iv got it all worked out now that iv done a couple of them..... if you get serious about the swap let me know and ill try to list everything for ya. start to finish you should have less than $1500 in it and a really stout motor.

e
 
TurboJunk

TurboJunk

questionable
Re: Budget Engine Rebuilding & Machine Work

Re: Budget Engine Rebuilding & Machine Work

E-RUE said:
theres a couple things that have to be swapped to the new style motor when you do this swap, but iv got it all worked out now that iv done a couple of them..... if you get serious about the swap let me know and ill try to list everything for ya. start to finish you should have less than $1500 in it and a really stout motor.

e
Click to expand...

im iching to know give us the list!
 
RichHeezee01

RichHeezee01

THE WORLDS GREATEST
Re: Budget Engine Rebuilding & Machine Work

Re: Budget Engine Rebuilding & Machine Work

TurboJunk said:
im iching to know give us the list!
Click to expand...
X2. i am interested in this build also.
 
dgoodhue

dgoodhue

BuSTeD 4.3
Re: Budget Engine Rebuilding & Machine Work

Re: Budget Engine Rebuilding & Machine Work

E-RUE said:
just go get an 01+ 4.3 from the boneyard for $700 with low milage.
yank the intake and accessories off it, portmatch the heads and modified syty intake, redrill the heads for the new bolt pattern, surface the heads as little as humanly possible, and bolt them back down using ARP head bolts and cometic headgaskets.

i love this combo because you can do the build for lesss than $1k and you will have an awesome motor. the newest version of the block, upgraded rods, vortec heads, shaft mounted rockers, and a smooth wide powerband from the ballance shaft and new style cam. can beat it if you ron a budget. watch your boost tho these motors are around 9:1 iv been running these with great success at and above 15psi when i have good gas in them.

theres a couple things that have to be swapped to the new style motor when you do this swap, but iv got it all worked out now that iv done a couple of them..... if you get serious about the swap let me know and ill try to list everything for ya. start to finish you should have less than $1500 in it and a really stout motor.
Click to expand...

I actually really like this idea. It will be a good temporary solution for a while. As of a little over a month ago, I had planned to build a stout short block, but some unexpected financial expense pop up which reduced my budget by about $3k, which basically left me with enough money for a budget rebuild. I will build up forged shortblock later when its a better time for my budget.

Anyways, I am serious about this. I am sure my wife will like those numbers $ much better. I will immediately start my search for later Vortecs 4.3's. When you have a chance, a list of mods/changes would be nice.

I have a couple of questions, what about the earlier Vortecs 4.3's? Are their any major differences besides the heads? I have a set of early complete Vortec that are already drilled, & I have 1.5 RR's. I would just have to redrill/tap them for the english thread.
What about the crank? Can I do anything to help them out? ie add ARP main studs/bolts? Could I add SyTy nodular main caps?

You probably remember that I have a PTE 61, I imagine I will just have to watch my tune, keep the boost down knowing that I am running more compression.
 
TurboJunk

TurboJunk

questionable
Re: Using a Vortec Engine in SyTy (was budget engine rebuild)

i dont know the earlier 4.3's and the newest ones besides head i havnt seen any differences. maybe just the aluminum oil pan and pump/pickup placement.

I have a question using syty head gaskets would that maybe reduce the compression? i was thinking about running a pt52 with my new motor (yeah i spun the main bearings AGAIN). and doing a real build is way out of the price range
 
dgoodhue

dgoodhue

BuSTeD 4.3
Re: Using a Vortec Engine in SyTy (was budget engine rebuild)

Also I noticed the early balance shaft motors use a more agrressive cam, are easrly and late balance shaft camshafts interchangeable.
 
M

MrNurse

i'm no homo
Re: Using a Vortec Engine in SyTy (was budget engine rebuild)

ok, so what years are ideal for this? i don't want to get rid of my sy engine, but i would like to have my truck running while I am building a WAY more poent engine.....with the original block.
 
TYTILIDIE

TYTILIDIE

METH HEAD
Re: Using a Vortec Engine in SyTy (was budget engine rebuild)

Holy shit fire that is sweet. I didnt read the whole post but am wondering if everything we need to know is in it so I can read it when I get home later.
 
E

E-Rue

New member
Re: Using a Vortec Engine in SyTy (was budget engine rebuild)

i sold my pimpy race motor to ryan in germany, so that i could use a cheap boneyard motor to test out a series of custom camshaft profiles that i have been working on for some time now. im on camshaft # 3 in this motor and im extreemly happy with it. im seeing around 15.5 psi on 100 octane using a 50/50 mix of E85 and 93 on 65lb injectors with a LOT of timing at part throttle. ill probably throw a lot more timing at it under boost too, once i get the knock sensor working again. CE light is dicking with me and im always working on the shop and others people projects so i havnt had time to fix it. the ethanol really throws the IAC for a loop when the motor is cold, but its a very small price to pay for super cheap 100 octane gas. besides once the engine is warmed up you cant tell the difference between running gas and ethanol. the ethanol doesnt seem to want to let the motor idle up like its susposed to when its cold. its very strange, im gonna try some different plugs to see if i can get better cold performance. tightly gapped irridiums are always the way to go with vortecs anyway, and i have some cheap ass TR5's in there right now. im also in the middle of building another 01+ motor thats similar but with a wilder cam and brodix highrise intake manifold hmmmm .......that reminds me i need to call chris keith and pay him for this intake. this last week has been a blur...... shit is so crazy around here.

e
 
Last edited:
bezerk

bezerk

New member
Re: Using a Vortec Engine in SyTy (was budget engine rebuild)

his truck is here, the engine is at Ryan his place.
 
BigBadSmoosh

BigBadSmoosh

Picking fights on I-65 since 2013
Re: Using a Vortec Engine in SyTy (was budget engine rebuild)

bezerk said:
his truck is here, the engine is at Ryan his place.
Click to expand...

I was wondering what he had planned for that thing.
 
tyndago

tyndago

New member
Re: Using a Vortec Engine in SyTy (was budget engine rebuild)

If you run higher compression, bigger turbo at lower boost, or a better intercooler setup should give you the ability to run a bit of boost.

A lot of newer cars run fairly high compression and boost. By then its all about combustion chamber, and some cars are direct injection.

The idea of the later motor is a good idea. I was wondering a little about how much the balance shaft was required. The effects of having it vs disabling it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top