Chevy s10/v6 for class 7200?

[scottm]

I am planning to build a 94 s10 extended cab up for BITD/Score/whiplash unlimited mini truck racing. I am working with Steve Arlia of Arlia Precision fab in Phoenix to design the cage and suspension. I was planning to use a 4.3 v6, until I put in about 10 hours of internet searching for info. As an old chevy guy, I am a bit shocked and disappointed to learn how "challenging" it will be to make a decent 4.3 race engine. From what I can gather, a better combo might be an 80-84 odd fire 229 short block with 95-up vortex heads and an edelbrock 2114 manifold, here:

http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive/index.html

Another option is a buick 231 v6, but I am not sure if it is legal. Of course another option (and the one I hear the most) is to forget about a Chevy class 7 and build a class 8/v8 "real" truck. I just want to explore the v6 possibilities a little more first.

Does anyone have any info or a link to a chevy 90° v6 guru?

[DEZFAN]

Call this guy Oscar 562-3187138 he has the tools to reprogram the vortecs.
He can get 260 Hp/260 TQ out of a stock 4.3.

[scottm]

Thanks Dezfan!
Does anyone know if the buick 231 would be legal for a chevy in class 7 open?

[billymanfroy]

Originally Posted by scottm

Thanks Dezfan!
Does anyone know if the buick 231 would be legal for a chevy in class 7 open?

No, it wouldn't be. You might be able to get away with it, but you'd have to hope nobody (like me) could recognize a 3.8L. The terrible part is everyone would let you run it for years (and take your purse money) until you beat them, and then they'd nick you after the race. Unfortunate but true. lol

Your absolute best bet is to buy an old NASCAR Busch 4.3L-based race engine. S&S (the old lil Mac) ran one as I recall. There has to be literally hundreds of them out there. I had some trouble finding a Ford, but Chevys should be dime-a-dozen. Never looked before, but I'd start on eBay, ARCA's site, racing parts sites, etc. You could also try Leonard Vahsholtz in CO and see if he has any suggestions. He's basically the NASCAR Ford V6 guru and might have some leads on Chevys. BTW, we actually have less money in our engine than many guys running ~400 hp in a 4.0L (which is plenty, really). I hear stock Chevy V6s are supposedly easier to build up than Fords. Good luck!

Billy

[scottm]

Thanks Billy. Is a nascar xyz block going to be legal? The BIDT 7200 rules state "any other engine of the same manufacturer may be used providing it has mfr's part number listed on the block and heads". What does Score say?

Now I'm starting to think I want a 90-93 truck short block (prior to the counterbalancer years), rather than an old 229, with 95-up vortex heads. Does anyone know what oiling/valvetrain/balancing problems that will have?

For an intake, the Edelbrock 2114 works with a 500 cfm 4 bbl carb. What does everyone prefer, tbi or carberated?

[billymanfroy]

The NASCAR blocks are legal, because they have to be OEM parts to be NASCAR legal. ;-) They are VERY tightly-regulated on stuff like that. As a matter of fact, the hamburger dry sump pans and Weaver bros. oil pumps also have Ford part #s. Pretty sure they're legal in SCORE as well.

TBI is now legal in BITD, which is what we're going to since we get 2.1 mpg now with a stock 650cfm Holley HP. Don't know about SCORE, but it's probably right around the corner if not already legal.

[TRichards]

I belive the Wehrychs (Class 1) had 1 or 2 V6 chevy motors for sale for a reasonable amount. They upgraded to LS1 power. Check Dusty Times classified or call Stewarts Raceworks.

[stuETM]

Another great person to talk to would be Eric Tadeja from ET motorsports, I believe he has a similar set up of what you are looking for already. Email- erictadeja@sbcglobal.net

[scottm]

Thanks everyone. I have been looking for a week straight, and found some stuff that gives me hope for the 4.3. Hot Rod mag did a 4.3 buildup in the Aug 02 issue, here:

http://hotrod.com/techarticles/engin..._v6/index.html

They got 301 hp with lame 80's heads and mild off the shelf parts. They didn't even realize vortec 95+ heads will fit with a big gain in flow. I also found some great info on www.engine-builder.com in the back issues section. An article called Rebuilding the new Chevy 262 V6 details all the changes in parts over the years, and will help anyone digging through the wrecking yards like myself.

[Ryan_P]

Originally Posted by stuETM

Another great person to talk to would be Eric Tadeja from ET motorsports, I believe he has a similar set up of what you are looking for already. Email- erictadeja@sbcglobal.net

Yes he does, he has a carbed. 4.3L in the 7s(x) that be bought from the Herders is pushes out some mean hp and is very reliable. He's a really good guy and fun to talk to, I bought parker pumper off him. E-mail him, I have his number but I don't know if he would want me giving it out?

-Ryan