[Ultraz]

Here's the deal, I have a 1986 Astro Automatic and it has the 4.3 L. It's not going to run much longer. Here's my opions......
A. Rebuilt the 4.3 L motor
B. Put a used one in
C. Put a 350 V8 that I have just sitting in the garage that has a fresh rebuilt?

What other year 4.3's would work without the wire harness hassle?

I would like to get pretty good gas mileage since I travel a lot.

Let me know your thoughts, Thanks

 

[Gary]

Here's the deal, I have a 1986 Astro Automatic and it has the 4.3 L. It's not going to run much longer. Here's my opions......
A. Rebuilt the 4.3 L motor
B. Put a used one in
C. Put a 350 V8 that I have just sitting in the garage that has a fresh rebuilt?

What other year 4.3's would work without the wire harness hassle?

I would like to get pretty good gas mileage since I travel a lot.

Let me know your thoughts, Thanks

Welcome to the forum first off.

Might I suggest you haven't told us what is wrong with the current 4.3,so it make it hard to suggest to rebuild it.The 1986 is a TBI if I am not mistaken,so that does give you a wide range of choices for used ones.You might want to take a look at this link to see pricing and availability at junk yards.

www.car-parts.com

Now that brings us to the 350.Question is did you have other plans for it???.Seems you built it for a reason that didn't include a install in the Astro.What is the overall condition of the Astro comes into play as well.In terms of gas mileage with the 350,many report the same as the 4.3 or better primary because the engine doesn't work very hard to move the Astro.

Hope this helps and let us know what you have decided.

 

[Ultraz]

Welcome to the forum first off.

Might I suggest you haven't told us what is wrong with the current 4.3,so it make it hard to suggest to rebuild it.The 1986 is a TBI if I am not mistaken,so that does give you a wide range of choices for used ones.You might want to take a look at this link to see pricing and availability at junk yards.

http://www.car-parts.com

Now that brings us to the 350.Question is did you have other plans for it???.Seems you built it for a reason that didn't include a install in the Astro.What is the overall condition of the Astro comes into play as well.In terms of gas mileage with the 350,many report the same as the 4.3 or better primary because the engine doesn't work very hard to move the Astro.

Hope this helps and let us know what you have decided.

Thanks for the Welcome. Well the front and rear seals are bad and blowing oil all over the road, 1/2 quart of oil per 100 miles.
and yes it's a TBI

I had no plans for the '77 350 it was for a project that fell through.

The van is in good shape just the motor blowing oil. 112,000 miles

If I did go with the 350 I would just get an intake and tBI and chip from a full size?

Don't mean to ask so many questions but all the info I have searched was for newer models.

 

[Ultraz]

Guess I could just replace the seals and let it ride. It's not smoking or anything.

 

[Gary]

I think you yr van had the oil cooler and those lines are known to leak.Check it out.It would be two lines running out of the top of the oil filter adapter to the rad.

 

[toddb]

I would do one of two things, first choice would be to fix oil leak if not to big a job eg. not the main seal. if the price was to high I'd get rid of it and buy another one.

 

[Mr_Bowtie]

If it was me and the Van is nice and clean and worthy then I would drop the 350 in it. It would be a fun daily driver! :mrgreen: