It doesn't take much to confuse me sometimes

 

i have a 99 with the 4.2 my grandfather gave it to me 3 weeks ago with 130,500 miles.. runs great just doesnt seem like it has much power AT ALL.. then i looked at the tires.. 255/70/16.. then looked at the spare.. 235/70/16.. then it all hit me.. but tires are near new.. would anyone think if i shot some seafoam through it, put a CAI on it and a flowmaster 40 series.. would it give it a lil more pep? because my mom has a 97 chevy 4.3 V6 extended cab with 155,000 miles.. and i can light her tires up (ive tried it) and that thing has loads of power... just doesnt seem like this motor has much power. ive been doing research on this forum.. does that seem like the best route to take?

 

Chevy's V-6 engine has been a horrible engine. Many of them go belly up way prematurely. The places that remanufacture engines love this motor. They keep plenty of them in stock because of the high demand. Happened to me and a friend. The Chevy 4.3 sucks big time.

 

I have yet to see a Chevy 4.3 V-6 not get at least 200,000 miles on the clock. As a matter of fact I recently saw a friend of mine pull a 4.3 with 223,000 because of a knock and it turned out to be a broken flywheel. The Ford 3.8/4.2 engine line has been junk since the very beginning. They are a head gasket blowning, hydrolocking p.o.s. The only benefit they have over Ford OHC V-8's is that they wont spontanously launch a spark plug in the middle of a 250 mile trip. The overall quality of Ford trucks is what keeps me in one. In my opinion Chevy has always made a better engine/transmission combo in their trucks. It is the other quality issues that hurt GM trucks, rattles, door handles breaking, door hinges prematurely wearing out, cheapy interiors, crappy paint, poor ride quality and the list goes on and on.

 

couldnt have said it any better.. my moms truck fits your description exactly.. i wouldnt hesitate driving it to alaska tomorrow.. but you are right.. we have replaced both interior door handles, one of them twice, the drivers outside door handle (it cracked when someone tried to break into it) the tailgate handle, and other misc. parts inside the truck that rattle (i have yet to find out what it is exactly) another bad thing about chevys is they have a really really really light rear end. so if your tires arent great and its raining and youre on a curve.. you better be careful because that thing will get away from you.. ive read several stories in the papers about people who lost control of their 88-98 chevy truck b/c of a light rear end.. now on Z71's you wont have much of a problem because of the weight distribution.. but them 2wd's are effin death traps.. which reminds me.. i was just merly taking a turn and it was raining. i took the turn from a dead stop. i got halfway into the turn and the back wheels just started spinning freely and damn near hit a telephone pole.. good thing i got her under control before she controlled me. damn chevys

 

When I was getting a dent taken care of below my right rear taillight, I had a Silverado for two days as a rental.

A 2006 Silvey with less than 200 miles on her.

I never knew what the feeling of "OMFG, she's getting away on me" was until I drove this first rate POS. Now, the engine did have plenty of power, but was very noisy. Interior was very cheap. She handled poorly - every pothole and I had to brace before hitting it, tires squealed going around every single corner (regardless of speed). I even had a **** fall off the instrument panel. The thing felt so cheap - I was so disgusted and repelled.

I can be combing my hair using both hands, run over potholes in my 150, and not even have to put one hand on the wheel. When I round corners, my tires don't squeal. When I accelerate, I don't hear my engine unless I WANT to hear my engine. Stuff doesn't fall off of my F150.

Oh yeah, and the 4.3L Chevy engine blows - figuratively and literally. No problems with yours? Then go buy a lottery ticket. Two of my high school friends became certified mechanics and opened up their own garage. They told me that they know those engines like the back of their hand because whenever it's an engine failure, it's probabaly a Chevy. The first time a 5.4 Triton came in with issues, he said they both had to get out the books to refresh their memory. BOTH of them drive Ford trucks and say that they aren't gonna change anytime soon, especially now that Chevy is cheapening up their vehicles ONCE AGAIN with the "07 look."

 

Thereisnospoon;
Did you figure the MPG you are getting since the tranny r&r.Just curious TSDan

 

gonna give her a few K to adjust. When the truck was new, I was getting rather poor MPG's, but then it swung up after the first 2-3K.

The first two tanks through were not complete tanks, but it was an increase over where I was when it tanked.

 

Not to upset your plans but a breakin period is for the engine.The time is for the rod,mains, and cam bearings,thrust washers, valves and the rings to all seat .I am not sure if the valve body or the clutch plates and spacers seat.

 

TSDan, I believe we have officially hijacked this thread

The guy at the dealership told me that the tranny did need some time to settle. He gave me something like 1,000 miles, but I'm taking it to the extreme. I have noticed my mileage going back up in the first 4 tanks, but I don't have numbers - yet.

I'll start calculating next tank because I'm pretty curious to know myself. I should be well over 1,000 miles by the end of this tank.

Sadly, I think my 20mpg+ days are over forever.

 

I love threads like this, :-P

I've owned 2 4.3 chevy's and the old I6 engine n the older ford body. Guess what broke down the most? The ford, more then BOTH the chevy's combined, and i owned the ford only about 4 months, and the two trucks for about 4 years total. Only problem i had on the chevy's was either A.) My fault. Didn't look under the hood very well when i jacked it up to do an oil change... kinda used the front sway bar.
and secondly, i had a transfer case "EXPLODE" on me driving home one night. now, you may think. Ha, proof that chevy's a piece of carp. Thats what happens to you a week after you rally the SNOT out of our car. 45mph down muddy pot holed roads. I was askign for something to break. It was in the ZR2 for those that know the chevy, and i actually bottomed out the truck. Doing 35mph through some ruts. Thank god for skid plates and dead trees!!!

Havn't tried towing yet, but i can already tell the 4.3 is going to ƒuckin own this truck. I have trouble moving myself in the truck under some cases. And i only weigh 2 bills.

Every truck is different, i had a buddy with a 95 blazer with 290k miles with new tranny on it at 190k miles. Uncle just sold his 91 with just over 200k miles to his neighbor. And a guy i worked with is currently at 175k or so on the 99 he's got.

 

lose your bowtie this morning when you were getten dressed,or do you need it for the other neck.

 

Lost it, btw the first s-10 i had with exauhst, intake, cams and head work ran a nice quick 15 second 1/4. Fastest vehicle i've ever driven. Also hardest to control.

 

JP-can't figure out if your bashing the F150 or just the 4.2.Maybe you got a great deal on a Ford and went for it??????????To me you come off pro GM and f the Fords.

 

I'm actually more of a ford guy myself oddly enough. Grew up learning to drive a 91 Ford Escort and absolutly loved the car. Second car was a crysler lebaron Then i went onto one s-10 then the other, followed by my previous I6 f-150 then this one. S-10's have been the only gm vehicle i've ever liked. Driven almost every style of full size truck on both sides of the fence, and most cars for that fact. But when i have to compare the 4.3 gm motor the the 4.2 ford motor. I vote for 4.3

I've even driven the ranger and the excuse of an engine they had in them.