Non Chevelle : 3.8, and 4.3 parts interchangability question?

RacnJsn95 · May 31, 2006

I haven't been able to find this out anywhere, so I figured one of you guys out there might know... Can I take the manifolds (exhaust, and intake), and distributor off of a 1980 3.8 V6 (in an el camino), and put them on a 1987 (non-vortech) 4.3 v6? I recently got a 4.3 with no manifolds given to me, and my cousin would like to use it in his '80 elky with the 3.8... Is this stuff interchangable? Thanks!

Bomber '67 · May 31, 2006

Well, no. The 3.8 is a Buick engine, the 4.3 is a Chevy engine (quite literally a 3/4 350).

Thomas

FIG · May 31, 2006

Actually if the 3.8 is the Chevy motor then you have the 229, which is basically a 3/4 305. The parts from the 229 will fit on the 4.3

BillK · May 31, 2006

Jason,
I looks like they used both 3.8's in that year El Camino. If the distributor is in the front of the engine, it is the Buick and nothing will interchange. If the distributor is in back, it is the CHevy motor and I think the parts will interchange. The other problem is, if he has the Buick engine, the 4.3 will not bolt up to his transmission.

RacnJsn95 · Jun 1, 2006

He has the Chevy 3.8 in his elky... That's good, being able to use all his manifolds will save him some $$. Thanks for the replies guys!

Non Chevelle : 3.8, and 4.3 parts interchangability question?

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