When General Motors removed cylinders 3 and 6 from the small-block Chevrolet V8 and stuffed it into the new-for-1978 Chevrolet Malibu, performance was the last possible thing on their minds. The 200ci V6 they first created didn’t even break 100 horsepower. But, as was the case over the 1980s and 1990s, improvements were added, engine size was increased and horsepower climbed, up to the point that the 4.3L V6 that was put into early 2000s Chevrolet and GMC base-model full-size trucks was cranking out 200 horsepower. But that wasn’t even the high point of the 90-degree V6’s lifespan: remember the GMC Syclone/Typhoon twins, their 280 horsepower? The only knock anyone truly should have against these motors is the just plain awful sound they make. But between this little nitrous’d S-10 and Roadkill’s “Rotsun” 240Z, we are starting to have thoughts of a lightweight V6-powered race car that isn’t sporting a Buick V6. Where would we start? Well…maybe a Monza with a punched 4.3 with a turbocharger would be a good start, what do you think? This little S-10 is running 10s on spray…anything is possible! You trip over these engines in junkyards, they accept a lot of small-block Chevrolet hop-up parts, and a Weiand 177 blower would be icing on the cake! Just please…keep the exhaust quiet.
Great idea. I have a friend who s a park ranger and he is already building such a vehicle. It’s a a vega kamback with a 4.3 V6 based engine and a 4 speed. He is doing all the work including painting it in his driveway. Oh did I forget to mention he has a pro charger sitting on the bench that will be installed as soon as he has put some miles on it. It should make a nice toy to go along with his 62 nova with a NOS sniffing 355 sitting on M/T 315 drag radials. If I am not mistaking we are not far from you as we are in the area of lake perris.