Racing is really, really fickle. As we all know, today’s cutting edge race car is tomorrow’s old junk. Racing engines strike us as different, though. Lots of times the engine platforms can be used in different race cars, used in different series, and the parts all kind of trickle down to lower class competitors. What about when the race engine platform is kind of weird and an entire series changes direction and abandons it? What happens then? Well, in the case of the stout little 4.3L V6 engines used in the ASA stock car racing series 20+ years ago, apparently nothing happens to them.
There’s lots of heads and hard parts for sale for these engines on eBay but there are few whole examples like this one. In fact, this could be the first time we have seen a fully assembled carb to pan example of this engine. The big Holley carb on top of the cool intake manifold means business, you can see that these were dry sump engines, and reportedly they made somewhere around 450hp. What’s really neat to us is the fact that these use the standard inline valve layout and not the canted valve heads that were available from Chevrolet at the same time. Those must have been used in sprint cars and stuff of the nature.
We caught a few of these races on TNN back in the day and we just could never get over the buzzy, annoying sound of the cars. Stock cars have a certain way they are supposed to sound and while these little engines were hairy, they sounded awful…like pretty much every other V6 ever constructed.
So if you bought this thing, what would YOU do with it? Sure seems about as useful as, well, it seems not very useful. Are we wrong?
eBay: This 4.3L V6 ASA stock car engine is cool, but what is it good for?
450 horses in my ’10 GMC Sierra single cab short bed would be a LOT of fun!
Comp eliminator, track car, or maybe just a cool hot rod.
This engine literally would bolt in my MGB (would need new headers-dry sump arrangement), would be kinda cool but don’t think I’d give up my 500hp+ sbc for it. Still would be a nice set-up (unique) though. (I like unique)
Ah,there you are, i thought i would never hear about the pinnacle of automotive class, the almighty SBC(500 h.p.,dont forget)MGB.
Well you asked what to do with old race engines. I have a 354 Hemi with zoomies and 8 stack injection.Just taking up space in my shop. Looks real cool just setting there. It will never run again.Just my cool assed paper weight.Thats what I have done with an old race engine.
Build an S10 sleeper, duh.
https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/pts/d/phoenix-1998-chevy-s10-pickup-with/7019603335.html
There’s a Monza fastback for sale a few miles from where I live – bet this would fit a bit more easily than a V8!
Not for that price.
Locost, Lotus 7 knock off is the right answer here.
Problem is, most folks that have this out dated parts, think it is still worth huge money.
You can buy a new (built 20 odd years ago) roush Pontiac superduty 4, for only 17500.00 in the crate.
At for the 4.3 in the story, if you’ve never driven a 500hp+ racing v6, they will shake your fillings out.
I was gonna ask what was done to combat the harshness of these things.
Assuming it has 18 degree heads.
Aftermarket EFI, and pick up some additional power. Also a cheater kit, and dump it on a 80s S10 Blazer 2 dr.
That guy is way high on all of his prices. The engine description states that the engine needs to be gone through. At maybe $3500.00 it would probably sell.
Get two of them and craft a nasty v12
I would put it in a short wheel based altered in some class. They have so many classes it doesn’t matter what you stuff in one.
$10 grand? 450 horespower?
I’d probably pass as there are several better bang for the buck options out there.