I stumble across the unloved 4.3 GENII "baby LT-1" when helping a friend move some stuff around his in-laws shed.
Since I probably can get this thing stupid cheap (think c-note + half), should I pass or grab?
4.3 + turbo + T-5 + cheap Volvo wagon would be a riot!!
Pass. Actually, light it on fire, then don't call the fire department. You'll be doing the world a favour.
Bullet prof as the LT1. If you already have it, do it stick it in the Volvo. Junkyard parts are plentiful because no one wants an L99. Dunno what can swap from LT1 to L99 as far as speed parts are concerned.
Is that the same engine they had in the Syclone/Typhoon? If so, then there's quite a bit of go-fast parts available.
No, Sy/Ty was the 4.3L V6. L99's were small bore LT1's that were hampered by valve shroud, terrible combustion chambers and Optispark.
Sell it, buy a real SBC and go with that.
Pass. I was offered one for free and passed it up. Tiny bores, nothing really swaps over to an LT1 except intake and external bolt-ons.
I saw 4.3 and immediately assumed it was the V6. Didn't even realize they made a 4.3L V8... Yuck...
I read an article a while ago about using that motor with an LT1 crank to make a 302 chev... Not sure if it was CC or hotrod.
Should have read the OP better. I restate my opinion based on if it was running AND free.
autoxr - they used the 4.3 crank in the lt1 block to make the 302.
if it was free i'd take it otherwise i wouldn't pay more than scrap value for one.
Well I was going to at least give him scrap value for it . . .but he wanted $400 for it 
. My friend asked him if he was trying his hardest not to sell it . . . 
damn. theres a guy on the impala ss forum with a complete 89k mile LT1 with harness/pcm/accessories for that.
o rly . . .
Linky?
EDIT: Found it . . . too far away 
From what I've seen, (I researched these engines a little bit) they use the same piston compression height as an LT1, the difference is the L99 has longer rods.
So the L99 has nearly 6" long rods. Should be 5.94" c-c. You could make a long rod 302 with an LT1 engine and L99 rods/crank. Breathe like an LT1 but more RPM and less torque, just what a lightweight traction-limited car needs.
I've heard too much about LT1 bottom end issues to be seriously interested in the idea. (Lightweight wristpins or weak pistons or something leading to oil leaks when a flailing broken rod pokes holes through the pan) Plus, L99s seem to cost more than B-body LT1s.
Actually they make totally awesome wheel chocks. I tried it once and the car in question did not budge one little inch.
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