The 300 hp V6.

mazdeuce - Seth said:

If anyone knows where to find info on the 4.3 I would be grateful. It's the first 'modern' engine I've seen that has the power characteristics that might allow me to keep the rest of the cabover how it is. 

What, the new 4.3 V6 in half ton GM trucks?  Is one of these really preferable to, say, a 5.3 LS truck motor?  

The 5 speed automatic in the 2011 Challenger is listed as a manumatic so manual control is already in the programming. I would think controlling a few solenoids would be fairly simple. 

It's a VERY durable (benz) trans but not a fun one to drive. The manumatic functionality is aggravating. Worse than  the 4spd Chrysler one that was in the Prowler (and the Charger for only one year) in that regard. 

This thing came with the 250HP V6 from the Intrepid R/T, and got the slushiest 4-speed auto ever created.  Yes, it had a manu-matic function, but it still sucked.  The later versions of this motor with the stick in the RWD Charger were vastly superior. 

Ironically that is the only version of chrysler's AutoStick ever sold that would let you bang the limiter and not force any upshifts. That's more than can be said for many, many other manufacturer's manumatic programs.  Anyway, the Prowler still ran 14s. The version of the 3.5 in the Charger was basically identical other than manifolds. The 2.7 and 3.5 Charger could get the same basic trans as the Prowler (they put the same guts in FWD/transverse, FWD/longitudinal, rear transaxle, and RWD/longitudinal style cases, but they all function the same). They later got the 5spd MB auto i mentioned above. 

Love the Pentastar in the van. I can imagine that engine minus 1500 lb would be quite amusing. I expect that the Wrangler version came with a manual.

Yes, they did. One magazine ran a 15.2 1/4 mile in a manual/3.6 Wrangler. Considering that even base Wranglers are heavy and have huge and heavy tires, that's very impressive. The 8spd/3.6 Challenger/Charger/300 are not much quicker!  

The LFX is probably the easy button and most prevalent besides toyota camry v6s but not sure about them making 300hp 

There are many Toyota 2GRs with bolt ons exceeding 300chp. The number of Rav4s and Camrys running 13 second 1/4s with minor mods is... mirthful.  

Seth,

Ecotec3 4.3

I think this what you are looking for.

mazdeuce - Seth said:

If anyone knows where to find info on the 4.3 I would be grateful. It's the first 'modern' engine I've seen that has the power characteristics that might allow me to keep the rest of the cabover how it is. 

Some info here

Word is 208 Motorsports is messing with them for the Rock Bouncer folks.

If the MGB GT has any hope of ever getting miles put on it again, it will be after an  3.6 LFX/ 8 speed auto gearbox out of a Cadillac CTS.

Once again, GM lets you play with the engine programing and the Miata people have blazed a trail to the hard bits of transplanting the powertrain.

In reply to cdowd and bigdaddylee82:

Thanks for the links. It looks like a very interesting possibility. 

And it's not that one would be better than a 5.3, but they sure are interesting and they have a power profile that is pretty close to what the chassis came with. 

I've recently gone down the Nissan V6 VQ35DE rabbit hole after buying a rusty Datsun wagon. I think it's a good way to go. Here is what I know according to my internet research gathered from mostly suspect sources:

• Minimum 240 hp (Pathfinder, Quest). Up to 280 or 300 hp with 350Z ECM and associated parts.
• All aluminum, DOHC, and timing chains
• Available after 2000 in darn near everything made by Nissan/Infiniti
• Responds very well to cheap bolt ons, like intakes, headers, exhaust, tunes, etc. 300+ WHP N/A is very attainable.
• You can bolt 350Z/G35 intake and exhaust to any VQ35 long block. You can even DIY an intake intake spacer for the 350Z manifold.
• Bottom ends good with boost up to 500 hp supposedly.
• All VQ bellhousing patterns are the same, so if you pull a good engine from a FWD Maxima or Altima you can put a RWD trans behind it
• Same block as the later more powerful 3.7L V6, so even more options there
• While a 350Z donor would be expensive, you can use the entire RWD powertrain from a 2WD Pathfinder or QX4 (2001 up) much cheaper. No one wants a 2WD SUV, so they go for cheap. 5 speed manual is more common in 2WD form.
• Pathfinder/QX4 donor comes with a 4.3 ratio solid axle, often with LSD, that is supposedly just as strong as a Ford 8.8. Nissan offroader guys love this axle.
• Makes very distinguished 350Z/G35 "woooaahhhhhmmmmppff" sounds 

Aren't vq's like, wide as all hell? Love how they sound stock. 

https://www.miataturbo.net/engine-performance-56/miata-lfx-swap-singular-motorsports-good-win-racing-85075/

frenchyd said:

In reply to Toyman01 :excuse my ignorance but are they 60 or 90 degree V 6s?  

90 degree V 6 will have second order harmonics plus an imbalanced crank requiring either a split crankpin or a balancing crank.  

60 degree V 6 won't suffer from those issues but will be taller and bulkier.  

Oddly enough, for all the crap that the 90 degree V6 gets for 'requiring' a split (30*) pin crankshaft to achieve an even firing interval, the 60 degree V6 actually requires twice as wide of a split (60*) on the crank pins for the same reason.