97 4.3 to 5.7 vortec

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greenmachine
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97 4.3 to 5.7 vortec

Post by greenmachine »

hi everyone ron here from toronto. im a new-b i have a 97 astro lt rwd and the engine is drinking coolant and the tranny is leaking out the rear gasget and its got 400,000km's. that being said im looking at swaping out for a 5.7 vortec \:D/ ive looked at most of the swap threads and still have a few grey areas. also the new engine is complete with trans and computers,wires.
1 will i need a new rad ?
2 will i need to pull the crank fan? and add an elc rad mounted one?
3 do i need moded engine mounts?
4 will i need shorty headers? (i am planning duals all the way back :-$ )
5 will the oil pan clear?
thanks in advance for all your help! other than these few questions it seams like this would be an easy swap? any one done this swap yet?
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doyoulikeithere
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Re: 97 4.3 to 5.7 vortec

Post by doyoulikeithere »

greenmachine wrote:hi everyone ron here from toronto. im a new-b i have a 97 astro lt rwd and the engine is drinking coolant and the tranny is leaking out the rear gasget and its got 400,000km's. that being said im looking at swaping out for a 5.7 vortec \:D/ ive looked at most of the swap threads and still have a few grey areas. also the new engine is complete with trans and computers,wires.
1 will i need a new rad ?
2 will i need to pull the crank fan? and add an elc rad mounted one?
3 do i need moded engine mounts?
4 will i need shorty headers? (i am planning duals all the way back :-$ )
5 will the oil pan clear?
thanks in advance for all your help! other than these few questions it seams like this would be an easy swap? any one done this swap yet?
1 the rad should handle the 5.7, as long as is is in good shape to start with.
2 the fan should still clear if you do it right, but a DC fan is a great UP.
3 Yup. Theres a few styles.
4 not NEEDed, but can be done. You will need SOME kinda header or manifold.
5 I dont know what pan you have on, but 'most likely' it will clear if its a 2wd truck type pan.
Good Luck - Post pix...
2021 Yamaha Tenere 700 - Blue.
2016 Yamaha XSR900 - Silver.
1990 Astro - AWD - Brown.
1987 Astro - With 5 Speed & 4wd - Silver & Blue.

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greenmachine
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Re: 97 4.3 to 5.7 vortec

Post by greenmachine »

thanks
Any idea where one would find those engine mounts?

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greenmachine
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Re: 97 4.3 to 5.7 vortec

Post by greenmachine »

thanks
Any idea where one would find those engine mounts?

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Re: 97 4.3 to 5.7 vortec

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Re: 97 4.3 to 5.7 vortec

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

What about swapping the stock mounts side to side and reversing them? Doesn't that work on the RWDs?
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

astroturf
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Re: 97 4.3 to 5.7 vortec

Post by astroturf »

LiftedAWDAstro wrote:What about swapping the stock mounts side to side and reversing them? Doesn't that work on the RWDs?
Well Boy and How...

You oughta know. Does it work dean?

Thanks, Jim
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Re: 97 4.3 to 5.7 vortec

Post by doyoulikeithere »

astroturf wrote:
LiftedAWDAstro wrote:What about swapping the stock mounts side to side and reversing them? Doesn't that work on the RWDs?
Does it work dean? Thanks, Jim
Ya !? Good Question. Does it?
2021 Yamaha Tenere 700 - Blue.
2016 Yamaha XSR900 - Silver.
1990 Astro - AWD - Brown.
1987 Astro - With 5 Speed & 4wd - Silver & Blue.

LiftedAWDAstro
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Re: 97 4.3 to 5.7 vortec

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

Good question...I have never done an engine swap but I remember something about the mounts. Engine swaps are too technical for me! :D
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

astroturf
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Re: 97 4.3 to 5.7 vortec

Post by astroturf »

LiftedAWDAstro wrote:Good question...I have never done an engine swap but I remember something about the mounts. Engine swaps are too technical for me! :D
That's an honest answer. Thanks Dean.

I guess its back to the search button for me...

Jim
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1Gary
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Re: 97 4.3 to 5.7 vortec

Post by 1Gary »

LiftedAWDAstro wrote:What about swapping the stock mounts side to side and reversing them? Doesn't that work on the RWDs?

Hpbystan flipped his v6 mounts

viewtopic.php?f=70&t=3803&hilit=V8+engine+mounts
1979 Malibu drag race only car
1999 Sonoma 4.3 5 speed-Rufus
1989 Astro-Ole Yellar cancelled-still selling off parts
1985 Astro-shop van R.I.P. my friend
1994 Astro LT RWD W4.3 rod knock RIP
1982 Winnebago single rear wheel-Chevy 350 Scraped 1/28/13-broken dreams......


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Re: 97 4.3 to 5.7 vortec

Post by sfeaver »

I did this swap already, and found the stock fan wont work good enough. There is not enough room to have a proper shroud so i was getting too hot even without A/C on. I ended up getting a flexalite fan, and making a rad out of a 1 3/8" core and crimping astro tanks on. And it wasnt even all that hot at the time! I'm from Hamilton.

You'll want a bigger alternator too, but I found out this summer in NYC during their spell of 100+ degree weather, when it gets real hot under the hood the alternator stops charging.

I used the Jags That Run mount adapters. As for engine mounts, use only the OEM ones. If you go cheap, you'll see how much the motor moves around. I did it cheap and had to redo it with the van in the way! Do it once, do it with factory parts.

Oil pan will clear, not sure about a 6 qt pan though. But the stock 5qt that comes on the new motor will fit, it holds almost 6qt anyhow.

I used stock manifolds, for the right side you need a G-van exhaust so the angle is close to the stock pipes. Unless you are doing a completely new exhaust. Left side G-van and C-truck are the same.

Pics are located here http://s926.photobucket.com/albums/ad101/sfeaver/

Scott

Topic author
greenmachine
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Re: 97 4.3 to 5.7 vortec

Post by greenmachine »

thanks scott and everyone who commented. ive never done this befor but here goes nothing! cant wait to start putting up photo's. well here's the green machine!! good shape to!
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doyoulikeithere
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Re: 97 4.3 to 5.7 vortec

Post by doyoulikeithere »

I'm following with interest. Good Luck, post Pix.
2021 Yamaha Tenere 700 - Blue.
2016 Yamaha XSR900 - Silver.
1990 Astro - AWD - Brown.
1987 Astro - With 5 Speed & 4wd - Silver & Blue.

astroturf
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Re: 97 4.3 to 5.7 vortec

Post by astroturf »

That's a Good Lookin Van ya got there Green

Good Luck

Jim
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