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4.1 V6 Buick or 4.3 V6 Chevy, which would you choose?

Posted by TeamEvil

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4.1 V6 Buick or 4.3 V6 Chevy, which would you choose? #1
TeamEvil / / Gone, /, Kiribati	Posted: March 20, 2012 05:51PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 1,443

Hey,

Just a quick question. I have a 4.1 Buick V6 all set to go, a Buddy would like to have it and will trade me a 4.3 Chevy V6 for it. The engines are similar in that they both have Edelbrock intakes and carbs, smallish cams, new timing gears and chains, head work, headers, and mechanical/vac advance HEI distributors. Both all set to go, no computers or messing around.

Either engine will go up against an overdrive automatic transmission (growing knee problems prevent a T-5) and ought to be a reasonably easy fit. I like the Chevy for it's small block heritage, like the Buick for its 215/300 heritage, and understand both engines and their mechanicals pretty well.

The engine will be fitted to an MGA.

Given the similarities between the two, if you had a choice, which would you chose. I'm wondering and need to decide soon, but really can't . . .

Thanks !

TC

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Re: 4.1 V6 Buick or 4.3 V6 Chevy, which would you choose? #2
260mgb Jim Nichols Sequim,WA, USA	Posted: March 20, 2012 06:49PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 1,354

Coin flip?

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Re: 4.1 V6 Buick or 4.3 V6 Chevy, which would you choose? #3
BritishV8 Curtis Jacobson Longmont CO, USA	Posted: March 20, 2012 07:38PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 1,658

Buick put the distributor at the correct end. It weighs a bit less too, doesn't it?

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Re: 4.1 V6 Buick or 4.3 V6 Chevy, which would you choose? #4
hanker Hank R Denver, CO, USA 1974 MG MGB MkIII 1978 MG MGB MkIII	Posted: March 21, 2012 09:07AM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 306

Measure the width. I beleive the Buick is a little narrower.

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Re: 4.1 V6 Buick or 4.3 V6 Chevy, which would you choose? #5
rollininmymg Eric Delgado Del City,Ok, USA 1975 MG MGB	Posted: March 21, 2012 09:21AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 19

I have a 4.3 chevy a throttle body in mine and I love it.

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Re: 4.1 V6 Buick or 4.3 V6 Chevy, which would you choose? #6
Duncan Duncan Cowen Vancouver, Canada 1956 MG MGA 1500	Posted: March 21, 2012 10:09AM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 1,360

Hard to beat the fact that the 4.3 is everywhere... but a 4.1 with a 200-4R sounds like a good thing if it's even a wee bit smaller.

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Re: 4.1 V6 Buick or 4.3 V6 Chevy, which would you choose? #7
Dwight Dwight McCullough Ham Lake Minnesota, USA	Posted: March 21, 2012 10:51AM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 1,151

3.4 ltr Camaro engine, waaaaaaaay better............

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Re: 4.1 V6 Buick or 4.3 V6 Chevy, which would you choose? #8
TeamEvil / / Gone, /, Kiribati	Posted: March 21, 2012 01:15PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 1,443

Yup ! ! That's why I'm asking for a little shove in either direction.

The engines are just TOO similar, but I KNOW that one would probably sit better than the other, you know?

I guess that, unless I hear something to completely tip the scales, I'll go for the Chevy; looks like a lot of the MGB folks have opted for that engine and seem to love it. Not nearly as many have chosen the Buick. PLUS my Buddy really does want it for his "80-something" Buick.

Is there anything to be cautious or concerned about with the Chevy? I've dealt with the oiling problems with the Buick, any similar quirks particular to the 4.3 Chevy?

Do they make power like the Buick? Similar bottom end grunt? Especially interested in the max over-all RPM? The Buick seemed spent before 5,000 RPM, how is the little Chevy? My old 350/Turbo 350 set-up in the Beetle was also spent by 5,000 RPM and the 4.3 looks to be based on the old small block Chevy.

Wondering . . .

Thank you !

TC

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/21/2012 01:17PM by TeamEvil.

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Re: 4.1 V6 Buick or 4.3 V6 Chevy, which would you choose? #9
bills Bill Spohn W. Vancouver, BC, Canada 1956 MG MGA 1958 MG MGA Twin-Cam 1962 MG MGA MkII Coupe 1965 Jensen CV8 1969 Lamborghini Countach → more	Posted: March 21, 2012 01:16PM Registered: 8 years ago Posts: 9,145

Getting one of those into an MGA poses some challenges in terms of width. I agree with Dwight that the narrow V6 would be engine of first choice.

Bill Spohn www.rhodo.citymax.com/carstuff.html
1958 MGA Twincam (race car), 1962 MGA Deluxe Coupe
1969 MGC roadster, 1957 Jamaican MGA
1965 Jensen CV8, 1971 Jensen Interceptor
1969 Lamborghini Islero S, 1988 Fiero GT turbo
2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe
West Vancouver BC

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Re: 4.1 V6 Buick or 4.3 V6 Chevy, which would you choose? #10
TeamEvil / / Gone, /, Kiribati	Posted: March 21, 2012 01:20PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 1,443

I don't have that option, really, just the two engines to choose from.

If it comes to a 60 degree engine, I'll run with a small block Ford. I had a 2.8 in my old MGB and never liked it. Too fussy, to small, no top end. It's either a bigger V6 or a SBF I figure.

TC

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Re: 4.1 V6 Buick or 4.3 V6 Chevy, which would you choose? #11
BritishV8 Curtis Jacobson Longmont CO, USA	Posted: March 21, 2012 04:19PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 1,658

In reply to # 2018208 by TeamEvil I guess that, unless I hear something to completely tip the scales, I'll go for the Chevy; looks like a lot of the MGB folks have opted for that engine and seem to love it. Not nearly as many have chosen the Buick.

There's a case to be made for either option. However if popularity is what you're going to base your decision on, I suspect more people have installed the 3.8 version of the Buick V6 in MGBs than the 4.3 Chevy. In MGAs, I have the score at one to one. In any case, your sample size is tiny. The only 4.3L conversions I've seen in person belonged to Mike Maloney (in an MGB) and Jeb Blanchard (in an MGA). Mike subsequently took the V6 out of his '74 GT and replaced it with a Rover V8! (Perhaps that should tell you something.)

What are you thinking of doing for exhaust? That's one of the hardest aspects of most conversions. For either of these engines, you're likely to have to make your own headers. I've seen some fairly unorthodox solutions...

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Re: 4.1 V6 Buick or 4.3 V6 Chevy, which would you choose? #12
TeamEvil / / Gone, /, Kiribati	Posted: March 21, 2012 05:28PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 1,443

I DO have several Rover engines to chose from, 3.5, 3.9, and a recent 4.6 but the better/later engines require all of the early engine's ancillaries. That would mean stripping the 3.5 down for the timing cover, pulleys, oil pan, distributor, oil pump, etc. then picking up a less-than-perfect Edelbrock manifold and Holley carb. I have some Rover MGB V8 block-hugger headers that may work, but I was just thinking of running some old Rover sedan exhaust manifolds backwards/flipped and fitting a TVR-style exhaust out the front, down, and back again to the rear.

Maybe . . . but probably not.

I've decided to go with the Chevy. Not exactly sure why, but I think that it'll return more horsepower than the Buick after all of the modifications are completed.

Thanks for the help/comments !

TC

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Re: 4.1 V6 Buick or 4.3 V6 Chevy, which would you choose? #13
hanker Hank R Denver, CO, USA 1974 MG MGB MkIII 1978 MG MGB MkIII	Posted: March 21, 2012 05:57PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 306

FWIW I have a 4000 lb 4x4 extended cab S-10 with the 4.3 and auto. It runs strong, much stronger than a lighter S-15 Jimmy that I had with a TB 2.8 and then upgraded to a TB 3.4. The 3.4 was stronger than the 2.8, but not near as strong as the 4.3. If you have the ambition and skill to do the extra work to fit the 4.3, then my hat is off to you and good luck.

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Re: 4.1 V6 Buick or 4.3 V6 Chevy, which would you choose? #14
Jim Blackwood * BlownMGB-V8 Gunpowder Rd., USA	Posted: March 21, 2012 08:33PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 2,242

I wish you luck with the Chevy, but I'll confess to not being a big fan. I'm more of a Buick enthusiast simply because those engines work well. However, if you're going with an automatic the same 2004r will work with either one (dual pattern) and has much better gears so that part is good either way.

As far as power potential, have you ever heard of Grand National? These engines have been proven to 1000+ horsepower. Admittedly N/A you won't be there but the heads, intakes, and internals are all available. I do not think the Chevy will do any better. Headers are a wash, then we're down to motor mounts and incidentals, where the expenses start to add up.

Check the weights, I think the Chevy is at least 50 lbs heavier. In fact it is heavier than the '64 Buick 300.

Which brings up one thing I would consider a HUGE consideration. IF you build the car with the 4.1 and decide later that you really would rather have a V8, it is a pretty simple matter to fit a 300 in it's place, as about the only thing you will need to change are the headers which are readily available. And the finished weight will be about 50lbs heavier than stock.

If you build the 4.3 the car will be close to 100lbs heavier than stock and if you go V8 the logical choice would seem to be SBC, meaning custom headers and add yet another 50lbs or more.

Worth thinking about.

Jim

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Re: 4.1 V6 Buick or 4.3 V6 Chevy, which would you choose? #15
Dwight Dwight McCullough Ham Lake Minnesota, USA	Posted: March 22, 2012 07:31AM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 1,151

The 3.4 ltr. 60 degree V-6 with a T5 trans, weighs almost the same as the original engine/trans. Handling is identical to stock. My son's puts out 140 HP at the wheels and all it has is a better intake and headers.
That is almost triple of the OE engine.
Yes, my '77 'B' still has the 1.8 engine, but 'tuned a bit to stay in a autox class......
If you use the all aluminum 3.5 engine, that has 215 HP stock. Versus 160 for the 3.4............
If you were to use some boost?

Here's Brian's website.

http://bmcautos.com/

In reply to # 2018209 by bills Getting one of those into an MGA poses some challenges in terms of width. I agree with Dwight that the narrow V6 would be engine of first choice.

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Re: 4.1 V6 Buick or 4.3 V6 Chevy, which would you choose? #16
TeamEvil / / Gone, /, Kiribati	Posted: March 22, 2012 09:03AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 1,443

Again, thanks. For the help, and for confusing me even more.

I'm going to try the Chevy for now. Something different for me, never been much of a "Chevy Guy" in a long time, own a nearly new Mustang and always loved Buick engines. Even had one in back of my Karmann Ghia.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/File0002.jpg

If it happens, I'll certainly post pics of whatever engine gets installed.

I appreciate the help and comments for sure,

TC

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Re: 4.1 V6 Buick or 4.3 V6 Chevy, which would you choose? #17
danmas Dan Masters Alcoa, Tennessee, USA 1974 MG MGB GT "Powered By Ford"	Posted: March 22, 2012 11:54AM Registered: 8 years ago Posts: 1,198

In reply to # 2018888 by Dwight The 3.4 ltr. 60 degree V-6 with a T5 trans, weighs almost the same as the original engine/trans. Handling is identical to stock. My son's puts out 140 HP at the wheels and all it has is a better intake and headers.
That is almost triple of the OE engine.

The 302 Ford V-8 with a T5 trans, weighs almost the same as the original engine/trans/OD. Handling is identical to stock. Steve Carrick's puts out 275 plus HP at the wheels and all it has is a better intake and headers.
That is almost double of the 3.4 engine.

None of which is relevent to this thread, but interesting anyway.

Just to keep this post on-topic, I think the Buick V6 would the better choice of the two that were the options in the OP.

PS: I'm laid up in bed for few days with back problems and nothing to do but play with my Ipad. Can you say bored?

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Re: 4.1 V6 Buick or 4.3 V6 Chevy, which would you choose? #18
1744 Bill Guzman California, USA 1973 MG MGB GT "Green GT" 1974 MG MGB "Punking"	Posted: March 22, 2012 01:10PM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 4,821

There is some argument about the Ford V8 handling the same??? MMMMM 40 Lb extra at the front. Regardless if it is behind the axle, 40 lb is 40 lb at front. But is not a bad swap, in fact is a nice swap.

Back on the main topic. The Buick is a great engine and can make lots of power, I mean 500 an up without a turbo.
The power of the Buick is dependent on how big of a budget you have. Either 3.8 or 4.1.

Chevrolet 4.3 can also make lots of power and less expensive to make hp. Many parts from the SBC will fit the V6.
There are two choices of 4.3 V6 even fire and uneven fire.
Valves, springs, rockers, rods, flywheel, bell housing etc etc can be transfer from the V8 to the V6. Lots of part out there for them. Also aluminum heads and block, be ready to pay lots $$$ for the block. All of the performance parts can be bought at your local Chev. Dealer.

Manual trans is a bit more $$$$ on the Buick due to bell housing.
Which one will fit better??? Both will fit and same amount of work.

I have a Buick V6 and had a 4.3 V6 that made 250 hp to rear wheels on a small budget. There are some good articles on Hot Rod magazines.

Buick, you can purchase a aluminum block heads etc etc and make an easy street 500 hp engine.

It is our attitude that will determine the outcome

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Re: 4.1 V6 Buick or 4.3 V6 Chevy, which would you choose? #19
TeamEvil / / Gone, /, Kiribati	Posted: March 22, 2012 01:51PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 1,443

Again, thank you for the advice, but for me, this time it's gonna be the Chevy. I'm not entirely sure of the mods done to it, but even using a stock baseline, the Buick is around 115 horsepower, the Chevy closer to 180/200 depending.

I've kinda spent all of my engine budget on a really built up aluminum head, high compression, four barrel Buick 300 destined for the '27 Chopped coupe, total nostalgia ride.

I've decided completely against anything Rover because of the cost of conversion ancillaries. My only options for this car are the two V6 engines. Seems that getting additional power from the Buick is simple too expensive right now. Kenne Bell stuff costs coin, factory hi-po parts are highly praised and even MOE expensive. The little Chevy can be built up using auto jumble finds, and (as I found) already starts with more horsepower than the Buick could make with over a grands worth of work pit into it.

So . . . gotta go Chevy this time around. Buick 300 for the hot rod. Buick V6 off to my Buddy with the Regal.

As always, I totally appreciate the comments and information,

TC

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Re: 4.1 V6 Buick or 4.3 V6 Chevy, which would you choose? #20
Jim Blackwood * BlownMGB-V8 Gunpowder Rd., USA	Posted: March 22, 2012 02:09PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 2,242

Hope the end result makes you happy. :-)

Bill, I think the bellhousing costs would be the same, since the V6 uses the same bell as the 350 Buick... and the big block... and Olds... and Pontiac... and... Cadillac? Anyway about as common as dirt.

Jim

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