Yea, that's a lot of work. Hopefully, mine gives me a few more years, so I can get a garage.

 

What about a Chevy 305? That would give you the right # of cylinders closer to the displacement and power output of the 4.6.

 

If you want a cylinder count that's the same, for what reason, number of cylinders...in any case, the 283 would be an almost exact displacement match. It has a relatively long stroke compared to it's bore. It's proven performer, solid reliablity and Chevy parts. Plus, put on some fueler heads, a set flat tops and Throly Headers, a 268 cam and WaLaa...it'll excite you...

 

So why not just ditch the electronics and go with a carb'd 350 + drivetrain? Probably still be under what I paid for my rebuilt 4.6. I'd be kinda strange on the refined D2s, but I think a great project for a D1.

 

Only thing would be off road with a carb. They can choke out in high angle situations.

 

When I was 16 I was following a buddy up a hill behind his carb 87 jeep. It cut out and as he was sliding down missed my truck by no more than 6 inches. That was the day we learned one at a time. Scary though he almost rolled the jeep

 

Carter used to make a a 4 barrel with a spring arrangement to avoid that problem of steep climb stall-outs...if I remember...it was back in the '80's an engine builder friend mentioned that to me...
But, WHY?!!! We have advanced so far form the lowly carburetor...You want a 350. great Swap-out the ENTIRE drive train! TOO! If you want, as someone was pointing out ealrlier, somethng a bit closer in displacement, I was thinking, what about a NorthStar? It's like 4.5L, got 4 cams, 32 valves and is FUEL INJECTED! I believe it uses the same bell housing as everything GM makes form the 3.8 up, has an easy 300 hp, broad torque band and is ALL aluminum! Only draw back is a starter conversion, ( I think there's a kit addressing that...) and wouldn't destroy your existing drivetrain... and overall be a lot cheaper and less work the swapping out the entire drive train.
Also, bear in mind that the 4.0 in there now is 215 ci...and, not designed to be a truck engine, per se, though GM originally, did put it in a relatively HEAVY car, I believe it was the Olds Delta Rocket 88. The 350, one the other hand is a TRUCK engine, has gobbs of torque all over the power band...mainly because almost everything GM made in the 350 days either was a TRUCK or at elast weighed as much...as a fully LOADED truck...
Good LUCK! Mods are fun...particularly when you know what you're doing and they turn-out RIGHT! And, I agree and older D1 is an ideal candidate...no BMW moron bumpers BCU's and gawd what have you...I am glad thyey SOLD ROVER! and went on to build SAV's...for snowy roads and slippery days...good ridance to them!

 

Post on page 1 I was responding to:

I believe the 4.3 and the 5.7 make the same 245HP. The six uses higher compression.

But I absolutely love where this is going. Keep up the good thinking. Please let us know what we can do to help this thought process.

Google your 4.3's.

Maybe the latest Gen is up there, but most of them run at 75% of the hp of the 5.7, logically so.

The one in my 1992 fullsize, was 160, had it been an S dime, it would have been 200.

I thought the Rover was lethargic, until I bought the ****terado 2.0

(tripped across this researching B.O.P. patterns, and only read page 1)