Goodbye 4.3, AFM 5.3 & 6 Speed

OnTheReel · March 10, 2021

https://www.gm-trucks.com/chevy-gmc-dropping-legacy-4-3l-and-5-3l-engines-along-with-six-speed-for-2022/?fbclid=IwAR0U3v0u-ko-yn4C84Q7TX-csA-wSgB0Zv14l-hqu5SDCbU3OpRJxRXeIdE

Looks like GM is finally thinning out the engine and transmission selection.

Grumpy Bear · March 11, 2021

Loosing the Gen 5-4.3 LV3 is the second most ignorant thing I've ever seen GM do. Deleting the Series3 3800 was #1 all time screw up. Wonder if this means the LV1 is also toast. Third will be the loss of the MYC option. Figures. About the time they get it figured out...dump it. What a way to run a ship. :shakehead:

OnTheReel · March 11, 2021

They did need to simplify their offerings a bit. But I do think ditching the 4.3 6 speed might bite them. Mainly with their fleet buyers. Hard to picture these guys going to the unproven turbo 4 engine. And the 8 speed. Notorious for the bad publicity surrounding class action lawsuits. And now issues causing full transmission replacements on 2021 models.

CamGTP · March 11, 2021

The 3800 couldn't meet emissions requirements anymore, that was part of it's downfall. Would have needed a complete overhaul to give it some new tech like VVT and so on. Plus they would need to add a second cat converter as well. Was easier to just drop the engine and improve the 3.6 that fit into so many other GM vehicles, plus it made more power.

The 4.3's days were numbered a long time ago in my opinion. They didn't get that much better fuel mileage than the V8 in many cab configurations and the new 2.7 beat it in mileage too.

Edited March 11, 2021 by CamGTP

f8l vnm · March 11, 2021

Curious if the 4.3 sales were slipping , Either way I'm surprised this engine lasted this long. ( yes i know it has been super durable)

The 2.7 is here to stay . I also have a feeling the Colorado/Canyon will also get the 2.7 when GM eventually decided to re do them.

Happy to see though the 5.3 with the AFM 6-speed is done. Just so silly you get 2 different iterations. ( who does that ?)

Either way I'm excited to see the refresh/if engines got power bump/interior/new options on the 22 models.

BIGDOGx · March 11, 2021

51 minutes ago, f8l vnm said:

Curious if the 4.3 sales were slipping , Either way I'm surprised this engine lasted this long. ( yes i know it has been super durable)

The 2.7 is here to stay . I also have a feeling the Colorado/Canyon will also get the 2.7 when GM eventually decided to re do them.

Happy to see though the 5.3 with the AFM 6-speed is done. Just so silly you get 2 different iterations. ( who does that ?)

Either way I'm excited to see the refresh/if engines got power bump/interior/new options on the 22 models.

Hard to promote an engine they literally buried in only stripped down work truck models.

Yes Ford sells a ton of 2.7 trucks but the GM version unlike the Ford in minus 2 cylinders and also a turbo! Not to mention the whole 4.3 being almost as old as me and a very dependable power plant.

KARNUT · March 11, 2021

Curious if the 4.3 sales were slipping , Either way I'm surprised this engine lasted this long. ( yes i know it has been super durable)
The 2.7 is here to stay . I also have a feeling the Colorado/Canyon will also get the 2.7 when GM eventually decided to re do them.
Happy to see though the 5.3 with the AFM 6-speed is done. Just so silly you get 2 different iterations. ( who does that ?)
Either way I'm excited to see the refresh/if engines got power bump/interior/new options on the 22 models.

GM had two versions of 5.3s a few years back. Cast and aluminum. If you go waaaay back. Different Hp version of one engines were common. My last el Camino has 3 different versions of 327s.

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TNTSierra · March 11, 2021

That is one thing I’ll give Ford credit for. You can order a stripped down XL truck with their highest engine package option. TFLtrucks “Andre” just did it on his new Ford with the power post engine.
GM needs to allow their customers to choose what engine they want in any configuration.
As for the 4.3L. They should drop that into the Colorado/Canyon now as a base engine. The 3.6L is nice but it lacks in TQ. The 4.3L really shines in that department compared to it. Or like other have mentioned the 2.7L might be a great option as well. Also offer a twin turbo 3.6L as the ZR2 engine choice That truck alone needs to have an engine option all to itself.

redwngr · March 11, 2021

17 hours ago, OnTheReel said:

https://www.gm-trucks.com/chevy-gmc-dropping-legacy-4-3l-and-5-3l-engines-along-with-six-speed-for-2022/?fbclid=IwAR0U3v0u-ko-yn4C84Q7TX-csA-wSgB0Zv14l-hqu5SDCbU3OpRJxRXeIdE

Looks like GM is finally thinning out the engine and transmission selection.

Must finally be getting enough production capacity online for the 10 speed

OnTheReel · March 11, 2021

We can hope the 10 speed goes across the board, it would make a huge difference.

I don’t follow Cadillac too much anymore but I was surprised to see they are using the L3B in the CT4-V. Uptuned a fair amount to 325hp and 380tq. If GM brings those numbers to the T1’s 2.7, it would actually be comparable to the Ford 2.7.

newdude · March 11, 2021

Hmmmm....

I had some suspicion that the 4.3 was done at some point with the way they've been promoting the 2.7T as being more powerful and fuel efficient over it.

4.3 would have benefited from the 8 speed like in the Express/Savana. They drive nice with the 8 over the 6. Shame they aren't keeping it and doing that.

I'm less worried about the 8 speed than the 6 speed which sounds insane but at work, for every 20-30 6L80 we do physical repairs on, we do 1 8L90. Plenty of 8 speed fluid swaps though.

It would be nice to see the 3.0 diesel trickle down to the Custom and WT trims to fill the engine gap.

Also they need to offer a freaking power driver seat on WT and Custom other than optioning the 2.7T which gets you it.

Oooh! Look at that chart in the video about 1:35. The Custom Trail Boss gets the 2.7T as the base engine. No 5.3 either? Just 2.7T and 6.2.

Edited March 11, 2021 by newdude

newdude · March 11, 2021

7 minutes ago, OnTheReel said:

We can hope the 10 speed goes across the board, it would make a huge difference.

I don’t follow Cadillac too much anymore but I was surprised to see they are using the L3B in the CT4-V. Uptuned a fair amount to 325hp and 380tq. If GM brings those numbers to the T1’s 2.7, it would actually be comparable to the Ford 2.7.

1:35 in the video. 8 speeds and 10 speeds.

On the 2.7 from the Cadillac. It would be nice but then would raise operating costs as the HO 2.7T calls for 91/93 octane.

Edited March 11, 2021 by newdude

f8l vnm · March 11, 2021

100% with you guys, let us pick out engine choices.

Grumpy Bear · March 11, 2021

2 hours ago, BIGDOGx said:

Hard to promote an engine they literally buried in only stripped down work truck models.

Yes Ford sells a ton of 2.7 trucks but the GM version unlike the Ford in minus 2 cylinders and also a turbo! Not to mention the whole 4.3 being almost as old as me and a very dependable power plant.

My neighbor and once upon a time boss has a 4.3 in an LT K2 CCSB and loves it. Pulls a flat bed he hauls lathes and mills on.

Secondly the only thing the Ecotec3 4.3 has in common with the LS 4.3 is it just happens to have the same displacement. Zero interchangeable hard parts. This version is literally built on the 5.3/6.2 architecture. The power advantage of the 2.7 is nearly nil and boyz, drive the same gets the same mileage. The failing six speeds are not behind the 4.3 which uses a VERY different torque converter.

15 hours ago, CamGTP said:

The 3800 couldn't meet emissions requirements anymore, that was part of it's downfall. Would have needed a complete overhaul to give it some new tech like VVT and so on. Plus they would need to add a second cat converter as well. Was easier to just drop the engine and improve the 3.6 that fit into so many other GM vehicles, plus it made more power.

The 4.3's days were numbered a long time ago in my opinion. They didn't get that much better fuel mileage than the V8 in many cab configurations and the new 2.7 beat it in mileage too.

Lastly the 3800 refresh was an evolution of refreshes starting about 1960-62. VVT is as much a no brainer as an upgrade and removing it is from the 5.3/6.2. Then there is this. The 3.6 has never and will never be as reliable nor as durable as the 3800.

The 3800 Series III in my Buick already meets ULEV standards for about another decade now like the Honda DB5Y was about 20 years ahead. You can stuff a 3800 in any hole a 3600 will fit it. This move had nothing to do with EPA and everything to do with marketing image.

newdude · March 11, 2021

8 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Secondly the only thing the Ecotec3 4.3 has in common with the LS 4.3 is it just happens to have the same displacement. Zero interchangeable hard parts. This version is literally built on the 5.3/6.2 architecture.

Lastly the 3800 refresh was an evolution of refreshes starting about 1960-62. VVT is as much a no brainer as an upgrade and removing it is from the 5.3/6.2. Then there is this. The 3.6 has never and will never be as reliable nor as durable as the 3800.

The 3800 Series III in my Buick already meets ULEV standards for about another decade now like the Honda DB5Y was about 20 years ahead. You can stuff a 3800 in any hole a 3600 will fit it. This move had nothing to do with EPA and everything to do with marketing image.

Ah the old 4.3 was not LS based however. The Vortec 4.3 was still Gen 1 small block based and shared nothing with the LS engines.

3800 was a unit for sure. A gen 4 version that was all aluminum with DI, VVT and a 6 speed automatic would have brought it to a sweet spot.