mountainmanjoe

GMAuthority.com, Sep 30, 2022

Limoman

The V6 has some.power but is it enough power for what you want to do?

greenfire

In the comments under some of the GM Authority articles there are discussions where it was made very clear to dealerships that the V8 could not be ordered in an Express van and would be for the cutaway models only. My last visit to the dealer, they said they couldn't order the V8 on a 2023... I have no factual evidence to back this up. There are some 2022 V8 Savanas and Expresses out there to be had.. and 4 Express diesels left.
I am also reading that the factory is running full steam ahead... but where are all the 2023s going? None to be found. I wonder if they are being exported. So anyone shopping needs to get a 2022 which is low inventory. I ordered a 2023 back in July.... still waiting.

mountainmanjoe

If it's in an internet comment, then it must be true.

They're going to fleet customers of course. I don't think there is a large export market.

Limoman

The way gas prices are going maybe its better to go with the V6. Its not a weak engine...more powerful then V8s from the past. The question is will the V8 hold up better over 300k miles? I am guessing...and could be wrong...it will. The V8 looks like it was built strong and supposedly the V6 is "heavy duty" whatever that means...

mountainmanjoe

I think a V6 will definitely not outlast a V8. In the past, this 4.3 was put in lighter vehicles like SUVs and the Astro. And even on the Astro, the power was lacking. It wasn't intended to pull a full size van. Least of all a 3/4 or 1 ton model.
On top of that, it uses direct injection which hasn't worked out well for any vehicle manufacturer.

William Kisselstein

Today's 4.3 bears little resemblance to the old 4.3 which could even be had in cutaway vans.

My driver is the old 4.3 and it's fine unless you want to go up a hill. 163 horsepower. Now they get 276 horsepower out of one.

mountainmanjoe

Nobody in a van needs horsepower up in the 5300 RPM range.
Grunt in the low end is what's important

greenfire

So I ended up buying a used 2019 3500 diesel with 49,000 miles on it. The new van I ordered back in July has yet to come in, and may never will. So I am happy to have the diesel. Limoman, how did you end up?

RubiconMike

I tried to order a 2023 Express 2500 with the 6.6L last Sept, and contacted several Chevy and GMC dealers. Every one told me that GM was not accepting orders with the 6.6 engine. I ended up finding a nice used 2014 with the 6.0.