I have an 89 S-10 im tryin to decide if i shoould keep it or sell it to a buddy its 4x4 with a 4.3L V-6 as u all know. What are some options that i have also keep in mind money is tight so its not like im swimming in it by any means so it me up with some knowledge guys  

What is you intended primary use of the truck? Without alot of money,your best purchase would be a good set of tires. If its street driven, a set of good a/t's would be my best choice. Anything bigger than a 30x9.5 might rub a little on these 1st gen S10's. I don't like body lifts, but a 3" gets you into 31's.After that things start to get expensive. Good luck, I love my 1st gen.  

You could crank up the front and do the 3 inch body lift and fit 32-33 inch tall tires.the 33s might rub a little.If you want you could also cut the fenders for better clearance.You should throw a K&N air filter on the 4.3 and if you have the funds get a cam. The 4.3 response well to cam swaps and the s10 will smoke the 32s for about 15ft. Thats with a limited slip so both tires are spinning.You could get a set of maxxis mudders for cheaper.  

thats an 89 4.3 would a 2000 vortec 4.3 respond as well to a cam
i already have a cold air intake and a hypertec programmer how much do you think a cam would help  

The cam would help it pretty good with the vortec heads. The 4.3 should be like a new animal with the cam.You should look into headers for the 4.3 so you really wake the little six up.  

Finder:
The cam would help it pretty good with the vortec heads. The 4.3 should be like a new animal with the cam.You should look into headers for the 4.3 so you really wake the little six up.

I disagree here. Everything has a price. The vortec get more top end power from better porting and a tuning intake but it also hurts low end a bit compared to TBI 4.3. Camming it would make matters worse in this regard plus you need to be careful camming Vortec engines as it is not like camming a carb or even a TBI engine.. Given that Vortec 4.3 runs well stock and has a fairly good power band if you feel overall performance is lacking you should invest in some new axle gears to wake it up. Even a stock Vortec 4.3 can do a very fine job with proper gear behind it for lift and tires. A cam and headers will take away from low end response and torque and you will likely not be to pleased with the lack of lower RPM power and MPG in town with these mods.  

Yes.I agree with you.Too much cam and not anuff restrichion in the exhaust will take low end power away from the 4.3.Along with any other motor.I not saying put a huge cam in it.Just a less radical.Not less radical then stock. I'm not saying that, but a decent one for the engine.The gears would wake it up also.But they would also hurt gas milage.The headers along with the cam are bad too. If you use ones that are to large and dont alow anuff back pressure.I also agree with you about camming the vortec.You need to get a computer up grade to alow the cam to work propertly.If you dont get a up grade the engine will run worse then stock.I'm not saying they run bad stock but you will loose a lot of power.  

Gears can actually help MPG most of the time if your effective drive ratio (combo of tires and  axle ratio) is tall and lugging motor in top gear.