During its almost twenty-year production, the engine grew as fuel controls improved and emission controls tightened. The Chevy 4.3 was a V6 Vortec engine produced for the Chevy/GMC car, truck, and SUV lineup from 1985 - 2014. The Chevy 4.3L Vortec V6 engine was the undisputed ruler of Chevy/GMC pickups in the mid-80s, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t have power.