I just traded for a Winchester model 70 243, on the barrel is says "Winchester model 70 carbine short action -243 win-."
Made in new haven conn. It has a really nice wood stock with checkering on the fore end and grip, the barrel is 20 inches long. S/N is G173xxxx I believe it was made in 1984 and these were later renamed to featherweight. Any information would be greatly appreciated!

That is a dandy little rifle, light, handy and should be nicely finished.  The short action was new for Model 70s at that time.  It dropped a little more weight and would be theoretically stiffer and might be more accurate than the same chambering in a long action.

But, it is not the same as the Featherweight.  The carbine has a 20" barrel.  The Featherweight has its classic 22" barrel and a Schnabel curve at the front of the stock and a Fleur d'Lis checkering pattern inspired by Jack O'Connor.  I don't know the Carbine stock shape, but do know its barrel is shorter by 2" over the Featherweight and 4" over some other variations.  The 20" barrel trades off some velocity for a lighter, trimmer package.

I'd love to see a photo.  Nice find.  My only Model 70 is a custom stocked long action second or mid generation model chambered in 7mm Rem Magnum with a longer 26" barrel to burn the heavier charge of slow burning powder.  So my knowledge is limited.

I had one in 22-250. It was a damn fine gun and killed many many groundhogs with it.