Anyone know S-10 Blazers?

[Motorhead350]

I might get one as a trade on top of cash for my truck. It's a 1991 4 door 4x4. Is there anything other than rust that I should look for upon my inspection of the vehicle? Anything that commonly breaks? Is the V6 engine any good?

Thanks.

[n00bkiller944]

I have a friend who has one and we had to drop the oil pan and put a new seal/gasket in like 2 years ago. Other than that its been running pretty well, I think his has like 178k on it. How many miles is on this one?

Oh and I think he mentioned having a bunch of little electrical problems so you may wanna look into that on google or something....

Not very helpful I know but thats the only first hand experience I have had...

[Motorhead350]

My Blazer is full of electrical problems. Must be a Chevy thing.

This helps. Thank you Kevin.

[a_d_a_m]

We had a 1987 S-Blazer with the awful 2.8V6. Other than the motor and trans blowing up once, it was very dependable and the turning radius was awesome on it. We got a lot of miles out of it on the replacements.

I think by 1991 GM realized that the 2.8 was a poor engine choice for that vehicle.

If you are looking at one, I would recommend getting one that is relatively rust free, and staying on top of it. We always stayed on top of ours with wash & wax, and did bodywork on it when it needed it (only a few times). However, once they get to a certain point...they just fall apart.

[justbob]

Long history of the fuel injector spider harness losing signal under the intake on these. $600.00 just for the harness.

I've had two of these. One had a bad trans, the other was great untill the everything broke. Keep in mind they were well used.

[Phrog_gunner]

The 4.3L is pretty hard to mess up. My dad beat on his for 260k miles and my mom's is just getting broken in at 80k. Both have had problems with the Spider like justbob said.

[Motorhead350]

Is there a way to tell the fuel injection is bad or about to be bad?

[Phrog_gunner]

I'm not too sure. I know both of my parents trucks, it was just running a little rough on idle. So with a used truck that you don't know where its been, it could be anything from plugs to that.

[Motorhead350]

I'd rather take the cash than a trade, but right now it's my only offer for my 65. I'm guessing the S-10 is worth around $1000. Does that sound right? Maybe closer to $800...

[Phrog_gunner]

I'd rather take the cash than a trade, but right now it's my only offer for my 65. I'm guessing the S-10 is worth around $1000. Does that sound right?

No idea, sight unseen, bro. Having a professional inspect the vehicle for you should only be a $150 or so. In FL any vehicle with cold AC is worth a grand. I sold my 93 crown vic with 287k miles on it for a grand. I paid $1200 and put over 100k miles on it.

[Motorhead350]

Luckly the guy is going to drive this truck to me from Indiana to the body shop that my 65 is at. The guys over there can give it a quick lookover.

[n00bkiller944]

No problem Dom. Sounds like this wouldn't make a bad winter truck/DD. Plus you will still get to keep your old Blazer!!! :)

[LIGHTNIN1]

The intake manifold on that engine has been known to leak. I've had 2 of them leak.Local mechanics say that is normal for it. Before I get slammed it is like anything, not every one made,but something to look at. They make a better gasket for the repair. For a grand how can you go wrong?

[Motorhead350]

Actually this truck will probably go to my girlfriend. She has helped me so much recently and has no car. I just wanna make sure I'm not going to give her junk.

[Black Dynamite]

I know quite a bit about the '96 and later ones. No help to you unfortunately. I had an S10 with the 4.3 that I drove to the ends of the earth and back and loved it. Pretty bulletproof motor, but if it has the fuel injection harness problem it is a real PITA. Go to www.s10forum.com (http://www.s10forum.com) as they have a lot of the info you need.

[dohc324ci]

I had a 1985 GMC S15 Jimmy and went through 2 trans and a motor 2.8L (gutless 120hp). Stay away from the 2.8L V6. 4.3L (160-190 depending on year) is the way to go.

[Joe Walsh]

Long history of the fuel injector spider harness losing signal under the intake on these. $600.00 just for the harness.

I've had two of these. One had a bad trans, the other was great untill the everything broke. Keep in mind they were well used.


The 4.3L is pretty hard to mess up. My dad beat on his for 260k miles and my mom's is just getting broken in at 80k. Both have had problems with the Spider like justbob said.


I'm not too sure. I know both of my parents trucks, it was just running a little rough on idle. So with a used truck that you don't know where its been, it could be anything from plugs to that.


The intake manifold on that engine has been known to leak. I've had 2 of them leak.Local mechanics say that is normal for it. Before I get slammed it is like anything, not every one made,but something to look at. They make a better gasket for the repair. For a grand how can you go wrong?


I know quite a bit about the '96 and later ones. No help to you unfortunately. I had an S10 with the 4.3 that I drove to the ends of the earth and back and loved it. Pretty bulletproof motor, but if it has the fuel injection harness problem it is a real PITA. Go to www.s10forum.com (http://www.s10forum.com) as they have a lot of the info you need.


I had a '96 S10 Blazer with the 4.3 Vortec V6. Drove it 230,000+ miles! The 4.3L Vortec is a really nice V6 compared to the older 2.8L turds.
I bought the Blazer because the 4.3L Vortec had lots more power and torque than the Explorer's lame 4.0L (cam-in-block) V6.
Great engine and transmission, both were original and working great when I sold it.
BUT....I went through 3 rearends. (3.73 posi) Two on warranty, one on my nickel.

As everyone mentioned, the fuel injection 'spider' under the manifold will start to leak and cause a rough idle and lower fuel mileage...mine did.
I never fixed it because the Chevy dealer quoted....you guessed it! $600.00.

The intake manifold gasket(s) will start to leak antifreeze and then fail.
My driver's side intake gasket crapped out and puked anti-freeze all over.
I bought a set of upgraded gaskets and fixed it in a few hours.

The OEM brakes are pretty lame for this size truck, I never had a great deal of confidence in them during a hard stop.
IIRC; '96 was the last year for rear drum brakes.

[Kennyrauder]

Typical GM JUNK... my brother had the 4.3 blazer... it got to 36,000 mi. ... end of warranty & started falling apart... starter, alternator, tranny leak, paint started falling off. All within 3 months!!! Exhaust fell off at the Y pipe, Got real hard on fuel...no trouble code. A/c quit. Traded it in on a Nissan Altima, they drove that Ricer for 3 years & no trouble.... The Blazer sounded like a rerun of my 87 Grand National.. Typical GM JUNK.

[Motorhead350]

What year was that Blazer?

[Wires]

I had a 1992, 4.3 W engine (W is the one with the "spider", why do they call it a "spider" when it has only 6 "legs?")

It ran great until the injector started leaking - ran too rich and the fuel washed the oil from the cylinders and it killed itself. I didn't find out what it was until I gave it to my father in law, he ran it as it was until it died. If I had known, I'd have gladly paid 600 bucks to fix it.

The other 4.3 engine (throttle body, V? Z? heck, I can't remember) may be better for reliability, however, but it lacks the countershaft, so it vibrates a bit more in addition to being a little down on power compared to the W.

I wouldn't be able to stand a 2.8 in a vehicle that heavy.