I recently bought a 1946 Dodge Power Wagon 6 wheel truck that I believe is on a Gen 1 blazer S10 frame with a 4.3L V6 with PS and PB with the 3rd axle added as a floating axle and then a custom bed was installed. I'm planning on duplicating the truck and will shortly have pics of the frame so you can help me verify that this is a Gen 1 blazer frame. The measurement of the first axle to the second axle is appx 100 ". Tires are 35x12.5x15

It must be a short wheelbase of appx 100" and must have disc brakes
Questions:
1. Gen1 is 1983-94. Did disc brakes come out on the 1989 and later models?
2. Did any of these short wheel base blazers have the 6.2 diesel?
3. Did the 83-94 blazers and Jimmy's have the short wheel base and 95 and later have the larger wheelbase? Is there an easy way to visually look at a short wheelbase and tell that is 100" and not a longer wheelbase?
I love the look of my 6 wheeler and want my build to literally be an exact duplicate of it. More pics and questions coming and appreciate any help.
Thanks
Gerald

 

Sounds like a cool project. I'll try to answer to the best of my knowledge.

1 - All were disc brake front, drum rear. The disc brake rear wasn't offered until part way through the 2nd gen s10 blazer. You would need to get a rear from a 98+ truck to have disc brakes.
2 - The 6.2L diesel was only offered in the fullsize K5 Blazer as an optional engine. The highest displacement engine available in the S10 Blazer was the 4.3L v6.
3 - The 2dr 1st gen S10 Blazer wheelbase is 100.5" and is the shortest wheelbase S10 frame available. If you are buying a whole truck, just look for 2dr 1st gens S10 Blazers. The 73-91 K5 Blazer sat on a 106.5" wheelbase, but has the 6.2L engine available that you inquired about.

With this level of customization, you probably wouldn't be too daunted by a motor swap as well. If your goal is a diesel, a Cummins 4BT with Allison 1000 transmission should fit with minimal reworking of frame/body and can be hopped up to be pretty potent, but you can't go crazy with it without problems.

 

Forgot to add a pic:


I just read that s10 frames are easily shortened. Since I want disc brakes front and rear is it better to get a 1998 or newer blazer with front and rear disc brakes and shorten it to 100" or buy a gen 1 S10 blazer that is already 100" and do a rear axle swap? Which would be easier?
Thanks
Gerald