hey guys. I'm about to buy another blazer to replace my wife's subaru forester.

I used to have a blazer myself but not for the last couple years or so. So I had forgotten what the common issues to look for when buying one?

I remember the 4x4 system should be checked. the oil cooler lines.

i heard once someone say something about coolang leaking into the manifold? is that true?

looking at Blazer with 100k-120k miles on them.

what else is there guys?

 

Pretty much the whole fuel system. I've heard that the intake manifold gaskets are a problem, but I haven't personally had to deal with it on mine, with 260k miles. Although a previous owner might have had it done.

 

Might as well fork out 500 bucks on some repairs,or you will be on here later asking about what to do.

Do the :
lower manifold gaskets
New !!ac delco!! fuel pump



Other then that,everything else is minor stuff.

 

much appreciated guys.

can the fuel pump be accessed without dropping the tank?

how do I know if it needs a lower manifold gasket?

 

If it hasn't been done yet.

Try to find one that it has already been done.

Some people cut an access for the fuel pump.

There is no way without doing a mod to the truck.

Doing it before it dies if it's original is the best.

 

is there a way to check or anything to watch out for to see if the manifold gasket had been replaced?

by "modding the truck" do you mean cutting out a hole under the back seat to access the fuel pump? I had done this on one of my other cars actually.

 

Yep, cutting a hatch.
Some of the other guys might know some telltale signs the job has been done.
One thing I do know is sometimes they put RTV on the corners. Depending on how neat the person was with the clean up you might be able to spy some.

Anyone else on typical tool marks for this job?

 

If you do the fuel pump, dropping the tank isnt that bad. Just be ready to replace the straps if they are rusty. You'll see what I mean. I had to replace part of the front strap (with the long threaded part) and the bolt that holds on the back strap, due to rust. Its not bad to do, If I had all the parts ready to go I could have done the whole job in less than a day (with breaks). I thought about cutting a hole into the floor to get at the fuel pump, but I didn't want to ruin the structural integrity. It might be more work than it is worth. My $.02

 

Even if the manifolds dry,do it anyways as it will indeed leak sometime down the road. every 2nd gen blazer does it lol.

 

I should have wrote that better.

On the LIM does anyone know any telltale signs that it's been done other then excess RTV.