1994 S10 Blazer Tahoe LT - Revival
 

Just picked up a 94 S10 Blazer 4wd with no 2nd or 4th gear. I almost passed it up looking for a full size Tahoe or Yukon, but this one kept jumping out at me as I periodically checked craigslist.

For $750 I decided to pull the trigger and rented a U-Haul truck and trailer to make the 4hr round trip journey to get the truck. Overall I've been surprised by the service records that were in the car, and the overall condition. Even though it's been left sitting a couple years, it seems to me that there were two long term owners who took good care of it.

231,xxx mi on the clock. Engine sounds, and feels strong. According to the records a New trans was installed in 03, then it was rebuilt in 2011. . .about 40k miles ago.

Had it back home a little over a week. So far I've just started cleaning it all up. Fixed a broken driver door pull by putting all the smashed plastic pieces back together with JB weld.

Muffler and tail pipe are nearly shot, but I have been using the muffler weld paste little by little and seems like it will be a good temporary solution.

Pulled the pan off the tranny over the weekend along with the valve body. Everything looked pretty good for ~40k mi on a rebuild. Nothing but the normal amount of material on the magnet. Fluid was dirty but not burnt. Installed a B&M shift kit. Something I used to do in like 2 hrs took me all weekend without a lift. . and with everything fighting me ever step of the way.

Needless to say the shift kit alone hasn't solved my problems, which I expected, but did make an improvement. I have a corvette servo and pin as my next possible easy fix. I'm hoping the band just isn't getting engaged enough. When I had the pan off I noticed pretty much all the electrical connectors were broken. . Whoever was in there last actually zip tied them all in place. . I assume during the rebuild in 2011.

Most of the plastic wire covers crumbled as I moved things, but the wiring itself seemed ok. Once I got it back together I realized I must have crossed the solenoid wires as now it sets off in 3rd. Will manually go into 1st, still no 2nd. Since I have to pull the pan again I decided to go ahead and order a complete new harness.

Today I started on the servo only to find the cover wouldn't budge. After some fuss and a few expletives it popped in, then back out as it should. Hoping THAT might have been the issue I tried again, seems to almost grab in second, but still no luck. Fingers crossed that the covette setup will engage the band. I did read about a full size guy that fixed the same problem with these two and apparently got at least another 30-40k miles out of it.

Also will be working on replacing control arm bushings with new energy suspension units that showed up today. Driver side upper bushing is totally gone. . .the steering is rather frightening at the moment, but only going on short test drives.

Here are a few pictures of my new toy. Will keep updating this as I get things fixed, and fully detail it.

https://blazerforum.com/forum/member...3508-32203.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...d6777a7680.jpg


https://blazerforum.com/forum/member...1430-32202.jpghttps://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...dc39ac96bd.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...f16cc26906.jpg

https://blazerforum.com/forum/member...1915-32200.jpg


I haven't taken many pictures of the interior yet, but has factory leather. Overall in nice shape. Back seats look like they were hardly used. Only bad spot is the driver seat bottom, which is cracked and split. Just got a lower cover off ebay that matches color almost perfectly. One day I'll either fix or replace the front seats, but I'm happy with the cover for now. Even though it doesn't need it I just ordered a 2nd one for the pass seat, so they match.

**edit: My original pictures disappeared. Admin informed me their server was changed, so I'm posting new links to most of the pictures but check out my albums for all the pictures.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/member...3073-32196.jpg

That thing is in amazing shape for a 23 year old blazer. I would have definately grabbed that up for $750 for the body and interior alone.

Thanks. Definitely in great condition for the age. As long as I don't have to pull the tranny and do a full rebuild I'll prob end up in it somewhere around $2000-2500. More than the book value, but I wasn't seeing anything much better on craigslist around 2k

My plan is to restore it as close to new condition as I can within reason. . . a few updates/upgrades along the way. Should make a great vehicle for our dogs, and hauling 2 jet skis on vacation. Not to mention piece of mind when launching at the beach in the sand. Had been using a 2wd 88 C1500 I have, but almost got that stuck a few times.

Went out and worked on the servo some this afternoon. Another "easy" job that's been a pita. . I couldn't get the cover to come out after I removed the snap ring. Searched and found a tip about cutting the seal and pulling it out to give the cover room to slide out.

After I got the cover off I tried removing the servo and pin with no luck. Not enough clearance to pull it all out . . .even after removing the cross member and lowering the trans as much as I could.

At that point I was covered in atf so decided enough for today. Tomorrow I think I'm going to try to use my small bottle jack to move the trans. I think I only need about 1/2"


I also replaced a couple vacuum lines. One from the Orb/reservoir, and one to the cruise control. Both were badly rotted. . .but I haven't been able to start it since the servo cover is off, and I need more atf.

Hoping the new line will fix my 4wd but I'm sure there are several more I need to replace.

Not feeling too motivated today, so not sure I'll go out and get anything done. Figured in the mean time I'd upload some pics of the interior, and other things I've started on.

Dash is cracked and split as per usual with cars of this era. Planning on getting a new pad and painting/dying to match my grey interior.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/member...3079-32215.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...aaf581b189.jpg

Here is a shot of the driver seat bottom. Not too surprising for the age/mileage.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/member...3077-32214.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...3e4f4c960f.jpg

Here it is with the lower seat cover I got off ebay. In person it doesn't look wider than the seat like it does in the picture. . and the color is a near perfect match.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...d53d2fdcbb.jpg
https://blazerforum.com/forum/member...3080-32221.jpg

Driver door pull reinstalled. Didn't take pictures of the repair. Had about 75-80% of the plastic structure that had about 4 pieces broken off. As I mentioned above, Several layers of JB weld. . seems to be pretty strong, although I may add more to it.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...d0b9437601.jpg
https://blazerforum.com/forum/member...3087-32218.jpg

New 4wd Switch
https://blazerforum.com/forum/member...3088-32217.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...6e51ea7d84.jpg

Also started hand buffing/polishing the other day. Paint is very chalky and oxidized. . but gotta love white because you don't notice it as much. It is starting to shine up nicely though. Will finish going over the whole thing by hand to remove the oxidization, then I'll go over it all again with my DA polisher. Should look almost new when I'm finished.

Here you can see I've done the rear quarter and door. Front door hasn't been touched other than a wash when I got it home last week.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/member...3083-32216.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...c82c726847.jpg

Here's a close up Rear-Front Doors for comparison.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/member...3086-32219.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...d58bebbc38.jpg

Last thing for today. . Driver side mirror glass was missing, so I ordered new glass. Wasn't paying attention and bought for the manual mirrors, so it didn't fit. I tried grinding it down but of course that didn't work lol.

Went back and ordered what I thought was the correct replacement. It arrived today and nope. . apparently 1st gens had more than one power mirror design?

3rd time's a charm hopefully. I very, very carefully studied the listing and measured my housing before just ordering my 3rd replacement. Hopefully I'll be able to return one that came today since I didn't even need to open to realize it was too big.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...17c0f05fd3.jpg

https://blazerforum.com/forum/member...3081-32220.jpg
https://blazerforum.com/forum/member...3083-32216.jpg

I found out about the nonstandard standard parts design when I tried to order a couple of switches for my 94 C Silverado. Three strikes and I'm still out it seems.

Finally got the servo out completely today. Ended up using a pry bar and then jack to get the floor heat shield far enough away from the exhaust to get the servo out.

Here is what I removed.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...47416e933c.jpg
https://blazerforum.com/forum/member...3090-32233.jpg

Disassembled. . .
https://blazerforum.com/forum/member...3091-32232.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...5bf91ae74f.jpg
https://blazerforum.com/forum/member...3092-32231.jpg

I didn't realize it at first. . until I started trying to put the vette servo in and realized I didn't have the inner spring and cover for the 2nd apply piston, nor the upper spring at the top of the pin. Only spring in there was the lower return spring.

Since I also discovered that I had a billet servo already, and the missing springs I decided to put back what I found pretty much. I did use the longer corvette pin though.

New Pin on top, old on the bottom.


https://blazerforum.com/forum/member...3093-32230.jpghttps://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...c7cab50929.jpg

Here it is reassembled, lubed up and ready to go back in.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/member...3095-32228.jpghttps://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...575b221cfe.jpg


It went back in sooo much easier than it came out. . .but of course then I had a hell of a time getting the cover snap ring back on.

Drove it down the street and back a few times. Still just almost seems to go in 2nd, but not really. Doesn't seem to even attempt 4th.

Does anyone know if the billet servo set up should still have the upper spring? So far my searching hasn't yielded any helpful results. I did find a thread about someone not having 4th, and the fluid passage in the pin was clogged. I didn't check, but new pin should be ok.

My new internal trans harness and pressure manifold switch should be here this weekend, so I'll prob tear back in and do that, then re ohm the solenoids again to be sure.

Starting to really look like the band is shot, and the trannys going to have to come out. Unless the electronics do anything, or I find out my servo was missing an essential spring.

Only other thought I've had is could the column shifter be causing problems? My steering column is shot to hell. Something else I plan to rebuild in the future.

I also have a bunch of new parts to work on installing. New o2 sensor, spark plugs, plug wires, cap/rotor, poly front sway bar mounts, front hubs/bearings, and poly control arm bushings. . .oh and a case of Royal Purple gear oil to service both diffs.

I still have a lot of work to do. . . . .

Guessing it's something that's discontinued? . .I've had no luck finding any new replacements my rear wiper/washer, and rear window switches.

Same thing with the door pull. . . kind of strange that they don't continue to make these small parts that wear out, even on older vehicles since they were produced in large numbers.

Can you tell I want to get this thing driving. . .lol Can't stop.

After some more research online last night I have discovered that the servo is a Superior Super Servo Kit.

Here is one on e-bay for reference. 4L60E 700-R4 700R4 4L60 Transmission Billet 1-2 Super Servo Piston Superior K012 | eBay

Also found the instructions online. Installing a Super Servo...

Appears it wasn't installed exactly correct. Seemed like the #2 Washer (instructions) was installed in between the case and the spring. . .although it could have just fallen off when I was trying to wrestle it out, but the piston looked scuffed from where the spring was riding up against it so pretty sure it was done wrong. I also didn't see the little pin extension from the kit anywhere.

I apparently reinstalled the washer in a different, wrong location. . . I put it on the other side of the Clip, #3. Not sure it would cause problems or not. Obviously the spring is going to be more effective with the washer installed correctly. Should have waited until I found the instructions.

Good Chance I'll have to pull it agian, but will continue trying to troubleshoot first. If i do I'll try to remember to use my endoscope to see if I can inspect the band through the pin bore. You know might have been a good idea while it was out, but I totally forgot I had the scope. Just a $9 cheapy from ebay that hooks to my phone, but useful if you remember you have it lol.

Another note I forgot to mention last night is I do seem to have really good fluid pressure. Had it at about 4k rpm in 1st going down the road then bumped into 3rd on the column, and it chirped the tires. Very positive 1-3 shift. Because of that It doesn't seem to me that the servo shouldn't be getting enough pressure to engage the band fully. . .unless the band circuits are clogged, or leaking.

Servo did seem to still have excessive travel even with the longer pin, when I checked after install.

I guess someone could have towed a bunch in OD and burnt up the band, leaving 1 & 3 in perfect shape, but with the trucks condition I have a hard time believing it was used for frequent towing of anything heavy. Seems to already have a lot of good parts in the tranny. . wondering if the rebuilder used a kevlar band as an "upgrade" I've read about a lot of the kevlar bands going out at 30-40k mi. Apparently most pro builders won't use the kevlar bands.

I'm looking at the Alto Red Eagle Wide band if I do have to go in an replace it.

Will probably mess with it some more when I get home today. I should finally be getting my correct replacement mirror today so at the very least that will get installed.

She is very nice and clean. Solid blazer.