OK I've got a 2000 S-10 Blazer 4x4 4.3L. I forgot to give her a tune up before winter came (i feel like I'm not treating her right for that) so with my tax returns I'm planning on twisting a wrench and gettin' it done. I'm looking to maybe get a little better performance out of her. Without a load in the truck, she's fine but as soon as I have things in there (like when i had my camping gear in the back last year and my roommate), the truck was sluggish as all hell. My best friends 05 ranger had more in his truck and he had no acceleration issues. That makes me mad lol. I can still whoop him off the line in a race but once I have a load, its dragging.

I've got a new cold air intake picked out to drop in there but what about plugs, wires, etc? I'm not going to have a ton to spend but would like to give my baby a little treat of some higher quality parts and get some more power. Suggestions? Websites? Stores?

 

well I guesst personally to use some AC Delco Rapid Fires for plugs however for wires I've noticed with mine anyway it likes the stock size wires better than performance wires. the sluggish under load issue may not be the fat you need a tune up but could be some other underlying problem,

 

I agree with the plugs and wires. They can help a lot. The distributor and cap are also fairly common issues on these trucks (from what I hear), but I wouldn't go replacing those unless you're having misfire issues. It's probably not needed.
I'd also take care of doing all your fluid changes. You could check your MAF sensor as well and clean that if it's dirty (there is a great how-to thread in the DIY board on the forum). The CAI you bought should help also. Be sure to fab a heat shield for it as well.

 

I recently put in a 180* thermostat. Now, it doesn't add hp, but it does gain back a little bit that is lost due to heat and movement. Cooler engine temp = better power & mileage. For $25 and 10 minutes of work, I can't complain.

 

I just replaced the thermostat a week ago lol. funny you should mention that.

Any ideas on how to fabricate a heatshield for the CAI? I don't have many tools at my disposal. just some basic stuff and oddball stuff

 

Just get some sheet metal and cut it to make a box around it. I'm pretty sure there is a write up somewhere on the forum. There might even be measurements in there.

 

https://blazerforum.com/forum/showth...ld+heat+shield
There ya go

 

How much of a difference did it make? I've noticed on colder days my truck seems to have more... POP lol. but when it hits that magic operating temperature it almost falls on its face.

 

I don't have to give it as much to accelerate, thats for sure. Again, it didn't gain me any power than what was there before. It just helps me make better use of what is available. I did see a 0.6 mpg increase when I filled up today (topped it off right after installing last week) and that was with my usual driving conditions of keeping it under 2500 RPMs when accelerating and using cruise control and coasting when possible before having to stop.

So with that 0.6 mpg increase, times 15 gallons (what it usually gets me to full), it added 9 miles to my tank of gas, which is a bit over how far half a gallon would get me distance wise (I went from 230.x before to 239.6). Lets low ball though, so I got half a gallon of gas essentially from this upgrade, which is a savings of $1.50 currently. If these figures stay true then this thermostat will have paid for itself in roughly 17 fill ups.

My overall review on this product is that it is certainly a cheap upgrade most people should consider. Cooler engine temp = less hp wasted = easier to move the vehicle = better mpg.

I'm by no means a math expert so if my formula or numbers aren't adding up and someone realizes that please let me know.

 

My
Things to get more out of you engine:
*Other than a CAI (off e-bay and DIY heat shield) Will cost $$$ for the most part so read on...

Things to re-awaken the power your engine once had:
*As mentioned, in any good tune up you will cover fluids, filters (air oil AND fuel if it hasn't been done for like 1000000 miles), plugs (delco plats ONLY dont cheap out here), wires, a new distributor cap (if it hasn't been done in a while. At Napa it is like $14, and a rotor is another maybe $30 i think...) <--- your standard tune up
*Clean the MAF sensors. See the DIY in the tech section. it's as easy as qtip + alcohol + rubbing motion = WIN!
*Clean your EGR Valve. Again in the tech DIY section. You are out $2 for a new gasket (or like $7 if you get the better screened one)
*Clean out your throttle body. $2 for a new gasket. DIY in tech section.... you know what, go to the home page, scroll down to the tech section, click it and look at the DIY's they rock!
*SEAFOAM treatment (do this before BEFORE the other stuff for best results!!!) see the DIY in the blah blah blah
*air up your tires
*add a cat-back exhaust pre-fabbed kit ~$200
*add a flowmaster super 40 muffler to said kit ~$70
*add a hi-flow cat to the mix for a neato sounding/feeling exhaust set! ~$130
>>Exhaust set up there is $400ish BEFORE welding, after s&h, and if you hunt a bit for decent prices<<

enjoy. BTW i suggest you take a stroll through the tech section