My Blazer died. The transmission blew out, and the radiator did as well. I am going to get an s10. I have found one that I like. It is a 4x4 manual with a 2.8 v6. Is this a good engine? I want to get it, and my parents like it. Is the 2.8 worth it though?

 

i would do a search on google on that motor i dont know much about them so i dont know .. why dont u just buy a tranny from a junkyard there not hard to find and a radiator isn't that expencive for it either...

 

It just keeps breaking. We have poured thousands of dollars into just trying to keep it alive only to have something else go wrong. It lived a good full life. Most of it was pulling a 3 ton trailer. I might pull the engine and put it in the s10 though because it is running strong. Plus, I want to learn how to drive a stick, so that is part of the reason I want to get the s10.

 

The 2.8 is a gutless turd compared to what you are used to. Alot of them used to blow rods and such, but probably all of the bad ones blew up years ago!! lol I don't think a 2.8 was available in a 4wd S truck since, what, 87-88?

And just so you are completely aware, the 4.3 doesn't just drop into the older trucks either. Can't tell you from experience with one that new but I did stick a 3.8 Chevy crate motor in place of my 2.8 back in the 90's when 4.3s were still pricey to buy. Different motor mounts, different bellhousing pattern, etc. I have NO clue what it would take to put 2000ish fuel injection into an old body either.

 

the 2.8's have little power,but the super low gears make up for it,but dont espect it to be like the blazer you have. As far as reliable? Eh. ive never owned one but from what ive seen they are decent,just lacking torque.

 

Well, I found a truck in better shape. It is a 4.3 s10 manual 2wd. It is cheaper too. It is a '96 with 173,000 miles.

 

I've had two of them. A 1986 and an '88 extended cab. Both were pickups. The first one was one of the most reliable vehicles I've ever had. It was a bit cramped but I didn't have one bit of trouble with it mechanically. The '88 was bought when a big car with bad brakes pushed me 1/2 a block. It still ran okay but squeeked and rattled like you wouldn't believe. The '88 was just the opposite. It was the junkiest truck I've ever had. I crushed better ones when I had a salvage yard. It made 14 trips to be repaired at the dealer the first year I had it. At 45K, the intake leaked just like the 4.3's do. I had an extended warranty so I let the dealer fix that. When I went to pay my co-pay for the repair, I found out GM had a silent recall on it. If you took it in, they fixed it. Go to an outside shop, you pay it.

I got great mileage with both of them. The '88 I ordered with 3.21 gears and a 5 speed along with tilt and cruise. I regularly got in the mid 20's with it and on level road, even a bit better. I got in line with some semi's and drafted and got 38 mpg but I was about 2 feet from the back and was talking to the driver so I knew what was coming up.