alright so i bought my blazer back in sept 2010, immediately had to replace the clutch master cylinder, then the oil pan started springing leaks, now my 4wd isnt working, its the stick not no fancy button game. There is a sputter in the idle, puffs out black smoke, that colors anything it touches black, snow, grass, hands you name it. i dont really know what the real deal is behind it, but it seems to be hesitant to the response unless i floor it, even then its a bit slow to the get up and go, im wondering if i need to perform a full rebuild or if its just small things here and there like timing, exhaust, spark plugs and wires, for now im mainly focused on the engine performance, im not concerned about suspension just yet, drivetrain may be presenting an issue? got brand new tires on last week, thank god for that or i'd be in the ditch with the snow and ice up here, i am ready to either fully rebuild and inspect each individual part, or just say eff it all and throw in a new engine, i still want to get decent gas mileage though, as this will be my vehicle, and i tend to travel quite a bit, 30 states in 2 years, this year i plan on goin through most of em all over again from louisiana, new mexico, california, oregon, washington, and maybe even up to alaska, so any ideas just throw em out there, i am willing to listen and give feedback. HELP!

well new engine doesnt exactly mean brand new, i'll take an old used something over the expensive crate engine, i want it to perform, but i dont want it to burn a hole in my wallet before it even gets back out on the road, btw it is runnin and driving right now, with lots of quirks, i really wouldnt let anybody else drive it unless i know they can handle a crazy blazer

 

Welcome from New Zealand.

 

Welcome from New York and good luch with your truck.

 

welcome
IDK about your 4wd but the black smoke is usually excess carbon. is that a carburated engine? if so it may be running too rich and could explain the hesitation. try a full tune up on it before you look at the big stuff. replace all the filters, fluid change, wires, plugs, the whole nine yards. Maybe even go to a shop that will run seafoam or something like that directly into the intake. And if that engine is carburated definetly have a mechanic take a look at it. Hope this helps

 

so far, i've replaced the fuel filter, air filter, ran 2 bottles of seafoam, been adjusting the timing, the spark plugs need to be replaced yet, the dealer i bought it from said the wires were relatively new, and they look it minus some of the mud i added, change oil and oil filter about 4 times, the 4wd stopped workin about the time i seen a loose wire hangin from the bottom, and well i dunno where it goes, and now the end of it ripped off, i do tend to offroad quite a bit, mud holes and puddles and such, nothing to serious yet, got it stuck in a ditch once (didnt see the water til after my buddy was done tellin me about it) got brand new tires on now, just some bf goodrich T/A 255 70 r15 nothing spectacular but much better than the tires previous. I've got an oil pan to replace the existing one, hopefully, junkyard find. but i have no idea how to get the existing off, there isnt room like im used to.

 

Another warm welcome to the forum from New Zealand.

 

after about 1500 miles finally got around to pullin all my spark plugs again and weeeeellllllllllllll all the ones up the passenger side were covered in oil and the ones on the driver side were black and carbon covered the passenger side ones were also carbon covered, but they were more covered in wet oil, my best bet is i need all new gaskets and/or a new engine, anyone got a 173?? looking for up to a 350 or whatever will fit :-D , im driving a 1987 chevy s10 blazer, tahoe package, 4wd. currently runnin 2.8 (173) right now 4wd is disabled, oils leaking inside and out, havent checked drivetrain or transmission beyond replacing the clutch master cylinder, btw im drivin a 5spd and i would like to keep drivin manual, if anyones got an engine out there for me or ideas on whats gonna fit, im hoping to keep decent gas mileage too, i love to travel.