Got a 1991 S-10 Blazer, 4.3 liter with 213,000 miles. Have a chance to sell it and pick up a 1986 S-10 pickup with a 2.8 and
95,000 miles.I would like to drop that many miles, and a lot of wear and tear for this one owner truck driven by an elderly man that I went to church with.
BUT, is the 2.8 to be shunned? I have gotten some advice to that effect, but wondered what comments may be given here.
Thanks.
The 2.8L is a gutless wonder, but it'll get you from point A to point B quite well. My experience with them (one of my college roommates bought a
2.8L 87 and I had/have a 4.3L 88) is that they are underpowered. Going down the road, it shifts in and out of OD quite a bit depending on if you are going up hill or into a wind. I have heard they are tough on transmissions because of this. I wouldn't want to tow much with them. For running around town though, they are great. Better MPG than the 4.3L.Big Chris
frametype wrote:
If you want get up and go, stay with the 4.3 If you just want wheels the
transmissions
You are Correct.. I Had a 1983 2.8 and the overdrive wud Kick down if I Ran over an ANT that was on the Freeway!!
And Also the overdrive went Bad Due to all the Shifting on small Hills.. ( Cost $900.00 to fix it in 1988) Got rid of that and got a NEW 89 4.3 and I think it is OVERPOWERED .. even tho mine Has 190,000 miles... it is a 4 X 4 and been pushing Snow now since 1994 with it.. Auto Trans ,, No Extra coolers .. Business's like it Because It will go right down the Sidewalk, because it is Narrow
The body is pretty well rusted out tho!!!
I think the 2.8 would be OK for my uses power wise. The 1991 Blazer was purchased for my son, who is 11. He was 9, and wanted a
4 wheeler. Since they are the leading cause of death in kids here in WV (or so I have heard) I said no way and got him a truck. He has learned to drive it around our property quite well. We also use it as a backup vehicle, and a loaner to friends.I am more worried about longevity and reliablity. A friend told me that the '86 model year particularly were known to have problems. I had not heard that and wanted to get the take from the group here.
Thanks for the input.
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