1988 Blazer Project

[urbanrifleman]

Undercoating holds the salt and moisture. If you live in a rust belt, keep the underneath clean and spray underneath with a light oil.

There was a kid on YouTube that shot his under body with lanolin based preservative oil and it was still perfect after 7 years.

 

[ronsatspokane]

I had one of that vintage. Manual transmission. It was my ski rig. Loved it, not sure why I got rid of it. Probably traded it for something that was sexier to my eye but I have no memory of what while that Blazer left a string of happy memories.

 

[alf]

Undercoating holds the salt and moisture. If you live in a rust belt, keep the underneath clean and spray underneath with a light oil.

No shit, but this was 45 years ago, & I was 24.

However, I did wash it all the time, as dad had a heated milk truck building with hot water. I could wash it, & leave it in there all day to dry off before going home.

 

[JumboSammich]

I had a '76 Blazer Cheyenne with a 400 smallblock, yellow and white. For being a fulltime four wheel that thing would really run. Good luck with the rebuild.

 

[dfrosch]

My 78 I gave it a 4" lift, 35" tires, Holly, Edelbrock, and Hookers.

Sometimes gas mileage got down in the mid single digits.

Had a '79 4WD a while back. Uphill with a headwind or downhill with a tailwind, it always got 8 mpg.

 

[pdog06]

What’s your plans with it? Big Lift kit? Newer LS motor?

 

[Toddmack]

This one has the R700 4 speed OD transmission.

I had a '90 half ton Chevy from late '95 to around 2006. I got rid of it on transmission #4 and I'll only take the blame for the first 700R4 that went out.

 

[wedgy]

I had an '89 4x4 with a small lift and 33"s , went thru a couple U joints and tranny mounts too. I built a pulley system so I could take the top off solo. Had a ton of fun in that truck.
The 700R4 was a corvette trans I was told and it overheated when going uphill in OD from slipping. Had to run in 3rd, installed a cooler and temp gauge. Tranny fluid absolutely stinks on headers and exhaust pipes.
Try Fluid Film for rust prevention;

Amazon.com

 

[urbanrifleman]

Had a '79 4WD a while back. Uphill with a headwind or downhill with a tailwind, it always got 8 mpg.

The new Blazer drove 4 hours at 75 mph and only used half a tank. That was pretty shocking.

I think the exhaust might be pretty restricted. My 1991 Rs Camaro back in the day had the 305 and 700r4 and it was a great car. The exhaust was super restricted with the cat.

 

[urbanrifleman]

What’s your plans with it? Big Lift kit? Newer LS motor?

First will be to get the body work done and paint it. We talked about maybe a 2 inch body lift and 33s. But the tires are nearly new that are on it.

 

[JFrank]

First will be to get the body work done and paint it. We talked about maybe a 2 inch body lift and 33s. But the tires are nearly new that are on it.

Body lifts don’t always look that good when they’re finished, I’ve had several of those square body Chevy and GMC, 3-4 “ suspension lifts look cool but handle like crap. My stock GMC’s had a touch more spring and looked pretty good and still handled decent and if I were to do it again I’d look into a 285/75R 17 or 18 tire and stay away from 33/125015.
Enjoy the build

 

[urbanrifleman]

Body lifts don’t always look that good when they’re finished, I’ve had several of those square body Chevy and GMC, 3-4 “ suspension lifts look cool but handle like crap. My stock GMC’s had a touch more spring and looked pretty good and still handled decent and if I were to do it again I’d look into a 285/75R 17 or 18 tire and stay away from 33/125015.
Enjoy the build

I would like wider tires but not taller.

Testing the Blazer and now it is knocking when stepping on the gas. Like pre ignition but worse. I don't think it threw a rod. It doesn't knock at idle. Cracked flex plate? Anti knock sensor?

 

[Andy Work]

I would like wider tires but not taller.

Testing the Blazer and now it is knocking when stepping on the gas. Like pre ignition but worse. I don't think it threw a rod. It doesn't knock at idle. Cracked flex plate? Anti knock sensor?

It could be carboned up. Pour cold water, slowly, in the intake while revving the engine.

 

[JFrank]

I would like wider tires but not taller.


33/12.50 on 10 in rims will definitely fill those big wheels wells up. They don’t always handle well.

One of my best friends lost her life in a lifted Blazer… that was sad day.

 

[urbanrifleman]

One of my best friends lost her life in a lifted Blazer… that was sad day.

Don't want 33s. Whatever is on it stock is fine. Would like them to be wider.

 

[ShaneG.]

Nice looking Blazer. Mine was a 92 and old DNR vehicle. Not big on power but made a good hunting vehicle.....most of the time.

I gave it to my son when he moved to northern Nevada. It's still kicking.
Also nice Elco's....here's mine.


Good luck with the project!

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I would like wider tires but not taller.

Testing the Blazer and now it is knocking when stepping on the gas. Like pre ignition but worse. I don't think it threw a rod. It doesn't knock at idle. Cracked flex plate? Anti knock sensor?

As a rule of thumb, ignition ping happens under load. Light rod knock happens under load and decel. So if you rev it up and let it come down you will hear that knock as its coming down too. Pull plug wires to isolate the cylinder. Ping and rod knock sounds a lot different. Flex plates sound more like a tick than a knock.

 

[urbanrifleman]

As a rule of thumb, ignition ping happens under load. Light rod knock happens under load and decel. So if you rev it up and let it come down you will hear that knock as its coming down too. Pull plug wires to isolate the cylinder. Ping and rod knock sounds a lot different. Flex plates sound more like a tick than a knock.

Only under accel. As soon as you take your foot off the gas it stops.

 

[bluealtered]

If you have a crank up rear window regulator you may want to pickup a spare crank if you can find one. The crank itself was a pot metal piece that was known to wear out after a few years.

Mine was a 86-88 with the 305 engine that wasn't a power house, but would get 18-19mpg at 65mph, until you hit a head wind or hill.
Yep, another one of those, why did I sell that one? Put a set of chains on it and it would almost go anywhere 4x4's.

 

[okie]

There is a guy in town that stuck a cummins 6cyl diesel in his....I dont really know how you can beat a 305 or 350??? but to each his own... It does look nice and hes got the only one around...