Is this a good enough deal?

[farmboy12]

Okay, as some of you know, I have an '85 S10 with the 2.8l, 4x4, and manual. And a guy my sister knows is selling an '86 S10 Blazer with 2.8l, auto, and 4x4. What he has on it that I don't-

-3" body lift
-3" fame lift
-aluminum wheels and 33" muddin tires
-aluminum air intake
-Holly carb
-and new headers
-receiver hitches front and back

Now, I would rather have the manual and a pickup bed. So I would buy the blazer and switch all the accesories over onto my truck. The guy wants $350 from me, and all this stuff has no more than about 30 hours running, supposedly. And also, my 4x4 doesn't work, so I'll probably take whatever is needed from the Blazer to my S10. Everything is in Poor-OK shape other than the added on parts, which are good-great. I'm going to see it tomorrow. I think it would be a nice winter project to switch it all over. Do you think this is a good deal for the used parts? Also, do you think I could sell it for at least $300 after I take the parts off?


Thanks,
Kyle

 

[some zilch]

body lifts are scary at best
not sure what a "fame" or maybe "frame" lift is
33" mud tires = oversized for stock drive train, abused off-road
aluminum intake: eh,whatever; not worth anything
holley carb: probably better than stock
headers: new or not, usually leak, rust easy, why put new headers on a $350 truck? much less a 2.8l chevy?
hitches: more crap welded to for no real reason

more like a $200 truck at best. 2.8l chevys are known to be absolute garbage. truck is probably worth more in scrap than it is whole,unless you have time to spare to swap bunch of questionable off-road garbage over to yours. if its your thing, have at it. god knows i spend way too much time working on early '90s cummins powered dodges

 

[farmboy12]

body lifts are scary at best
not sure what a "fame" or maybe "frame" lift is
33" mud tires = oversized for stock drive train, abused off-road
aluminum intake: eh,whatever; not worth anything
holley carb: probably better than stock
headers: new or not, usually leak, rust easy, why put new headers on a $350 truck? much less a 2.8l chevy?
hitches: more crap welded to for no real reason

more like a $200 truck at best. 2.8l chevys are known to be absolute garbage. truck is probably worth more in scrap than it is whole,unless you have time to spare to swap bunch of questionable off-road garbage over to yours. if its your thing, have at it. god knows i spend way too much time working on early '90s cummins powered dodges

It is a frame lift. And I have been debating whether or not to not switch over the body lift if I did get it. And yes, I know the 2.8l Chevys are terrible. But I'm only 14 and this will never pass inspection and I'm just looking to make a beater a little more fun and run better. And I imagine that the motor will probably be completely done within the next 5-10 years. Not just from me abusing it, but from just it being crap. And also, The only reason I want the hitch is just to be able to tow different things if I HAD to, I will probably never tow more that 1500-2000# with it, so I'm not too worried about that.

Thanks for the input. And I wish I could spend some time and money in a 5.9 first gen.


Kyle

 

[Diamondpilot]

It is a frame lift. And I have been debating whether or not to not switch over the body lift if I did get it. And yes, I know the 2.8l Chevys are terrible. But I'm only 14 and this will never pass inspection and I'm just looking to make a beater a little more fun and run better. And I imagine that the motor will probably be completely done within the next 5-10 years. Not just from me abusing it, but from just it being crap. And also, The only reason I want the hitch is just to be able to tow different things if I HAD to, I will probably never tow more that 1500-2000# with it, so I'm not too worried about that.

Thanks for the input. And I wish I could spend some time and money in a 5.9 first gen.


Kyle

My question is why a Carb? I thought all this 2.8's were GM Throttle Bodies?

I would offer him $300 for the stuff. The hitch is probably junk due to rust. I had a 89 Blazer and its hitch rusted out in 3 years where I was scared to use it and had to buy a new one. Really all you are buying is the transfer case, wheels, and tires. The rest is not worth much but if your dad would let you keep it around you will have tons of spare parts to keep the old truck running.

Chris

 

[farmboy12]

Well, I'm going to look at it today. I'll ask all the questions and test drive it. My dad said he doesn't want me to spend more than $250, but he thinks it's worth more like $200. So, that said, I'll probably offer $300, if he says no then I'll walk, but probably get a phone call later tonight. Anyway, thanks for the input Chris and more input is welcome from all still.


Kyle

 

[tnhomestead]

It sounds like a fun project, remember part of this is your learning how to do things, adds to the value! Have fun! If you scrap the Blazer yourself,ie pull heater core/radiator, wires etc I think you wouldnt have a problem getting the 300 back(just be careful with the old fluids!) Good luck and I hope you have a blast -- and show some pics as you do the trucks!

 

[farmboy12]

It sounds like a fun project, remember part of this is your learning how to do things, adds to the value! Have fun! If you scrap the Blazer yourself,ie pull heater core/radiator, wires etc I think you wouldnt have a problem getting the 300 back(just be careful with the old fluids!) Good luck and I hope you have a blast -- and show some pics as you do the trucks!

Definitely a good winter project! And I will definitely put up some pictures. Either way, whether I get the Blazer or not, I am going to repaint the S10 p/u and stuff over the winter. But not a pretty paint job, just a poor mans camo.


Kyle

 

[radioman]

just ask yourself this- If he didnt have you to buy it for 300, what would he be getting it for ? probably free take in for scrap or 100 bucks at the most for stuff he can acutally sell it for. Drive a hard bargain, I am sure you are the only buyer for it.

 

[farmboy12]

Thanks. I was unable to see it today, something came up with a certain girl...well, I just couldn't make it. So, I'm going to try again for tomorrow, which will give him another day of junk sitting in his driveway, and possibly worth $100 less tomorrow. I'll judge it to see what it is worth tomorrow, I know I will NOT spend more than $350 if it is in the absolute best shape I have seen an '86 Blazer in. But, I will probably end up spending no more than $300 if it's ok-good, and $200 if it is poor-ok, and $100 if it is pure junk.


Kyle

 

[WilliamBos]

My question is why a Carb? I thought all this 2.8's were GM Throttle Bodies?

I would offer him $300 for the stuff. The hitch is probably junk due to rust. I had a 89 Blazer and its hitch rusted out in 3 years where I was scared to use it and had to buy a new one. Really all you are buying is the transfer case, wheels, and tires. The rest is not worth much but if your dad would let you keep it around you will have tons of spare parts to keep the old truck running.

Chris

Early 2.8L's were carb'd. I am not sure what year they went to TBI though. They were a funny engine, had a heater below the carb that heated the gas on the way in. Would not run worth a hoot on cold gas. We had a couple, and as long as they did not over heat (Intake gaskets) they were reliable.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Early 2.8L's were carb'd. I am not sure what year they went to TBI though. They were a funny engine, had a heater below the carb that heated the gas on the way in. Would not run worth a hoot on cold gas. We had a couple, and as long as they did not over heat (Intake gaskets) they were reliable.

OK, just did not realize they were carbed. I know the 87 my sister had and my 89 were both TBI in 4x4 Blazers but they were both 4.3's. I had the engine and transfer case go and she had the tranny go so I guess between the two of them we could have built one decent truck.

Edit: OK, went and looked it up. The 2.8 was carbed from 82-86 in the S-10 truck and SUV. It was changed over to TBI in late 86 and remained that way until the end of production. The carb version made a heart pounding 115hp and 150 FT TQ. The TBI was 125 HP with the same torque.

Chris

 

[WilliamBos]

OK, just did not realize they were carbed. I know the 87 my sister had and my 89 were both TBI in 4x4 Blazers but they were both 4.3's. I had the engine and transfer case go and she had the tranny go so I guess between the two of them we could have built one decent truck.

Edit: OK, went and looked it up. The 2.8 was carbed from 82-86 in the S-10 truck and SUV. It was changed over to TBI in late 86 and remained that way until the end of production. The carb version made a heart pounding 115hp and 150 FT TQ. The TBI was 125 HP with the same torque.

Chris

What a torque monster they were. I had one in a Buick Century, and blew a head gasket, which was the end of that.

So funny to look back on what was though to be somewhat powerful, eh??

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yes it is. The 4.3 was a much better engine making about 170HP and 290ish on the TQ. I had bad luck with mine but it was a good engine that gave many good service. Now we complain and say things are under powered with 300 HP. Heck many of the 80's ear 350's did not make 175HP or so.

Interesting reading on these engines and the Isuzu connection way back then.

Chris

 

[clemsonfor]

why not just swap your trucks cab and bed onto the blazers frame and rest of it? Sounds like the parts is you interest, assuming his truck is fully functional, it sounds like yours half runds like crap and the 4wd does not work? Just hack the bed of the truck up to fit on the suv frame and run his running gear till something else needs to be swapped. Or take a sazall and cut the balzer like a fullsize top comes off and pull the carpet and seats and weld a piece of metal behind the seats and you have a short bed hybrid!!

 

[clemsonfor]

my 1980 chevy k10 truck's 350 v8 4 barrel i beleive said it came from the factory with 175HP. I still can tow thousands of pounds with it just takes me longer to get up to speed and stop. But i still can get around 10 mpg towing around 4k lbs with it.

 

[farmboy12]

I haven't had the chance to see it yet. I definitely don't want to test drive it in the rain because I will hardly ever ride it in the rain, and I want to test in in more reasonable circumstances.

I have thought about the cab thing, but the longer the bed the better, and I don't want the auto tranny, so I would have to change that out anyway. And, I don't have any sort of lift other than jacks and jack stands in the shop, and I want to do most of this myself, so I just think it would be better to change the parts out, it would give me more expierience too.

On a side note, the current S10 is stuck in the mud on the other side of the property, and Dad doesn't want me getting it out til it dries up. Sad part is, it's barely stuck and 4x4 would pull me right out.


Kyle

 

[clemsonfor]

The bodies ar very light relitively. You can hook 2 tow straps to it and then chain it to a comealong and a heavy oak tree limb if you have one or an a frame and them roll the chasis out from underneath. If swapping all these things make sure that the transfercases will match up from auto to manual etc. Im sure they will but you never know the sneaky things these companies do (i beleive just for laughs). Why would you ever switch alternators mid year? Just dont start with the old ones to begin with just keep um on the shelf for spares for the older model. Yes i know there could have been a supply problem at the beginning of a mod. year forcing the use of an older part or that a better design is thought up mid year and for what ever reason they cant wait till next mod year to use it, but i beleive half of the mismached parts in the same mod year could be solved with commen sense.

 

[farmboy12]

I bought it today. I still haven's seen it. But he was about to junk it. So I'm paying $150 for it. This is a good deal I believe, because someone was willing to buy the wheels and tires for $100. But he knows me, so he skipped them, which is admirable I guess. I'll get some pics of both trucks when he drops it off.

Thanks again for the help.


Kyle

 

[Diamondpilot]

Heck, its worth that much as scrap and if you part it you could get over $1000. You did good.

Chris

 

[farmboy12]

Yup, that was my plan. I figure if I at least sell doors and tranny and headlights and stuff, then I could make it up, and keep most of the engine here for parts.


Kyle