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85 Blazer, ccc, what to do with engine

N

NCC-1701-B2

Registered Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2006
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Location
Elko, NV
Hello Everyone,

First post on the coloradok5, although not a stranger to it. We used the forums a bit while up at Michigan Tech trying to piece blazers together up there.

I'm going to be getting a 1985 Blazer when I get back to the States from NZ. It's a 4 speed with granny low, and a 350 in it. And it's a full on california emmisons 350 too. This will be my daily for awhile until we get settled and save some cash so I can buy a newer truck. So I'll be stomping around in it for a good year or more. So that is the basis of my question, what to do about this 350?

As I see it, my options are:
1. Performance Carb, Intake, and dizzy
2. TBI swap (which will include intake and dizzy)
3. Nothing at all, save maybe rebuild the carb (E4MED, looks like a nightmare though)

It runs pretty well, just hasnt been used much in the last few years so a tune up would be good. But all that I have read about that motor sounds like it's pretty dumbed down (low compression heads, etc). I'll be living in NV, but a part where they don't do emissions testing. And so I read you're not supposed to remove the emissions stuff, but I should be ok.

I'm not after performance soo much, more after drivablity and economy (lol I know, I know). The eventual plans for the rig will be to tear it down, as it's in real good shape and put in a vortec 350 and axles and a bunch of other jazz, but that's down the road. Something like years from now.

So for now I was thinking more the TBI route or nothing at all. I was wondering what people have for opinions on putting TBI on one of the ccc engines. I was looking and a rebuilt E4MED is about 630 buck....wow....sounds like enough to cover a TBI swap or just buy a holley tbi system.

But the question is, is it(tbi) worth it on one of those ccc motors or should I live with it until I can drop one of the 87+ 350's in it, or the vortec swap?

Comments and thought appreciated!

Pete
 
NCC-1701-B2 said:
Hello Everyone,

First post on the coloradok5, although not a stranger to it. We used the forums a bit while up at Michigan Tech trying to piece blazers together up there.

I'm going to be getting a 1985 Blazer when I get back to the States from NZ. It's a 4 speed with granny low, and a 350 in it. And it's a full on california emmisons 350 too. This will be my daily for awhile until we get settled and save some cash so I can buy a newer truck. So I'll be stomping around in it for a good year or more. So that is the basis of my question, what to do about this 350?

As I see it, my options are:
1. Performance Carb, Intake, and dizzy
2. TBI swap (which will include intake and dizzy)
3. Nothing at all, save maybe rebuild the carb (E4MED, looks like a nightmare though)

It runs pretty well, just hasnt been used much in the last few years so a tune up would be good. But all that I have read about that motor sounds like it's pretty dumbed down (low compression heads, etc). I'll be living in NV, but a part where they don't do emissions testing. And so I read you're not supposed to remove the emissions stuff, but I should be ok.

I'm not after performance soo much, more after drivablity and economy (lol I know, I know). The eventual plans for the rig will be to tear it down, as it's in real good shape and put in a vortec 350 and axles and a bunch of other jazz, but that's down the road. Something like years from now.

So for now I was thinking more the TBI route or nothing at all. I was wondering what people have for opinions on putting TBI on one of the ccc engines. I was looking and a rebuilt E4MED is about 630 buck....wow....sounds like enough to cover a TBI swap or just buy a holley tbi system.

But the question is, is it(tbi) worth it on one of those ccc motors or should I live with it until I can drop one of the 87+ 350's in it, or the vortec swap?

Comments and thought appreciated!

Pete
Click to expand...

If the engine doesn't have high miles and still runs good with basic tune up, I would just stick with it, the CCC and ESC on this engine are actually very complicated but work and are good on mileage, as you know they are not the most HP, but then again you could live with that for a while till you get the right combo for you which would be the Vortec, or an LS1 if you want more or better.
If it has problems now then maybe consider a TBI swap but if it works, don't mess with it, TBI isn't that much of an easy swap and you still will not benefit that much from the change.
 
Thanks IceMan for the reply.

Yea it runs fine now. Sounds like it's a bit hard to start in the winter, but it usually sits for weeks at a time before it gets driven, so go figure. They just replaced the distributor 6 months ago, other than that nothing bad. They had a new engine put in 10 years ago, so I'd be really suprised if it had 50k on it, they just don't drive it much.

That's kind of what I was thinking. It sure would be easier to do nothing for now lol.

Thanks again,
Pete
 
I'm not sure if you already own this blazer or are looking to purchase this particular blazer (someone you know i'm guessing). If you don't own it yet i would suggest looking for a 87-91 that is already TBI. The 85 blazer is probably the worst year as far as all the smog related stuff that is on the engine. Yes it won't hurt a thing but it sure makes working on it a huge pain in the A** with all that crap in the way. The 87-91 blazers have very little smog equipment and hardly any vacuum hoses compared to what the 85 has.

Thats my .02 worth.
 
Scott thanks for the reply,

It's my wife's parent's truck. Only 500 buck, so pretty good deal for it's condition. Nearly rust free and runs alright. It's body condition and the tranny got me interested since I'd like to build one up anyways, and it just fits with us coming back and needing a vehicle quick. So handy for us, and handy for future fun. But I see what you're saying. Ideally I'd agree with you, but at the moment, cheap and quick is good.

I had an old 85 bronco with the same ccc setup....ugh. I drove it for about a year and a half and then did an efi swap. Alot of work, but worth it in the end.

Thanks for the response.
Pete
 
Random completely non related question...didn't you have the 5.0L powered B2 on TheRangerStation?

If so, hi.

Whatcha doing in New Zealand?
 
AJMBLAZER said:
Random completely non related question...didn't you have the 5.0L powered B2 on TheRangerStation?

If so, hi.

Whatcha doing in New Zealand?
Click to expand...

Putting his last post with yours, I would answer for him, yes that 's me :D
 
smartass


All he said was Bronco. I just figured there can't be too many folks running around da UP with Enterprise designation screen names and Broncos/Blazers.
 
LOL, yea that's me! The internet is not as big as you'd think, although the name is pretty unique. Don't have the B2(s) anymore.... Didn't have a place for them when we left NV so they had to go. Been over here in NZ for a bit over a year now. Pretty much just a working holiday. My wife and I scored some jobs with another gold mining company on the south island here. It was a good chance to get out of Elko for a bit and see some things here. Been worth it that's for sure, soo many things to see and the duck hunting is so easy it's retarded lol. But we're looking at heading back around this summer, most likley back to good old Elko.

Were both of you guys on TRS or just AJMBLAZER?

Pete
 
Cool, figured it had to be you. NZ eh? I was engaged to a girl from Christchurch and originally Invercargill once upon a time. Went to Christchurch in 2001. Nice country there if you get over.

Do me a favor and bring a diesel, manual, 4x4 Patrol back, will ya? Either that or a RHD diesel K5.
 
Well for 500 you can't go wrong. I would definately think about swapping to TBI though and ditching all the rats nest of vacuum hoses especially if you don't have to deal with emissions testing.
 
If he did the TBI swap wouldnt that still be emissions legal? I thought anything that was more modern was OK, but say removing TBI and putting a carb on is a no no.
 
79rustyk10 said:
If he did the TBI swap wouldnt that still be emissions legal? I thought anything that was more modern was OK, but say removing TBI and putting a carb on is a no no.
Click to expand...

Actually it's legal, but it's also going to affect smog if he's anywhere that needs smog because they make you go to a referee that checks that everything is done right and then you have to smog it with the newer numbers and limits.

And by the way, to your question, since I don't know what TRS is, then no, I just was being a smart ass. :D
I do pass by Elko all the time though, about 4 times a week, going from Norcal to Salt lake city, UT and back.:o
 
Yea good old TRS.

That's a ways to go. What does it take you 8-9 hours one way?

I'll see if anything comes across the board in the MT/NV area. Might look at a TBI if it worked out. Otherwise probably hold of until I do the big swap. LT1 and LS1 motors aren't too bad on ebay. I'd like to keep the transmission and it sounds like the LT1 motors are easier to put in? Maybe I'm just not looking in the right spot.

Pete
 
NCC-1701-B2 said:
Yea good old TRS.

That's a ways to go. What does it take you 8-9 hours one way?

I'll see if anything comes across the board in the MT/NV area. Might look at a TBI if it worked out. Otherwise probably hold of until I do the big swap. LT1 and LS1 motors aren't too bad on ebay. I'd like to keep the transmission and it sounds like the LT1 motors are easier to put in? Maybe I'm just not looking in the right spot.

Pete
Click to expand...

LS1 is easier to retrofit, I have a buddy here in CA that does this in his shop a lot.
As for my trip, it's about 10- 10.5 hours big truck have a lower speed limit in CA and going up hills loaded takes longer (30mph) so it adds another hour to a car's time 9-9.5 hours
 
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