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Best year Blazers to buy

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SiNiStEr94

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Hey there, brand new to the forum. I'm looking to buy a full size K5 blazer in the next week or two. I'm trying to get an idea what year blazers offered what, and if there are any preferred years. I'm looking for a blazer mostly to drive during bad weather conditions when I can't ride my GSX-R, Hauling my Banshee around to go riding, and a little bit of offroading in the blazer itself. Mostly light to moderate offroading in the blazer. I consider myself mechanically knowledgable (However I'm no expert) and I want a blazer that I can easily work on myself. I want a blazer that has decent power and can get out of its own way.


When I look at some blazers, what are some things I should check? Any common problems? Certain questions I should ask? I'm looking to spend between $3-4k. Luckily I live in Phoenix and rust isn't a problem here.

Thanks for any help!
 
Welcome to CK5.

I had a 1977 K5 that worked well for me.
Tough ass truck that i was not always nice to....:D

350,4-speed,205 transfer case,3:73 gearing
4 inch lift kit (the least expensive on the plant)
15x10 wheels,35/12.5/15 tires

Drove it for 7 years till it was falling apart.(doors-tailgate-seats-ect.)

Would have been a better truck with fuel injection and upgraded 3/4 ton axles
and suspention seats.

For light duty wheeling i'd go with the newer the better.
You'll get the injected motor,windows that go up and down, and A/C that works.

You'll get lots of good advice here, good luck.
 
Look for a 90-91. They have the electro speedo, TBI 350, and a 700R4 with overdrive. You should be able to find a nice one for 3-4 grand!
 
87-91 .

there Fuel Injected and have O/D trannys........ well unless its a manual then its a Hydro SM465
 
yellowK20 said:
87-91 .

there Fuel Injected and have O/D trannys........ well unless its a manual then its a Hydro SM465
Click to expand...

Are the 87-91's easy to work on? Obviously I won't have to mess with a caruberator, but other than that are they fairly easy?

As far as parts and aftermarket go, what are some good sites that sell parts/upgrades for the K5's?
 
SiNiStEr94 said:
Are the 87-91's easy to work on? Obviously I won't have to mess with a caruberator, but other than that are they fairly easy?

As far as parts and aftermarket go, what are some good sites that sell parts/upgrades for the K5's?
Click to expand...


yeah there not any harder to work on just find you a good FACTORY service manual and a Multimeter and you'll be golden.

as far as upgrades...... well theres lots of Vendors so just pick the ones that have the products ou like and the prices that seem fair CK5.com is a good place to start out theres tons of info here on these trucks and lots of nice people to answer your ???
 
SiNiStEr94 said:
As far as parts and aftermarket go, what are some good sites that sell parts/upgrades for the K5's?
Click to expand...
Right here at CK5. All you need to do, is get a $25 membership, and you will have all the knowlage and vendors at your disposal.:D
 
87-91. I like fuel injection. Good gas milage, reliable. TBI is a very simple system. 89 and up got the 241 transfer case. whick is slightly better than the eariler 208 and had all the upgrades to the 700r4 trans.
You live in AZ so you shouldn't have to worry about rust. But check underneath anyhow for bad signs of rust.
Check the trans fluid if it is an auto. It should be clean and pink. If it is burnt and dark red it is a sign of tranny problems.
 
I say 89-91, my favorite grill, TBI350, 700r4 with a NP241, serpentine belt system, and 30 spline axleshafts which is a slight upgrade over the earlier ones. Doesn't sound like you will be doing anything too hardcore so that should be fine for you.

When you are inspecting it, look at the frame around the steering box and check for cracks. If its cracked, there are repair kits available from Offroad Design, and if you are willing to fix it you could point it out to the owner and try and drop the price down
 
Two words.....PRE SMOG. Don't know what year that would be in AZ though.

Every time I smog my 78 454 truck, I sweat it....but it passes.

As for things to look for in a Blazer, the only thing I can think of is the frame at the steering box, which seems to be a common place to crack. EDIT- Like Muddermilitia just said. Otherwise, find a well maintained Blazer with maintenance records, and buy a repair manual. I find the GM Blazer/ trucks easy to work on (WAY easier than my 91 4Runner)

The guys on this site are always happy to answer questions and help out. I've had my dumb questions answered many times. Very worth the $$ for membership.

Welcome to the site.....and be sure to post pics of the new Blazer.
 
0010.jpg
 
Unfortunately Arizona is terrible when it comes to emissions. The only vehicles exempt are 1966 and earlier. :mad:
 
Hold out for the 2010 Blazer, as it will have full convertible/soft-top, solid 1-ton axles, 37" tires, 3-speed transfer case and LS7 V8 from the factory.





OK, just dreaming again...sorry.
 
I'm going to go with '87-'91 also, but there are some differences you should know about:

1987 was the first year of throttle body fuel injection. This was a big improvement over the last years of carburation in terms of power output and economy.

I believe that GM made some significant improvements to the 700R4 transmission for the 1988 (and beyond) model year.

In 1989 Chevy changed the front end styling (IMHO:bad), but did change from the NP 208 to the slightly stronger NP 241 transfer case.

I'm not sure if it was '90 or'91 when they changed to the electronic instrument cluster. Being an "old school" guy I like the non-electronic cluster.

Check out this website, where you can see the sales brochures from the various years, and the changes that were made. http://brochures.slosh.com/

Lastly, I would search for an un-molested vehicle with a 350 engine. There are a considerable number of backyard mechanics whose abilities are not very good. You don't want to be faced with the problem (and expense) of re-doing their "work".

Living in the Phoenix area you will have the capability to find a rust free Blazer, something that those who live in the rust belt dream about.

I would encourage you to do your research and take your time finding the "right vehicle".

Good Luck!
 
I love my 91. Only thing I dont like is the Gov-Lock...and its inevitable death...
 
SiNiStEr94 said:
Unfortunately Arizona is terrible when it comes to emissions. The only vehicles exempt are 1966 and earlier. :mad:
Click to expand...

Or just leave Maricopa County... Most of the rural areas are still emissions testing free.. Well, for now anyway.
 
I haven't read the rules here yet, so please excuse me from this thread.
 
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