Which Blazer to buy??

[paratrooper307]

Depending on the rules in your state, there may be advantages to selecting an older truck. Older vehicles (25+ years old) may be classified as antiques and may be exempt from certain inspections or have lower registration rates. Prior to buying my 85, I didn't have much familiarity with carbs, but I am growing to appreciate the simplicity and reliability.

 

[73redblaze]

newer not just for the injection but for the 241 case, the 700 and that 241 will crawl almost as good as my th350 and doubler.

Rehehehely? your talking about a 700r4 trany correct? so you would recommend a 241 T-case over a 205? since np208 and np241s are both 27 spline females, are they a direct swap with a 700r4? and what advantages does the 241 offer other than a fixed yolk and if im correct (probably not), a slightly lower range?

 

[lectric80]

Rehehehely? your talking about a 700r4 trany correct? so you would recommend a 241 T-case over a 205? since np208 and np241s are both 27 spline females, are they a direct swap with a 700r4? and what advantages does the 241 offer other than a fixed yolk and if im correct (probably not), a slightly lower range?

That is a loaded question. NP205 has it's uses, and advantages (gear drive, short housing, nearly indestructible), and the NP241 has it's own including the fixed yoke and a lower low range. The 241 is significantly lighter, but is longer than a 205(longer front and shorter rear drivelines). The one thing you need to watch out for, assuming you are swapping from a 208 to a 241, is the electronic speedo stuff on the 241, that isn't a direct swap, but can be corrected if I remember correctly.

 

[smier]

Ideally I'd say an '89 to '91 for what you plan to do... But, these things are prone to rust, and since these trucks aren't popular in the mainstream anymore, they typically are worth less than the value of their parts and have received little to no maintenance! It's hard to spend $$$$ repairing a truck that's hard to sell unless you are a fan of these trucks. Know that you will never recover the money you invest into this truck. But you may be able to reuse most parts you put into it on another rig. Read the buyers guide sticky!!! Print it out and take it with you! Be careful of rust these things leak water and rust from the inside out, pay close attention to floor and seatbelt area below where the top meets the back of the cab. These are repairable, but very labor intensive and some parts need to be fabricated, but many of the pieces are available aftermarket. So are you really in love with these awesome trucks, or are you just looking for a cheap project? These trucks aren't cheap in the long haul... Just my $.02!!!

 

[athikerguy4life]

Ideally I'd say an '89 to '91 for what you plan to do... But, these things are prone to rust, and since these trucks aren't popular in the mainstream anymore, they typically are worth less than the value of their parts and have received little to no maintenance! It's hard to spend $$$$ repairing a truck that's hard to sell unless you are a fan of these trucks. Know that you will never recover the money you invest into this truck. But you may be able to reuse most parts you put into it on another rig. Read the buyers guide sticky!!! Print it out and take it with you! Be careful of rust these things leak water and rust from the inside out, pay close attention to floor and seatbelt area below where the top meets the back of the cab. These are repairable, but very labor intensive and some parts need to be fabricated, but many of the pieces are available aftermarket. So are you really in love with these awesome trucks, or are you just looking for a cheap project? These trucks aren't cheap in the long haul... Just my $.02!!!

It's more than love. My uncle had one when I was a kid and I just loved it. My first car was a 2001 blazer, and I would've got a k5 then, but my dad wouldn't let me buy anything that was older than 10 years or had more than 100,000 miles. My blazer was 8 years old when I got it and had 95,000. I have since let it go, but I always wanted to get an old K5. I'd take one over any other car out there any day.

 

[smier]

Well, I think they are one of the coolest chevy trucks ever made, just don't let the desire to have one overpower your common sense when you go to look at them. There are some really nice solid trucks still around, and it will almost always save you to spend more on a decent one than to start with a basket case. That being said I think you are doing the best thing you can by asking questions before you buy! Good luck and know that your dream truck is out there, you might just have to travel a bit... They are a dime a dozen still here in Pa, and you can't hardly give them away with fuel prices right now!

 

[athikerguy4life]

Well, I think they are one of the coolest chevy trucks ever made, just don't let the desire to have one overpower your common sense when you go to look at them. There are some really nice solid trucks still around, and it will almost always save you to spend more on a decent one than to start with a basket case. That being said I think you are doing the best thing you can by asking questions before you buy! Good luck and know that your dream truck is out there, you might just have to travel a bit... They are a dime a dozen still here in Pa, and you can't hardly give them away with fuel prices right now!

Cool, wanna give me yours? haha

 

[smier]

Cool, wanna give me yours? haha

Haha, I'm so far into mine now, I can't get rid of it. If my wife ever found out how much money I have into a truck I bought for $1300, she'd strangle me. I just tell her it's cheaper than a new 4 door diesel 4x4 pickup! I don't even like to think about how much I've spent... But it's fun and it's a good stress reliever, and I absolutely love driving mine, especially since I put the softopper on!

 

[athikerguy4life]

my girlfriend doesn't completely understand the whole "working on a car relieves stress" thing yet, but we're getting there. and I have been thinking about the 85 simply for the registration costs. Since I would only use it on the weekends, registering as an antique would save me a ton of money, plus no inspection!

 

[73redblaze]

That is a loaded question. NP205 has it's uses, and advantages (gear drive, short housing, nearly indestructible), and the NP241 has it's own including the fixed yoke and a lower low range. The 241 is significantly lighter, but is longer than a 205(longer front and shorter rear drivelines). The one thing you need to watch out for, assuming you are swapping from a 208 to a 241, is the electronic speedo stuff on the 241, that isn't a direct swap, but can be corrected if I remember correctly.

the np205 has a fixed yoke aswell doesnt it? and i dont need a spedo anyhow. but if i could swap a 241 without changing anything on the trany and that would be sweet but i would reather have a shorter, tougher case

 

[meanboyjr]

73-79 isn't an option here. This is the rustbelt. If you can find anything here over 15 years old, consider yourself lucky.

I feel for you poor bastards. I really do.

 

[lectric80]

the np205 has a fixed yoke aswell doesnt it? and i dont need a spedo anyhow. but if i could swap a 241 without changing anything on the trany and that would be sweet but i would reather have a shorter, tougher case

Depends on what it came out of, my 205 is factory slip yoke, others came with fixed yoke. 1980 was all slip yoke 205's in Blazers, the next year they went to the 208.