85 s/10

[snyder66]

What kind of pulling power/gas mileage could I expect from an 84 S/10 with a 2.8 L V6? Thanks

[hugger6933]

No pulling power barely enough power to move the truck empty. Gas mileage will be upper teens lower twenties. Please don't take my lack of power remarks as dislike of the s trucks. That could not be farther from the truth. I love the s trucks and owned Several hundred of them as I am in the rebuilder bussiness made the s trucks the thing I did most of. The 2.8 is a great motor for the most part just underpowered. The 88 1/2 up s-10 could be had with more power the 4.3 v-6 but at the cost of mpg

[RandyP]

We had an 88 S10 xcab for a shop truck way back when, it had the 2.8 with an automatic transmission. With the A/C on you'd pray you could get up to speed on the entrance ramp to the highway and not get ran over. I'm thinking like 75mph was top end on it once you got up to speed. Was a decent little parts getter in town, but no one wanted to try and take it on the highway for anything. It had around 30k miles on it when we got it, about 38k miles it blew a rod through the side of the block. Thankfully we were doing a lot of work for our local Chevy dealer at the time and they warrantied a new bullet for it. Still didn't help the fact it was a gutless little truck though.
I went and got a 3/4 ton truck rear end in it once, you'd of thought I had a 30' horse trailer with 8 horses in it pulling behind it.

[old Rusty C10]

i had a 2000 s 10 ext cab and it was the worst truck i ever had. it was uncomfortable and underpowered.. 4 cyl 4X2..i sold it within a few months andwould never get another

[1952ssr]

I've owned many 2.8's both auto and 5 speed. I had both carbed and TB, and the other guys are right, not much power or milaege expecially since it has a carb. My last one a 92 somona would tow my 6 x 10 enclosed trailer full of racing stuff but thankfully it was a 5 speed so I could make what power I had count and when I sold it had over 235,000 miles on it.

I have only owned one 4.3 my 92 Typhoon but it sure doesn't count....NO lacking in power for it.

[Squareforceone]

Originally Posted by old Rusty C10

i had a 2000 s 10 ext cab and it was the worst truck i ever had. it was uncomfortable and underpowered.. 4 cyl 4X2..i sold it within a few months andwould never get another

that is way different that is a newer truck, and is a second generation it's not even the square body

[BarryB]

All I can say, don't expect to win any races with it, does decent on power for what it is. My 91 reg cab shortbox, 2.8 5spd 3:42 rear averaged me 23-27 mpgs. empty. I used my little truck for the last 2 years doing home remodeling and maintenance, so needless to say. it has been abused. when I was hauling my tools and supplies around, I was getting 19 20mpgs. it has 175k on the clock now. SO I ahve no complaints about it. Mine has been a good reliable truck, On another subject. gas mileage also has alot to do about who is driving and there driving habits. For example, My wife had a honda accord she'd be lucky to get 28-29 mpg hwy. I started driving it for my DD back when I was commuting. I was getting 31-32 mpg hwy with ac on.

[Tink]

You either like the 2.8L and it does good for you (longentivity and gas mileage) or you hate it.... I have the 3.1L in my Camaro and love it... but the 2.8L in our 83 S10 couldn't get out of it's own way. It's saving grace is the manual transmission - give it hell, shift it wide open and it runs... but it certainly isn't a tow vehicle.

[Warrens69GMC]

Your 2.8 is rated at 110hp/148 ft/lb of torque . grab a 1993-1996 camaro 3.4L motor (still 60 degree) and use all of the carbed stuff on it.
camaro is 160hp/200 ft/lb of torque