Where are the posts?

[76C10Stepside]

Forum says 10 people are viewing the S10 S15 Luv Blazer II section. How come hardly any posts? Where's your "S10 Pride"? LOL

I'll start. What do you all think about the 4.3 engine? Hardly ever see or hear about them in S10s. The '89 I inherited from my Dad has one. Sounds a lot like a V-8. Do they last long? This one has low miles, wondering how many years of trouble-free driving I can expect to get. How about that crazy late-80s instrumentation? Does it hold up well?

[BlackedOut67shorty]

I've had two s10s with 4.3s. One was tbi and the other one I'm Rollin in is CPI and I've always experienced stone cold reliability from them. Maybe gas hogs but they are capable of going over 200000 miles and beyond. As for the gauges they lasted for me. Only problem I've had was with electronics with the engine or the battery getting corroded and messing with everything.
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[76C10Stepside]

Originally Posted by BlackedOut67shorty

I've had two s10s with 4.3s. One was tbi and the other one I'm Rollin in is CPI and I've always experienced stone cold reliability from them. Maybe gas hogs but they are capable of going over 200000 miles and beyond. As for the gauges they lasted for me. Only problem I've had was with electronics with the engine or the battery getting corroded and messing with everything.
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Thanks for responding. :-)

I always drove my Dad's around town running errands when I visited. It mostly just sat the last 10 years or so. Seems to get pretty decent mileage, like low-to-mid 20s. Better than my C10, anyway!
The 4-speed auto trans is a big improvement over the Turbo 350 as far as economy. My C10 revs high on the freeway. My brother says the battery seems to run down when it sits connected. We'll see when I get it back home. Maybe it's just the constant current draw for the ECM and clock, or battery is just getting old. There's some rust starting in the engine bay, probably from being close to the ocean. I'll probably put the battery in a battery box to contain the battery acid fumes, worked well on a van I used to have.

I've been driving only older carb'd, conventional ignition cars for awhile now. It will be interesting to have to deal with ignition modules, mass airflow sensors and electronic fans again, LOL.

I want to get a decent canopy for it.

[BlackedOut67shorty]

No prob, is like to see a pic of it
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[likaroc13]

Yeah, this section of the forum is a bit slow. Sold my '93 ext. cab in January, so I don't check in much. My '93 (2wd) had the 4.3 TBI with 4L60e Auto trans. & 3.42 rear end gear. It only had 121k original miles when i bought it in 2011, & 126,xxx miles when I sold it in Jan. I calculated just under 24mpg on a long distance highway trip using a full tank. I also had an '88 Blazer (2dr/2wd) with the 4.3 TBI & 700r4 that got about the same Hwy mileage. It had about 188k original miles when I bought it, & 197k when I sold it. Both were good running vehicles with plenty of life left. I love the square body (1st Gen.) S-10's. Sadly, I'll probably never own another; unless I have a son someday & decide to get one for his first vehicle. They'll be antiques by then for sure. I've moved on to a full size SUV with more room.
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[76C10Stepside]

Yah, this one's 24 years old. That's almost an antique! LOL. The cab's a little small for me. Will post photos of it when I get it back home.

[76C10Stepside]

Finally got the truck home. It ran great all the way back. The ride was very smooth with a load in the bed, and it handled great on the many miles of windy roads. It has the sport suspension. Here's what it looks like after the 700+ mile journey, a little dirty, but not bad! The interior looks like new. Will take pics of that soon.

[Zane M]

Looks great. I miss my '88 S15.

[76C10Stepside]

Thanks!

My son will be helping me fix up the stepside. Frame will get painted, box will get spray-on bed liner, new bed with gray Trex decking and stainless rails and bolts. The interior needs a total facelift. Also needs a new windshield and the hood repaired or replaced, then will repaint it blitz black and install the new rear bumper. Will either put non-stick on the chrome side steps or powder coat them. Hoping to have it ready in time for the LeMay Car Show, then it goes on the auction block. :-(

[76C10Stepside]

Here's the interior. Needs some cleaning, but still very nice.

[76C10Stepside]

I'd like to install a canopy on this truck. Is there any way to do it without drilling holes in the bed liner? Should the bed liner come out once in awhile to check for rust? I've never had a drop-in bed liner before, wondering what's under there after all these years. Thanks!

[Zane M]

For the canopy, you are either going to have to drill holes in the liner, or cut out sections to allow the "c clamp" style fastening devices.
How the bed will look under it will depend entirely on if any debris such as dirt managed to accumulate under it and collect moisture.
At a minimum, you will have surface rust anywhere the paint wore away.
Judging from the condition of the rest of the truck, you are probably going to be fine.

[76C10Stepside]

Thanks, Zane. Looks like used canopies for S10 longbed are not real common these days. We had some rain two days in a row and the liner still has water in it. Have to wonder what's under it. Guess I'll take a look see one of these days!

[76C10Stepside]

Today I polished the grille then drove the S10 to the store. It's been raining on and off the last week or so, and the bed had water in it. The parking lot was at a slight angle, and when I came out, a lot of water was running out the back. Water does not drain out of the bed easily, tailgate seals too good! Figured I'd drop the tailgate and drain off the water. A LOT of water poured out. Most of it came from UNDER the bed liner.

This truck needs a canopy or tonneau cover! Have a plastic tool tote that a friend gave me when he sold his small truck, but would rather have a canopy. Have not found one yet.

[76C10Stepside]

Just a quick note to say that the S10 corners very well even with no load and even in light rain. Waaay better than my C10, which is a total pig, even with those big meats on its paws. The S10 also stops waaaay better/faster than the C10. Wondering how I might improve the ride, cornering and stopping on the C10!

[BlackedOut67shorty]

I know mine rides like a caddy and ever since I switched to disc and bigger drums in the back it actually rides better than my blazer, granted it runs bilstiens when my c10 rides on monroes.
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