Should I Keep My Blazer???

[KG PackRat]

Hello. I'm new here, but I've been reading the forum now for awhile. Two days before Christmas I purchased a '92 K5 Blazer 4x4 w/ the 350 (TBI). I got it for $600 b/c it needed a starter and a battery. After putting a new starter and battery on it, I found that the 30 gallon fuel tank was leaking. $400 later, it's got a new tank, fuel pump, sending unit, and filter sock. A few days later, she started overheating. I checked the radiator, and sure enough, it had a leak. This past weekend I replaced the radiator and the 2 hoses. After she still overheated, today I put a new thermostat and radiator cap on her. She doesn't seem to be overheating as much now, but the gauge will show 210 minute, then 260 or so the next. After a few seconds, she'll drop to 190 or so. To top it all off, my oil pressure is getting lower every time I drive it. My guess it she needs main bearings. That plus two new front tires and shocks all around that it still needs. And that's only what I know about.

Here's my question... I bought it for $600. After towing her home, and putting on all kinds of replacement parts on her, I'm up to $1600 and it seems more work will need to be done still. Should I keep it, or should I sell it??? I have a 350 out of a 95 Tahoe or Suburban (the guy I got it from couldn't remember) but I sold the heads and intake off of it. Do I rebuild that one and use the heads and everything off this motor??? I just don't know where I should go from here... Thanks for reading! Any suggestions would be great.

 

[haks310]

Welcome.

I wouldn't trust the gauge to read the temperature. Do you have a scanner you can hook up to read live data? Might also try replacing the temperature sensor if you haven't done so already, they are around $15-20. Make sure you check the wiring for it also.

If you have the money I would look at building up the spare 350 you have. New heads, cam and intake.

 

[AtomicHoe094]

the sudden drop and increase in your temp could be caused by your system not bled enough. Meaning you have air in your lines and motor.

 

[99Yuk]

Don't sell her! Maybe stop spending good money on it and not use it as your Daily Driver, but don't sell her!

I have a 91 K5, and I love her!

She lost her DD status 6-7 years ago, and we took the top off her, cut off the rear box down to the frame, removed the front fenders, built up a plywood firewood hauling box with removable seats, bent and broke her frame hauling on trees, etc. Now she's a bush buggy, firewood hauler, and a hunting stand all in one.

Once you relegate her to a toy, you will have so much fun with her! (something about a GO/NO-GO zone on a Canadian Military base?? Needed a 6-wheel drive unimog to pull me out!)

Plus after you've had a few wobbly pop and run out, you can use your girl to run a trail to your neighbors and get some more wobbly pop's, thus avoiding the roads and the whole DUI thing.

And gosh it's tough! We beat the bejesus out of mine, and it still goes! Thirsty girl though! She drinks up about $30 of fuel a day when we play with it, but bring along a jerry can and it's all good.

Yup, definately have fonder memories of mine as a bush buggy than as my DD.

If your holding a poll, I'm gonna vote to not use her as a DD, and don't sell her! Bush buggy her!

 

[tast101]

I think you have to ask your self, when it's gone, would you say "I never should have sold that truck!" If so then keep it, if your good like chistoso and the let it go.

 

[KG PackRat]

I'm not ready to turn her into scrap just yet. The reason I bought the truck is I need to pull my racecar to the track every Friday and my v6 F-150 just ain't gonna do the job. The way I see it, if I paid $1600 for it and this stuff was already done, I'd be ok with having to still do a few things.

I know there's no air in the system for sure. I check everytime I drive her and I topped her off once after putting the new thermostat on. Before i give up, I'm gonna replace the water pump, fan, and water temp. sending unit on the manifold. If that don't fix her I don't know what the heck I'll do.

As far as oil pressure, I may have been mislead. I was assuming that 30psi was were it needed to be because that's what the gauge reads @ 12:00. Looking through the Haynes manual I have, it should only be @ 8-9 @ idle. So I might be ok.

So I'll see what I can do with her. If she turns out ok, I'll have to get some help planning the stuff I WANT to do to her.

 

[KG PackRat]

Ok, so I'm gonna try the new water pump, fan, and sensor this weekend. I'm also gonna tear down the other 350 I have (from a 94 Chevy SUV, not sure which) I had all the bores checked by my friend at the machine shop. He said they don't need to be bored out and the block looks good. So I'm gonna go with a rebuild kit from Summit and reuse the stock pistons after running em through the blast cabinet. Also gonna balance the rotating assembly. Should I reuse the stock cam, or buy stock replacement, or something else? The Blazer is gonna be used as a weekly tow vehicle for the race car.

 

[TheBeast99]

keep us posted on how things turn out

 

[KG PackRat]

I haven't had a chance to do anything yet. We had a foot of snow dumped on us this past weekend. To change things again, I'm talking to a guy about a straight trade for his '96 K1500 Z71 Extended Cab. Has a Vortec 305 with a spun bearing. I've already taken my other 350 block to the shop to have it cleaned up so I may take the deal and drop the 350 in it. We'll see. I'll keep everyone posted.