Yes Ten

Did Chevy’s S10 finally push Japanese mini-pickups back into the Pacific Ocean? Sort of. Steve explores a 1985 S10 4x4 with the spiffy Tahoe appearance package and desirable short bed body style.

[@johnnersinger9771]

The 2.8 was born with a connecting rod hanging out of the oil pan.

[@rexkramer4938]

This comment is gold!

[@michaelatkins9780]

Chevy is all about convenience. They knew you wanted a V8 so, enter disposable V6 with easily detachable rod bearings.

[@mromatic17]

@@michaelatkins9780 well they used to build the best v8's in the world now they have displacement on demand that blows up all the time!

[@michaelatkins9780]

@@mromatic17 except the 4.8 base truck motor from awhile back, no mds and they really don't want you to know how powerful they can be built with reliability .

[@jeffclark2725]

I lost count how many 2.8 motors I swapped out,the intake gaskets failed, coolant in the oil,,the replacement intake gaskets would fail also,and they were used in lot's of rigs back then

[@marioncobaretti2280]

These trucks improved greatly when the 4.3 was used in them

[@blazertracer1]

Should have had the 305 as a option

[@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman]

@@blazertracer1 A buddy of mine in the 80s always put 305s in every S10 he got except one with a mild built 350

[@mindeloman]

One of the hardest accelerating trucks I drove from that era was a 4.3L S-10 with a 5 speed. I think thar particular truck had a 4.10 rear axle. That truck would get out of its own way.

[@UberLummox]

Had a low mileage 2.8 and it was slow as hell. Dunno why Steve says they're "peppy". Yeah, the 4.3 go like stink! He's right about them being unstoppable in 4 low however. Mine had a 7-foot Fisher plow. I miss it in the Winter.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Yeah but stuff a glasspack behind the cat and that's it ,and the 2.8 sounds like a cousin to a 2 stroke Detroit.

[@davidp2888]

“If you’re old like I am.” Hey now, I’m your age! 😂 Love the content, Steve.

[@user-ne3is8ck6g]

l worked in GM Canada (Oshawa, ON) as a university student for four summers, starting in 1983. One of the first jobs l had was to make the left and right rear lights for the S10 pickups. The crimper that made the metal frame wrap around the taillight, l will never forget. Right lens on day, the left lens the next day. Could very well be that the lens on the pickup featured might have been assembled by my hands.

[@corinnelaking569]

Cool bit of history! I'm replying to you right now just a few blocks away from GM's Oshawa plant, where a new generation of workers is spinning out 3/4 ton Silverado and Sierra pickups. 🙂

[@kramnull8962]

@@corinnelaking569 How many of those new generation workers have a serial number scratched onto their necks? Soon everyone will have a robot to do everything for $4.99. We'll just have no money to spend. They will have to print money for the robots to spend in our place I guess.

[@danh2134]

Terminator 2 with the max speed of 55

[@johngrein3325]

I was an employee for GM and bought a new 1988 EL S10. $5895 + $200 for rear bumper,full size spare and 20 gallon tank. Drove it to 170,000 miles in a rust belt NY state as a commuter. Was so economical. Should of bought 2 and put one in storage.

[@mexicanspec]

We had those on our lot in Burbank CA. They were sent out to be lowered. It didn't work out all that well.

[@ThomasSmith-hh8fp]

😮😅😅

[@kellyg8717]

Bought my 87 Chevy s10 in 93,I was 20. 2 wheel drive, regular cab, short box with a sleeper. Only had a 2.5L, but what a great looking little truck. Thanks for taking me down memory lane Steve.

[@bobbellendovich6825]

Grumman LLV, United States Postal Service mail delivery vans built-on, and still running-and-driving, on the Chevrolet S-10 chassis. Fact.

[@christopherprince3250]

Had a '93 S-10, put 150,000 miles on it and traded it in on a '99 Dakota R/T. Still have the R/T after 170,000 miles, but miss the S-10. They are tough little trucks.

[@Mr.Death101]

I love how Katie has become a staple! Always knows how to make a cameo! She doesn't even need a script

[@marioncobaretti2280]

Because she is beautiful plain n simple and brings love everywhere she goes

[@googleusergp]

Dogs are as pure as you can get. They only want care and affection and they return it 100 fold. They know good people when they see them. They are a good judge of character.

[@Barry101er]

What a truck ❤

[@samholdsworth420]

What a dog ❤

[@zs5948]

i bought a 67 charger in this yard last fall and spent 3 months up there 6 days a week getting it all together. Katie is my best puppy friend!

[@charlesdalton985]

I owned a 91 Jimmy and later a 2001 S10 crew cab. Both great daily drivers for comfort and no issues getting anywhere when it snowed. Thanks for the memories - Chuck

[@danmcclure6670]

Bought a '91 S10 new off of the showroom floor in March '91. 4.3 5 speed with every option available at the time. Short bed standard cab. I still have it and drive it everyday. 12,000$ cash out the door.

[@Engineering_Improvisation]

In college, I had an '88 S-10 Blazer, auto, 4.3, 2wd, Tahoe trim. I drove that thing for as long as I possibly could; well after I graduated. Loved that truck!

[@marioncobaretti2280]

700r4 transmission , 2.8 is a powerless leak bucket. I rebuilt more of those front differentials for worn shift forks and the transfer case vacuum switch would stop working causing the front diff to not engage

[@seanfrank4158]

My dad bought a brand new 1989 S15 4x4 with the 4.3L in it and that truck would absolutely haul. It had the auto in it but you could still roast the tires in it because the rear ends were so light in these trucks. I loved it. They still look cool today.

[@Niterider73]

Absolutely love that graphics package! I'm such a sucker for those sorts of things. I remember when I was a kid these things were everywhere! Really a shame That Chevrolet doesn't offer an S10 anymore

[@quicksilver462]

Had a friend with an 82 camaro with the 2.8, the crankshaft broke at the 1 and 2 crank journal and still ran, sounded like a jackhammer when running, we swapped a SBC in it!

[@jonathanmorrisey5771]

The 2 8L was even sold to Jeep for use in the early XJ Cherokees.

[@googleusergp]

Correct, 1984 to 1986 as their V6 offering until the 4.0L six came out in their products in 1987.

[@joe6096]

I used to work with someone who had a '91 equipped exactly how you'd want it: VORTEC 4.3, 5 speed manual, 4 wheel drive with air conditioning, cruise/tilt/delay wipers, AM/FM Cassette, cloth buckets with center console, full gauge package. It was silver with black interior and had those same wheels. I loved that truck. To this day I keep my eye out if I see one equipped like it in good condition with reasonably low miles for sale I might try to buy it. But in the Cleveland OH area (as I'm sure you have in Mass) these trucks rusted and turned to dust if driven extensively in winter.

[@justincooper5189]

Look in the desert regions, and if you find one like that there, get it undercoated, and don't get the cheap undercoating either. That cheap stuff holds in water and salt and will rot the frame right out of it. Good luck with your hunt for that.

[@andregonsalvez9244]

Great show as usual Steve ! I remember these small trucks back in the 80s , they were pretty popular and fairly robust. We need a resurgence of small trucks just like in the 70s , 80s and 90s

[@youtubecarspottersguide1]

yes a true compac single cab and a 6' box

[@mobrien7211]

Never going to happen due to EPA and cafe standards, they can only come back as EVs now, save the old ones

[@workingcountry1776]

The cafe rules actually cause all vehicles to become larger to skirt the standard, thus few cars left and no compact trucks (Maverick is bigger than a traditional Ranger)

[@TriBgarage]

I owned the first king cab Sonoma delivered in Canada. I special ordered it, king cab 4.3L, manual.captian chairs, no jump seats. Loved that truck, could spin the wheels in third gear.

[@rawbsworld6604]

Katie dog! 🤗

[@robbchastain3036]

That truck is just beggin' for a V8. And I'd certainly understand, Steve, if you did another series as a middle-man. You could come on strong: "Hi, I'm Steve the Middle-Man here with classic vehicles ready for the road again. And the wheeling and the dealing starts with me." 😀

[@stevehenderson2571]

Get well soon Steve. We miss you buddy.

[@jimc3688]

Those small 4x4s were a blast to drive. Most fun other than a motorcycle.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

And as long as your friends don't see ya, kinda like that big girl 😂😂

[@scoobyroorogers]

Yes Ten! Thank You Steve for going over this truck with us. I have a square body like this.

[@mikel6989]

I had an 88' S10, black 2wd with the 2.5l and a 5 speed stick. Loved that truck. Zero options on it. Manual steering, manual brakes, no vents.

[@googleusergp]

Partially correct. The S,T Series pickups were "square" through the 1993 model year, but the SUVs went one more year through 1994 as a "square". My coworker had one, and it even had a 4.3L V6 Vortec (not a TBI) engine in it. It was transitional year truck with some oddities to it. It ran well over 225,000 miles and had been through a flood (or two) before he donated it around 2020. It still ran like new and had cold AC. I tried to convince him to fix it up, but he just wanted something newer and got rid of it. He had it well over 10 years. I was working outside on Saturday doing oil changes with my cousin and my neighbor stopped to chat for a bit with his "Shorkie", a Shih-Tzu/Yorkie mix named "Scrappy Do". He's maybe 10 lbs. I have never seen a more affectionate dog. He came right up to me, sat in my lap, wagged his tail, "hugged" me with his paws and tried to lick me to death. He's always a happy boy, a great little dog. Dogs are a treasure in life, they are pure and what you see is what you get. That's how Ms. Katie seems too. No, these were never made in Canada. The 1st generation ones were assembled in Moraine, OH (like this one, more on that later), Shreveport, LA, or Pontiac, MI (and Venezuela for the export market). The 2nd generation "rounded" ones were assembled in either Moraine, OH or Linden, NJ (for the US market) or in some cases Shreveport. We got the VIN, we win: 1GC for US made Chevrolet Truck, C for 4,001 to 5,000 # Gross Vehicle Weight Rating with hydraulic brakes, T for 4WD compact chassis, 1 for 1/2 ton rated, 4 for two door cab, B for 2.8L V6 with two barrel "Disaster Jet" Rochester Varajet, aka RPO code "LP8", X is a check digit, F for the 1985 model year, 2 for Moraine, OH assembly and the rest is the production sequence. The Moraine plant operated as a Frigidaire appliance plant from 1951 to 1979 and then in 1981 was converted for vehicle production. The plant closed in December 2008 and today Fuyao Glass, a Chinese concern that makes glass for OEM production and service occupies that site. The replacement windshield on my Chevrolet Sonic done in 2015 by the insurance company is a Fuyao unit. Shreveport operated from about 1981 to 2012 with a Chevrolet Colorado being the last vehicle assembled there. The Rochester "Disaster Jet" was an awful carburetor and the best thing to happen in 1986 was the throttle body fuel injection for the V6 engines. It made the truck more powerful, efficient and reliable. You mean "Insta-Trac" for the automatic four wheel drive system introduced for the 1983 model year. "Selec-Trac" was typically a Jeep thing. Notice the "truck" style RPO code system with the prefixes on them. If you just look at the "base" RPO code (e.g. 6CD4 versus CD4) you'll see that they denote the same options as on a GM car. By this time, the "truck system" was going over to more of a universal system. We have quite a few LS powered vehicles in our fleet, one of which is typically used to bring us back and forth to the airport for business trips out of town. One day recently, a group of us were talking and somehow "LS" engines came up. I said, "Yup, and this van has one. It's probably worth more than the van. LOL". One van is pretty much used just for "airport runs" and special events and it's a 4WD Quigley conversion as well. My neighbor had one for years, a 1991 2WD Blazer with the Tahoe package and 4.3L TBI V6. He bought it with 7,000 miles from another neighbor. It had the LH quarter panel repainted under warranty. It was a nice truck for years until he lent it to customers to drive and then it got ratty. Eventually, it got parked in a lot behind the shop and the weeds grew over it. We cut down the weeds, I took it and started to fix it up when he called me and told me he wanted it back. I gave it back to him and got reimbursed for anything I did to it. I never saw it again, but it was just as well, it needed a lot of work.

[@tomwesley7884]

Oh boy, got the SPID this morning!

[@googleusergp]

@@tomwesley7884 Yup, no sense in repeating what's there unless an error was made.

[@stepheng3667]

The 2nd generation from 94 and up were also built in Shreveport as my 96 had the sticker with the alligator on the door jamb. I bought my 96 brand new with LF6 4.3 and within 3-4 months it was blowing blue smoke. Valve stem seals were improperly installed at the Romulus, MI factory. Dealer had my truck for a month. It was a beautiful looking, 2 tone extended cab but it was a lemon. I had all kinds of problems with it. My brother had a 97 Blazer with nothing but problems. I traded mine for a new Cavalier Z24 that I still own.

[@googleusergp]

@@stepheng3667 Mostly Moraine and Linden. I wouldn't want much of anything built in the Bayou State. It's a swampy mess down there.

[@TheRoadhammer379]

😂 your quirky "got a vin for the win" and ones you've commented on other vids are funny, keep it up, have a good day

[@chrispaulson2934]

1982 S 10 the first American built compact truck. Meanwhile every 1960 Ranchero and 1964 el camino are rolling their headlights at this .. 😆 This brings back some memories as my dad had a 91 S10 Balzee 4x4 which unfortunately got stolen and was replaced by a 96 S10Blazer 4x4 that went to my sister after she got her driver's license. Also when I was a porter at a local gm dealer we had an 80's S10 shop truck. That truck didn't have one good panel, and the doors didn't always latch. I remember almost falling out as another porter was driving. And while driving had to hold the door closed. Good little truck it was. The v6 in it sounded like a high horse v8 with a big cam. Fun times and good memories. Thank you again for another educational and awesome video 😃 👍 👍

[@Heighten666]

My first car was an 86 S10 blazer two door, with the 2.8 and a 5 speed. It was factory burnt orange on black. I wish I still had it, but Michigan rust shows no mercy 😢

[@talfacprez]

In a GM sales training I was at the told us the "S" in S-10 stood for Shreveport where the S-10 and S-10 Blazers were built.

[@advilshenk]

A old neighbor many years ago in 1996 (when we had the big blizzard in PA) had a black 92 gmc sonoma 4.3 4x4. That thing took the 3ft of snow like a champ. We were all loaded in the back like 6 of us as he drove around the block

[@wyattgardner3552]

My first vehicle was a 1987 S10. I bought it in 2010. Rusted terrible. No floors. Barely fenders. Bed collapsed when I loaded it with wood. As a high schooler, I drove it hard. 2.8l held up. It was rcsb 4x4 5spd. I loved that truck. It wasn't a Tahoe, it had those wheels, sliding rear window and A/C! In Ohio!

[@jasonformulaboater357]

Work at a parts store and we had one with the 4.3. That thing would light'em up pretty good.

[@joshuagibson2520]

I grew up in West Carrollton \ Moraine area in the 80s and 90s. That's where the truck and bus plant was that built those. My friends and family has had their hands all over that truck.

[@joshuagibson2520]

Now it's a fuyao glass plant. Yes. Chinese.

[@googleusergp]

One of the plants, yes. Shreveport, LA, or Pontiac, MI were the other two that built them at that time. The 2nd gens were either built in Shreveport or Linden, NJ.

[@chrisscearce]

Hi Steve, great video on this square body S10. When I had my Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser wagon with the Pontiac 455 stuffed inside its last race was against a square body V8 S10. We were a mirror image off the line. The S10 pulls a full fender out in front. This time my tire hooked up good. It was terrible off the line because the torque would just cook the rear tires if I came out hard. So I was used to the seeing this lead before. So as usual as the big block started to unwind I started to regain some ground and as 2nd started to peak the rpms I had a good door/door and half lead. Well we were street racing (kids dont street race its dangerous and people do get killed doing so) and we would normally race at a certain stoplight that was a perfect half mile long with it turning into a single lane that would merge into another 4 lane road. Well we came out of the single lane and I had gotten into traffic but the right lane ended. The S10 was in the right lane and tried to pass me instead of merging into traffic behind me so I lifted and he blew by but "PIT maneuvered" himself. His back bumper snagged my front bumper causing him to spin out in front of me, and as my wagon started to push him sideways, it flipped onto its side. I pushed him 50 to 100ft while I'm hard on the brakes trying to slow myself down. So as he broke away from the front of my car he continued to slide on his passenger side into on coming traffic. Somehow it managed to miss the medium which would have probably stopped him and instead slid through an opening for a turning lane. He continued to slide into oncoming traffic when a lady driving a mid 90s Suburban just T-Bones the undercarriage side of the truck and it literally explodes with beer bottles and cans all over the highway. Well it spun him around a couple of times and ended up upside down. As he climbed out of the truck more cans and bottles sort of fell out with him. The hit was so hard it smashed the Suburban front bumper against the front tires. Well what happened to me was as we came unattached I was hard on the brakes and turning slightly to the right to keep from hitting the "Jersey barriers" that lined parts of the medium. My right wheel caught the edge of the curb and sent me into grass and soon after a fence that run along side of the highway. When we hit the corner of the fence it must of been made of some heavy gauge stuff because there was a 5 gal bucket of tar in the back of the wagon and the impact from that pole stopped us but it sent that tar bucket against the backseat and literally exploded covering everything from the backseat to windshield in tar. The back of my head had tar covering it. I had a female passenger at the time and needless to say she wasn't too happy with the end results. My car was totaled only because of the tar. The right front wheel was bent. The front bumper was bent but not the grill section. The 455 sat there idling beautifully. The car had this mint condition light blue interior but now ruined for sure. The guy in the S10 was charged with everything and not once did he mention what really happened. Minus my wagon getting totaled the night was fun and exciting not to mention she needed help washing off the tar 😊 I ended up shaving my head that summer. 😅 We both looked like part of the Black Widows from the movie "Evey Which Way But Loose" Have a blessed day everyone 🤙🏼 Namaste 🙏🏼

[@williamcavanaugh1415]

Haaaaaa,that was a great story...

[@SteveMagnante]

WOW Chris1 You have done some LIVING! Thanks for sharing. And listen to Chris, kids...don't street race, stay in school and eat your greens. -Steve Magnante

[@chrisscearce]

Life should be an exciting adventure. It should never be a bore. A man should live fully, be alive. He should be glad to get out of bed in the morning. People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why I recommend it daily. When you catch a glimpse of your potential, that's when passion is born. Don't be so hard on yourself become passionate at what you love to do. Remember that failure is an event, not a person. Have a blessed day, Namaste 🙏🏼

[@scoobyroorogers]

Dang! That's awesome . Thanks for sharing you had me rollin' with laughter. The Black Widow's. LOL

[@chrisscearce]

@William Cavanaugh Hi Mr Cavanaugh 👋🏼 thanks. What I failed to mention is when you come out of the one lane into another 4 lanes it about 15 miles of nothingness just straight open highway and that's where I would really get out there and let, in this case the Pontiac 455 stretch out. Back then as Steve mentioned that most speedometer only registered 85mph, so I never really knew the top speed of the Olds wagon. Thanks for commenting 🤙🏼 Namaste 🙏🏼

[@user-mk8ju1jz2b]

Had a 91 4x4. 400258 miles on it when I finally spun a bearing on it trying to haul firewood up a hill in the woods fully loaded. Bought it new in dec.91. Black on black. Best vehicle I ever bought. Still have it. Has a 350 sbc with a muncie m20 12 pnt. roll cage. Yes I'm a gear head from way back.

[@mikep.5517]

I'd actually expect a 60-degree bank angle on a V6, not 90. V6s with 90-degree bank angles give uneven firing and balance issues that require stuff like offset crankpins to solve. V6 engines made with a 90-degree bank angle often started life on the drafting table as a V8 but had cylinders pared off due to sudden product management changes.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

15 degree inline v-6 is even more fun and a heck of a lot more power from a 2.8 , with a rating that hovers at 1hp per cube.

[@jasonstinson1767]

Mike P, that was an absolutely awesome explanation dealing with the inherent problems of a 90° V6. I personally have experience with a LB4 without the balance shaft. Interestingly the peculiar layout, split pin crank etc have negligible effect on serviceability. If you could include simple math describing the indivisible nature of six cylinders into 90° and the requirements of the crank throw angles.

[@DougsMessyGarage]

I had an '87 GMC S-15 two wheel drive with the Iron Duke. By the time I got rid of it, it was so clapped out that it could barely hold 60 mph on the highway but I sure did love that little truck.

[@user-vk7sb4qr3d]

In 1991 my first car was an '84 s-10 square body 4x4. Red Orange over black. Loved that truck. put three engines in it before it hit 85,000 miles. Started a V-8 swap but the 4x4's were not that easy to swap. I put the V-8 in a 240-z instead. Parked the s-10 behind the garage, still there to this day.

[@user-fq3uh7bt1t]

I had an '89 with the 4.3. Loved that truck, but the rear wheel only ABS in it was just plain dangerous.

[@mexicanspec]

So you think all vehicles before ABS were dangerous?

[@user-fq3uh7bt1t]

@@mexicanspec nope, didn't say that

[@kramnull8962]

@@mexicanspec Think about it, the computers in OBD1 couldn't even keep up with a v8 with very much precision. Now let it control your brakes too. I'd rather do it myself. Sad today people love to say tech has made them too lazy to drape their fingers across a steering wheel, and lay their toe on the gas pedal. Why do I want to go down the road every day second guessing a non thinker. I've been out MPGing ANY cruise control all my life............................... Hopefully with any brain cell at all, you have too.

[@mexicanspec]

@@kramnull8962 I think at this point everybody has had a computer that melted down. Now they want to trust their lives to one. I will stick with my 1963 Plymouth as a daily, thanks.

[@ldcuba]

I have an '85 S Blazer with a swapped 4.3 and a 5 speed 2wd. so much fun.

[@ReadTheBible8]

Thanks for the video sir. I bought a new 1976 Datsun Pickup and a couple of years later I bought a Hot Rod magazine that was titled Chev-It. The article was about installing a small block Chevy in my Datsun truck. Long story short I installed a 327 and a 350 turbo transmission. Factory rear gear was a 4.38 ratio. The fun I had with that truck as I was only 18 years old. Take care all.

[@mobrien7211]

"Interaction for the algorithm" love you Steve thanks for the knowledge

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

We're all pulling for you Steve. Hope to see you soon

[@paularndt6111]

Had a 86 4x4 extra size cab with 2 little jump seats in the back. The 2.8 ltr. Was a beast in the snow. I would pull all kinds of people out in the storms with that thing. Gave it to my grandson. It finally got parked for good in about 2015. It was wore out with 300 and some thousand miles on it. It still ran and drove but engine needed a rebuild bad. Miss that little truck.

[@peterantonopoulos2572]

Morning Steve....had a black one with a 4.3 ,short bed 2 wd manual. What a great little truck it was and I regret selling it to this day.

[@111000100101001]

The 2.8 kept our shop busy with F-body’s and S-trucks coming in ‘on the hook’! Most had rod knocks, some broken cranks, then those that had and “odd knock in park” which ment cracked flex plate.

[@JDWorkshop-wn9tt]

I regret getting rid of my ‘92 S10 262ci-4.3 liter V6. Great square body S10!

[@mikeleach4201]

I had a 1985 or 86 Pontiac STE with the 2.8 V6. Head snapper. Wonderful motor. My stepson put a few more miles on it before pasture at over a half million miles (estimate; odo stopped at 200k). Called her “Old Paint”.

[@MikeBrown-ii3pt]

One friend of mine bought an S-10 ex-cab 4x4 with the 2.8L and, I'm almost positive, 5 speed trans. He drove that truck for God only knows how many miles and the biggest issue he had was the rubber torsion bar bushings rotting and causing a "clunk" from the front end. Another friend bought a regular cab S-10 2wd with the 4.3L and 700R4. He never had any issues with it but, traded it after just a few years, WELL under 100k miles because he had, and still has more money than sense! The GM 2.8L, in my mind, is like the Ford 2.9L. You either got a good one or a bad one, there was no middle ground. Back in late 1989, even though I wanted a loaded, black 1990 S-15 (I just prefer GMCs for some reason) 4x4 with the 4.3/5 speed, my local dealer flat refused to order it because, even though I already had cash in hand, they said that if I refused delivery for some reason, they wouldn't be able to sell it. I ended up taking that long (2 mile) drive across town and gave my cash to the local Ford dealer for a black with red interior, 1990 Ranger XLT 4x4 with the 2.9L/5speed that they had ordered for the showroom! I then put nearly 300k miles on it and the only major repair was a clutch kit at over 200k. On the other hand, I also knew people that were on their 2nd, or even 3rd GM 2.8s or Ford 2.9s before reaching 100k miles!

[@redneck5356]

Think that was a common thing with the 2.8 rod knocks .

[@googleusergp]

The Rochester "Disaster Jet" was a heap and loaded the thing up with fuel, often washing out the cylinder walls and diluting the oil. Throttle body fuel injection really helped the cause in this case.

[@rodsvintagesxschannel.3095]

As kids/teenagers these were all over the place my buddies and i took out the 4cyl 2.5 " iron duke " Then we put a 400 small block in it with a 4 spd, and 3.73 rear end.. It was fun. Also we took my buddys Other " blazer" and coverted it to a shorty truck. It had a 4.3 in it with factory 5. spd ( 4spd plus OD ) These little trucks were fun, we also swapped V8 i a few older rangers... 302's and 351s. We had lots of fun

[@jeffgoddard4100]

If I didn't live so far away, I would be tempted to rescue this awesome little truck. It is optioned exactly the way I would order it if I could. I have loved these since they were new! This one is old enough to have the much more attractive dash also. I never cared for the redesigned dash in the newer square body S-10.

[@volvo09]

Don't feel too bad, because it's going to be crusty being a MA vehicle. I'd rather pick up a southern vehicle and get a solid starting point.

[@zs5948]

@@volvo09 i live real close to here, have pulled some parts from this truck for my s10 blazer. this thing is actually pretty clean! def. saveable.

[@banditone00]

When I was in high school in the late 90’s in rural OK a ton of kids drove either these S10 pickups or square bodies. They made up probably 2/3 of the parking lot.

[@Fljeff7]

Had a 89 just out of high school. Little did I know it was the first many trucks have owned

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Man you’re right! Those sold like hot cakes back in the day! I got to drive one of those that my buddy from work had! That was back in 1985! Same style 4x4, and it was a manual transmission too! I always liked those little square body pick ups! Also the blazer was cool looking too! My wife’s dad had one. You forgot to mention that the cavaliers z24 and Rs had also that engine, 2.8 multiport injectors. I had a new 89 cavalier z24 with that engine. Loved the car at the time! But I had many overheating issues with it and computer problems! Great video! Like you said hopefully someone will save that little s10!

[@jaywhittemore5878]

Owned a 1984 S10 Blazer 4X4 for 14 years. Loved it restored it with a Chevy performance 3.4 L V6 instead of the 2.8 L.

[@albertgaspar627]

Man, a stick shift mini truck that's a 4x4...there's a crowd of us wishing such things were made new and affordable :) Hope one of 'em grabs this and rebuilds it for another 200K miles. My ol' man loved these things and i'd race 5.0 mustang 2 bbls with the 2.8 V6.

[@danw6014]

A friend of mine had one with the 4.3. It was a nice run around truck. Another friend in highschool managed to stuff a 302 into a Ford Ranger. At 190 lbs and 6,2 I find pickups of this size more difficult to get in and out of. Over all I liked the Dakota. Just a little bit more room.

[@kristercarlson2635]

I had a ‘92 4x4 with the 4.3 TBI. I loved that truck. It got 19 mpg around town and over 22 on the highway. It was better in the snow than my current 2500HD.

[@gillgetter3004]

New a guy who bought new full sized truck. Asked him how he liked it. He said it’s ok but I miss my S10 I loved that little truck

[@HOCKENBERGER]

Those 2.8 700 upshift and downshift CONSTANTLY to try to help the anemic 60 degree cope with the Heft of a 4wd S truck. I blew MANY a front pump seal on the Taconic state parkway, even with the retainer upgrade. My 85 S10 Blazer 4x4 still sits in the woods up on my land in the Catskills

[@harryfaberiii3261]

I worked as a delivery driver for Napa in high school and my truck was a S10 with the 4.3 and someone put a shift kit in it because 1st to 2nd it would spin and into would chirp. Fun to drive and certainly had 1 or 2 complaints when I worked there.

[@Thomas-ul3uy]

The later years with the Baja package was a hot looking truck.

[@91S10BAJA]

I agree . 👍

[@mattskustomkreations]

Fond memories of college Spring Break road trip in an extended s15

[@jackpontiac9409]

90 thousand subs and counting. good to see, its a great channel.

[@bertonfeuchtwanger9779]

Thank you for the class today on the small GM trucks. I had a friend that bought one new when they first came out. He was a Corvette owner and tried to drive the S10 like his Corvette, needless to say he tore up The transmission, syncro’s I think. He never had trouble wIth the 2.8 V6 at least he did not share it. When I rode with him I felt some what cramped in the regular cab. I think Katie dog wanted more tummy rubs from the look she gave you when you stopped. Remember you’re a guest in her junkyard. Thanks for including her in yours videos.

[@rebelscumspeedshop]

I love these things.. so many options . My 87 was my first LS swap.. I have less than 10 k invested total. So much fun.

[@volvo09]

Sounds like fun! I LOVE mini trucks.

[@stephenfernald2490]

I have a 95 w extended cab. 110k miles on it. Never a problem. Never getting rid of it.

[@kentkirkpatrick7953]

I love my 89 4x4 4.3 auto. Absolutely perfect for daily run around. Will haul 2,000lbs of rocks no problem!

[@kevbev1524]

I had 1984 jeep wagoner (Cherokee style body) with a 2.8 v-6. Had a valve knock, bent valve, Nice memories

[@nunyabusiness8887]

When I was in HS in the early 90s, if you were a gearhead, you had an IROC Z, a 5.0 Mustang LX, or an S-10 with an SBC conversion. I had an 86 Z-28.

[@bradwilliams4921]

Great video Steve. There is a 1982 GMC S15, the S10s brother, sitting out in the barn waiting on the day that I can afford to restore it.

[@gregkellow4723]

I have owned GM S and T trucks since 1993. I've had A long bed with a five speed and 2.8 liter. I've also had Blazers through the years. They are beasts in the snow! I currently have an '03 Sonoma that has the 2.2 4 banger. It's lowered and painted Cadillac CTS orange. I love it!

[@chriscarlson3700]

That’s a cool truck, and a bit of a rare bird with the V6, manual and 4x4. (No AC though!) Looks solid enough to restore. My dad had a ‘91 S10 with a 2.8 and a manual, and that little thing would lay rubber all day long. Allegedly. (Sorry, Dad.)

[@Sebastian_Dinwiddie]

Dale's friend decides its finally time to fess up. "Dale. When you were test running those engines, both of them, I was clanking two wrenches behind my back".

[@DuneRunnerEnterprises]

Oh, buddy,i feel your pain. A quantity of project vehicles ,just impossible to resist,but you do!!!

[@andrewlorenzen1447]

Worked for a HVAC contractor in the 80s & 90s in Worcester, we a had an upscale long bed for salesmen use ,then relegated to a parts chaser we all ran the wheels off that little truck and it took it

[@jasonwaltrowski2315]

Miss those old S-10's all my buddies had all kinda of them they were tough little trucks, the blazer were really cool, ashame to see that one sitting there hopefully someone gets it before it goes to waste

[@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman]

I had 3...an '83, '85 & '87! The '87 I had until just a few years ago when I finally let go of it ✌💖☮

[@workingcountry1776]

My first truck was a 1989 GMC S15 "Sierra Classic" 4.3L auto, 4wd, extended cab. Flimsy body panels compared to my Fords but otherwise good lil trucks. The Votrec 4.3 with aluminum upper plenum 200+ hp was a whole new animal. I saw a few 2wd 5spd units and they were peppy while getting 20+ mpg

[@randyauer7303]

Another great video professor Steve get well soon I miss you videos

[@paulzammataro7185]

Get Well soon, Sir!!

[@robertvance1873]

I Hope Someone Saves that little Truck before it Rots Away 😢

[@markchelak]

I forgot the clutch master cylinder would not work I pulled it apart there was a pigeon feather in the o-ring piston and boar area allowing fluid bypass Great quality GM...

[@zoefaith120]

Love it ... I got a 92 reg cab 2.8 V6 Manuel 2wd. With 200,000 miles.. she don't like cold mornings but it still gets like 25 mpg normal. Slow and family truck from birth.

[@ktm42080]

I had a 7.5 foot bed 4x4 S10 with the 2.8 stick shift. Mine never gave me a problem, and the four wheel drive worked awesome, most of the time. Plenty of potential problems......

[@horseshoemountainprojects8144]

The brown or black with the gold version of that stripe package were pretty hot!

[@grantmelcher1830]

Miss my 91 Sonoma!!!! 4.3

[@1969Rotax]

My first car was a ‘92 S-10 2wd with the 4,3L… Love that thing😊

[@johnnersinger9771]

I had one like that but ext cab.loved it

[@scottmihalsky3612]

My Dad owned an 85 S 10 blazer and I owned an 89 S 15 jimmy. Then I got wise and bought a Cherokee. But they were nice and I miss them.

[@aaron71]

Dang that one is clean too, someone should save it!

[@saddletramp6935]

Had a 93 4.3 . It was quick. 1 wheel drive and you could smoke that right rear all day long.

[@mcdonaldm73]

Great as usual! Thanks Steve!

[@garyjust.johnson1436]

I have owned 3 ford rangers and 3 datsun/nissan pickups over the years. Dad had a dodge ram d50 and my brother had the isuzu chevy pickup. Great video! Watch out for the poison ivy!!!

[@daviddavid5880]

Dude. That thing is awesome. Somebody save it.

[@bobhill3941]

Dad bought an 87 new just after I was born. He told me that to practice driving manual while he was waiting for it to come, he test drove all the Japanese cars and trucks off their lots! His was blue with two tone blue cloth interior with a 5 speed manual made by Toyota using the 2.2 Iron Duke. His had steel wheels with hubcaps. Those engines pulled well, I remember riding in the truck with dad and it being loaded down for a cottage trip and being comfortable on the highway. The body rusted out summer of 99 when he sold it.

[@samhill7665]

Dad bought his 1983 S10 new. (Actually GMC S-14 with the V6.) It went through 3 engines. He died in 2017 and off to the scrapper it went. Damn thing was always a pain in the ass and even sentiment couldn't save it.

[@johnnersinger9771]

Mine had the 4.3 liter