do I want a Blazer? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

DetroitDan · 09-14-2011, 12:54 AM

I think I do!. I'm considering selling my diesel Suburban. Always wanted one, and I like it a lot, but I like to rotate trucks in and out every so often. The Sub was going to be my kid-hauler and plow truck, and the 82 crew is just a toy. The plow I have for my Sub is really too much for it I think, and I'm afraid it's going to destroy the 182k mile driveline and frontend especially. I could sell the plow and get something lighter, but somebody expressed some interest in buying my Sub, so it got me to thinking what I would do with the money...

A Blazer would make a much better plow truck, as far as maneuverability is concerned. The Sub is still better than the plowtruck I ran for the last ten years, which was an extended cab dually. Pushed anything but not very agile.
I did buy an old conventional plow for my 82, so it could be used in a pinch as a backup truck, but since I've been driving it a lot I've realized no way can I plow residential with it. It is just too damn long, and the D60 frontend simply does not steer enough. I can barely get in and out of driveways now, without a plow.

So. The 8' plow I got for the 82 will work on a K5. A K5 has enough room for me and the 2 kids I have to cart around every day, and 3 in a pinch. Couldn't fit all of us in it, but hell I've got a 3+3 crewcab and the wifes Suburban anyway. We generally (always) take her truck if we all go somewhere.
I need to have a daily driver/plow rig that is better on fuel than my 82, which I can barely afford to drive. Right now my 94 Sub gets double the mileage of the 82 (18 vs 9) but diesels just a bit more expensive. Still way cheaper to run the Sub. I know a Blazer won't approach 18, but I think I could live with 12-13. I know I want a 700r4, for mileage and driveability, I absolutely hate 3 speed autos. Wonder if I should be looking at the later years, with throttle body injection. I would assume they must be better on fuel than carbed. I don't really care if it's a 350 or a 305, I've had dozens of smallblocks and I've had good luck with 305s, so I'm not one of those "gotta have a 350" people. I'd even buy a 6.2, drove a lot of USMC cucv Blazers and they go good enough for me. I just don't want a stripped out ugly cucv. I love the nice loaded Silverado interiors, and I want a nice Silverado two tone.

Lastly, I know the abuse plowing wreaks on trucks, and I normally wouldn't use less than a 3/4 ton, but a Blazer is a lot smaller, so with a reasonable sized plow and experience I hope I can keep the driveline together. Easy to fix anyway. Biggest downfall is the known rust issues under the rear of the k5s. If I do find a decent New England one, I'll have to stay right on top of it to keep the winter roads from eating it, and they probably will anyway. All I can do is wash it up underneath every chance I get, and spray it with oil a couple times a year.

So, whaddya think? Sell the rare turbodiesel 2500 Sub I always wanted, and embark on a K5 journey? Or stick with the Sub and hang a 950 lb Blizzard 810 off of it.

cochino12 · 09-14-2011, 08:56 AM

Blazers are great small plow trucks, get some timbrens or a 3/4 front spring pack to help with the sag and you'll be good to go.

motornut · 09-15-2011, 12:44 PM

just bought a 79 with a plow
poor things been beaten and abused but runs great
found quite a diff in the turning for sure
I would get it

DetroitDan · 09-16-2011, 08:41 AM

so now that I'm looking for one, they are damn hard to find! 3/4s of the ones on CL are mud trucks, I don't want something thats primer black, 40 inch tires and dented from wheeling thru the woods. I bet once they get too rusted, they just go to the scrapyard; since scrap metal has been paying so much there's nothing left around anymore. Not that I want something rusted, but the handful that arent rusted out are rare now so people want ten grand for them.

closer9 · 09-16-2011, 09:06 PM

I really had trouble trying to decide if i really wanted to give up my long bed truck for a back seat and removable top. In the end I realized I will probably never find another rust free Blazer that I can afford, so she's hopefully coming home with me in 2 weeks.
Posted via Mobile Device

09-14-2011, 12:54 AM	#1
DetroitDan Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Epping, NH Posts: 605	do I want a Blazer? I think I do!. I'm considering selling my diesel Suburban. Always wanted one, and I like it a lot, but I like to rotate trucks in and out every so often. The Sub was going to be my kid-hauler and plow truck, and the 82 crew is just a toy. The plow I have for my Sub is really too much for it I think, and I'm afraid it's going to destroy the 182k mile driveline and frontend especially. I could sell the plow and get something lighter, but somebody expressed some interest in buying my Sub, so it got me to thinking what I would do with the money... A Blazer would make a much better plow truck, as far as maneuverability is concerned. The Sub is still better than the plowtruck I ran for the last ten years, which was an extended cab dually. Pushed anything but not very agile. I did buy an old conventional plow for my 82, so it could be used in a pinch as a backup truck, but since I've been driving it a lot I've realized no way can I plow residential with it. It is just too damn long, and the D60 frontend simply does not steer enough. I can barely get in and out of driveways now, without a plow. So. The 8' plow I got for the 82 will work on a K5. A K5 has enough room for me and the 2 kids I have to cart around every day, and 3 in a pinch. Couldn't fit all of us in it, but hell I've got a 3+3 crewcab and the wifes Suburban anyway. We generally (always) take her truck if we all go somewhere. I need to have a daily driver/plow rig that is better on fuel than my 82, which I can barely afford to drive. Right now my 94 Sub gets double the mileage of the 82 (18 vs 9) but diesels just a bit more expensive. Still way cheaper to run the Sub. I know a Blazer won't approach 18, but I think I could live with 12-13. I know I want a 700r4, for mileage and driveability, I absolutely hate 3 speed autos. Wonder if I should be looking at the later years, with throttle body injection. I would assume they must be better on fuel than carbed. I don't really care if it's a 350 or a 305, I've had dozens of smallblocks and I've had good luck with 305s, so I'm not one of those "gotta have a 350" people. I'd even buy a 6.2, drove a lot of USMC cucv Blazers and they go good enough for me. I just don't want a stripped out ugly cucv. I love the nice loaded Silverado interiors, and I want a nice Silverado two tone. Lastly, I know the abuse plowing wreaks on trucks, and I normally wouldn't use less than a 3/4 ton, but a Blazer is a lot smaller, so with a reasonable sized plow and experience I hope I can keep the driveline together. Easy to fix anyway. Biggest downfall is the known rust issues under the rear of the k5s. If I do find a decent New England one, I'll have to stay right on top of it to keep the winter roads from eating it, and they probably will anyway. All I can do is wash it up underneath every chance I get, and spray it with oil a couple times a year. So, whaddya think? Sell the rare turbodiesel 2500 Sub I always wanted, and embark on a K5 journey? Or stick with the Sub and hang a 950 lb Blizzard 810 off of it. __________________ 1982 Chevy K30 CCLB fleetside. Formerly a cab and chassis, now a fleetside dually with the rear wheels tucked underneath. 454/th400/np205/C14/D60, 6/4 inch LIFT, not drop.

09-14-2011, 08:56 AM	#2
cochino12 It followed me home? Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Yup Posts: 5,751	Re: do I want a Blazer? Blazers are great small plow trucks, get some timbrens or a 3/4 front spring pack to help with the sag and you'll be good to go. __________________ Adam That's why they call it a shortcut Kyle, if it was easy it would just be the way. 86 c-10 SWB 85 CCSB 90 GMC K30 Crew SRW 1985 C30 Dually

09-15-2011, 12:44 PM	#3
motornut 78K & 79C Jimmys Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ottawa Ont CANADA Posts: 7,901	Re: do I want a Blazer? just bought a 79 with a plow poor things been beaten and abused but runs great found quite a diff in the turning for sure I would get it __________________ John 1978 GMCJimmy4X4-350/203 1979 GMCJimmy4X2-305/350

09-16-2011, 08:41 AM	#4
DetroitDan Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Epping, NH Posts: 605	Re: do I want a Blazer? so now that I'm looking for one, they are damn hard to find! 3/4s of the ones on CL are mud trucks, I don't want something thats primer black, 40 inch tires and dented from wheeling thru the woods. I bet once they get too rusted, they just go to the scrapyard; since scrap metal has been paying so much there's nothing left around anymore. Not that I want something rusted, but the handful that arent rusted out are rare now so people want ten grand for them. __________________ 1982 Chevy K30 CCLB fleetside. Formerly a cab and chassis, now a fleetside dually with the rear wheels tucked underneath. 454/th400/np205/C14/D60, 6/4 inch LIFT, not drop.

09-16-2011, 09:06 PM	#5
closer9 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Pineveille, MO Posts: 92	Re: do I want a Blazer? I really had trouble trying to decide if i really wanted to give up my long bed truck for a back seat and removable top. In the end I realized I will probably never find another rust free Blazer that I can afford, so she's hopefully coming home with me in 2 weeks. Posted via Mobile Device



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