4-wheel-drive S-10's

[Draenor]

The '96+ 4.3 is junk and likes to spin bearings. My Blazer spun one at 123k and a month after putting a junkyard motor in it the tranny started slipping on hills and blowing out fluid. Then the heater core popped while looking for a new car.

The 4.3l is a good engine and never had one spin a bearing. Only the spider injectors and the intake gasket is the common problem I have encountered.

The transmission is a given. The 4l60e is just a common thorn in the side. If neglected just a little, they go to shit.

The 4wd actuator on the front axle went bad on my brother's truck so the 4wd didnt work. He traded the truck in with it being bad.


If the truck has over 100k plan on replacing all the ball joints, tie rod ends, idler arm, pitman arm, etc.

+1

 

[Zembonez]

I know anything can happen to anything, but the 4.3 is typically a really solid powerplant. Based on the 5.7 internals, it normally went about a zillion miles. It's not nearly as efficient at making power as more modern engines.

 

[Texas Jim]

My experience with the 4.3 has been great...

I have had THREE of the 4.3L V6...
Two 1999s and a 2006...
One of the 1999s had almost a quarter million miles on it when it burned in Nov of 2006 in my garage fire.
The only thing it ever had done to it in the 7 years I had it was a water pump, an alternator and a couple of batteries.
Never had any transmission issues of suspension issues.
It still had the original plugs and wires on it and still had the original shocks on it.

The other 1999 had about 130,000 when I sold it in 2004.
It had to have a water pump at about 100,000 miles.
Never did anything else to it other than change the oil, put gas in it and drive it.

I got the 2006 to replace the 1999 that burned in the fire.
I sold it to my brother about a year and a half ago with 100,000 miles on it....
It had NEVER had to have ANYTHING mechanical done to it while I had it...
He is still driving it and it has been trouble free for him also.

I reckon SOME of them are good...

 

[slims]

Crap. The truck was junk. Went an hour one way to be disappointed

 

[mr_bots]

That sucks but I'm sure the perfect truck will pop up.

 

[slims]

This was the truck I looked at.

 

[dirtyoldman]

Sounds like you were misled a little

 

[slims]

Misled alot. I wouldn't have paid 2,000 for it.

 

[dirtyoldman]

Guess some people think their shit is gold..good for passing on it

 

[slims]

Sad thing is I asked him if I was gonna drive out there to be disappointed and he said no.