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walkingtall
Street Queen
Posts:102
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| 11/07/2007 5:05 AM |
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| hey guys I have a question for |
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primetimek5
Lift & Lockers
Posts:537
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| 11/07/2007 5:23 AM |
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| im always a fan of the blazers. i think you will ok w/ some mild trail riding.
con. very weak axles if you wanna put 35s or bigger. same w/ the ford except for their rear axle. |
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rick p. |
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SnoMan
Lift & Lockers
Posts:943
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| 11/07/2007 5:58 AM |
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| You want to stay FAR away from Bronco's with TTB/swing axle front suspension to use of road seriously. |
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--------------------------
Visit the SnoMan at
www.thesnoman.com |
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webby4x4
Forum Admin, Magazine Editor
Rock Star
Posts:2375
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| 11/07/2007 7:13 AM |
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I'd have to agree with the boys here. Bronco's are nice rigs, but their TTB setup is a real PITA. With the Blazer, you'll have better aftermarket accessory support too.
Regarding the axles, you'll really have two options here ifyou start to run 37" or taller tires (or 35's with a heavy foot).
1) You can upgrade and build out the 10-bolt axles. C-clip aside, 10-bolts are tougher than most people give them credit for. The pinion shaft on the 10-bolt pinion gear is actually bigger and stronger than the D44. With upgraded Chromoly axle shafts, you'd be hard pressed to break a 10-bolt axe with normal trail riding. However, IF you do break a rear axle, you're really hosed because of the c-clip design, AND if you spend too much money on upgrading those axles, you might as well go with #2 below. P.S. we did an extensive article on this about 7 years ago... see: http://www.4x4review.com/products/drive_train/ordaxles.asp
2) Axle swaps on the Blazer are VERY easy to do. Dana 44 upgrades are darn near bolt in, with a few changes to the u-joints on the drive shaft, a steering change here and there, etc. You can talk to Steve Watson at www.offroaddesign.com (tell him that Rick Webster sent you), as he's the foremost full-size 4X4 authority in the world (in my humble opinion). :)
For what it's worth, I wheeled an '87 Blazer for many years, and did some particularly tough trails (3's and 4's) wheeling in Southern Arizona on the nasty granite. I ran 33's and a 400 HP Chevy 350, and never had any problems. Man, I miss that Blazer sometimes! ;)
Anyhow, if I could make ONE suggestion, I would strongly consider getting an '88 - '91 Blazer. '87 was the first year of Fuel Injection, but in '88 they upgraded to the serp belt, which worked far better. '90 was my favorite year of all, as it came with a seriously upgrade 350 mill (better crankshaft seal, improved oil control rings, heavy-duty intake valve, etc.), but anything from '87 to '91 will work just fine.
Anyhow, that's my $0.02.
Rick |
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Rick Webster
Editor, 4X4REVIEW.COM - A Tork Media, Inc. Publication
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'74 FJ40 Land Cruiser
"Measure once, cut twice" |
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sammy 87
Street Queen
Posts:107
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| 11/07/2007 3:27 PM |
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| dont get push button 4wheel drive if you buy the s-10 style blazer. In my opinion the fullsize blazer is great.Im not really impressed with the independant front and its 4x4 mechenisims. but i would buy a chev or gmc any day over a ford another option if you might change your mind and want fullsize dodge had the ramcharger |
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mweis1
Bone Stock
Posts:3
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| 12/15/2007 1:23 PM |
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| how do you activate push button 4 wheel drive? |
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