This is my ride for a bit. The particulars:

It'* my mother'*
1995 Chevy Blazer
4.3 V6 4wd
115K miles.


I swapped with her, because the drivers side window regulator is going out, even though it was just replaced a year before she got the truck. While I have it, I am working on getting the engine bay straightened out (previous owner replaced engine, and just threw it in there) as well as getting the engine cleaned out. Window regulator is on order, and after some vacuum rerouting, a bottle of techron, and deliberate application of throttle body cleaner, the truck is starting to run a lot better than it was (which wasn't bad to begin with). Goes to prove that GM knew what they were doing back in the day. The 4.3 (old CFI) is awesome, and just rips out of the hole. I laugh, because the previous owner complained about it not being fast enough. Admittedly, however, the engine bay is cramped, and just about everything is under/behind everything else. Makes me wonder what they were thinking.

I have to admit though, this truck is like an old workhorse. You poke it with a stick, and it will kick you. When my mom first got it, I took it, and thrashed it in 4 low in the alleys behind my parents house, and when I got home, managed to shut my hand in the door. This time, I started thrashing it to get the engine cleaned out, and then it didn't want to idle (likely a sticky EGR, acted like a massive vacuum leak). I started driving it right, then the problem went away.

I know it is only a machine, but as cars get older, they take on personalities of their own. That is why it is that much more important to treat them right.

For something approaching 20 years old, its in great shape body wise! I know what you mean about the personality.. I swear my old ranger would get mad at me when I drove it hard, and be perfect when I drove it nice haha

you gotta be nice and talk nice to old cars, or they bite. plenty of personal experience there

They are great vehicles, but only after one does some updates. Make sure you grease the frony end, thirteen zirc fittings. It is best to take off the oil filter cover to get to some of them. Might be a good time to check the ball joints and the LIM gasket, and also consider taking off the heater hose and run the hose through it to clean it out.

Ff your fuel pump hasn't gone bad it soon will. DELPHI only as a replacement.

All good suggestions so far. You might want to make a heater hose bypass thing. Should your heater core go bad, you can quickly pop the hoses off and bypass it with the kit.