My girlfriend owns a 1996 Blazer 4X4 with a 4.3 Vortec and it has some a serious bottom-end knock, loses oil pressure and is not nearly as powerful as it should be. It blew a head gasket and I trying to be the "good boyfriend" tried to fix it myself in one of my friend's shop to help her save money we've been tight with the christmas season and other misfortunate events in life. Now its giving problems most likely of something that i did wrong. Now im trying to clean up after myself. I have another friend that i should have gotten to do the repair to start with that took a look at it and said that it would probably be the safest bet to replace the engine. We are both trying to make sure that there wont be any glitches along the way with getting another engine while also opening up our search to years and vehicles that this engine can be found. Im not sure if there are little differences in different years or other vehicles useage of this motor. Thank you for taking time to read this thread i am new to this site and it looks like there is alot of good technical information here. I would appreciate any help that anyone can offer. If you have any questions for me ill try my best to keep a close eye on this thread and if i dont know the answer ill try to find asap.

thank you

 

Any Astro, Blazer,or S10 enginesbetween 1995 and 1997 will fit.

 

Im the freind that has suggested looking into newer engine options... Perhaps i can reword this to get a more indpeth responce. With this particular swap we intend to use the current intake, distributor, balancer and all accessories. The question is is there any change in block/head design. Maybe the 96 has a crank sensor setup that wont work with say an 01 model? That kinda thing. Perhaps a different length distributor/oil pump drive that wont work with the older style? If im not mistaken the older (pre 95 trucks) have different intake bolt pattern on the heads. And im guessing that the first vin# w trucks with the forward facing throttle body has the older style intake pattern? Ive ive replaced 6 sets of intake gaskets on the 96 up trucks and they pretty well seem like the same setup (the same bolt pattern anyways) Am i wrong? Please, pleaselet me or devon know. Ive done very little with the bottom end of these trucks so im not sure if any of them have a crank sensor (and if they do would it be the same for all years or is it embedded in thatplastic timing cover?) I know how to turn wrenches, i just need to know if the long blocks are the same. If the cam's are different i can work with that. Ps. This blazer fell to the almighty inward intake gasket leak... By the time devon found the leak, it was to late for the shortblock.

 

Ohh and thanks for your help guys!

 

Try asking over at www.blazerforum.com.
Its a forum that isunder the same ownershipasthe Chevrolet forum. They have a lot more guys over there that know stuff about Blazers. I can answer a lot of small tech questions, but this one is very in depth.