98 Blazer Blown Headgasket - Worth Repairing?

Zembonez · September 2, 2007

Opinions Wanted!

Patient is a 98 Blazer with the 4.3 and 120K. The water pump gave it up, and it overheated. Compression test indicates a possible blown headgasket on right bank. (compression bypass between two cylinders) This indicates to me it got pretty hot. Oil is clean and not showing any signs of water contamination.

My question is: Do you guys think it would be worth sending the heads out to be shopped and putting new head/intake gaskets on or do you think it should come out of the truck and be gone through from top to bottom? I wouldn't think it would be too hard or expensive to rebuild it. We've done our share of hot rod engine builds over the years. I know a lot depends on us tearing it down and inspecting. I would just like an educated guess from some of you that have seen a few of these come through your shop. Engine ran smooth, quiet and had good power prior to leaking water pump incident.

Of course we would be replacing the water pump, thermostat, hoses, and having the radiator sent out to be checked over along with the repair...

Suggestions? Any input is appreciated.

-Devil- · September 2, 2007

i have just done heads and gaskets on quite a few that had over 100k on them and they were still good to go ... even ones that had chocolate milk for the oil ...

i guess pull the suspect head and take a straight edge and see how true the short block is on that side ... then decide .. if it's good enough ... then it would be cheaper to just do the top end ... but also ... you already will have it 90% apart ...

Nytemare · September 3, 2007

A head repair is only about 1000 bucks to do both, provided you can do most of the work your self.

I'd go for it. The truck probably has a lot of life left in it yet, and a g here and there is a lot less than a $400 payment every month.

Zembonez · September 3, 2007

A head repair is only about 1000 bucks to do both, provided you can do most of the work your self.

I'd go for it. The truck probably has a lot of life left in it yet, and a g here and there is a lot less than a $400 payment every month.

I can buy this Blazer for a song from a buddy that doesn't wanna spend any money on it. (bought it for his kid and the kid cooked it) Thought it might make a good backup ride or I could hook up a friend that needs a car sometime. We always have 4 or 5 vehicles around here...

Anybody done any performance builds on a 4.3? Maybe I could make a toy out of it.

Nytemare · September 3, 2007

Theres a guy on the ZR2 forum my buddy is on with a turboed 4.3. Pretty much an off road updated version of the typhoon.

There is a fairly large after market for the 4.3.

But I'd say if the price is right than get it. 4.3's are a dime a dozen and its a super simple swap if the engine cant be salvaged. Or you can shoehorn a 6.0 in there and have a really fun toy...LOL

The 4.3 is a pretty tough engine though...I would wager that all you need do is replace both gaskets and get both heads surface ground and you will get another 60 K out of it, at least before something goes really wrong.

Zembonez · September 3, 2007

Theres a guy on the ZR2 forum my buddy is on with a turboed 4.3. Pretty much an off road updated version of the typhoon.

There is a fairly large after market for the 4.3.

But I'd say if the price is right than get it. 4.3's are a dime a dozen and its a super simple swap if the engine cant be salvaged. Or you can shoehorn a 6.0 in there and have a really fun toy...LOL

The 4.3 is a pretty tough engine though...I would wager that all you need do is replace both gaskets and get both heads surface ground and you will get another 60 K out of it, at least before something goes really wrong.

Thanks everybody. I think I'm going to do the upper end and see what I get. The 4.3 is an easy 200K engine according to what I've read.

I just wanted to know if I was screwing up!