Hi. I have a chance to buy an 83 s-10 for 500 bucks plus cost of starter and battery. it has a 2.8 engine and is 4 whell drive. has anyone owned one of these ? common problems? reliability? gas mileage? Is there any aftermarket as far as lift kits, lockers, etc? i hate being reduced to buying a chevy but money is tight and I need a cheap 4x4. Thanks for any responses in advance!
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Caleb
No truck at the moment...soon to be a big honkin' gas guzzlin' 4x4!
i hate being reduced to buying a chevy but money is tight and I need a cheap 4x4. Thanks for any responses in advance!
No truck at the moment...soon to be a big honkin' gas guzzlin' 4x4!
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I like how this contradicts what your signature says.
Get a 73-79 4x4.
I used to use one as a company vehicle, long ago when it was a new truck. It was awful, very slow, lousy payload, and that was a 2wd..............I can only imagine a 2.8 carbed engine in a 4x4 S-10.........Even slower!.....A Ranger of the same vintage is a much stronger truck.
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FORCE IT!,IF IT BREAKS IT NEEDED REPLACED ANYWAY!
IF IT CANT BE FIXED WITH A HAMMER, ITS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM!
Still bitterly clinging to guns and religion.
Dave
Oregon Assistant Chapter Leader: To join the Oregon Chapter, click HERE
2.8=junk. I have a friend that has an early 90's s-10 with the 4 cyl in it with around 200,000 miles on it,still drives the truck round trip 40 miles to work every day. if you have to get an s10,get the 4 cyl or maybe a 4.3,but gas mileage will suck on the 4.3
__________________ I'LL KEEP MY GOD,MY GUNS MY FREEDOM AND MY MONEY YOU KEEP "THE CHANGE"!!
1995 f150 xlt extended cab flareside 5.0 33" tires 3" body lift
I agree, that 2.8 is crap, find a ranger. You said that it needs a starter and a battery, so i take it you havent heard it run? I'd pass to be quite honest!
Unanimous decision:.......2.8 Chevy V6 is a good boat anchor... I would pass on that one, the 2.8 in those years is carbed and puts out an anemic 105 hp, not noted for longevity either.
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FORCE IT!,IF IT BREAKS IT NEEDED REPLACED ANYWAY!
IF IT CANT BE FIXED WITH A HAMMER, ITS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM!
Still bitterly clinging to guns and religion.
Dave
Oregon Assistant Chapter Leader: To join the Oregon Chapter, click HERE
The best money spent on one of those is the cost of the explosives to blow them apart.
The 2.8 in a 2wd wasn't the complete waste the 2.5 4cyl was, but got worse mileage, and sounds like crap. 99% of them need the timing chain replaced, the other 1% had it done in the last year or so- it's pretty much an annual repair. Same for the starter. Then the wrapper is a whole other problem. They basically took the 2wd model, and gave it a body lift to make it look higher, but I think they managed to have the frame lower than the 2wd so your ground clearance sucks. For the power the engine does make, the 5th gear in the 5speed is worthless, it's a .72od, so if you encounter a very slight hill or head-on breeze, you're back in fourth.
That engine doesn't even make a good boat anchor, it's too light.
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Jared
Back in the land of clean air, mountains, and snow! FTE Guidelines
Worse then average. The computer controlled carb. (with the TPS inside) and CCC in the 80s was not one of Chevy's best features.
> gas mileage?
I would guess 15 mpg.
> Is there any aftermarket as far as lift kits, lockers, etc?
Full sized Chevy, yes, S-10 no. Most popular upgrade to the S-10 is a 4.3 or V-8.
I really would not buy it without it running. I assume a manual that can be bump started? I would not buy an automatic.
If it runs, then, yea, go for it. Just know that Ford sold more Aerostars (100,000+) probably ever year, including 1997 then Chevy sold S-10s. There was a reason.
The Jeep and Chevy 2.8L of those years were not known for being particularly reliable or desirable.
__________________ The Year 2010 Anno Domini - May it bring a great year of Revelations to you.
Bronco IIs and 4x4 E-series - the best Fords, because I own them!
I bought one in '84 - ran it for 250k + miles, replaced clutch 5 times, water pump 3 times, starter once, head gaskets once, fan clutch, list goes on..... very anemic - mine was 2wd.
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Ben
My baby is an early '99 F350 CC XLT 6 spd 4x4 with some mods
'02 Exploder XLT 4x4 for the wife
'07 Yamaha Grizzly 700fi w/eps and lots of mods
Buy it and drop a V8 in there. A guy down the street from me has a 85ish S10 with a built 350 in it. Holy crap that thing moves. It's like a go cart on speed.
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2005 Ford F350 Crew Cab King Ranch FX4 4X4 6.0L PowerStroke V8 Turbo Diesel
4" MBRP 304 stainless dual exhaust. No muffler. 5" stainless tips.
transmissions suck...
transfer cases suck
front axels suck...
people say the 2.8s suck... but i think they last longer then what i previously posted...
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1963 ford f-100 with 292 Y block 2 barrel carb. headers ran into 2 1/4th pipes, connected to cherry bomb turbo mufflers elec. fuel pump.
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Well yall have me convinced! tahnks guys! i'll stay away from it!
