Everything about Chevrolet S-10 Blazer totally explained
» See also Chevrolet Blazer (disambiguation)
The
Chevrolet Blazer (4WD model T-10) and the similar
GMC S-15 Jimmy (4WD model T-15) were
mid-size SUVs from
General Motors. Production began alongside the larger
K5 Blazer and Jimmy in 1983 and lasted through 2005. In the
United States retail sales after 2004 were limited to two-door Blazer models, all other models being sold to fleets, until April 20, 2005. In the Canadian market, four door models of the Blazer and Jimmy were sold until the 2004 model year and until the 2005 model year for the two door models of both.
The S-series SUVs, so named because they were based on the
Chevrolet S-10 and
GMC S-15 pickup trucks, were produced in
Pontiac, Michigan,
Linden, New Jersey,
Moraine, Ohio,
Shreveport, Louisiana, and
São Paulo,
Brazil (the Brazilian version is based on the second-generation S-series; even though production ceased in the U.S., new Blazers are locally produced in Brazil with their own sheetmetal stampings). In North America, the Moraine plant produced only 4-door vehicles, with both 2 and 4 door models being produced at Linden, which was the main assembly plant after the switch (some time after 1985) from
Pontiac, Michigan, which is now a full-size truck plant.
First generation
Upon the introduction of the
S-10 pickup truck in 1982 to replace the
Isuzu-based
Chevrolet LUV, the
S-10 Blazer was introduced for the 1983 model year, along with the
GMC S-15 Jimmy.
Styling cues were based on the first generation
K5 Blazer and Jimmy (such as the angled C-pillars and lift glass panel); the S-series Blazer and Jimmy didn't feature removable hardtops like their
full-size counterparts. Notably, the new, smaller Blazer and Jimmy were only offered in a two-door bodystyle, like their larger antecedents.
Base power was provided by GM's 2.0 L
OHV four-cylinder engine, producing a meager . A 2.8 L,
V6 was offered as an option (coincidentally this
engine was also used in archrival
Jeep's
Cherokee until 1987).
Due to
emissions laws, a 1.9
liter I4 gasoline engine built by
Isuzu was offered as the base model engine in
California in place of the 2.0 liter engine, while an Isuzu-sourced 2.2 liter
diesel engine (also used in the S-series pickups) producing was offered as an option.
The 1.9 , 2.0 and 2.2 liter
diesel were dropped after 1985, replaced by the larger 2.5 liter engine.
The
V6 was refitted with a throttle-body fuel injection system for 1986 in order to improve performance and fuel economy.
Jeep replaced the Cherokee's 2.8
V6 with a new, more powerful 4.0 ,
I6 in 1987. To keep competitive the Blazer and Jimmy received a new 4.3 L V6 option in 1988 (also used with the Astro/Safari vans), based on the ubiquitous
Chevrolet Small-Block V8 engine, producing a respectable . Power output was increased to in 1989.
In March 1990, 4-door versions of the S-10 Blazer and Jimmy were introduced; the 4-door had a 6.5in longer wheelbase (2-doors had a 100.5 in wheelbase - six inches (152 mm) longer than the
Ford Bronco II) and a one-piece front grille with a painted black insert (1990 2-door S-10 Blazers and Jimmys had the 3-piece grille). This came just months ahead of the introduction of the
Ford Explorer, which replaced the Bronco II; six-and-a-half years after the segment-leading Cherokee debuted with four doors. Snowflake alloy wheels (similar to the ones used on the
Chevrolet Astro/
GMC Safari) were introduced, either painted charcoal gray or argent silver.
The upscale
Oldsmobile Bravada appeared the next year. Although the first generation S-series Blazer and Jimmy were initially sold as 2-doors upon its original introduction, an episode of Motor Trend TV (c. 1991) stated that the thumbs up was for the introduction of the new bodystyle, and the thumbs down was that the 4-door bodystyle was based on the first generation model, which was in the process of a makeover.
1992 models were similar to 1991s - the only way to tell the difference is the rear back glass (the rear glass doesn't have any trim to which two black buttons serve as the back glass strut mounting points) and front grille (chrome shell with argent silver inserts). The interior was a carryover from 1991 with the exception of the center console and steering wheel (X-bar style similar to the one used in the
GMT400 trucks). Also, the "S-15" name was dropped from the Jimmy.
1993 had a few changes - the center console was raised, and the
4L60E transmission replaced the
4L60. The grille (alongside the S-10
pickup) was revised (which was a chrome-plated version of the base work truck grille found on base S-10 pickups), along with the addition of optional 5-spoke alloy rims (for the
2WD model - basically a copy of the 3rd generation
Camaro Z28 15" alloy rim).
Although the second generation S-series debuted in 1994, the S-10 Blazer and Jimmy continued unchanged in 1994, based on the first generation S-series (with the addition of a third brake light - the high-mounted rear spoiler was discontinued).
All 4-door S10 Blazers and Jimmies came with
anti-lock brakes as standard equipment; unlike the 2-door model, only two 4.3 L engines were optioned - the base
TBI and the CPI (introduced in 1992 for the S-series and
Chevrolet Astro minivans; these engines had the "Vortec" logo on the intake plenum).
First generation engines
- 1983-1984 - 2.0 L OHV I4, 2-barrel carbureted, 83 hp (62 kW)/108 ft·lbf (146 N·m)
- 1983-1985 - 1.9 L Isuzu I4, 2-barrel carbureted, 84 hp (63 kW)/101 ft·lbf (137 N·m) (California)
- 1983-1985 - 2.2 L diesel I4, 58 hp (43 kW)/93 ft·lbf (126 N·m)
- 1983-1985 - 2.8 L LR2 V6, 2-barrel carbureted, 110 hp (82 kW)/148 ft·lbf (201 N·m) (VIN B)
- 1985-1989 - 2.5 L Tech IV I4, TBI, 92 hp (69 kW)/132 ft·lbf (179 N·m) (VIN E)
- 1986-1993 - 2.8 L LL1 V6, TBI, 125 hp (93 kW)/150 ft·lbf (203 N·m) (VIN R)
- 1988 - 4.3 L Vortec 4300 V6, TBI, 150 hp (112 kW)/230 ft·lbf (312 N·m) (VIN Z)
- 1989-1992 - 4.3 L Vortec 4300 V6, TBI, 160 hp (119 kW)/230 ft·lbf (312 N·m) (VIN Z)
- 1990-1993 - 2.5 L Tech IV I4, TBI, 105 hp (78 kW)/135 ft·lbf (183 N·m) (VIN A)
- 1992-1993 - 4.3 L Vortec 4300 V6, CPFI, 195 hp (145 kW)/260 ft·lbf (353 N·m) (VIN W/Z)
- 1994 - 2.2 L L43 I4, MPFI, 118 hp (88 kW)/130 ft·lbf (176 N·m) (VIN 4)
- 1994 - 4.3 L Vortec 4300 V6, CMFI, 195 hp (145 kW)/260 ft·lbf (353 N·m) (VIN W/Z)
Second generation
1995 was the introduction of an all-new Blazer. This time, it lost the S-10 prefix and became its own model based on the second generation S-10/Sonoma pickups introduced a year earlier (the K1500 Blazer was rebadged as the
Chevrolet Tahoe). Upon introduction of the 2002
Chevrolet TrailBlazer and the
GMC Envoy, production continued after their successors came to the market, with the Jimmy only being sold in
Canada and in the 2005 model year, 4-door models sold to vehicle fleets.
The Blazer was
Motor Trend magazine's
Truck of the Year for 1995.
Another upscale model was the 1998
GMC Envoy. It used the same engines and had many of the same upgrades as the Bravada.
In 1998, a front grille similar to the Chevrolet C/K pickup line's stacked-headlight system replaced the older single-headlight system, similar to the
C/K grilles.
In 1999, Chevrolet introduced a limited edition 'TrailBlazer' appearance package that was available as an upgrade to the LS and LT trims. The package featured gold-accented alloy rims and trim along with several interior/exterior modifications and upgrades. This package was marketed until the introduction of the
GMT360 series for the 2002 model year.
At the same time, a Blazer Xtreme (only on the 2-door model) was added to the lineup, based on the S10 Xtreme. This sub-model lasted until 2004.
This generation was phased out in 2001 to make way for the new
GMT360 models such as the
Chevrolet TrailBlazer and the
GMC Envoy. However, production of the Blazer and Jimmy continued until
April 20,
2005, in
Linden, New Jersey, despite slow sales, and the plant located there then closed. A white Chevrolet Blazer became the last of the series, and the last vehicle produced in
New Jersey. Although production ceased, the second generation bodystyle is still being produced in
Brazil
.
Image:95-97 GMC Jimmy.jpg|1995-1997 GMC S-15 Jimmy 2-door
Image:99-02_Chevrolet_Blazer TrailBlazer.jpg|S-10 Blazer with TrailBlazer appearance package
Image:GMC-S15-Jimmy.jpg|1998-2005 GMC S-15 Jimmy 4-door
Second generation engines
1995 - 4.3 L LB4 V6, TBI, 155 hp (116 kW)/235 ft·lbf (319 N·m) (VIN Z)
1995 - 4.3 L L35 V6, CMFI, 191 hp (142 kW)/260 ft·lbf (353 N·m) (VIN W)
1996-2005 - 4.3 L Vortec 4300 V6, CSFI, 195 hp (130 kW)/250 ft·lbf (332 N·m) (VIN W)
1996-1999 - 4.3 L Vortec 4300 V6, CSFI, 170 hp (134 kW)/240 ft·lbf (325 N·m) (VIN X)Further Information
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