1996 2DR 4WD Blazer

Hey everyone!  I am brand new too these forums and I just wanted to introduce myself.  I have a 1996 2 door 4wd white blazer.  I have a pretty nice system in it, panasonic headunit, stock speaker(Still rockin), and 2 12" mtx subs.  I also have a catback gibson exhaust on this puppy.  I don't really know what else im going to do to it.  I've taken it down some sick trails, and have also wanted to race it on the boulavard.  I'm debating if I should lower it and put big wheels on it, and make it a nice show race blazer.  Or lift it 3.5-4" and use it for 4x4ing.  I'm 50/50 on this.  Whats your decision and what other parts should I get for my blazer perfomance wise(suspension, new exhaust, supercharger, etc.  Thanks!

Welcome to the site!
 
White Blazers look sick lowered...

But they're also rockin' when lifted

Personally, for me... 4x4 = off road...

But, the 4x4s are cheaper to lower, lol.

Since it seems you do like to 4x4... I suggest the lifting route...

Or even just some 30x9.5R15 sized tires to hold you over until you can afford the lift :)

If I were to lower it, I would want to do performance modifications on the engine.  If I max out the engine on everything I could get for max hp, how much hp would it add, and what could I add to give me more hp.  I already have a gibson catback, i guess this is good for now?

CAI, Headers, power programmer chip...

lifting it 4" you would either have to do

A: 2inch susp lift tbar crank and 2" shackles in read for Free + 70$ for shackles
 + 2inch body lift for 210$
For a total of 4 inches + 31's or 32's with trimming = about another inch

B: a 5inch or 6inch superlift kit for 1200$+

Those are really your only options for lifting it...

LIFT! haha

actually, pre-98 trucks get it easy, a 2" PA body lift is like $120 for them... 
 
and if you're interested in maxing out the engine, a much cheaper (and more unique) route would be to swap engines, a vortec 5700 is a common swap among the earlier blazers but there arent as many 2nd gen (95-05) v8 blazers...
 
you can get a supercharger for these trucks for ~$2500 but a turbocharger is more efficient and will give larger HP gains..

lift it..

Yeah, but there's not much room under that hood for a turbo... and a rear mount isn't the greatest when frame deep in the mud, lol

Well, what if I "thought" about lowering it.  Would that be easier to modify the engine since im not going to be in that much mud?  Also, if its not a pain, is there a website with just engines that I can swap with my 4.3.  Also, I would like a link/price for a decent sized turbo.  (sorry guys, dont know everything about engines and turbos so I like other peoples opinions)

Modding the engine is about the same difficulty no matter how low or high it sits...
 
The only difference is, I don't think a rear mount turbo is suited for hardcore 4x4ing... Everything else can swing both ways for street or mud.
 
Pretty much any small block chevy V8 can be swapped in... Some are just a little easier than others...
 
Here is some stuff for dropping in a V8... Covers mostly all of what you need to do for a 5.7 swap.
 
Prices vary a lot so it's hard to come up with a good number... A lot of it depends on how much you can do yourself, as well.

Well this one guy has 2 used vortec 5.7 engines and their $800 each.

I suggest you read up on it before you start spending money, just so you know what you're getting into :)

Where? :P

Welcome to the forum, glad to have you!! I would lower it with a nasty V8 swap!!

Welcome.. I sent you a PM regarding a lowering kit I have never used.

What is a crate engine? http://www.crateenginedepot.com/store/nbspnbspSmall-Blocks-C53.aspx  I found this link with crate small block engines.  Are these vortec?  Will someone please post a link where I can purchase vortec engines?

The term "crate motor" is commonly used for describing a "new" replacement engine.   Your link seems to be cut short so I can't see the specific motor you are talking about.  For the least problematic swap, you will need an SCFI Vortec 5.7L V8 out of a Chevy Pickup or fullsize SUV.

So im guessing I have to get the engine used...  Does anyone know where I can buy SCFI Vortec 5.7L V8 online?

Ebay you can find motors... Sent u a PM

Drop it :P You gonna spend more money lifting it with repairs :P

drop it like its hot! Brettster is right, after lift, tires, computer reprograming, youll have enough money to buy another blazer! drop it for 1/4 that price!

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jharper

drop it like its hot! Brettster is right, after lift, tires, computer reprograming, youll have enough money to buy another blazer! drop it for 1/4 that price!

Plus you cant tell me your not going to break stuff while 4x4ing. I know I have. With a lift + mods your trucks performance will be about the same before the lift. Plus why increase the roll over risk, plus you'll eat tires like a fat kid at a buffet. Ask yourself this. How much do you go offroading compared to how much you drive it on the street?

The simple fact is that both ways are expensive and labor intensive. You aren't going to be low and go fast for cheap and you wont be high and not break things when playing hard. Its a simple truth, that if you are going to customize that its going to cost you more than if you were to just leave it stock. You have to decide if the cost is worth the reward to you.

Last time i checked lowering springs were just about 150 a set and aren't that hard to install. I'm not saying that its not expensive but once you count up the cost for the lift tires rims labor it could be WELL over 1200 dollars just for half that plus the tires you would be going threw. But lowering a 4x4 could mean your ball joints will be going faster. 

Lowering a 4x4 S-series is actually pretty easy and cheap...
 
MUCH cheaper than lowering a 2WD S-Series, at any rate...