blazer/trailblazer..........

[THEFERMANATOR]

Theres nothing wrong with the 4.3l vortec imo. Only real downfall was GM using crappy injector designs in them prior to around 03 or so I believe. Which are you leaning towards, a blazer, or a trailblazer as they are 2 completely different vehicles. I have nothing against the mid size blazers. They were old school basic design, built more like a truck, and much cheaper/easier to maintain. The trailblazer was the replacement. The 4.2l straight 6 is said to be a decent engine, but I know later models had variable valve timing, and I believe the 1st gen engines had cam phaser issues. The trailblazer is a much newer/modern design with alot more electronic control, and there is countless people who had lemon lawed them for problems with the electrical system(GM tried out a new design with them early on, needless to say they didn't expand it). Also of note the 4x4 models have the front diff actually mounted into the oil pan. They're very tight to work on as well. Everybody I know who has/had one has had electrical gremlins with them, and most have gotten rid of them because of it. I'm a diehard GM man, but the trailblazer/envoy platform is 1 I would avoid.

[spareparts]

I could see myself getting in trouble with one of these
http://www.americantorque.com/page/0/202/
be a lot more fun than anything else discussed

[charlie_the_tuna]

so Ferm, what you are saying is of the two you would lean toward the blazer?