2004 Blazer ZR2... available in 2WD???

crew cab sonoma · Post by **crew cab sonoma** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:07 am

i have a 2004 Blazer sales brochure, and in no less than 3 different places, it claims that the ZR2 models were available as either 2WD, or 4X4...

i have also seen this stated on s10extremist.org http://www.s10extremist.org/tech_articl ... arison.htm

did a 2WD version of the ZR2 package actually exist, or was it just bad info in the brochure???

Jigg · Post by **Jigg** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:08 am

Nope, they did come out with a 2wd BlaZeR2 for the last two years of production.

crew cab sonoma · Post by **crew cab sonoma** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:16 am

interesting... was it a 4WD frame/suspension minus the front axle and transfer case? or was on a 2WD chassis?
did they still have the 31X10.5" tires?

any other details you have on them?

thanks.

crew cab sonoma · Post by **crew cab sonoma** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 7:49 am

anybody else have any info about this???

barch97 · Post by **barch97** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 8:02 am

According to Edmunds.com there were 7 models available in 2004. Three 4WD and four 2WD.

2 Dr LS SUV
2 Dr LS 4WD SUV
2 Dr LS ZR2 SUV
2 Dr LS ZR2 4WD SUV
2 Dr Xtreme SUV
4 Dr LS SUV
4 Dr LS 4WD SUV

and yes one of those was a 2WD LS ZR2

also, a friend of mine in college had a 2WD s10blazer, I think it was a '92 or '93. I graduated in '97 and it was far from "new". so, it had to have been '96 or older.

killian96ss · Post by **killian96ss** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 8:54 am

Jigg wrote:Nope, they did come out with a 2wd BlaZeR2 for the last two years of production.

Do you have some info on this?

I have never seen or heard of a 2wd ZR2 Blazer.

There are plenty of 2wd S10 Blazers out there that were made up until 2005, however they are not ZR2's.

Steve

Jigg · Post by **Jigg** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:33 am

The Life of the RPO ZR2
1994 - ZR2 package is introduced with the Regular Cab 2nd Generation S-Series Pickups
1995 - ZR2 package expanded to Extended Cab S-Series Pickups
1996 - ZR2 package extended to 2-Door Blazer models. [3] 3rd door was offered on extended cab models.
1998 - Disc brakes are now standard on the Front and Rear wheels. Interior updated along with front grill and headlights.
1999 - GM replaces the Aluminum Skid Plates with Composite Skid Plates. Side mirrors are updated. (much stronger)
Last model year the ZR2 option was offered on a regular cab pickup.
2001 - ZR2 package extended to Chevrolet Tracker
2002 - ZR2 Trackers were upgraded to LT Editions, offering optional leather upholstery
2003 - (sometime during production year) ZR2's start shipping with General Ameritrac tires instead of the classic BFG's.
GM discontinues S-Series Pickups, this is the last year that the ZR2 is available on a pickup
A ZR2 Jimmy surfaces in Canada. This came as a surprise because it was unavailable in the USA. [2]
2004 - ZR2 only available on Blazer models. In a shocking move, for the first time the ZR2 is offered with a 2WD model.
2005 - This is the last year for ZR2 Blazers (USA) /Jimmys (Canada)
GM discontinues ALL remaining S-Series models, ZR2 is phased out.
Though several inquiries were made by interested parties, the ZR2 production numbers are unknown.

From Here

I believe they used the same frame and all, i can't imagine them designing a new frame for two years of production. They probably just modified the knuckles to fit the 2wd bearings.

killian96ss · Post by **killian96ss** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:52 am

Maybe this info is wrong.

It wouldn't be the first time Wikipedia was wrong.

Has anyone actually seen a 2wd 2004 ZR2 Blazer?

I find it hard to believe that GM made a 2wd version of the ZR2 Blazer for only 1 year.

Steve

Snoman002 · Post by **Snoman002** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:58 am

Yep it was made. There was a big discussion on this over at ZR2.com before it closed.

It is a normal ZR2, minus the T-case, diff, driveshafts, etc. I believe that other than the missing parts the only different parts were the spindles.

killian96ss · Post by **killian96ss** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:58 am

I just saw this on another site.

Blazer ZR2

The off-road ZR2 wide-stance package is available in two- and four-wheel-drive versions of the two-door Blazer for enhanced off-road capability as well as excellent on-road performance. Features include:

46-mm Bilstein pressurized shocks
3.9-inch-wider tread in front and rear
P265/R75R15 on-/off-road steel-belted radial blackwall tires
Specific strengthened front differential gears and drive axles
Specific rear axle with an 8.5-inch ring gear
Larger rear wheel bearings
Longer, larger diameter axle shafts
A specifically tuned rear suspension with revised rear multileaf springs
Rear axle track bar
Skid plate package
Locking rear differential
Large front and rear wheel flares

The two-wheel-drive version of the Blazer ZR2 also includes brush guards and tubular side steps.

Maybe it is true.

It would be nice to see a picture of one for comparison.

Steve

crew cab sonoma · Post by **crew cab sonoma** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:16 am

[quote=Jigg]I believe they used the same frame and all, i can't imagine them designing a new frame for two years of production. They probably just modified the knuckles to fit the 2wd bearings.[/quote]

i agree.

i think they might have used the wheel bearing hubs from std. 2WD Blazers... for some reason, the 2WD Blazer/Jimmy (98-later) differed from 2WD PICKUPS by using sealed bearing hubs, almost identical to the 4WD hubs, except they werent splined interally, and they have a built in "shoulder" on the inside end, to hold the bearing together.

i guess they use some kind of large press to "crimp" this shoulder into place...

they also use the same brake rotors, pads, and calipers as 4WD models...

the hubs bolt into a unique knuckle asy., just for the 2WD Blazers.

i went by my local Autozone earlier. they had both bearing asy`s in stock.
with the two above mentioned differences, plus a slightly different length ABS sensor cable, they look like they could both bolt into either knuckle asy... offsets, bolt circle/pattern, ect. all looked the same...[/img]

Jigg · Post by **Jigg** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:09 am

Maybe it is true.

Oh it's definitely true. There have been quite a few of them on ebay in the past couple of years, that's probably your best bet at seeing one.

Snoman002 · Post by **Snoman002** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:42 pm

Or look on the GM site by trying to price a Blazer, they usually show the 2wd ZR2.

On the exterior they look exactly like a 4x4 ZR2, underneeth they look the same too, just with lots of stuf missing.

LonestarZ · Post by **LonestarZ** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 2:26 pm

killian96ss wrote:Maybe this info is wrong.

It wouldn't be the first time Wikipedia was wrong.

Has anyone actually seen a 2wd 2004 ZR2 Blazer?

I find it hard to believe that GM made a 2wd version of the ZR2 Blazer for only 1 year.

Steve

The info on Wiki concerning the ZR2 is not wrong. As Jigg mentioned earlier their have been several sighted on EBay and it is really easy to see if it is 2WD or 4WD when the Blazer is missing the drive selection module.

And technically GM made the 2WD ZR2 Blazer for 2 years.('04, '05)

crew cab sonoma · Post by **crew cab sonoma** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 3:29 am

so they do actually exist... i take it they are fairly rare though?

another question... did they use a normal 2WD transmission?
and if so, did a one piece driveshaft clear the torision bar crossbeam?

or did they require a two piece shaft, or some kind of special extension housing to take the place of the transfer case?

any threads on the "new" ZR2USA.com about these?

good info guys. thanks!

crew cab sonoma · Post by **crew cab sonoma** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 9:31 am

so, does anybody have any info of what kind of transmission extension/drivshaft these use?

LonestarZ · Post by **LonestarZ** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:26 am

No one on ZR2USA has mentioned owning one or closely inspecting a 2WD ZR2 Blazer.

Their would be no need to install a transfer case since it is not 4WD, so you would think GM would use the drive-shaft from a 2WD blazer model. Or it is going to be a custom length unique to that model.

Whether it is one piece or two.. who knows.

As far as transmission.. 4L60E for Auto, and NP233 for manual.

Jigg · Post by **Jigg** » Mon May 21, 2007 5:48 am

Here's one

Notice there's no 4wd switch on teh dash:

2kwik4u · Post by **2kwik4u** » Mon May 21, 2007 5:56 am

I've never seen one of those before....kinda cool....Ford, and Toyota (and now Chevy with the Colorado) have been doing the 4wd look with 2wd trucks. Ford has the "trailhead" package, Toyota has the "PreRunner", and Now GM has the Z71 available in 2wd. Not sure to the benefits aside from asthetics though.

killian96ss · Post by **killian96ss** » Mon May 21, 2007 7:56 am

Jigg wrote:Here's one

According to GM, "The two-wheel-drive version of the Blazer ZR2 also includes brush guards and tubular side steps".

It looks like the 2wd ZR2 does get these parts as standard equipment.

Steve

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Mon May 21, 2007 10:16 am

2kwik4u wrote:.................... Not sure to the benefits aside from asthetics though.

Add a lift kit such as axle flip and lift spindles, subtract 4wd insurance costs, subtract initial cost for the vehicle, add a LS or a locker in the rear and you will have more than 90% of what the majority of the SUV owners and mall posers will ever need

killian96ss · Post by **killian96ss** » Mon May 21, 2007 10:58 am

When you really think about it all that extra heavy 4wd stuff only gives you power to one more wheel unless you add a Lock-Rite to the front axle which can cause the aluminum front diff to crack or explode.

I still like my 4wd ZR2 better though.

Steve

crew cab sonoma · Post by **crew cab sonoma** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:22 am

i guess they would be fine for those who need the extra ground clearance, for light duty off-roading.

also, maybe for racing events with classes that might require RWD only...

still, i`d sure like to see exactly what they use in place of the transfer case...
if anybody ever gets a chance to look one over, take a look, or better, a pic. if possible...

killian96ss · Post by **killian96ss** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:42 am

crew cab sonoma wrote:i`d sure like to see exactly what they use in place of the transfer case...

Probably just a 2wd 4L60E with a longer drive shaft since there is no transfer case or front diff.

Steve

LonestarZ · Post by **LonestarZ** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 10:24 am

I would be interested to see if it is a torsion bar suspension, like the 4WD's or if it is a coil over front suspension like the 2WD's.

crew cab sonoma · Post by **crew cab sonoma** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 6:47 am

killian96ss wrote:
crew cab sonoma wrote:i`d sure like to see exactly what they use in place of the transfer case...
Probably just a 2wd 4L60E with a longer drive shaft since there is no transfer case or front diff.

Steve

thats quite possible. but would a longer one piece driveshaft clear the torision bar crossbeam, or would a 2pc. setup be needed?

another possibility, is that some kind of unique extension housing and shaft are used to fill the space normally taken up by the transfer case.

this is what i am wondering about....

perhaps the dealership parts dept. may be able to provide some info on this....

crew cab sonoma · Post by **crew cab sonoma** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 6:50 am

LonestarZ wrote:I would be interested to see if it is a torsion bar suspension, like the 4WD's or if it is a coil over front suspension like the 2WD's.

all the evidence indicates they do have torision bars, and 4WD/ZR2 style frame and suspension.

crew cab sonoma · Post by **crew cab sonoma** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 7:27 am

the VIN # on the one for sale in the link above, does indicate it is a 2WD... built in Linden, NJ...

i have a suspicion, and perhaps someone here can confirm or disprove, that most, if not all
4WD chassis S-series vehicles came from the
Linden, NJ plant. and that the 2WD chassis vehicles were built
at the Shreveport, LA plant.... ?

BassGuy354 · Post by **BassGuy354** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:32 am

I have a 1995 2wd built in NJ.

killian96ss · Post by **killian96ss** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 10:45 am

BassGuy354 wrote:I have a 1995 2wd built in NJ.

ZR2?

Steve