87 s-10 blazer vibration plus fuel smell

[borninski]

I have a 1987 s-10 blazer 2.8L/auto/2wd that I just bought in December 2004. It was a great buy if you ask me; it had only 87,000 original miles on it. Not bad for my first car. Anyway, just yesterday 3-1-05 I noticed a vibration (fairly loud and rumbling) when I reach exactly 62 mph. I have read on some other threads that I should check the wheels, tires, etc. All seem to be fine. Also, I have the gear shift 'clunk' whenever I shift into reverse or drive from park. I guess that might be the U-joints? Someone please tell me if that's right.
Also, another odd problem. Whenever I fill up with gas, I always notice a strong gasoline odor after I get back into my car. I just figured I got it on my hands, but it seems to stay with me for a while. When I have the windows open and drive around, I can smell that strong gasoline smell when I am just driving down the road. I have checked extensively and I never leak any fuel onto the ground or anything. Any help would be great. Thanks

[pipelinerr]

gas might be leaking out of top of tank and evap. before hitting ground--only when tank is full

[jackass#1]

great find. ive got a 91 and ever since i had it, if i drive in the 60 to 70 mph range it would vibrate too. check tire air pressure on all 4 it seems to help alot.
for the gas smell, has it been sitting for awhile before you bought it? only 87,000 miles on it so nit had to be at some point in time. check and see if
one of your rubber fuel lines from tank might be dry rotted. im pretty sure the tank vents though the gas cap. might want to look into that as well. hey for a used 87, if thats the only prblems you run into, thats a good deal. good luck with it.

[smokey041369]

the vibration your having maybe the u-joints, quick check grab the driveshaft and move it while looking at the joints to much play replace, if they don't have a grease fitting replace them, as far as the gas smell it could be from the top of the tank or it my have a leak in the seem, if the tank needs to be replaced, see if you have a gas tank renu in your area it will cost $200 - $275 for the tank and sending unit

[borninski]

thanks a lot for the help/advice guys, i will definitely air up the tires completely and check to see if vibration is gone, but something tells me i will need to replace u-joints...will do this weekend for sure.

[Cam1959]

Originally Posted by borninski

thanks a lot for the help/advice guys, i will definitely air up the tires completely and check to see if vibration is gone, but something tells me i will need to replace u-joints...will do this weekend for sure.

my 83 s10 blazer bought in 2000 was found to have warn engine mount rubbers, 1 of 2 tranny mount bolts broken, further allowing engine to tilt more then normal ... and 3 of the 6 bolts holding tranny to engine were missing up top where hard to see, further allowing to much engine/drive train movement.

besides leak of tank or rubber hose or rusted metal line, check little ring clamps between fuel pump and carb, they wear out and get loose.

also, the driveshafts on each side of rear axle aren't very strong...one of mine was bent slightly causing high speed vibration ... could have hit something quite hard before i got it or been in accident ... you may see tire wobble, otherwise tire place can check.

[borninski]

Wow, thanks for all of your help guys...here's what I found out about my S-10 Blazer and my vibration on the highway (just might make you laugh)

So I work at an auto shop in the Dallas area [Texas] with my dad. (We do state inspections and emissions system work along with everything relating to auto mechanics). Anyway, I got my dad to help me check the driveline (he was doing exactly what you suggested smokey041369), and he concluded that there was absolutely nothing wrong with my u-joints or driveline. All he could think of is that a weight might have fallen off of a wheel or a wheel was unbalanced in some way. Anyway, I drove home from work on the highway as usual, keeping it under 62mph as to not experience the forementioned vibration, when all of a sudden I start hearing this unholy DAT-DAT-DAT-DAT-DAT sound from the passenger side. Of course I pull over and check it out, and I find that the tread had separated and was knocking against the fender-well (Thankfully, Chevy decided to make those fender-wells enclosed so no damage was done to my body or my gas tank filler neck). So it was no biggie; Luckily, I had a nice spare and was back on my way in no time. HOWEVER, not 10 miles later THE SAME EXACT THING happened to my rear driver's side tire!!! WTF, MATE?!?! Wow, what a day...fortunately, I was within 10 miles of my house, so I just exited and rode the back streets @ 20 mph on my shitty, treadless tire. Now that gives me an excuse to upgrade my tires to 235/75r15 like I've been wanting to