Do i have a Zr2?

[Tim99Zr2]

It seems this question pops up quite a bit, but not all too often. I figured I would make a small post on it with pics, to show how I know my truck is a Zr2. If you know of another way to find out if its a Z or not, post up some pics and explain the differences.

The first way I know how to tell is the leaf spring hanger. The first picture is of my REGULAR 94' Sonoma. It is not a Zr2, this is how its spring hanger looks.
REGULAR s10 (Notice no fender flare too)

My ZR2 (Notice fender flare) Also how the hanger is built to hang lower, causing more lift on the truck.


The seond way to tell is to look behind your motor on the firewall. There is a white sticker with several codes at the bottom, My ZR2 has "ZR2" wrote on it, in this pic. (It may be harder to see if you dont have a body lift.)


The third way that I know is inside the front fender wells above / behind the tires. My truck has "ZR2" stamped upside down on these as well. You cant really see the pic, so I circled the area that this stamp is located.
Passenger side

Driver side


A fourth way to tell is how the flares attach to the body, the panels are different from a regular s10. This is how a ZR2 bedside looks if you remove the flare.


The fifth way to tell is by looking in your glove box at the sticker with all of your RPO codes. There are many 3 digit codes in here, just look for one that says "ZR2"


Now those are all the ways off the top of my head that I know. Like I said, If you know of ways, take pics and post up how you can tell. Pictures help explain things / locations better. Sticky?

[orangesonoma]

stuck

[Tim99Zr2]

cool cool. hopefully it'll become useful. thanks brian

[raven2510]

the fender flares. only the Zr2 came with fender flares. i will find some pics

[Tyhuck]

I dont know about anyone else, but my 01 has ZR2 cast into the back of the transmission tailhousing. Remove the rear skid plate and look at the rear, passenger, lower corner of the transmission (looking toward the engine). The tailhousing of the transmission will have ZR2 cast into it.

[Zr2Sputnik360]

Quote: Originally Posted by raven2510

the fender flares. only the Zr2 came with fender flares. i will find some pics

Yea but I've seen some Bushwackers that look pretty darn close. Plus I'm sure its not too hard to mount Zr2 flares on a non Z. The flares can easily mislead someone to thinking its a zr2.

[Tim99Zr2]

Quote: Originally Posted by Zr2Sputnik360

Yea but I've seen some Bushwackers that look pretty darn close. Plus I'm sure its not too hard to mount Zr2 flares on a non Z. The flares can easily mislead someone to thinking its a zr2.

thats why i didnt even mention flares. i mentioned the harder ones to duplicate

[rsmt blue dime]

thanks man for posting this up was really helpful i figured mine was a ZR2 but didnt know how to check it so i used this and i was right it is a ZR2!

[Zr2Sputnik360]

Also, the factory jack is different. I believe the Zr2s have a larger jack to compensate for the lift and larger tires.

[Tyhuck]

The fender stamp will not always work. My 01 doesnt have them but everything checks out and the dealer decoded the VIN for me so its definately a ZR2.

Anyone else not have the fender stamps?

BTW, another way to tell is if you look on the driver door and the stock tire size is 31x10.50x15, you have a ZR2 or Highrider. Please correct me if Im wrong. I hate giving out bad info.

[Tim99Zr2]

Quote: Originally Posted by rsmt blue dime

thanks man for posting this up was really helpful i figured mine was a ZR2 but didnt know how to check it so i used this and i was right it is a ZR2!

glad you could use it! thanks.

Quote: Originally Posted by Tyhuck

The fender stamp will not always work. My 01 doesnt have them but everything checks out and the dealer decoded the VIN for me so its definately a ZR2.

Anyone else not have the fender stamps?

BTW, another way to tell is if you look on the driver door and the stock tire size is 31x10.50x15, you have a ZR2 or Highrider. Please correct me if Im wrong. I hate giving out bad info.

good call on the tire size in the door. thats prob another way.

and was yours maybe wrecked before? maybe they put reg s10 inners in? and my truck is the only Z ive ever looked that close at, so i dunno how common the stamps are.

[dimerunner88]

don't the ZR-2's have a rear track bar aswell?

[rsmt blue dime]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tyhuck

Anyone else not have the fender stamps?

BTW, another way to tell is if you look on the driver door and the stock tire size is 31x10.50x15, you have a ZR2 or Highrider. Please correct me if Im wrong. I hate giving out bad info.

yeah i couldnt find the ones inside the fender and mine has the bigger tire size on the door too.

here is a picture

[beedle4]

trucks yes

[Tyhuck]

Quote: Originally Posted by dimerunner88

don't the ZR-2's have a rear track bar aswell?

Right

[Tim99Zr2]

Quote: Originally Posted by dimerunner88

don't the ZR-2's have a rear track bar aswell?

mine did.

[95esten]

YES!!!! Finally an answer. I was always under the impression my truck was a regular 4x4, but today as I was removing the upper intake manifold I noticed the firewall decal. It was quite dirty but I could clearly make out the "ZR2" in there. An yes the track bar is also in the rear.

Quick question though. Is the track bar supposed to be straight, or does it have a slight bend to it? The rear seems slightly slanted but I don't know why. All I know is that the previous owner flipped it onto its side, messed up the rear axle (fixed) and damaged the whole driver's side. Plus the front seems lower than the rear.

[jtcfanof3]

Isnt a 8.5 rear standard on a ZR2?
If so its easy to tell that rear end because of the fully round dif cover and the bulged axle tubes as it goes into the center dif.

[24digger]

[quote=Tyhuck;6232473]
Anyone else not have the fender stamps?

I don't believe I have any on my 95

[Tim99Zr2]

Quote: Originally Posted by 95esten

Quick question though. Is the track bar supposed to be straight, or does it have a slight bend to it? .

yes, i believe they are supposed to be bent, i think mine was.

Quote: Originally Posted by jtcfanof3

Isnt a 8.5 rear standard on a ZR2?
If so its easy to tell that rear end because of the fully round dif cover and the bulged axle tubes as it goes into the center dif.

yes, they do. all disc brakes too.

[95esten]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tim99Zr2

yes, i believe they are supposed to be bent, i think mine was.



yes, they do. all disc brakes too.

I have a 95 and mine has the track bar (or is it called a panhard bar?) and the ZR2 decal at the firewall and in the glove box, but the stamped fender wells and the 31x10.5/R15 tire size indications I do not. My decal states 235/75/R15.

I also don't have all disc brakes, I've got rear drums . Why? Is my truck year somehow different from later years

Oh and thanks Tim99ZR2 for the reply on the slight bend at the bar.

[4x4zr2GA]

thats becuase they didnt start making the rear disc brakes standard on the zr2's untill 1998. so from 1994-97, the zr2's had drums. The sticker might not say 31" tires, but if its a zr2, it definatly came with them.

[TokoDragon]

and I heard older Zs didn't have a panhard bar. The 8.5 rear-end was an option for other s-series truck too I think?? Limited slip was.

Also the Bilstien shock absorbers were unique on the Zs, but can be replaced with something else, never seen a stock height Z with anything else though, they last a long time.

The truck jack is taller like mentioned and on the bottom is stamped ZR2, also the tire carrier for the spare tire is stamped ZR2 and mounts differently than the other trucks. I know, I had to replace mine and it was a PITA tracking down a ZR2 one. Zr2's bolt from the side, all other bolt from above.

also the ZR2s have a large hump under the passenger seat for the transfer case, which also means the pass. seat brackets are different but I'm not sure.

but just curious, payload/hauling capacity are the same between a ZR2 and say a 2wd v6?

[Tyhuck]

No, the payload and towing capacities were different. Just like with any other pickup or SUV, a 4wd weighs more than a 2wd. That extra weight is subtracted from the total towing capacity of the truck. I dont know why but the payload is also less in the ZR2 than a 2wd, or even a reg 4wd. (I think.)

Check your owners manual for safe carrying cappacities.

[TokoDragon]

seems like more weight would help towing a trailer by being a better 'anchor' with more weight to keep traction and being thrown around by the trailer.

I used to have a 2wd 4cyl s10 and it's payload was 3500lbs and 300lbs tongue weight.

I towed my mom's 4500lbs van and it did ok, shifting was a little challenging, poor little truck.

[Tyhuck]

A heavier truck will be more stable when towing but keep in mind that the engine and suspension can only handle so much weight. The heavier the truck itself is, the less weight it can carry in addition to its own.

In regards to your 4-banger, the factory load carrying cappacities are not the maximium weight the truck can handle. It is the maximum safe weight as suggested by the manufacturer. Which means, the truck can handle more than that number implies but it is prone to breaking at any moment. Load at your own list.

The largest load my S10 will carry is a 5x10 lowboy trailer and a Honda Rancher 350. My 2500 is the real worker so I dont really have to worry about it much myslef.

[Br&on's Z]

If you drop down your spare tire and look at the rod that connects to the crank winch that lowers the tire there should be a small ZR-2 sticker on the plate on the side of the winch. I noticed this on mine just the other day.

[Byam]

Quote: Originally Posted by Zr2Sputnik360

Also, the factory jack is different. I believe the Zr2s have a larger jack to compensate for the lift and larger tires.

i believe that the jack actually says zr2 as well

[blazersfa]

Is it possible to put ZR2 front fenders on my 1998 regular s-10 blazer, or just the fender flares? Do the flares just bolt on or would the ZR2 fenders bolt on?

[Tyhuck]

You cant just bolt the flares on like aftermarket flares. You would need to either replace the fenders completely or just get some Bushwackers. The Bushwackers would be better since the rear fenders would be a pain to install. Most people will not notice the difference. You may also need wheel spacers since the ZR2 has a wider stance.