Topic: 87 K5 Blazer build

[wheels78ta]

This is my current project.  A 1987 K5 Blazer.  First year for the TBI engine and as long as it's running good, you can't beat it.  What I mean is, if you start getting trouble codes and/or it starts sputtering, good luck.  It could be 10 different things and it won't be close to what the trouble code is telling you.  But other than that......



When I first bought it, I was working in Kansas City, Kansas and had it delivered from Tennessee to Wichita, Ks.  Wichita is where my regular reporting shop is but a group of us were volunteered to go to KC.  Anyway, I bought it on the PO word and guess what....It turned out to be completely opposite of what he told me...It was a lemon.  
It was supposed to be a daily driver but when I drove it out of the parking lot, instead of shifting to third gear, it would slam down to first.  I babied it down the road and seen steam coming out from under the hood and thought "Now what?".
There was no overflow jug, no little hose coming from the radiator, no nipple for the hose on the radiator, and very low on water.  I filled up the radiator and drove it 15 miles at 20 mph to get it home in one piece.
Turned out that one of the heads had 2 small cracks, the bottom half of the engine was full of sludge, and one freeze plug was leaking from rust.
Luckily I didn't pay a ton for it so I figured I would make it my own little "Monster Truck".
I call it the "Cashbag".

[RainMan]

That was an awesome year imo ,and I hope you restore it as they are getting more rare all the time  . I sold my 84 GMC to get the Marty ,but heres a few pics . Red black and silver was my fav paint scheme on these trucks

[Rarebird]

ahhh the good ole K5 .. I traded mine in because it was eating a hole in my wallet.... had an appetite like you never seen for gas.. 9 mpg was the best i got and that was after changing the gears to 3.08.. originally had 3.73.. how they got in there I dont know.... but like Rainman I prefered the black and silver combo...this is the only pic I have of mine.. and the oil spot under it.. it was not from the K5... its was the Conversion van I traded it for




off road you would not believe how this thing would go...its more of a tank than a truck

[RainMan]

Virgil , same color trucks , both of us have T/A's , same birthday?
What's with that lol

[ShakerBreaker]

I hope you start an actual restoration thread on here when you start to dig into the Blazer.
I'm a big fan of the full-size Blazer's/Jimmy's. Have had a few and loved them. Old solid axel boy's.
The newer independent front  suspensions are more comfortable.
But--------The old ruff rider's were just fun and strong. 

[Rarebird]

lol ... just good taste in vehicles.. as for the birthdays... unless we are the same age ... twins seperated at birth.. lol

[CT Bird Fan]

I love those old Blazers, especially being a GM guy! I'd love to have one some day. I remember as a kid my friend's dad had a black one that was a show winner, it was a beauty!! Yours looks awesome!!!

[wheels78ta]

In the first month I owned this K5 I replaced the engine w/rebuilt 350 TBI, rebuilt 700r4 tranny, 4" TC all spring lift, Headers, dual exhaust to back, all new brakes, new sensors including EGR valve, regeared rear 10bolt from 3.42 to 4.10, powertrax no slip locker, 2 rims to match front, and 4 BFG A/Ts.  I didn't regear the front 10b because I got a great deal on a Dana 60 for a 1 ton conversion.  The D60 came from a 1986 M-1031 Military 5/4 ton contact truck.  It has 4.56 gears and a trac lock limited slip differential.  I will be regearing to 5.13s and maybe a power lock for a little more stance and better towing.




In time I was able to get this 14bff with 4.56s.....it was set up for military usage also but never got installed.  I converted it from drum to disc brake, and I'm putting in 5.13s now.  It has a Detroit locker.






Regearing a 14bff is fairly easy....you don't have to remove the bearing from the pinion to add or subtract shims.  Finding the right pattern to run is about the hardest part because of all the torquing and retorquing.




And then, of course.......24KARAT.....I've only put about 50 miles on it in the 5 years I've had her.

[kjkjkcjkcj]

very sweet.  that thing is going to look sweet.  i love your nick name for her.

[lawbreaker2]

Would love to get a old 78 or 79 k5 as that is what my grandpa had and I loved riding in it. Very cool truck u got. And take care of it they are.getting hard to find. My buddy has a 79 full size bronco and bro n law has a full size dodge power wagon or what ever they called them. That thing was cool.

[kjkjkcjkcj]

my friend has a bronco as well.  His front grill fell off so being the hockey lover his family is, his dad made a new grill out of old hockey sticks.  Looks pretty sweet

[Rarebird]

Would love to get a old 78 or 79 k5 as that is what my grandpa had and I loved riding in it. Very cool truck u got. And take care of it they are.getting hard to find. My buddy has a 79 full size bronco and bro n law has a full size dodge power wagon or what ever they called them. That thing was cool.

The Fullsize K5, Bronco and the Dodge Ramcharger/Plymouth Trail Dusters were the ORIGINAL SUVs...wish they still made them

[RainMan]

Wow that is some serious work your doing there ! Wish I did that with the 84

[SoonerTA]

That will be one fun K5.  I had a '91 Z71 that is did a solid front axle swap.  It had the TBI 350 but I ended up putting a TPI 383 in the truck and man did it fly even with 38. 

[wheels78ta]

I know it's been a while since my last post of this K5 build....but I've finally got it back to a Daily Driver/go where ever I want to go Rig.




I'll work on the gauges and dash later on this winter.  For now, I need to start on the Y88 project.

wheels