1979 K5 "Bertha" Build

[1Psycho]

Wadup guys? So I figured it was about time to post up my build for you guys. Picked up this 1979 k5 blazer for $1000 up in Los Angeles. Has a 350 small block and a Th350 with an Np203 transfer case. Also has the part time conversion done. Has 31" bfgoodrich all terrains, small lift, flow master, and I think that's about it. Plans are to swap in an lsx 5.3 (Gen3), and maybe a new transfer case, followed by a Rhino Lined interior, some rust fixed, put some sorta sound system in, lots of lights, a winch, new suspension, bigger tires, etc. I'll be doing it piece by piece starting with the engine. Gonna become the new daily/hauler and let me have my other car to mess around with and not worry about as much. Without further adieu, I present "Bertha"

HUNGRYY!!!!

 

[1Psycho]

After I bought it, the truck had to go on daily duty for a little while since the motor in my other car at the time took a **** and then around june, this motor got kinda sketchy and it sat around all summer. Now time to get back on track with this thing..

Just cause I can..

 

[1Psycho]

Long story short, here's what I found after digging in to the old motor a little, won't know what for sure happened since I just wanna dump the old motor as a complete, but my guess is part of a ringland snapped off or something..

 

[1Psycho]

LS Swap has commenced!!

 

[1Psycho]

Got the fuel pump and pcm..got the mounts, harness, and stuff too but didnt take a picture of em yet, I'll throw one up before they go in

 

[1Psycho]

Who wants a fuse block? lol, just doin the harness

 

[1Psycho]

Old motor is out!! New one goin in this weekend!

 

[1Psycho]

Got a little update for tonight! Had an hour or two to kill so I kept on crankin on the blazer..found some unwanted rust too but thats how it goes! Pictures suck but it was dark so bear with me until tomorrow. I pulled all the carpet out, plan is to fix the rust then coat in lizard skin as a sound deadener then cover that with a rhino-liner material so I can just hose the truck out when it gets dirty. As you can see I have a bit in the passenger side floor pan that needs to come out! Under the hood, I cut off the manifold that I couldn't get off the exhaust. (need to put a new exhaust on anyway so oh well haha) From there I started wire wheeling down the fender because I knew it had a bit of surface rust on it, and part of the frame too. Driver's side looks alright so I'm gonna leave that alone..for now haha. Tomorrow I will be scrubbing it all down and putting some new paint in, as well as hopefully getting the motor bolted down!! Now picture time!!

SAWZALL!!! OMNOMNOM!!

Passenger's side fender well

I hate rust!!

 

[1Psycho]

Got some more work done! Painted the engine bay yesterday, made an oil pressure sensor outta the new and old ones that I had, got new motor mounts, put all the adaptors on the engine....and dropped the engine in!!

 

[1Psycho]

Okay, another little update. Was trying to get it running today but the fuse block wiring took me 2 1/2 hours! So oh well, guess it'll hopefully happen tomorrow or monday. To get it running I need to mount the accessories, mount and plumb the fuel pump/regulator, mount the radiator, then give her fluids and she should be awoken! Here's some shots from today of the fuse block/relays I made for it and a daytime shot of the engine bay..

 

[1Psycho]

Well not a huge update for today, spent most of today driving around getting stuff. Got everything I need to get her up and running except for some fuses. Also picked up a tank of gas for my mig welder so hopefully some fabbing should find its way into this thread. Mounted my fuel pump, probably gonna be temporary but we'll see. Flipped my fuel lines, mounted the intake manifold, plugged/grounded the wiring harness and now I just need to wire the fuel wire, key 12v+ for the pcm, and starter as far as wiring goes. Tomorrow I'm gonna fill it with fluid, run some lines, mount the accessories and she if she lives again!

 

[1Psycho]

Good news: Got it awake tonight!!
Bad news: It cranked but didnt fire so gotta check all the basics and see if I'm missing anything..





Got her running!! Found out my problem is the fuel injectors, they're all dirty and stuck so no fuel is getting through them so I gotta clean em all out and she should fire up nicely then!




Ended up trying em and couldn't get em clicking/firing so this morning I tossed em all submerged in a bucket of fuel injector cleaner for a few hours this morning and now I got all of em firing! So gotta toss em on the truck and it should run on its own




welp, just did a quick little test yesterday and it fired right up! Makeshift injector cleaning worked! lol, now time to do all the finishing touches and the swap will be done




Not a huge update for today since I haven't had much time lately but hope to get a lot more done this weekend. Today I fixed all the fuel leaks, although I may have a leaky injector, and got my power steering lines in. Thought I was going to need new lines but other than one being a little longer than I wanted, they should work just fine. Got a lead on a 6" lift, 10 bolt with the gears I need, and some wheels/37"s but I haven't heard back from the guy with the lift/tires/axle so doesn't look like thats gonna happen

 

[1Psycho]

Here's a video I took the other day when I started it up after getting all the fuel stuff tightened down and charging the battery a little. Sounds healthy! Just gotta tidy up a bit, put a fan on it, do the exhaust/o2s and should be ready to rock and roll. Also, getting that 6" lift with hardware and shocks, 15" pro comp wheels, 37" pro comp tires, and a new correctly geared front axle for $300!! Just gotta get some drop brackets and that'll go on too!!

 

[1Psycho]

annnndd I need a new radiator

 

[1Psycho]

Long overdue update. Ended up neglecting the truck for a little bit after I found out the radiator was trash. Just kinda lost the steam I had goin and I got rid of my '70 Monte and picked up an '02 z06 so I was happy driving that haha. A buddy of mine has started helpin me and I've got that steam goin in it again. Hope to have it on the road again this week! Haven't taken a bunch of pics but I will start takin em again so y'all can see what's goin on, but here's what's happened recently to "Bertha;"

-Bought a new stock replacement radiator (didn't feel like spending tons more for some fancy aluminum one)
-Ended up getting that lift kit with wheels/tires/axle. Axle will be going in, or atleast the gears so I can use 4wd, and maybe the tires for now but I'm not sure about the tires and lift yet
-Double checked a couple wires I was unsure of in the harness and we're good to go so I've been looming that all together to clean it up
-Got the power brake booster hose hooked up to the intake
-Got my throttle cable in, mounted, and adjusted
-Figured out all my plans for mounting the pcm, fuse/relay box, and fuel pump/regulator
-Drew up some basic plans for custom boxes for the pcm and fuse/relays so that they don't get totally soaked with mud, water, etc and then started welding some basic boxes for em to mount in the truck.
-Probably some more that I'm forgetting but it's getting there and it's pretty close to bein back on the road so I'm gonna keep the steam goin and get her back driving again. Miss it!!

 

[1Psycho]

Got some more progress today. All I have to say is having a welder is a godsend!! Got the fuel pump and regulator mounted permanently and lines run, new radiator is in and hooked up, got the harness all wrapped up, and got the computer's new box all done up and ready to go. No pictures of the box because it was too dark when we finished but here's some of the fuel pump and harness. Should be goin around the block tomorrow!

 

[1Psycho]

Yeah, definately needed some breaks on it, just got old working and working haha. Well, she made her first trip around the block yesterday!! Almost done! Still gotta do a few things like the exhaust, o2 sensors, intake, and a couple other small things but she's just about there! Here's a bad shot of the computer box I made, just something to mount it and keep it from getting thrashed.

 

[1Psycho]

Welpp..drove her around for about a half hour tonight and she did good! Ran a little warmer than I was happy about but didnt get way hot and other than being really loud, she did alright! Sorry about the huge lack of pictures and the lack of any good pictures..always night time when I'm done working on it haha. Here's a few from tonight, I'll post up some more tomorrow of the engine bay and what not

 

[1Psycho]

And yes, those are 37x13.50/15 on what I think is a 2" lift with some slight trimming

 

[1Psycho]

Well the swap is done! Blazer is far from being done tho! haha, but thats how they all are lol. Throwing up a bunch of shots. We sanded out the bits of rust in the floor and other than the passenger side footwell it wasn't too bad. Then sprayed over it with some rustoleum until we do the rhinoliner or something similar. For the exhaust, I had 2 spare Purple Hornies glasspacks sitting around so we threw those in and did a side exit, sorta like you see on prerunners and trophy trucks. It's all welded I just need to cut out the heat shields to go over the tips in the side. Under the hood is all done. Still need to clean up some wiring but it's getting there. If you have any questions or anything you want to see just let me know! On to pictures..

Had to take a shot behind my girlfriend's jeep haha!