1983 K5 trail truck/dd/ R.I.P. 03/14/18

[83ChevyK5Blazer]

So I finally swapped out my rough country leaves for some tuff country ez rides and I put a set of bilstien 5100's on. Wow what a difference, it rides like a whole different truck now .

 

[andyblack]

Excellent. I run Tuff Country EZ Rides and they are nice. Next on my list the Bilstien shocks for sure. I've put Rough Countries on a truck before and I can see where they get their name from. They're terrible. Why aren't you running shock boots? Just curious. I left them off my current shocks and now the shafts are all rusted on the part that doesn't go into the body that often. I think I'll run boots next time.

 

[colbystephens]

The boots on my 5100s don't stay in place. But they're on there - they're just not doing anything.

I'll be interested to see what other ways you come up with to improve ride quality, as this is higher on my list these days.

 

[83ChevyK5Blazer]

When I took the old shocks.off the boots were filled with water so I to ok this set off. My next improvement will be in a few years... I'm thinking coils. I'm hoping to get 4 more years out of the current body and then doing a body swap and coil overs in the front.

 

[andyblack]

I'm thinking I may put some automotive wax on the bodies of the shocks if I get a new set. I may put some on the shafts too. Seems like that would keep them from rusting as bad or as quick.. Actually I don't know if the rust actually hurts anything or not. I mean I don't know if it keeps the shocks from cycling properly, but it seems to me like it would be bad on the seals after a while.

I've never been able to keep the shock boots in place either. Plus they do fill up with water. Seems like that would be counter-productive doesn't it?

 

[83ChevyK5Blazer]

My son has taken interest in trucks lately too

 

[andyblack]

Clearly he wants to help you rotate your tires. Sweet!

 

[flynhawaiian]

Did you go check out to Dune fest last weekend?

Also I like how your son fits into a life size Pedroia jersey already.

 

[83ChevyK5Blazer]

I went into reedsport friday night for dinner but I didn't ride at all. There were some sweet toys in town tho.

 

[83ChevyK5Blazer]

not too exciting but I swapped to a truck tail gate today, just need to paint it.

 

[andyblack]

What made you do that? The window wouldn't work with your soft top?

 

[83ChevyK5Blazer]

the window just stays down with the softtop, im working on a rear bumper and I can mount it higher with the pickup tail gate.

 

[83ChevyK5Blazer]

my ten bolt let me down for the other time.... so I put my 60 in

 

[y5mgisi]

Beef!

 

[83ChevyK5Blazer]

it should stay together now haha

 

[79HeavyChevy]

What broke on the ten bolt?

 

[83ChevyK5Blazer]

steering arm studs sheared followed by wheel bearing failure. the Dana 44 before that lost its teeth.

 

[SafetyHelmet]

Kinda late to the party here, but if you guys are concerned about your shocks rusting and not using boots, you can try an old mountain biking trick for shocks.. use "slick honey" or a similar product, just smear it on the rod and it should keep it waterproofed for a long time. Not sure if normal grease is as friendly to shock seals, but that Slick Honey stuff is made for only that purpose.

Sweet setup, BTW. I need new shocks and maybe leafs pretty soon myself.

 

[MAX89K5]

Nice build man! Your son is adorable btw, good job!

 

[K85 Octane]

What made you do that? The window wouldn't work with your soft top?

nevermind the truck gate is 10,000 times lighter than the blazer one I ditched the blazer one as soon as the soft top went on It was never going to see the hard top again!