Jimbo302
Registered Member
I'm going to be doing a little suspension work on my K5 and thought I would share and welcome any advice.
Its a base model 1984 Blazer , no AC, roll up windows, scottsdale grille, etc. Its got a Goodwrench 350, 700r, np208 and ten bolts on 33's. It gets about 16mpg on the highway. Its all stock except for the edelbrock carb.
I've been using it for my work beater for the last year plus, it has been left at work locations in north dakota and I use it when I am there. Its been dead reliable the whole time but it needs some love.
I'm changing work locations to the area around Douglas Wyoming , so I drove it home to north Idaho to freshen it up a bit.
Forward plans:
The right rear wheel bearing began clicking so I bought a stock replacement axle and bearing.
The floor plans are rotted, the body has plenty of rust and really isn't worth saving and I don't plan to. I'll run it till the cab falls off the frame and put another body on it, but for now, I want to seal up the passenger compartment. The last time I drove through a creek crossing, water pushed the drivers floor carpet up to the pedals and soaked my feet.
So I cut out the majority of the rust in the cab out and am going to rust paint it, seal it with stainless sheet metal, roof rubber, and self tapping screws. I know, I've got a little 110 wire welder, but I just don't want to open that can of worms on this thing.
It was originally a 305 truck, but now it has a Goodwrench 350 that has been good to me and actually runs really well. So, I picked up some cheap long tube headers and a 2 1/4" dual system with flow master knockoffs and an edelbrock eps intake along with a hot coil, cap, wires, plugs, etc. Hopefully that will help it out in the mpg and power department. I plan to strip the headers and paint them with some decent high heat paint.
The suspension is bad. The springs in front are super harsh for stockers, 20 miles of lease roads will leave you with loose fillings. My K10 has some odd mismatched add a leafs in front and is no where near this bad.
So, I bought a cheap set of superlift super ride 4" front leaves and a new bushing and bolt kit and a couple matching superlift shocks. They have four leaves each and from standing on them they seem to be soft enough to make a difference. Let's hope so, anyway.
I also picked up a full set of longer braided brake lines, a sway bar lowering kit, and a raised steering arm and a new steering stabilizer.
For the rear I got a couple cheap Gabriel shocks that measure out the same as superlifts 4" lift versions. I bought a set of angled superlift 2" blocks and a set of their add a leafs. I hope the stance is even front to rear with that.
I think that is it for now. So ill post a few pictures next. I realized I didn't really have any pictures of the blazer before I got it home so excuse the poor ones I have. This project will probably take way too long as I never seem to have enough time to get anything done, but I will try and update when anything actually happens.
Stuck past the axles in a wet field. Both super duty's got stuck as well trying to get me out. Everyone walked that day.
Rust bucket interior
Passenger side is done
New parts
So, if anyone has any suggestions or something that I'm missing in mind , I'm all ears. I've been thinking I should get a brace for the frame at the steering box and possibly drop the trans crossmember, other than that I would just like to get all the new parts in and see what I have then.
Its a base model 1984 Blazer , no AC, roll up windows, scottsdale grille, etc. Its got a Goodwrench 350, 700r, np208 and ten bolts on 33's. It gets about 16mpg on the highway. Its all stock except for the edelbrock carb.
I've been using it for my work beater for the last year plus, it has been left at work locations in north dakota and I use it when I am there. Its been dead reliable the whole time but it needs some love.
I'm changing work locations to the area around Douglas Wyoming , so I drove it home to north Idaho to freshen it up a bit.
Forward plans:
The right rear wheel bearing began clicking so I bought a stock replacement axle and bearing.
The floor plans are rotted, the body has plenty of rust and really isn't worth saving and I don't plan to. I'll run it till the cab falls off the frame and put another body on it, but for now, I want to seal up the passenger compartment. The last time I drove through a creek crossing, water pushed the drivers floor carpet up to the pedals and soaked my feet.
So I cut out the majority of the rust in the cab out and am going to rust paint it, seal it with stainless sheet metal, roof rubber, and self tapping screws. I know, I've got a little 110 wire welder, but I just don't want to open that can of worms on this thing.
It was originally a 305 truck, but now it has a Goodwrench 350 that has been good to me and actually runs really well. So, I picked up some cheap long tube headers and a 2 1/4" dual system with flow master knockoffs and an edelbrock eps intake along with a hot coil, cap, wires, plugs, etc. Hopefully that will help it out in the mpg and power department. I plan to strip the headers and paint them with some decent high heat paint.
The suspension is bad. The springs in front are super harsh for stockers, 20 miles of lease roads will leave you with loose fillings. My K10 has some odd mismatched add a leafs in front and is no where near this bad.
So, I bought a cheap set of superlift super ride 4" front leaves and a new bushing and bolt kit and a couple matching superlift shocks. They have four leaves each and from standing on them they seem to be soft enough to make a difference. Let's hope so, anyway.
I also picked up a full set of longer braided brake lines, a sway bar lowering kit, and a raised steering arm and a new steering stabilizer.
For the rear I got a couple cheap Gabriel shocks that measure out the same as superlifts 4" lift versions. I bought a set of angled superlift 2" blocks and a set of their add a leafs. I hope the stance is even front to rear with that.
I think that is it for now. So ill post a few pictures next. I realized I didn't really have any pictures of the blazer before I got it home so excuse the poor ones I have. This project will probably take way too long as I never seem to have enough time to get anything done, but I will try and update when anything actually happens.
Stuck past the axles in a wet field. Both super duty's got stuck as well trying to get me out. Everyone walked that day.
Rust bucket interior
Passenger side is done
New parts
So, if anyone has any suggestions or something that I'm missing in mind , I'm all ears. I've been thinking I should get a brace for the frame at the steering box and possibly drop the trans crossmember, other than that I would just like to get all the new parts in and see what I have then.
