CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

1985 Chevy M1009 (CK5 build thread part 2)

Grinding is fun!
If there was ever an argument for a plasma cutter, this is it:
IMG_20241110_132926003~2.jpgIMG_20241110_132916409~2.jpg
Them boys welded the $hit out of those rear perches.
Spent the rest of the day today smoothing this mess out, but burned through all my flap disks, so the finished product will have to wait.
Cleaning up the welds on the front perches was way easier:
IMG_20241110_132857172~2.jpg
IMG_20241110_132904070~2.jpg
 
Weekend update:
Grinding is done. Cleaning up the 14-Bolt took forever. At one point I was contemplating my life choices and was about to jump back on Marketplace to find another axle with intact perches. But I persevered. As I dug into it more I could see witness marks from a gas axe and perches that were narrower. Which means this axle was on a K30 at some point. After finishing, I gave the bare metal a few coats of weld though primer:
IMG_20241117_144631721_HDR.jpgIMG_20241117_144638982_HDR.jpg
I then moved on to prepping the Dana 60, which started with cleaning up the inside with a copious amount of brake clean (it was gross), and sealing it back up with a LubeLocker and a refill with some Lucas 80w-90. Stamping on the gears says it was made it 1981, so this was from a civilian model:
IMG_20241116_132507559.jpgIMG_20241116_132612326_HDR.jpg
Next up was to get the steering sorted, as the kingpin cap/steering arm was only held on with one bolt, because the kid I got the axle from stole the raised steering block for his project. ORD had ARP studs in stock and had them to my door in a few days.
IMG_20241116_141235406_HDR.jpg
Baring some more clean up and some paint, the 60 is ready to go in. I still have to clean up and inspect/service the inside of the 14-Bolt. Parts are pilling up, as I have ORD U-bolts and studs here already, as well as their Dana 60 spring plates with the sway bar attachments. I also have the Ruff Stuff rear perches here, with their shock brackets, ready to burn in. And I got some pre-bent axle brake lines from LMC for the 14-Bolt.
Also, these dollies from Harbor Freight sure make moving the axles around the driveway a snap. Way better than a few floor jacks.
IMG_20241117_144834842 (1).jpg
 
Last edited:
Fresh meat in today, straight off the FedEx truck:
IMG_20241119_170925592.jpg
IMG_20241119_171006689.jpg
IMG_20241119_171113283.jpg
315/75R16 Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ's on 16x8 Black Rock's with 4.5" Backspacing.
Should be perfect with the one-tons and the 2" lift, and tuck nicely.
Mounted and balanced from Summit racing.
Bonus: tires and wheels both made in the USA.
And, they get to stay in my office for a while and I get to enjoy that new tire smell!! :cool:
 
Hole le faq.
When I popped the 14-bolt open when I was going to buy it I read the code on the ring gear is 41 10. Upon further inspection today it's actually 9 41. Which as you know makes for a 4.56. Check out the pic.
IMG_20241123_104612690_HDR.jpg
You can see I made an honest mistake, the 10 82 must be the build date. I talked the dude down on price too because of the mismatched set.
I pulled the pinion to confirm and yes I counted nine teeth.
IMG_20241123_104404133.jpg
Funny thing is I already ordered some Yukon gears and an install kit but they're going back to Amazon LOL. I can now use that money for a grizzly locker instead.
 
After three days of thrashing, we're back!!
It's now the MTON09...
IMG_20241130_131538488~2.jpg
IMG_20241130_131623420_HDR.jpgIMG_20241130_131556760_HDR.jpg
I am super happy with the results. The 4.56's feel good with the 35's and I gained just over 2" of lift with the axles and tires. Will need to go through the rear brakes, and fix the speedo which is now reading too fast by 15mph or so.
 
2025 Update!
IMG_20250104_131950454_HDR-1.jpg
I have put about 180 miles on the Blazer so far since my last update.
Particularly, I ran out to my friends house in Cinebar, which is a 70 mile round trip on back country roads, with grades and a 60 mph cruising speed, and the K5 did great. No driveline vibrations, so I know I set the pinion angle correctly, and the gearing definitely helps maintain speed on the hills, where before it would slow down considerably. But, the trade off is more noise, and I'm OK with that (the 6.2 is spinning about 1000 more rpm's at 60 now). You can also feel the weight of the axles under the truck, and it just seems so much more solid.
I bled the brakes three times, and they came around, which is awesome. The bearings are running cool, and there are no leaks, which is amazing for used axles.
I removed the gear reduction (or multiplier?) box at the T-Case on the speedo cable, and it got the reading to just about 5 mph over, which I can live with.
Since the RuffStuff rear shock tabs run a 1/2" bolt, I needed to order the proper bushings from Skyjacker to replace what came with the rear shocks. Easy fix.
Also did a slight trim on the front fenders.
And of course everything got retorqued.
I sold the 33's and both sets of 10-bolts on Marketplace right before Christmas too.
Also had to add a stereo system...:D:
IMG_20250104_133726124.jpg
 
Last edited:
Glow Plug Day
So the 6.2 has been hard to start for awhile when cold. Lots and lots of cranking. Once it actually fired off and warmed up, it started no problem all day.
I went ahead and ordered a set of AC Delco 60G's to swap in, as well as the Leroy Diesel glow plug removal tool.
Today was the day to tackle this work. My fears of swollen plugs were definitely real, as the first I removed from cylinder #1 got stuck. But the tool from Leroy Diesel came in clutch. All in all, 4 out of the 8 required the puller. I was pretty nervous of breaking a plug, but no problems.
Here are the old ones, arranged as you would look at the front of the engine, along with the whizzbang removal tool:
IMG_20250118_122703533_HDR-1.jpg
The few that are shiny and wet are because I shot them with some WD-40 to aid in the removal.
IMG_20250118_122724480.jpg
IMG_20250118_122732625.jpg
A quick ohm test reveled that only 3 of the 8 were good!
I can't believe it even started!
Not sure the vintage of the old plugs, but they are stamped with a 120:
IMG_20250118_130157113-1.jpg
After installing the 60G's, the old girl fired up immediately, first crank and one glow plug cycle and its only about 34 degrees out today.

I also picked up one of the super rad @hillbillywizard Glow Plug controller cards, with the fancy LED's, and swapped that in too. There was no issue with the old card that I know of, but I wanted a spare as the cards are getting hard to come by. Plus the LED's let you know the status of what's going on.
 
Last edited:
You’re making me regret passing up a cucv blazer about 10 years ago! The guy had a banks turbo setup and already swapped one tons. I test drove it, but the rust scared me away…and there wasn’t much of it! I ended up with a crew cab instead, it also had the 6.2. I floored it everywhere I went, but it was a fun truck.
 
Some google searching revealed that the old plugs were Diesel Rx 00050's. So they were changed at some point, but to me, any glow plug that wants to swell up is just garbage.
Online reviews for them seem to be hit or miss.
Anyway, the M1009 has started first crank the past two mornings, and it has gotten down to 23 degrees overnight.
 
Last edited:
Some google searching reveled that the old plugs were Diesel Rx 00050's. So they were changed at some point, but to me, any glow plug that wants to swell up is just garbage.
Online reviews for them seem to be hit or miss.
Anyway, the M1009 has started first crank the past two mornings, and it has gotten down to 23 degrees overnight.
You need this to be cool

 
Top Bottom