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1987 K5 Build (front tube bumper!)

K5-CJ5

K5-CJ5

1/2 ton status
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Ok So I sold my 83 diesel K5, and couldn't live without a blazer project! I got a great deal (600) on this 1987 K5 that had a front 3/4 8-lug (but want to find a dana 60) and a rear 14bff open carrier with 4.10 gears. The truck had some wiring bugs that I had to iron out before it would start, and an after market alarm to ditch. Got the wiring fixed and it fired up and ran great. The po had put an after-market cam in by the way it runs. Teh plugs, wires, cap and rotor were all trash so I replaced those. The tire held air but that's about it! I was going to get a set of the military Goodyear MTs but I got a great deal (150) on a set of dick cepek mud country II tires on MT classic rims that will get me through the summer and ill get some new tires before winter wheeling. At this point I have taken all the carpeting and mat out, installed a tach, done a tune-up and put new shoes in it.

I took it for a drive and found that the steering box itself was cracked, and the po had done an interesting job at reinforcing the frame, So tomorrow I begin the steering box swap and correct frame repair.

Here are some pics.

87 blazer home.JPG

blazer topless.JPG

rear shocks.JPG

steering box.JPG

tires.JPG
 
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Has anyone ever seen a shock used like this as an anti-axle wrap setup, and the rear shocks done like this? Also the po moved the top mounts for the front shocks back on the frame.

tracktion shock?.JPG

rear shocks.JPG

front shock top mount.JPG
 
The exhaust is toast so after I fix the steering box I need to do new exhaust. The front ball joints are shot so ill be doing those this week (I hope). and I have a parts blazer that has a new windshield.

I plan to swap the transmission out for a sm465/np208 with a SYE that I have, I'm going to narrow the front and rear, and boat-side. I prob, wont start the boat-side until fall. I'm waiting on another vehicle to sell so I can order my JD2 bender and do a cage and bumpers.

Suggestions are always welcome!
 
K5-CJ5 said:
Has anyone ever seen a shock used like this as an anti-axle wrap setup, and the rear shocks done like this? Also the po moved the top mounts for the front shocks back on the frame.
Click to expand...

It may help really bad axle wrap slightly, for anything else it's basically worthless.

Not an effective way to control axle wrap.
 
Thats what I was thinking. Thought it was odd to use a shock for this purpose. I plan to change the shackle hangers on the rear and I will remove the extra shocks at that time. I think im gonna remove the second set of shocks for the rear axle as well I don't think their really helping anything.

So my shopping list continues:
shackle flip
Front dana 60
rear spool
eventually a 6.5 td to replace the 350
A lot of body trimming.
 
moving the thread

I should have put this thread in the Driveway heading, does anyone know if there's a way yo move it to that category?
 
Rancho used to sell that setup with the shock on top of the spring as an anti-wrap bar. Friend had a set on his Toyota and they were incredibly hard to compress. The theory was they'd fight the axle wrap twist but still move and allow flex. His truck seemed to have less axle wrap but definitely wasn't as willing to flex in the rear.

A decade ago he got it when a 4x4 shop in San Diego, CA was clearing out their old stock. I remember 4WheelFarts still listed it in their catalog around then.
 
Thanks for moving it Rene!

The suspension seems really stiff in the front and rear. To accomplish the lift in the front the po added leafs to the pack, so when I do the rear shackle flip I will get new springs for the front.

So the shocks on top of the spring really don't help much, and the extra set of shocks on the axle are hurting flex so I will remove a set of those shocks as well.

I have heard people talk about relocating the shocks on the rear. What will this accomplish and where do they get relocated to?
 
I'd get rid of all of those shocks and just start with one on each corner of good quality.
 
Ive had dual shocks up front on other blazers but never singles. Is there a big difference running 2 in front versus 1? I have a set of rancho 9000 adjustable s I can run on it.
 
That rear shock mounted parralel to the ground on the rear axle is called a "kicker shock" and was pretty common back in the 80's. They help axle wrap some but not alot.

I'm sure part of the stiff ride is simply because of the dual shocks all the way around, and they are likely really stiff shocks. The front springs are probably really stiff also........just based off the pictures and the shock setup it looks like the typical '80's style lift where they thought "stiffer = better" for off-road.

Definitely looks like an aftermarket lift spring in the front vs. add-a-leafs on the stock springs.
 
The shocks on it now are also rs 9000 shocks, I haven't tried adjusting them as of yet. Ill get a picture of the front springs today, it definitely looks like there is a leaf added into the pack.
 
Here is a picture of the front springs and the frame rail that the po had attempted to repair. This is actually after I had ground it down a great deal. The steering box bolt tab was broken off due to the fact that the repair a done on 3 out of the 4 hole and left a 1/4 gap on the upper right bolt hole causing the ear to snap right off.

There is also the front springs picture which I believe has a leaf added to the pack.

frame rail.JPG

front springs.JPG
 
CD Radio Choices

Hey everyone I got a gift card to an online electronics retailer and I need Blazer stuff, so I decided I might as well get a new CB. Anyone have any reviews or likes/dislikes about theirs?
 
my buddy has the Cobra NightWatch 29. I envy it every time i see it. He has ONLY good things to say about it.
 
Ok Cool. That was one of the ones I was looking at! Its like 114.99 from Newegg.com. Then all I need is a new antenna and ill be ready to go!

Where do you usually wheel at? I live up in Kelsey which is near Georgetown, about 30 min from Rubicon,
 
K5-CJ5 said:
Ok Cool. That was one of the ones I was looking at! Its like 114.99 from Newegg.com. Then all I need is a new antenna and ill be ready to go!

Where do you usually wheel at? I live up in Kelsey which is near Georgetown, about 30 min from Rubicon,
Click to expand...

I still havnt been to anything in the sierras :doah:

Ive just been to prairie city a bunch of times, folsom lake, and a local spot near latrobe.

I AM gonna make it to the rubicon this year.....
 
Nice, The con will trim some fenders for ya! Theres also fordyce and sierra trek that are great. Theres a group of use that goes to prairie city on occasion and we have a local spot called canyon creek thats great during mud and snow times of the year.
 
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