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1987 K5 Rebuild- narrow and dovetail the body-Painted

Overview Gallery Discussion
stockk5 said:
So I spent a good 7hours in the garage today sweating it out getting the 52's under the truck, still not done but I think I am on the right path!

Cleaned up the 52s.




Tack welded the front mounts on




The top of my dana 60's spring perch was messed up, so i cut it off and patched it up.




So I tossed on the axle, put it down on tires and realized I need to put much longer shackles on, so I made some prototypes, 6.25" and it gives me a 70degree angle. What do you guys think of that angle?





I put 350lbs of weight on the front of the truck to ensure it would simulate a bumper, front clip, tubing, it levels out quite nicely.


Now this is where I have concerns and need some advice. This is my caster angle.


Currently I have the axle bolted up with no shims. I was reading the stock caster angle is 8degree? I suppose I should call up DIY4X to order a set of 3, 6degree?

I am going to fully weld and brace it tomorrow and hope to have the suspension done, then axle comes back out to wire wheel, new paint, fresh grease/oil.
Click to expand...
Wow 13°

Double check that is both sides and your measuring it right.
5-7° drives nice on mine
 
bent72 said:
Wow 13°

Double check that is both sides and your measuring it right.
5-7° drives nice on mine
Click to expand...
Checked it out again, seems to be a little less, about 11degrees because my ubolts are a lil fubared at the moment so I noticed it allowed the axle to rotate down a hair. Still need some shims though.

So I went from 108, to 112 wheelbase now, I would like to stretch it out a bit more, I am toying with the idea of a 56swap rear. Those of you that have done it, is it a mess of axle wrap when it comes to having them flipped the long way? I already have a traction bar set up, works well.
 
I'm running 58", and I know the 64" have issues.

All springs will wrap but the traction bar should correct most of it
 
Well, I got my real shackles on there, they are 1/2" thick so no bending going on. I ended up cutting the radiator support up, sectioning it and getting it back together, overall 18" was taken out. I like how it looks, and then I moved onto the fenders... which i messed up!








So, this is where I messed up, I am not so happy with how this taper job worked out.. I should have just pulled it and not sectioned it.. personally I dont like how it looks and now need 2 more fenders.











my buddies say, just force it in to the radiator support. and leave it bolted, no cutting, what do you guys think?
 
I just loosened the fender bolts all around. Took out the top bolt at the door jamb, cut rad support and used a ratchet strap the bring the rad support together.
 
stockk5 said:
Well, I got my real shackles on there, they are 1/2" thick so no bending going on. I ended up cutting the radiator support up, sectioning it and getting it back together, overall 18" was taken out. I like how it looks, and then I moved onto the fenders... which i messed up!








So, this is where I messed up, I am not so happy with how this taper job worked out.. I should have just pulled it and not sectioned it.. personally I dont like how it looks and now need 2 more fenders.











my buddies say, just force it in to the radiator support. and leave it bolted, no cutting, what do you guys think?
Click to expand...

I think that sounds good if I'm understanding you correctly. You mean it needs to be cut to relieve the tension after bolting it up and then you'll just tack it back together?
 
UpnAdam said:
I think that sounds good if I'm understanding you correctly. You mean it needs to be cut to relieve the tension after bolting it up and then you'll just tack it back together?
Click to expand...

Well.. thats what I thought I had to do, I ended up bolting it up at the door, then tried to bolt it up onto the radiator support, it didnt wanna go, so I cut the inside of the fender to allow it to bend a bit easier. I also cut a pie out of the top of the fender, then welded it back together on the inside, I am just not happy with the kinked look it gives.
 
Nice build! I don't think the taper looked horrible, but I do like the straight fenders with the taper.
 
Thank guys, I just could not leave it, so I grab 2 more fenders and spent more time brainstorming... I am MUCH happier with how this looks!

This compares the 2.


So i basically gutted the inside of the fender from the bolt on section down to wrap around the firewall and heater blower. It allowed me to get it super tight on the body!








The best part is that the whole fender is held on by 3 bolts, all very easily accessed.
I will eventually tube inside the fenders where I will mount the batteries, overflow, etc.

Time to strip the interior and cut the rear apart as well. Then.. onto tube work.
 
That looks really good. I'll have to remember your build when it comes time to do mine.
 
Dovetail, narrowed k5 blazer

Today I picked up a compressor from craiglist, pretty happy with the older craftsman unit, should work well with my tubing bender and impact gun.



While in the garage I took the top off, roll bar out (for sale) tailgate off, and started dovetailing the rear end. I am VERY happy with how this one side came out so far, I will tackle the other side in the morning.
Last full size shot


I measured out the angle I am cutting, from the tailgate wall, i measured over 12", then 3 inch off the wall, overall it ended up being about 9inches total I took out, maybe a little more.




I then attached ratchet straps to the garage door lift and the other bedside and gave them both tension.


I am pretty happy with how well they lined up and worked out well for welding.


More welding




In order to prevent the beds from bowing out, I added some angled tube pieces, I will tie the bedside into the cage once that goes in there.


Over all, i like it a lot so far.
 
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I remember the crew cab build, subed for the blazer build.
 
Finished the other side, its a little off, but works for now, once the cage goes in, ill tie them into the bedsides to make sure they are straight and level. I am finding so much rust from when I last re-did the floor... crazy! Much easier to do now with no wheel wells, top, etc, so more updates soonish.













I also played with some random spraypaint colors, I will do some type of blue.

A little before and after

 
body work is looking good. Keep it up! What ideas do you have for the cage?
 
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