1990 K5 project

[Denikin]

Hi everyone!!!
would like to put 40" tires on my K5 blazer, but got everything stock under it. Where should I start?

 

[nvrenuf]

You're at the beginning of a very expensive journey...

Are you doing this yourself? any experience with stuff like this?

Budget build?

What is the intended use after installing the tires? Mud, rocks, trail, street, etc?

When lifting it, are you willing to trim and / or cut the body? If so, how much?

More questions to following depending on answers to above.

 

[combatmatt]

Tons w/ 5.38 gears and cross over/highsteer and hydro assist, 6 in lift, a bit of cutting, and the 40" tires.

-sell wifes car-

a winch, front and rear bumpers, rollcage tied to engine cage tied to sliders, th400 with 203/205 doubler, fush Kit, suspension seats, beadlocks, air lockers.

-take out second mortgage-

rebuild for th400, 400 HP 383 Stroker, mig welder, 4 link suspension setup, long travel coilovers, gooseneck trailer and 1 ton truck because now its illegal on the road.

-clone yourself in order to be at work and in the garage at the same time -

front/rear dovetail, boatside, fuel injection,

-regain sanity-

cut body off and tube it out, start all over again with another old GM truck.

-and dont forget-

Lots of pictures posted on CK5 with very long build thread.


I think that about covers it.

 

[tRustyK5]

Tons w/ 5.38 gears and cross over/highsteer and hydro assist, 6 in lift, a bit of cutting, and the 40" tires.

-sell wifes car-

a winch, front and rear bumpers, rollcage tied to engine cage tied to sliders, th400 with 203/205 doubler, fush Kit, suspension seats, beadlocks, air lockers.

-take out second mortgage-

rebuild for th400, 400 HP 383 Stroker, mig welder, 4 link suspension setup, long travel coilovers, gooseneck trailer and 1 ton truck because now its illegal on the road.

-clone yourself in order to be at work and in the garage at the same time -

front/rear dovetail, boatside, fuel injection,

-regain sanity-

cut body off and tube it out, start all over again with another old GM truck.

-and dont forget-

Lots of pictures posted on CK5 with very long build thread.


I think that about covers it.

No fair, you've played this game before...

Rene

 

[Denikin]

You're at the beginning of a very expensive journey...

Are you doing this yourself? any experience with stuff like this?

Budget build?

What is the intended use after installing the tires? Mud, rocks, trail, street, etc?

When lifting it, are you willing to trim and / or cut the body? If so, how much?

More questions to following depending on answers to above.

Expensive journey that's what I heard from everybody, but worth it!!
I will try to do it by myself, also got friends who can help, but don't have experience in it YET . Wanna put it in the garage for a winter and try to get it done by spring time. Didn't build the budget yet, but sure don't want to do it the most expensive way.The intended use will be rocks, trail, mud will be nice too)) For sure gonna cut the body to fit as much as I need too. Thanks a lot.

 

[Denikin]

Tons w/ 5.38 gears and cross over/highsteer and hydro assist, 6 in lift, a bit of cutting, and the 40" tires.

-sell wifes car-

a winch, front and rear bumpers, rollcage tied to engine cage tied to sliders, th400 with 203/205 doubler, fush Kit, suspension seats, beadlocks, air lockers.

-take out second mortgage-

rebuild for th400, 400 HP 383 Stroker, mig welder, 4 link suspension setup, long travel coilovers, gooseneck trailer and 1 ton truck because now its illegal on the road.

-clone yourself in order to be at work and in the garage at the same time -

front/rear dovetail, boatside, fuel injection,

-regain sanity-

cut body off and tube it out, start all over again with another old GM truck.

-and dont forget-

Lots of pictures posted on CK5 with very long build thread.


I think that about covers it.

Sounds easy, now I gotta talk to my wife!!!

 

[combatmatt]

I will try to do it by myself, also got friends who can help, but don't have experience in it YET .

In that case factor in about 40-50 cases of beer. It takes alot of beer to build a blazer, and that's on top of what you have to use to bribe everybody to come over and help.

Seriously though, just lurk around the site and ask questions. You don't get flamed like on that other 4x4 site. Start looking at craigslist for parts deals as well. If it wasn't for Craigslist, Off Road Design , and PBR, my truck would still be stock. DIY 4x4 is also about to start receiving alot of my pay check .

 

[Denikin]

In that case factor in about 40-50 cases of beer. It takes alot of beer to build a blazer, and that's on top of what you have to use to bribe everybody to come over and help.

Seriously though, just lurk around the site and ask questions. You don't get flamed like on that other 4x4 site. Start looking at craigslist for parts deals as well. If it wasn't for Craigslist, Off Road Design , and PBR, my truck would still be stock. DIY 4x4 is also about to start receiving alot of my pay check .

I got beer and great view from my garage, so I think this is not gonna be a problem . Thanks a lot for theb directions. gotta question for you. I found long arm kit for $2300 for front and rear, thinking to put coil overs maybe. In your opinion does it make sense to go with coilovers or just go with tuff country leaf springs and do some movements and upgrade on the shocks???

 

[dremu]

Consider low lift + hack the he!! out of the wheel wells. The cost and complexity of the suspension rise exponentially with the size

You could prolly get away with 6-8" of lift if you are willing to

This means you can do lift leaf springs, change the shackles front and back, and be a heck of a lot better off than if you wanted to go higher.

If it were me, I'd do 52"s up front and 56"s in back, and IIRC if you got 2" lift springs for each, coupled with a shackle flip in back you'd have your 6". This way you can use more or less normal shocks.

Your other major cost will be the axles; you'll want a Dana 60 front from a 1-ton truck, and for the rear, a 14 bolt full-floater, ideally from a 3/4-ton 4WD, as the 1-tons and 2WD's have different spring perches or shock mounting. Lots of info here, search away.

-- A

 

[Denikin]

Consider low lift + hack the he!! out of the wheel wells. The cost and complexity of the suspension rise exponentially with the size

You could prolly get away with 6-8" of lift if you are willing to

This means you can do lift leaf springs, change the shackles front and back, and be a heck of a lot better off than if you wanted to go higher.

If it were me, I'd do 52"s up front and 56"s in back, and IIRC if you got 2" lift springs for each, coupled with a shackle flip in back you'd have your 6". This way you can use more or less normal shocks.

Your other major cost will be the axles; you'll want a Dana 60 front from a 1-ton truck, and for the rear, a 14 bolt full-floater, ideally from a 3/4-ton 4WD, as the 1-tons and 2WD's have different spring perches or shock mounting. Lots of info here, search away.

-- A

thank you. trhat's was my plan. do you think it make sense to go with coilovers instead of leaf springs? I got 6 inch lift on it allready but I"m having a problem with my rear driveshaft and looks like pinion seals leeking. Somebody told me that's I got to much flex on my rear axel. Do you know any fix for it??? Thank you.

 

[nvrenuf]

The problem in the rear is likely pinion/driveshaft angle, the pinion bearings themselves or simply an old, dead seal. If you've got a typical, off the shelf 6" lift you don't have problems from too much flex.

Coilovers are sweet but a very expensive option when compared to a leaf spring set up. For instance, Off Road Design's front coilover conversion kit is $3100 + steering, etc.. whereas a more flexible leaf spring susupension can be put together for $1k or less. I'm not knocking their product just trying to point out the dramatic cost difference between suspension types.

I see where you found a front and rear long arm kit for $2300 - who and where? Sounds too good to be true, honestly.

 

[dremu]

thank you. trhat's was my plan. do you think it make sense to go with coilovers instead of leaf springs? I got 6 inch lift on it allready but I"m having a problem with my rear driveshaft and looks like pinion seals leeking. Somebody told me that's I got to much flex on my rear axel. Do you know any fix for it??? Thank you.

A coil setup will be spendy and involve custom fabrication for the links, etc. Leafs are MUCH cheaper by comparison, well-understood, and don't involve welding, it's all bolt-on. Your call based on the information.

If the pinion seal leaks, replace it. Depending on the axle, that may involve having a hydraulic press or other specialized tools, so you might farm it out to a shop.

Donno what too much flex is. I mean, the axle is SUPPOSED to move relative to the body, that's why there's springs there instead of just bolting the axle to the frame

-- A