1991 K5 Work in progress

[ljense8]

I recently acquired a 1991 K5 in a trade for my 1999 Pontiac Bonneville. It has some good mods on it, but it has a lot of room for improvement. It's powered by a TBI 350 bored to 355 with a mild cam(still trying to figure out what specs) and an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake. Power is put to the ground via a GM 12 bolt rear and Dana 44 front by way of a 700R4 trans. Previous owner claims 4.11 gears, but I haven't verified this yet. It is lifted 6 inches with 35x12.5 Mud King tires. The front is a spring lift, and the rear is lifted by blocks. Eventually I will update the lift all the way around with springs.

The body is pretty rough. I hope to begin replacing body panels next Spring. The interior could also use some work, but it's not nearly as bad as the body, other than a few issues behind the dash. The stereo is an aftermarket unit that wasn't installed properly and some of the factory gauges don't work. There are a couple gauges mounted under the dash in the middle so I can keep an eye on what is happening, but I am going to begin cleaning that mess up soon. For now I am working out a few bugs under the hood. Instead of going into detail here, here is a link to the thread I started regarding the issue: http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=301709

The next item on the list is temporarily patching up the holes in the floorpan to get me through winter. As I already mentioned, I hope to do some proper repairs this Spring, most importantly, new rockers, body mounts, floorpan, and maybe inner fenders.

I will post pictures soon and will hopefully be able to keep the updates coming fairly regularly, but funds aren't exactly unlimited, and I have 3 kids competing for my time.

 

[82355]

Still TBI?

Martin

 

[ljense8]

Yea it's still got the TBI setup on it. I will be sticking with the TBI for now at least. The floor pan and part way up the inner walls is shot so I will be replacing that hopefully next spring, then after that I will have to look into what my next big project with it will be. Probably suspension update first, then eventually I would like to put a 454 in it, though that may be wishful thinking. In the meantime, there are lots of little projects that need to be done. If the weather ever clears up here, I will get some pics of it up.

 

[ljense8]

Found a couple pics I didn't realize I had.

My oldest daughter is in the passenger window. The kids love my "monster truck"

 

[454Sub]

Yep, no sense in changing out motors unless the 350 gives up the ghost, OR you have cash burning holes in your jeans. Only reason I even have a 454 is because of a perfect storm, I swapped bodies and already had the 454 block laying in the garage as a tool rack and it got me. And that was only the beginning of it all........

 

[ljense8]

Things have been pretty slow with the Blazer so far, but I have worked out a few little bugs. The gauges were basically invisible at night, and since about half of my driving is at night, this poses a problem. I pulled the gauge bucket out and painted inside the bucket and the back of the reflecter plate chrome. I also replaced the bulbs with the brighter version(168?). This has made a night and day difference, but I have one bulb that is being stubborn and won't stay lit. I cleaned all of the connection points on the cheap plastic tape called a circuit board, but the problem is that the bulb is loose in the socket. I tried a small plastic shim under the circuit board to tighten it up and it helped... until I hit the first bump. I'm going to try cleaning it up a little better and getting the shim in place a little better and see how that does. Even without that bulb though, it's much brighter. After the holidays I will be repairing a leak in the exhaust and replumbing the brake lines. The next step will hopefully be a disc brake conversion from DIY4X for the back axle. Sorry for the lack of pics, I will try to get some soon so you guys can have an idea of what I'm working with and maybe point out some things I may miss, since I am basically learning everything as I go on this (re)build.

 

[82355]

Are you going to do a 3/4 ton swap?

Martin

 

[ljense8]

I'm intending to do a 14 bolt/D60 setup(yes cliche, but hey, it works), but I kind of got ahead of myself on my last post. What I meant is that will be the next upgrade to the brakes. What I really need to do before getting into swapping axles is repair the body and upgrade the lift to a Tuff Country 6" spring lift. I will need a new steering box before I do any serious wheeling, so maybe a crossover while I'm at it while I'm at it, but again, I get ahead of myself. I need to keep telling myself to slow down and take it one step at a time.

 

[dirtygoat]

I wonder if I can talk my wife into letting me trade her 1999 bonneville for another K5...


My next blazer will be a tbi year with od... Wish I had that in my k20...

 

[ljense8]

The TBI has been pretty easy to work/learn on and the OD has come in handy a couple times, but I don't like taking it above 40 mph at the moment. When I get the brakes working a little better and the body repaired I will no doubt be able to use the OD a little more often. Lucky for me I only drive about 1.5 miles to work and the speed limit is 25-30 mph the whole way.

 

[Deuling]

Dude. You live right down the road pretty much! April first, silver lake opening day. Gonna see ya there?

 

[ljense8]

If I can get the Blazer ready by then I would love to head out that way. It needs a little more work than I originally anticipated when I got it(seems like they always do). I think my steering box is getting pretty tired, and I'm not sure it would survive the sand. When I turn it hits a couple stiff spots where it doesn't want to turn as well. It doesn't actually lock up, it just gets stiff. If you have any other ideas of what it might be, that would be great, because I don't really want to replace the steering box if I don't need to, but from what I can tell, it seems likely. Also, the body and supports are pretty rotted and the body is likely to shift or fall if I ride it too hard, so when I get that fixed along with the brakes and steering issues, I'll be ready to hit the sand.

 

[Deuling]

Sounds like a good plan. I dont drive mine in the winter, already fixed enough cancer lol. Always nice to find more mi guys. I beleive theres a decent handfull of guys on here in the holland grand haven area.

 

[ljense8]

Yours is definitely a bit nicer than mine. Eventually I would like to get a winter beater, but for now, the Blazer will be a year round daily driver that will be capable of some off-road fun.

 

[Deuling]

Sounds like a good plan! Take lots of pic, we like lots and lots of pics

 

[ljense8]

Time for a few pics to show my starting point.

The PO got pretty stuck, and decided the hooks were his best option...

Here you can see the rear lift blocks that will be replaced when I can get some springs and a shackle flip.

The terrific goober welds on the exhaust... that is the next fix, coming soon.

The non-existent driver's rocker panel, you can see a little bit of the crappy "frame" I built to keep me in the truck until I can do a real fix.

My custom loops for closing the door. The vinyl ones were both broke.

The passenger rocker isnt much better.

 

[Deuling]

I see your bumpers pretty screwed... If you want a pipe style bumper i can make ya one. Even deliver . If ya pm me you number i could send you some pics. Just finishing a beefy one for an xj right now.

 

[ljense8]

That's a pretty sweet bumper. I can't afford it right now with Christmas and all but I will definitely get back with you on that when I can. I'm going to fix up the floorpan and get the body straightened out a little bit first but that bumper would be sweet, especially if you could make a matching rear bumper.

 

[Deuling]

Sounds like a plan. I dont have a nice tube bender or tube not notcher or anything, but for using some cutoff wheels, flap wheels and my welder, i think they turn out pretty good

 

[454Sub]

You know, I was thinking, not sure on your overall direction of your truck and ect. But that would be an excellent time to do some sliders and weld your pan and pillars directly to them. Much more solid, and dent proof.

I almost wish mine was kinda rotted out like that so I would do it, but my entire body is basically spotless except for a door, and I just ground/bondo'd it to 40ft perfection.