Doh!
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.
'72 K5 - Where do I go from here?
- Thread starter Dirsuper
- Start date
-
- Tags
- #onionclub
Interviewed, and was selected for, a new job today. I'll be selling back 5 weeks of vacation at my current company. This build just got another shot in the arm, a big one - I am STOKED!!!!!
Got the under carriage of the '72 K5 power washed today (after rebuilding the carburetor on my friggin power washer!)
It's amazing how much more ambition you have when you have a two post hoist to work on.
Martin
Martin
Oh I'm getting a lift as soon as I can afford it. I would use it for all of my vehicles, will make life much easier.
So I go to push the Blazer back in the shop.....wow! Crossfit ain't got shit on that workout. I think I gave myself another hernia. Once I got it on concrete (an hour of pushing later) I jacked rear and checked, left rear tire will not rotate backwards. Forward, no problem. Took off tire, drum is stuck - hard. Great. So, to get it in shop - improvise, adapt, overcome (below) Now I gotta figure out how to get that drum off....any tips?
So I go to push the Blazer back in the shop.....wow! Crossfit ain't got shit on that workout. I think I gave myself another hernia. Once I got it on concrete (an hour of pushing later) I jacked rear and checked, left rear tire will not rotate backwards. Forward, no problem. Took off tire, drum is stuck - hard. Great. So, to get it in shop - improvise, adapt, overcome (below) Now I gotta figure out how to get that drum off....any tips?
bp71k5
3/4 ton status
Back out the adjusters all the way and lots of wiggling and light tapping with a hammer.
Thank you, I should have remembered that as many damn drum brakes as I did back when I was a kid......So, I am sitting in a meeting, bored to death and get thinking about some of the stuff I've learned on here/some of Greg's spring comments. Also, I like to keep as much of my money local (or in my pocket) as I can. So I call a local guy who makes springs, has done it for 36 years. I tell him what I have and he starts telling me how older springs are better than new ones because they are better steel, less alloys, etc. Tells me he can (I forget the exact term he used).....uhm......'rebend'....or....'unbend' or whatever and make them like new AND get up to about 3.5" of lift out of them. He says it will ride better than new ones, etc. Dude sounds legit, he's not hurting for work (I have friends who go to him and he is always busy), so I really don't think he is 'just trying to get my money.' Anyway, to do what needs to be done to springs, with new metal/rubber bushings and new u-bolts - $1300. Sure, I still have to get a drop Pitman Arm, new brakelines, shocks, and do something about the sway bar, but other than that, I'd be good. Thoughts?
I think the term is "re-arching" of old springs....
Not sure I'm a believer... it seems I've read plenty of stories of people whos re-arched springs sagged even faster the second time around. But like anything, I'm sure there are CORRECT ways and INCORRECT ways to do it and it makes a huge difference.
-G
So....there is no access in the back to adjust the brakes. Just that little access I removed a plug thing from. If that is it, I can't see the little wheel in there, just brake pad - fairly new, of course. Manual says do it with drum off. Well, the drum is stuck
I've felt dumb more than once in my life, but this takes the cake. Out of frustration I pulled really hard, I fell backwards with it in my hands.
So it begins........
bp71k5
3/4 ton status
I was going to say that little access hole is where the adjuaters should be, but I don't have drums anymore.
Got any BIG jackstands yet???
Harbor Freight sells a 12-Ton version (IIRC) that will get you about 30" of height per corner. I think you're going to find that putting small jackstands under the axles isn't going to be very helpful when it's time to do the suspension work. Ideally, you want a set on the framerail itself (behind the rear shackle near the gas tank) and another set in front of the forwardmost spring hangers so that you can unbolt the springs and axles and roll them out from underneath.
-G
Appreciate it Greg. Yeah, I was trying to come up with some tricky strategery for that little dance last night. I even thought about using some 4x6s and making kind of a sawhorse on steroids, but then I realized it would have too big of a footprint. Given how this looks to play out (new job), I'm gonna slow roll this a few weeks, I might be able to just go ahead and get the lift. I know some are not fans of lifts, but I look at everything I need to do, and man would it make things easier. My DD ('88 K5) has a pretty bad leak from either the transfer case or the transmission (have not taken the time to figure it out yet), and even my C20 has the classic transmission-transfer case adapter leak. Those jobs would be much easier on the lift. And man, doing that lift/suspension rebuild on a lift.......sure would be nice! Knowing I am getting a lift, I would rather spend that giant jackstand money on a high-lift transmission jack. I have a tentative start date for the new job of 04 Jan, meaning I could sell back my vacation time here and have the money by the end of January. All said and done (if it goes as I hope it will), by the end of January money will no longer be an issue, just time.........
Oh, and another interesting finding last night, I believe that front end was recently rebuilt. All of the rubber bushings (now that you can see them) look brand new......no cracking/discoloration at all. I'm going to investigate that more tonight, I made that discovery just as the wife came to the shop doing her version of 'the street lights just came on.'
Oh, and another interesting finding last night, I believe that front end was recently rebuilt. All of the rubber bushings (now that you can see them) look brand new......no cracking/discoloration at all. I'm going to investigate that more tonight, I made that discovery just as the wife came to the shop doing her version of 'the street lights just came on.'
Sounds like a plan.
You can take those cute jackstands and wedge them underneath your rolling workbench.... looks like your bottom shelf has a bad case of "droopy pants".....
-G
That's funny. I actually took an 'operational pause' from that rolling monstrosity. I realized I was becoming obsessed with it when I bought a can of paint just to 'see how that color looked.' I was given three different thickness plates for the top, and as a 'welder-in-training', I spent about a month, every night, welding and grinding........it's still not right. Of course when the boys are over everyone stands around that table......and then the comments start (one of them is a welder, by trade).......so the next day I would be out there all day trying to get it perfect. Finally I said 'fuhgetaboutit.' It is what it is. I'll get back to it in 2017.......or so. I do love being able to roll it outside to weld/grind......after setting my shorts on fire once, I realize how fast things can go bad. Now it's outside, and I wear Steamers (the coveralls you wear in Navy Engineering plants, I have tons of them from doing.....well, 24 years in the Navy......about 16 of which was in Engineering - gas turbine, 1200 psi steam, and diesel).
Never underestimate the value of projects like workbenches, tool stands, etc.
It's a great way to learn the basics of welding without the guilt of screwing up something on the Blazer.... with a large enough weld-booger you can stick almost any two pieces of metal together!!!
-G
words to live by!with a large enough weld-booger you can stick almost any two pieces of metal together!!!
-G
Oh yeah, no way that is 45 years old. Hell, I'm 45 and I look a hell of a lot more beat up than that!
Now I have to decide if I even want to pull that whole knuckle apart.....guess I have to just to clean and paint anyway.
Now I have to decide if I even want to pull that whole knuckle apart.....guess I have to just to clean and paint anyway.
