'73 1ton K5- NorCal Budget Build. My first trail Break

[NorCal_Chris]

Well Ive had my blazer now for about 7 months. Learned a ton so far, and still learning a ton.

Realized i want a thread to keep my progress on and to push me to do more. So figured now would be a good time.

so to start

73 K5 BLAZER 4X4
4 Inch lift with blocks
33 Inch Interco Thornbird Tires
350 Goodwrench CRATE MOTOR 15K MILES
Longtube Headers
Flowmasters w/ turndowns
Edelbrock 650 carb
Newer paint- some sort of yellow
Kinda coolish front bumper


Pics of when i first got it.

Couple days later took it out wheelin for the first time. Good basline for how it performed. This is with the swaybar on as well

Got it muddy a few times.

Then i had a cracked flexplate... oh the joy!

Made me realize how much i hate mud when i had it falling down on my face and in my eyes.

 

[NorCal_Chris]

From there.

Took the swaybar off.

Did the homeade shackle flip

Wife got me a hi lift jack, got that mounted up.

 

[NorCal_Chris]

Now to present time.

I had some R/C trucks that i was wanting to sell and posted em on craigslist. got a few bites but one guy had chevy parts and wanted to trade. CHA CHING


So tommorow i am heading out to pick up some goodies... pics to follow!

14bff 4.11 gears
d44 flat top 8 lug 4.11 gears
16inch 12 hole wheels with weld on beadlocks w/hardware
and a 2wd steering box

Guy is also trying to get me a pair of 56 springs but will be coming later.


So plans are!

3/4 ton axle swap!
56s in rear
my 52's in front
Crossover
Not sure of tire size
Adding to my cage as well. Going all the way to back, and cross bracing( as soon as rain clears so i can take top off and head to dads shop)


i am really considering Balistics setup for crossover to save a few bucks.

we will see. I guess i can just bite the bullet and pay almost twice that and have my knuckle machined, and get a steering arm. we will see


Not sure about the beadlocks. Think they are overkill for my setup but we will see. I also DD my truck so i dunno about that, allthough i have a buddy that runs beadlocks DD and the guy i am getting the stuff from ran his on a DD.

So may sell them to fund new wheels/tires

Budget is big concern for me. Limited income and baby on way in September!

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

i am really considering Balistics setup for crossover to save a few bucks.

we will see. I guess i can just bite the bullet and pay almost twice that and have my knuckle machined, and get a steering arm. we will see

Heims are expensive and wear out super quick compared to tie rod ends, plus mounting them in single shear makes all of that worse (and will ruin the knuckle eventually).

There's a very recent post on here concerning 1/2 ton knuckles that are cast with the crossover arm in them (i.e. no finding/buying/machining knuckles) for less than $200 IIRC, search and I'm sure you'll find it.

Not sure about the beadlocks. Think they are overkill for my setup but we will see. I also DD my truck so i dunno about that, allthough i have a buddy that runs beadlocks DD and the guy i am getting the stuff from ran his on a DD.

So may sell them to fund new wheels/tires

Budget is big concern for me. Limited income and baby on way in September!

Beadlocks on a DD is no big deal at all, even the homemade ones aren't hard to balance IME if they are centered/welded well.

And, IMO, lockers make the most impact on the performance of a truck but beadlocks have to be right there with tire size and suspension flex. Beadlocks and LOW LOW tire pressure are very underrated by most people here IMO.

 

[NorCal_Chris]

Heims are expensive and wear out super quick compared to tie rod ends, plus mounting them in single shear makes all of that worse (and will ruin the knuckle eventually).

There's a very recent post on here concerning 1/2 ton knuckles that are cast with the crossover arm in them (i.e. no finding/buying/machining knuckles) for less than $200 IIRC, search and I'm sure you'll find it.





Beadlocks on a DD is no big deal at all, even the homemade ones aren't hard to balance IME if they are centered/welded well.

And, IMO, lockers make the most impact on the performance of a truck but beadlocks have to be right there with tire size and suspension flex. Beadlocks and LOW LOW tire pressure are very underrated by most people here IMO.

Appreciate the imput! Saw that post about the knuckles, seems like a pretty good route. Allthough i already have well 2 flat tops now, i think the cost to machine and the arm would be about the same as that whole knuckle lol.


Glad for some pro's on the beadlocks instead of most of the your gonna kill someone remarks i find by people ( 99% im sure dont even have beadlocks). I will just check them regularly and make sure they are still torqued right and i dont see them having an issue. Im hoping a good eyeball center and some airsoft bb's will get me a nice balanced tire.

 

[andyblack]

Airsoft BBs? Never heard of that trick. How many do you have to put in there for it to work?

 

[NorCal_Chris]

http://www.innovativebalancing.com/BigTirechart.htm

They are 0.12 gram per pellet

http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=128093

http://www.myxj.net/blog/72

 

[andyblack]

Wow. I bet it sounds cool when you're coming to a stop too.

 

[NorCal_Chris]

Well got my camera to work and snapped some pics of the goodies i picked up!

the beadlocks

8lug d44 front with all the trimmings

the 14bolt, inside looked really really good. Gears look new.

Guy is bringing me the 2wd steering box and 56's over the weekend.

Been just cleaning up and painting so far. Noticed one of the welds broke on the 14bolt for the spring hangar, so i will have to fix that. But they look damn good otherwise.

 

[DeviousK5]

Nice start. Knowing that blazers are never "done". Whens the maiden voyage ETA on this go-round? I'm 2-3 weeks out myself, let me know. Always looking for locals with chevy's to go out wheelin , or breakin **** too.

 

[NorCal_Chris]

Well im waiting on some tires before i swap it all in. So as soon as i can find some resonably i will knock it out. Just been cleaning up axles and waiting lol....

Hardly any tires on craigs for a 16inch. Somewhat dissapointing.

We will have to get together sometime and cause some trouble.

 

[nvrenuf]

I like that Hi Lift mount, did you make it or buy it?

 

[MTBLAZER89]

Looks good man!

I would definitely run those beadlocks. Being able to run 2-3 psi makes my rig so much more capable, and it keeps all the wet crap out of my beads like all the rest of the guys in my club get almost every trip Plus they look cool!

 

[dirtygoat]

Nice start...

What's your plans for d-lines and shocks in the rear???

Are you gonna do the home brew hanger swap in the front as well???

 

[DeviousK5]

I feel you on that. I spent a few months trying to cobble a set of tires together from the craigy. NO real luck. My search was worsened by 16.5 wheels. Ended up ordering 37's from trailworthyfab. Should arrive on thursday.
My brother has a set of 35's for a 16in wheel laying around only 35-40% left though, prolly let em go for 150-200. Gotta go for the day: trip to WFo for a 3pc 3degree shim kit

 

[NorCal_Chris]

I like that Hi Lift mount, did you make it or buy it?

I made that mount. Figured it was better to have it inside away from the weather. Got a pair of bolts, a pair of nuts, and a single piece of flat bar and bent it up with a vise/hammer. Very happy with how it came out.

Nice start...

What's your plans for d-lines and shocks in the rear???

Are you gonna do the home brew hanger swap in the front as well???

I think im just gonna run the stock d shaft and a conversion joint, for now. Im sure fairly soon i will do something different. My dad is fairly handy on a lathe, and with anything metal. He just made some CV/hybrid thingies for his sand rail. So we will see how that goes.

As far as shocks. Im thinking of cheaping out with the pro comp es9000 shocks. I was pricing some bilstiens and may go that route if i can sell some crap i have.

Pretty sure i will fab something for the front hangar when i do 52's. Probably something as a cross between the b 52 and the plain hangar kurt makes. Kinda like a b 52 w/o the body mount.

I feel you on that. I spent a few months trying to cobble a set of tires together from the craigy. NO real luck. My search was worsened by 16.5 wheels. Ended up ordering 37's from trailworthyfab. Should arrive on thursday.
My brother has a set of 35's for a 16in wheel laying around only 35-40% left though, prolly let em go for 150-200. Gotta go for the day: trip to WFo for a 3pc 3degree shim kit

Ive been thinking alot about those mil tires.... the price is so dang good! We will see if i end up folding and go that route. i figure i could prob sell my beadlocks for a fair amount and either pick up some cheap steel 16.5's or buy some h1's and recenter them.

What tires does your brother have? I might be interested in that just so i can get this swap going. Thats whats holding me back right now. And plus, the sooner i get rid of these Thorbirds the better!

 

[NorCal_Chris]

Looks good man!

I would definitely run those beadlocks. Being able to run 2-3 psi makes my rig so much more capable, and it keeps all the wet crap out of my beads like all the rest of the guys in my club get almost every trip Plus they look cool!

Thanks! Yeah the more i think about beadlocks the more i want them! they are just so cool.

They will make me look badass

 

[rdn2blazer]

Thanks! Yeah the more i think about beadlocks the more i want them! they are just so cool.

They will make me look badass

Not JUST LOOK bad ass but your 1/4 mile ET will drop too. Make your rig faster for damn sure. No really, they will.

 

[DeviousK5]

35x12.5-16. Called mud dawgs. Cheapest mt at the time he bought em.
For sure id hang onto those beadlocks, 10x cooler looking than a recentered H1 , even with all the different rock rings available. The mil tires are super cheap, but am told maybe not great on traction. Im just as curious about sidewall stiffness. Pickin mine up this weekend, and when all is said and done ill likely do a build thread and let all know my .02 on the matter.

 

[NorCal_Chris]

35x12.5-16. Called mud dawgs. Cheapest mt at the time he bought em.
For sure id hang onto those beadlocks, 10x cooler looking than a recentered H1 , even with all the different rock rings available. The mil tires are super cheap, but am told maybe not great on traction. Im just as curious about sidewall stiffness. Pickin mine up this weekend, and when all is said and done ill likely do a build thread and let all know my .02 on the matter.

May be interested in those tires. I will have to see if i can scrounge upsome cash.

I will look forward to your review on those tires. They do seem nice though, and definatly the right price