75 arrived few instant issue need addressing what are options?

[markrazz]

so my truck arrived 1975 GMC Jimmy and it’s nice and rust free for the most part but the tailgate is separated and pretty bad shape. Not going up or down very well either...
Where can I find a replacement no luck on a local search?

Also the door striker is loose so door doesn’t shut very well.

Haven’t had time to dig in to truck but will to morrow with pics and other issues....

 

[K5wrench]

C'mon.
Get ur slippers on and snap us a picture man.
Open a bottle of scotch and celebrate!

 

[bassackwards]

Did you buy it w/o looking at it first?

 

[aceroth]

Is it the posts or the gate itself? If it's the gate itself, any squarebody blazer tailgate will work fine and it is an easy job. My 73's was rusted out, I got one off an 85. Couple differences in the torque bar anchors but it bolted up nice. I think a burb will work as a donor too but I have heard mixed reviews on that. If it's the posts, you can buy them on lmc but putting them and getting them right is a bear. I would hire that done but I know a lot of guys on here are a lot handier than me.

 

[tenderfoot]

What is your plan for it? Daily driver, trail rig, completely modified and/or hot rodded out or totally stock? A regular square body truck tailgate can be made to fit. You obviously loose the back window, but you also loose the weight and headache. You would have to either go soft top or modify the hard top by mounting a camper style hatch.

 

[tenderfoot]

Oh I think there is a soft top for '73-'75 in the general parts for sale thread!

 

[markrazz]

Is it the posts or the gate itself? If it's the gate itself, any squarebody blazer tailgate will work fine and it is an easy job. My 73's was rusted out, I got one off an 85. Couple differences in the torque bar anchors but it bolted up nice. I think a burb will work as a donor too but I have heard mixed reviews on that. If it's the posts, you can buy them on lmc but putting them and getting them right is a bear. I would hire that done but I know a lot of guys on here are a lot handier than me.

just the tailgate itself is rusted closes properly but glass struggles going all the way down so can’t open it

The driver door post or maybe striker it’s called the metal piece attached to body itself is loose spins freely not sure if it can me tightened up not sure how you would get to the it?

I did buy the truck unseen but great deal being rust free from AZ and the torque boxes and undercarriage are unreal so I can deal with the other stuff slowly.
Mostly gonna be a summer rig so gonna strip and hurculine the interior and probably go topples with a bikini top and just enjoy as a fun cruiser no show rig

Is there a thread on using a normal sq body and putting a hatch type window connected to the top?
Does the newer 85 model direct fit or is welding etc needed not sure what you mean by torque bars and anchors

 

[markrazz]

It’s snowing gotta get it inside first ...lol

 

[K5wrench]

Dig the "one Blazer" garage.
Nice truck!
You got bumperettes and a roof rack.

More pictures...

 

[markrazz]

Dig the "one Blazer" garage.
Nice truck!
You got bumperettes and a roof rack.

More pictures...

Ya it’s acually in a shop at my buddies place so will get pics today,
I noticed double shocks in the front wondering what kind and how high the lift is it seems higher than stock and also noticesd the carb said racing on it so might be beefed up.
Guy I bought it from had it for a couple years and it came with a few boxes of new parts but he didn’t really know anything about it.he .bought it to restore, got a new job, and it just sat....
Kinda like opening a present know idea what’s inside it
This outta be fun or frustrating we will see shortly......

 

[tenderfoot]

Those "spoilers" on the back of your top work great for keeping exhaust out of your cab and keep the back window clean too. Don't take it off at least until you figure out what you'll do with the back window.

 

[SpeedlabDan]

Congrats! Looks solid, as for the rear window can you still get a regulator motor for it and felts for the track? I bit of work could get it goin again I'd think

 

[K5wrench]

My 84 had dual front shocks.
Really handled nice.

Yeah, maybe pull the access panel on the tailgate and look inside.
Could be a cape buffalo stuck in there if the felt window seal is gone or even just cracked.
You should see how many pine needles i vaccumed out of mine before i replaced the seal.
I lube up the window mech every spring and fall.

 

[markrazz]

My 84 had dual front shocks.
Really handled nice.

Yeah, maybe pull the access panel on the tailgate and look inside.
Could be a cape buffalo stuck in there if the felt window seal is gone or even just cracked.
You should see how many pine needles i vaccumed out of mine before i replaced the seal.
I lube up the window mech every spring and fall.

Ya the access panel was already off so fig he had to open it to get window up for transport..

 

[K5wrench]

Ya the access panel was already off so fig he had to open it to get window up for transport..

I keep threatening (myself) that I'm gonna do the truck tailgate and camper shell window modification one of these days.
There are threads here about it.

 

[tenderfoot]

Somewhere on those window motors there's a place you can stick a bit in a drill and roll em up. Anyone have the details on that?

 

[markrazz]

I keep threatening (myself) that I'm gonna do the truck tailgate and camper shell window modification one of these days.
There are threads here about it.

Just read that post so I agree this is what I am going to do also
with top off better to have no glass bouncing around anyway and the camper shell idea looks good to me and since I want to go topless most of the time it’s a no brainer
Gotta luv this forum for creative ideas......

 

[diesel4me]

Only a K5 tailgate will fit a K5,don't bother looking at a Suburban for a donor,they look the same,but are wider and I think slightly taller ,wont fit..
It sucks,because there seems to be more rust free Suburban tailgates around than for Blazers..

 

[Fastereddie]

Only a K5 tailgate will fit a K5,don't bother looking at a Suburban for a donor,they look the same,but are wider and I think slightly taller ,wont fit..
It sucks,because there seems to be more rust free Suburban tailgates around than for Blazers..

That is correct. But the pickup tailgate bolts right up.

 

[Gnarlor]

Somewhere on those window motors there's a place you can stick a bit in a drill and roll em up. Anyone have the details on that?

I’m chasing an electrical short somewhere in my back window wiring. I hooked up a drill to the tailgate window regulator cable. It works fine for getting the window up and down. If the cable is missing you can probably get some kind of drill bit into the mechanism that the cable runs into from the motor. The cable is just a square cable. You would need some kind of squareish drill bit. I wouldn’t try and force the motor to work. The gears that actually operate the window are separate.