gotblazers
1/2 ton status
I just finished a wheeling trip and broke a stub shaft/u joint in this poor old half ton k5. Since i got a 87 dodge ram to DD now i can really tear into this thing and im starting by beefing up the front 44 since my dad has agreed to buy it off me for 80% of whatever i got into it when i go to 1 tons as long as help him get it into the 73 k5 
.
Heres some history on the truck
warning its pretty long as it was my first truck and includes my life story in it
It was used as a chase truck/DD for a nephew in a score desert racing family. He got a Girlfriend who he married and had kids with and after letting it sit around the shop for 10 years and visiting it infrequently he told his uncle to sell it. My dad bought the truck as a parts truck for the 73 k5 for $1850 and it had been sitting for 10 years.
My dad drove it home and realized this thing ran too damn good to tear apart. So instead of finishing the 73 k5 with it as my first truck he decided to have this be my first truck. He brought it home on a tuesday afternoon and he had told me a week prior something was coming home on tuesday but wouldnt tell me what. He handed me the keys and hopped in the passenger seat and told me to start er up. I cranked it a little and she fired right up, I hadnt driven anything in my life except for the jeep once or twice around the neighborhood, Sure as hell never drove anything loud like this with torque like that. I had a grin from ear to ear as i chugged it all over the neighborhood. As inexperienced as i was it felt like driving a boat on land especially with the power steering these things got but that must have been one of the best days of my life. I didnt have my license yet but i was only a few months off.
I wanted to get the new gas tank in ASAP as the old one was smashed in and rusty so it could only hold 4 gallons but my dad wasnt in the same rush so with 0 mechanical experience i went out and dropped the old tank disconnected the lines and put the new sending unit/lines/straps on the new tank. It took me a few trys to get the filler hose right
. I went out and listened to the radio in it every other day until i got my permit with only 2/4 speakers working and scratchy as ever with those old paper cones. My dad taught me how to do everything else in the engine well. Even got me some planks of wood to lay across the front fenders so i could work on the distributor easier on that old boat.
I started driving this thing to school the beginning of my senior year since i had slacked a little on getting my license. After driving it around for a few months a few guys in my truck mechanics class invited me to go to Hollister with em. First time i went it was with a single other guy i met there who had a 80's bronco 2 all stock shot to hell and we wheeled for 3 hours straight and drove home. After that i was hooked. I got a job petsitting and it was paying so good i was going whenever i wanted. I left all my gear in my truck so i could go on a whim. Most the time i didnt decide whether i wanted to go or not until the school bell rang and i left from school and picked up the food in hollister drove on in and called my dad to tell him i would be back sunday
. I've only got more ambitious and more dangerous with my wheeling so its time for the truck to adapt since my first serious breakage finally occured. I'd always call my dad on the way back from hollister to tell him i was on the way home and he'd always answer with a ''whatd ya break?'' Up until now i didnt have anything to tell him i was starting to feel bad, Fortunately i didnt break anything until i got my new DD a little stock 87 dodge ram 4cyl 2.0 5 speed. And that brings us to the beginning of the build. Kudos to you if you actually managed to read my life story 
.
Basic specs are
400SB/350TH/np203 fulltime ( i learned the hard way
)
44 front/12 bolt rear both open with 3.73's
Heres what came with it
.4'' suspension lift
.all new bushings/transmission mounts
.dual exhaust
.A body with a little rust but 0 body damage (until i got to wheelin
)
.10x15 chrome rims with 12 year old 33x12.5x15 BFG A/T's
.new smog air pump
Heres what i've done to make it reliable as a DD and now a wheeler
.new gas tank/rubber lines
.thermostat
.ignition module,coil,cap,rotor,spark plugs
.vaccum modulator on tranny
.vacuum advance
.Single exhaust with a cat to pass smog
.New dash bulbs
.Head unit with cd player and 4 eclipse speakers
.33x12.5 Gdyear Mt/r Kevlars new
.driver suspension corbeau off road racing seat
.brake pads and rear wheel cylinders
.bleed brake system
.starter
And Finally PICS!!!
.Heres some history on the truck
warning its pretty long as it was my first truck and includes my life story in it
It was used as a chase truck/DD for a nephew in a score desert racing family. He got a Girlfriend who he married and had kids with and after letting it sit around the shop for 10 years and visiting it infrequently he told his uncle to sell it. My dad bought the truck as a parts truck for the 73 k5 for $1850 and it had been sitting for 10 years.
My dad drove it home and realized this thing ran too damn good to tear apart. So instead of finishing the 73 k5 with it as my first truck he decided to have this be my first truck. He brought it home on a tuesday afternoon and he had told me a week prior something was coming home on tuesday but wouldnt tell me what. He handed me the keys and hopped in the passenger seat and told me to start er up. I cranked it a little and she fired right up, I hadnt driven anything in my life except for the jeep once or twice around the neighborhood, Sure as hell never drove anything loud like this with torque like that. I had a grin from ear to ear as i chugged it all over the neighborhood. As inexperienced as i was it felt like driving a boat on land especially with the power steering these things got but that must have been one of the best days of my life. I didnt have my license yet but i was only a few months off.
I wanted to get the new gas tank in ASAP as the old one was smashed in and rusty so it could only hold 4 gallons but my dad wasnt in the same rush so with 0 mechanical experience i went out and dropped the old tank disconnected the lines and put the new sending unit/lines/straps on the new tank. It took me a few trys to get the filler hose right
. I went out and listened to the radio in it every other day until i got my permit with only 2/4 speakers working and scratchy as ever with those old paper cones. My dad taught me how to do everything else in the engine well. Even got me some planks of wood to lay across the front fenders so i could work on the distributor easier on that old boat. I started driving this thing to school the beginning of my senior year since i had slacked a little on getting my license. After driving it around for a few months a few guys in my truck mechanics class invited me to go to Hollister with em. First time i went it was with a single other guy i met there who had a 80's bronco 2 all stock shot to hell and we wheeled for 3 hours straight and drove home. After that i was hooked. I got a job petsitting and it was paying so good i was going whenever i wanted. I left all my gear in my truck so i could go on a whim. Most the time i didnt decide whether i wanted to go or not until the school bell rang and i left from school and picked up the food in hollister drove on in and called my dad to tell him i would be back sunday
. I've only got more ambitious and more dangerous with my wheeling so its time for the truck to adapt since my first serious breakage finally occured. I'd always call my dad on the way back from hollister to tell him i was on the way home and he'd always answer with a ''whatd ya break?'' Up until now i didnt have anything to tell him i was starting to feel bad, Fortunately i didnt break anything until i got my new DD a little stock 87 dodge ram 4cyl 2.0 5 speed. And that brings us to the beginning of the build. Kudos to you if you actually managed to read my life story .Basic specs are
400SB/350TH/np203 fulltime ( i learned the hard way
)44 front/12 bolt rear both open with 3.73's
Heres what came with it
.4'' suspension lift
.all new bushings/transmission mounts
.dual exhaust
.A body with a little rust but 0 body damage (until i got to wheelin
).10x15 chrome rims with 12 year old 33x12.5x15 BFG A/T's
.new smog air pump
Heres what i've done to make it reliable as a DD and now a wheeler
.new gas tank/rubber lines
.thermostat
.ignition module,coil,cap,rotor,spark plugs
.vaccum modulator on tranny
.vacuum advance
.Single exhaust with a cat to pass smog
.New dash bulbs
.Head unit with cd player and 4 eclipse speakers
.33x12.5 Gdyear Mt/r Kevlars new
.driver suspension corbeau off road racing seat
.brake pads and rear wheel cylinders
.bleed brake system
.starter
And Finally PICS!!!
Last edited:
)
. One things for sure i have a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT to learn every new thing i tackle is an uphill battle trying to be a professional engine builder/fabricator/driver/overall mechanic and everything else it takes is a lot to ask of myself as an inexperienced 18 year old guy.
my oldest is going to be 12 in march and has told me she wants a Blazer when she turns 16
for a dana 44
