lugnut87
Registered Member
Hi everyone! I'm new to the site as of a few days ago. I have run across this site once before but never had the time to sit down and join.
I probably won’t get on here to update much, but hey I figured I would get this thread started and see what everyone thinks of my project.
First of all, this is actually the second, third and fourth K5 I have owned, and the first I will ever drive( that I own). The first was a 76 or 77, that was just so bad, I ended up cuttin up the body and throwing it away. Made myself $63 in scrap. obviously when scrap was dirt cheap. I had plans to use that frame for a body swap. It had a 400cid small block, TH350 trans, NP231 full time case, I believe the Dana 44 front and a 12 bolt rear. I had a 1995 chevy S10 blazer LT 4dr at the time. The wheel bases between the 4dr blazer and the full size are within a 1/4" all I needed was the time.
That never came and the S-truck eventually got traded for something more fuel efficent and the 76 frame got sold for some quick cash. Held onto the 400 small block tho, its waiting in the background for a future build, I'm thinking big cam, fuel injection and a HUGE radiator, but thats another story. lol
Now I recently found myself in the position of needing a truck, as I plan to be moving here shortly to Lima, OH to go to school at UNOH for auto tech and Hi/Po motorsports.
So this is where the 1978 trucks came in. I found a craiglist ad and I was soon the proud owner of two 1978 K5 4wd's. The first has a mostly restored and painted body, all Gm brand new parts from the rockers up. Only thing is the rocket scientist that built the body didnt fix the inner rockers and floor supports. The other was trashed as far as the body went, but it had an engine trans, and a really good frame.
I brought the piles home, stripped the parts 1978 down to the bare frame rails. Had that frame sand blasted and I painted it with POR-15.
In the mean time, I set out to find an O/D trans for the truck and wound up buying a complete 1988 K5 that was used as a plow truck and the guy was throwing it out because the ody was done. it was, and so was the frame. but it had good solid running TBI 350, a 700r4 trans, NP208 part time case, a good 10 bolt front w/hubs, and a good 12 bolt rear. The exact set-up I was looking for.
So I stripped that truck kept the parts I wanted(including the almost perfect interior), and after a month of cleaning and painting I am re-assembling the frame, and soon the good 78 body, will be coming off the frame its on, the floor supports will be repaired, and the adventure of wiring will begin.
So the overall plan for the truck is:
-78 frame
-78 body and front clip
-88 interior painted saddle, with seat covers
-88 engine, trans, axles, fuel injection
-summit headers
-I am doing a rear disk brake conversion using front rotors and I'm having the small fillet on the rear axle shaft turned down so that it will accept the stock rotor. I will use either stock front calipers or eldorado calipers if I feel i need the E-brake.
Other then that it'll basically be stock, for now...
So now I'll stop blabbing and post some eye candy for everyone.
many many many more pics on photobucket
http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee166/bonjourblink182/1978%20Blazer%20Project/
The Perfect Yard!!
parts 78
U-code Factory Tach on the build sheet!!!
clean frame
88 parts truck
Good 78 body
Last but not least engine porn!
I probably won’t get on here to update much, but hey I figured I would get this thread started and see what everyone thinks of my project.
First of all, this is actually the second, third and fourth K5 I have owned, and the first I will ever drive( that I own). The first was a 76 or 77, that was just so bad, I ended up cuttin up the body and throwing it away. Made myself $63 in scrap. obviously when scrap was dirt cheap. I had plans to use that frame for a body swap. It had a 400cid small block, TH350 trans, NP231 full time case, I believe the Dana 44 front and a 12 bolt rear. I had a 1995 chevy S10 blazer LT 4dr at the time. The wheel bases between the 4dr blazer and the full size are within a 1/4" all I needed was the time.
That never came and the S-truck eventually got traded for something more fuel efficent and the 76 frame got sold for some quick cash. Held onto the 400 small block tho, its waiting in the background for a future build, I'm thinking big cam, fuel injection and a HUGE radiator, but thats another story. lol
Now I recently found myself in the position of needing a truck, as I plan to be moving here shortly to Lima, OH to go to school at UNOH for auto tech and Hi/Po motorsports.
So this is where the 1978 trucks came in. I found a craiglist ad and I was soon the proud owner of two 1978 K5 4wd's. The first has a mostly restored and painted body, all Gm brand new parts from the rockers up. Only thing is the rocket scientist that built the body didnt fix the inner rockers and floor supports. The other was trashed as far as the body went, but it had an engine trans, and a really good frame.
I brought the piles home, stripped the parts 1978 down to the bare frame rails. Had that frame sand blasted and I painted it with POR-15.
In the mean time, I set out to find an O/D trans for the truck and wound up buying a complete 1988 K5 that was used as a plow truck and the guy was throwing it out because the ody was done. it was, and so was the frame. but it had good solid running TBI 350, a 700r4 trans, NP208 part time case, a good 10 bolt front w/hubs, and a good 12 bolt rear. The exact set-up I was looking for.
So I stripped that truck kept the parts I wanted(including the almost perfect interior), and after a month of cleaning and painting I am re-assembling the frame, and soon the good 78 body, will be coming off the frame its on, the floor supports will be repaired, and the adventure of wiring will begin.
So the overall plan for the truck is:
-78 frame
-78 body and front clip
-88 interior painted saddle, with seat covers
-88 engine, trans, axles, fuel injection
-summit headers
-I am doing a rear disk brake conversion using front rotors and I'm having the small fillet on the rear axle shaft turned down so that it will accept the stock rotor. I will use either stock front calipers or eldorado calipers if I feel i need the E-brake.
Other then that it'll basically be stock, for now...
So now I'll stop blabbing and post some eye candy for everyone.
many many many more pics on photobucket
http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee166/bonjourblink182/1978%20Blazer%20Project/
The Perfect Yard!!
parts 78
U-code Factory Tach on the build sheet!!!
clean frame
88 parts truck
Good 78 body
Last but not least engine porn!
