'79 K5 Build for the PNW...(Pic Heavy)

[garydan]

I'm really digging the look. I would love for my truck to get to this point one day. I need to get a welder, tube bender and a some skills. I'm thinking a canvas top like you see on boat t-tops would be sweet.

 

[dirtygoat]

I'm planning on using some sheet metal on the top...

I'm thinking about cutting the cab up on the parts truck and using it...

 

[dirtygoat]

Picked up some 1/8" plate today...

Started fabbing up the roof...

Got the cab done, but the battery died...

1/8" plate weighs 5lbs. per sq. foot...

Probably gonna be right about 100lbs. of plate total...

This will shear up the cage and protect everyone inside...

 

[BGKYK5]

Looks like you pretty well used up that grinding disc. Is that how you cut the plate? I can't cut anywhere near that straight with a grinder.

 

[dirtygoat]

Yep, I've become a surgeon with a cut off wheel...

I use them for a lot of stuff...


Other than the welder and bender, I'd say a grinder with a cut off wheel and notcher are the most used tools on the build...

 

[76zimmer]

Looks like you pretty well used up that grinding disc. Is that how you cut the plate? I can't cut anywhere near that straight with a grinder.

Yeah me too. My cuts look like a epiliptic seizure going on with a knife in my hand....

I like the plate protection up top Dirty....great idea.

 

[dirtygoat]

Thanks, after seeing dead trees fall and almost take out people, this was defiantly needed...


Here's the pics of last nights work...

 

[dirtygoat]

Got the back part of the roof done today...


Used some foam board for templates...

Then had some lunch...

 

[dirtygoat]

Fitting the pieces of plate...

Got the plate all welded in...

Should keep everyone safe from falling objects and sheared up the cage big time...

 

[StevoandaRedK5]

it has been mentioned how awesome this is??? !!!

 

[chulisohombre]

lookin good.lots of good fab goin on.kinda sux that you cant keep the full converable.but if there is the threat of fallen objects,its best to keep the family safe.

 

[dirtygoat]

Thanks Steve...


Yeah, there's a big threat of falling trees up here... The trails are really tight and you have to slide along the trees to get through...

I wheeled it for years with no top and even in the summer time I wanted something over my head... In the winter you've got rain and snow, then pine needles and spiders in the spring and summer...

I got two partial sheets of 1/8" plate from a guy for $45... Got a good chunk left after doing the top, so I'll find other uses for it...

 

[dirtygoat]

I figured out the footage of the plate...

A total of 19.25 sq. ft. of plate

So, that's 96.25 lbs. added from the plate...

I think it's worth the extra weight...

The way it's welded in makes it like a giant gusset...

That sh!t's never moving...

 

[Nazarethk5]

You did a really great job cutting that plate out so straight. I can barely cut metal half that thick with my cut off wheels. That cage must be incredibly rigid now too. For 38's and a 4 inch lift that thing looks huge!

 

[scottishdave]

That is awsome...Perfect for the good old Northwest weather too. If it were down here in the south that thing would be a sauna with those steel roof panels.

Awsome build though, that thing is gonna be a Tank. A really BA Tank.

 

[dirtygoat]

I appreciate the comments guys...


I got a bunch more welding done, tube ends, skins on the passenger side and so on...

Then added some plate above the sliders for protection... Anyone that's wheeled on tight trails with the sheet metal just welded to the top of the sliders can relate...

Then I started messing around with the grill and headlight bezels...

 

[Kartoon]

I still cant believe that all that pipe was bent with the harbor freight(I think) pipe bender. Makes me believe that I could make myself a roof rack pretty inexpensive.

 

[dirtygoat]

Everything on this build was bent with it, and yep it's a Harbor Freight bender...

It's also bent up two more narrowed fronts on other Blazers and it bent all the body line work last year on another buddies Blazer...

There's already one more in line after I'm done for a narrowed front...

In the 4/5 years since I bought it, it's more than paid for itself...

 

[Kartoon]

I bet its paid for itself. To get all that work done with a $200 tool is pretty nice. The truck is looking awesome. I think keeping some resemblence of a K5 with the skin is great. And the plate for the roof is badass too!

 

[dirtygoat]

Thanks...

The bender was only $69 when I bought it...