'81 K5, "BlaZeus"- How to NOT build the ultimate budget K5; 3 & 4 link build

[sreidmx]

Dude Good on you for posting the good and bad.. its too bad your all the way up in San luis obispo.. I think wed get along.. Im ADD and have similar issues with people..(no filter) Anyway cool truck, you got a group a friends to wheel it with, keep it going. I cant wait to see what you build. This time try to limit the not so great fab to a minimum and take your time.. slower is faster, at least for me it is.

 

[Bigblue7-2]

Looking pretty cool. I can see the Einstein quote rubbing some the wrong way but you will prove those peeps wrong and the those who hang around will always be around like the friends it looks like you have chillin with you wheeling.

Good luck with it!! We all will be watching

 

[BlaZeus]

Dude Good on you for posting the good and bad.. its too bad your all the way up in San luis obispo.. I think wed get along.. Im ADD and have similar issues with people..(no filter) Anyway cool truck, you got a group a friends to wheel it with, keep it going. I cant wait to see what you build. This time try to limit the not so great fab to a minimum and take your time.. slower is faster, at least for me it is.

Thanks for the encouragement bro!
haha i have no doubt that we'd be buds, especially since i see you're doing an i beam swap on the front! I can't wait to see how it turns out! how far along are ya? Where is morongo valley?
Yeah, i have definitely built up my patience with fabbing, since finishing that project. I mean, my truck has been torn apart for almost 2 months now....which is longest it has been since i got it. (i know for some people 2 months is a joke. #Ryoken )

 

[ryoken]

(i know for some people 2 months is a joke. #Ryoken )

not sure what to think of that.. I DD the pee out of a square body, most in here don't...

 

[BlaZeus]

Looking pretty cool. I can see the Einstein quote rubbing some the wrong way but you will prove those peeps wrong and the those who hang around will always be around like the friends it looks like you have chillin with you wheeling.

Good luck with it!! We all will be watching

Thanks for the encouraging word! Really appreciate it! Yeah, I can see how it could too which is why i am not offended with people's reactions. It's just the truth and how I was made. haha can't change it!

 

[BlaZeus]

not sure what to think of that.. I DD the pee out of a square body, most in here don't...

Hahaha, i know, it was a joke, in reference and reverence to how long your k5 build has taken you and the amount of time you take on each project. I wish i had that kind of patience. i think your already know that i worship your work and the k5 you produced. I was just giving respect to all those out there who have builds that go on for way longer than 2 months, because for me, 2 months has been an eternity. lol

 

[ryoken]

patience is an Einstein-like virtue.... I'm guessing/assuming.. try it out sometime!


and thanks, preciate the props...

 

[BlaZeus]

patience is an Einstein-like virtue.... I'm guessing/assuming.. try it out sometime!


and thanks, preciate the props...

It may be, I obviously am lacking that part of the disorder, but I am learning how!

 

[sreidmx]

Thanks for the encouragement bro!
haha i have no doubt that we'd be buds, especially since i see you're doing an i beam swap on the front! I can't wait to see how it turns out! how far along are ya? Where is morongo valley?
Yeah, i have definitely built up my patience with fabbing, since finishing that project. I mean, my truck has been torn apart for almost 2 months now....which is longest it has been since i got it. (i know for some people 2 months is a joke. #Ryoken )

Thanks! Im medicated now which is the only reason I have the patience to do this.. Im going on a year soon but I am seeing the light!! just waiting on welding parts up front and my leaf spring order, then it will be on its wheels.. its all uphill from there.
I already went through 4 trucks by the time I got this from my dad, if you told me 10 years ago I would be doing this I would have thought you were crazy.. I made the same mistakes you have made so dont feel bad when learning.. sometimes learnin by doing is way better.. reading will only get you so far.
Good luck dude, keep the pics and updates going.
-Steve

 

[Bigblue7-2]

Thanks for the encouraging word! Really appreciate it! Yeah, I can see how it could too which is why i am not offended with people's reactions. It's just the truth and how I was made. haha can't change it!

We are all a little off! That's why we are here doing whatever it is we do. As long as u are happy

patience is an Einstein-like virtue.... I'm guessing/assuming.. try it out sometime!


and thanks, preciate the props...

Ryoken is focused on his builds! Definitely someone who will give you pointers along the way

 

[BlaZeus]

Cut and bent an aluminum dash out of some aluminum sheet metal that I had. Just didn't have the funds in the budget at the time for a sweet, custom dash from Kert. Especially when I knew I had access to the machine shop where I could cut and bend sheet and extra aluminum.

 

[ryoken]

Ryoken is focused on his builds! Definitely someone who will give you pointers along the way

or, I could be talkin out my arse, that is YET to be determined!



so what's next on the build?

 

[BlaZeus]

or, I could be talkin out my arse, that is YET to be determined!



so what's next on the build?

hahahaha
I'm getting there! Patience please!

 

[BlaZeus]

And now, for the latest installment of #ProjectBlaZeus
On my way to college group one night, I decided to show off some of BlaZeus' wheeling skills to a couple buddies (and some ladies that conveniently happened to be driving behind us). So I pull off the road into a field and mid-way into it, WHAM! straight down into a 6ft. ditch that was invisible cuz of the high grass. Truck barely started back up. Was able to barely back myself out of it(in 2wd, still no front driveshaft) and hobble it to the parking lot of church. It was dark, so the damage looked minimal. bent fender, bent grille. cosmetic stuff. no biggie! So got back to my house and started taking the front fenders off and looking at replacement fiberglass fenders to order.....but those never got ordered....



Stock 30 gal. gas tank for sale or trade!

 

[BlaZeus]

So, Brought it into the garage, where it would stay for the next 3 months....













Tore it apart and found the damage. The frame was bent pretty bad and the dreaded steering box frame crack had made an appearance, and a big one at that. Welded up the crack, boxed and plated the frame for reinforcement and put in a crossmember.











Found some 2.5" Bilstien 9100 14" coilovers on an online off road classifieds for cheap. Figured while I have it all torn apart, " right as well" install the 3 link set up that I have been holding onto for 6 months.



Just some inspiration.



Starting the engine cage with one of the main hoops.



The problem with these trucks is that the brake booster and master cylinder are so big and in the way that there is almost no way to tie the cage into the cab cage without doing some major modification. well, lets just say some "major modification" never stopped me before.



Some of the wiring routing in the windshield wiper compartment.



welding crack and boxing the frame





Another "might as well", removed the steering column and all associated wiring.

 

[BlaZeus]

Tore all the wiring out, wasn't much of the stock wiring but what was left, was a rats nest, and it drove me crazy. Thought it would be cool to run wire through the windshield wiper compartment for less wire clutter under the hood.



removed brake booster mounting plate and removed stock fuse box.



Main frame hoops done and middle supports tacked



Shock mounting hoops tacked up.



lining up coiler mounting location



control arm axle brackets and frame brackets welded on. control arms fitted.





X-crossbars welded to provide support and strength.





the insanely stiff springs that came with the coilovers. working good for the moment but need to get dual rates.....just soon damn expensive at $100 per spring.



Just picked up a new DD. 08 DC Tundra with 5.7. did a little work on the engine,exhaust and some other stuff, making around 415HP. =). so tempting to not touch it and keep it as a DD, especially since it is already such a fun truck with stock suspension.



Some more inspiration.



installed the dash. stoked on how it turned out. nothing fancy. simple. does the job. better than nothing, thats for sure!!



bought an ignition/acc switch panel as the stock steering column/ignition switch was long gone.



made a removable gauge panel out of some aluminum. ended up making another one and scrapping this one as it was jank. WILL GET UPDATED PICS SOON!





painted and clear coated engine cage.



bought and installed an aluminum racing radiator



Core support back on with radiator.



X-over/3 link set up

 

[BlaZeus]

Sooooooo close!



coilovers mounted





view from over engine bay and remote reservoir mounting/



more inspiration.



got a top off a same-era k5 from the junk yard. originally, i never wanted a top and hated the idea of having one, but now that its on, i really like it. it gives it a whole other look, like "more complete", "beefier".



Custom steering column set-up.



bought a wildwood floor mounted brake system after having to hanky install the brake booster and master and barely got them to fit but not very well. After having the brakes fail on me in the garage (Thank God) decided i need a new set up. So ordered and installed a Wildwood floor mounted brake set up with AFCO master cylinders.



had to take them apart and rebuild them, which was cool as thats what i love doing.

 

[sreidmx]

damn dude... you might wanna back up a few notches and reweld that cage.. you also might consider slowing down a notch so you dont have to redo your work.. your guage cluster is an example.. use a ruler make a straight line.. I will also caution against the use of the single main spring on that coilover, you might get coil bind before it bottoms out.. not sure if thats the plan..

You have a lot of great parts, you got the right idea, your execution of the ideas needs some help. Dont be afraid to ask some welding buddies for help. Thats what im doing.. I can weld, probally decent enough to get the job done.. but to me thats not good enough when friends and family are in the truck.. I get the impression you are building for high speed stuff based on some pictures, trust me you cannot get away with pirate style "fugg it" fabrication, it doesnt hold up.. ask me how I know..

Not trying to be a debbie downer just trying to provide some constructive criticism..

 

[BlaZeus]

damn dude... you might wanna back up a few notches and reweld that cage.. you also might consider slowing down a notch so you dont have to redo your work.. your guage cluster is an example.. use a ruler make a straight line.. I will also caution against the use of the single main spring on that coilover, you might get coil bind before it bottoms out.. not sure if thats the plan..

Not sure what parts of the cage you're referring to but they may have been some of the welds that were earlier on in the build? the engine cage welds are cherry. i made sure they were solid as me and my roommates are engineers and calculated some of the stress/strength requirements for off road trucks. go back and look through again.

You have a lot of great parts, you got the right idea, your execution of the ideas needs some help. Dont be afraid to ask some welding buddies for help. Thats what im doing.. I can weld, probally decent enough to get the job done.. but to me thats not good enough when friends and family are in the truck.. I get the impression you are building for high speed stuff based on some pictures, trust me you cannot get away with pirate style "fugg it" fabrication, it doesnt hold up.. ask me how I know..

thanks i appreciate it. I don't have many friends that do there own fabrication and would be any better than me. The whole point of doing this is to learn and get better and better as I go.

Not trying to be a debbie downer just trying to provide some constructive criticism..

Yeah for sure and i appreciate it. although you should probably go back and look through the stuff i posted again, with the comments and explanations attached. thats my fault for not doing that initially and it may have prevented some of what you said but oh well!

 

[sreidmx]

The cage comment was more directed at the interior portion. The rest is from the pics ok, just because it's calculated doesn't mean anything if the weld failed.