I'll try to keep this detailed but short. There will be several updates since I'm punching it out on my phone with a cracked screen.
Here it is shortly after I traded a Honda Civic in need if a rebuild straight across to a local pawn shop. I had no intention of buying this old crusty truck, but when I hopped in and saw how nice the upholster was I was impressed. It was when she fired up and I heard a strong 350 with dual Flowmasters that I fell in love. 11 years of driving a sewing machine (Civic) does that to a guy.
This the earliest photo I have, sitting next to it's younger cousin, the 04 Trailblazer.
1983 K5 Blazer
Strong 350 with TH350, NP208, two 6 lug -10 bolt axles, rear Gov Lok, 37x12.50x15 Good Year tires, 4 lift springs in front, 4" cast + angle blocks in the rear, 3" body lift.
This is what I found when I removed all of the stick on chrome. A rusty water trap.
Of one of first trips out I found out the hard way that it had broken rear leaf springs when the two bottom leafs and the lift block fell out on the passenger side while going up a small hill. We stuck the bock back in and used some old wire we found to hold it in, and limped home. Replaced the whole spring pack with a used set.
Had a few successful runs, then went to an event at the new off-road park. Picked up 3 college cheerleaders that worked as models for the events sponsors. We headed out into the woods and the first unfamiliar trail I went up, just a simple valley bottom, no big deal, until I had to get under a leaning tree by getting way off angle. That's when I found out why you should never use an Edelbrock carburetor, it started pouring gas over the side and backfired. Uh oh, no fire extinguisher. So in a bit of a panic we poured Dr Pepper and Gatorade on it, no help. So I grabbed my buddies denim jacket, threw it over the carb and started wetting it with our last drinks as the pretty girls in yoga shorts ran back down the trail. Got pulled back to flat ground and tore the rag joint on the steering. Luckily I had tools, it put the steering back together and got her running again.
This is where the upgrades begin.
My first step was finding a Q-jet, got one in need of a rebuild free, paid a mechanic in need $100 to soak it, rebuild it, and install it. While I was waiting on him to rebuild it I found an XJ steering shaft and put it on. When I brought her home the steering box was screaming for help so I pulled it of, and installed new O-rings ($14 seal kit"), worked great, glad I didn't start buying hydro assist stuff too quickly.
Then when the first good snow hit I got excited and took it for a slow drive to return a movie, all off the sudden there was a loud BANG and my rear end was skidding on the ice. It was the rear diff, so I left it overnight and got a ride home. The next morning I went and pulled the rear drive shaft and started limping home on the front axle. 3/4 of the way home the right rear axle slid all the way out of the housing and dropped on the ground (still on ice). Luckily I hadn't crashed, and was able to get a roll back to haul her home.
Not more than 3 days before all of this my wife had said I could buy new gear as my Christmas present, now I needed a whole rear end. I decided I wanted 4.56 gears and the hunt was on.
Stand by for more updates...
Here it is shortly after I traded a Honda Civic in need if a rebuild straight across to a local pawn shop. I had no intention of buying this old crusty truck, but when I hopped in and saw how nice the upholster was I was impressed. It was when she fired up and I heard a strong 350 with dual Flowmasters that I fell in love. 11 years of driving a sewing machine (Civic) does that to a guy.
This the earliest photo I have, sitting next to it's younger cousin, the 04 Trailblazer.
1983 K5 Blazer
Strong 350 with TH350, NP208, two 6 lug -10 bolt axles, rear Gov Lok, 37x12.50x15 Good Year tires, 4 lift springs in front, 4" cast + angle blocks in the rear, 3" body lift.
This is what I found when I removed all of the stick on chrome. A rusty water trap.
Of one of first trips out I found out the hard way that it had broken rear leaf springs when the two bottom leafs and the lift block fell out on the passenger side while going up a small hill. We stuck the bock back in and used some old wire we found to hold it in, and limped home. Replaced the whole spring pack with a used set.
Had a few successful runs, then went to an event at the new off-road park. Picked up 3 college cheerleaders that worked as models for the events sponsors. We headed out into the woods and the first unfamiliar trail I went up, just a simple valley bottom, no big deal, until I had to get under a leaning tree by getting way off angle. That's when I found out why you should never use an Edelbrock carburetor, it started pouring gas over the side and backfired. Uh oh, no fire extinguisher. So in a bit of a panic we poured Dr Pepper and Gatorade on it, no help. So I grabbed my buddies denim jacket, threw it over the carb and started wetting it with our last drinks as the pretty girls in yoga shorts ran back down the trail. Got pulled back to flat ground and tore the rag joint on the steering. Luckily I had tools, it put the steering back together and got her running again.
This is where the upgrades begin.
My first step was finding a Q-jet, got one in need of a rebuild free, paid a mechanic in need $100 to soak it, rebuild it, and install it. While I was waiting on him to rebuild it I found an XJ steering shaft and put it on. When I brought her home the steering box was screaming for help so I pulled it of, and installed new O-rings ($14 seal kit"), worked great, glad I didn't start buying hydro assist stuff too quickly.
Then when the first good snow hit I got excited and took it for a slow drive to return a movie, all off the sudden there was a loud BANG and my rear end was skidding on the ice. It was the rear diff, so I left it overnight and got a ride home. The next morning I went and pulled the rear drive shaft and started limping home on the front axle. 3/4 of the way home the right rear axle slid all the way out of the housing and dropped on the ground (still on ice). Luckily I hadn't crashed, and was able to get a roll back to haul her home.
Not more than 3 days before all of this my wife had said I could buy new gear as my Christmas present, now I needed a whole rear end. I decided I wanted 4.56 gears and the hunt was on.
Stand by for more updates...
Last edited:
