SuperCAN
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85 K5 --- CHOPPED! Edition
- Thread starter SuperCAN
- Start date
1985 K5 blazer -- converting to full convertible
Following, not enough full tops in this world. 
Any plans for bracing / strengthening the body tub after the top chop?
Any plans for bracing / strengthening the body tub after the top chop?
Cntymnty77
1/2 ton status
About to do the same with mine!
SuperCAN
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Following, not enough full tops in this world.
Any plans for bracing / strengthening the body tub after the top chop?
I've got a set of sliders ordered from DIY4x. Currently, that's all that I'm planning to do.
Honestly, I haven't been able to find a lot of information about how much support is really needed. This is just a beach cruiser, no wheeling, so I suspect that will be enough -- but I'm honestly not sure.
Reading the original Colorado k5 post, i don't think he added anything at first. In his post he indicates that moving forward he wants to add some support.....That makes me wonder if I need to do anything at all.
Yeah, I've never really seen anyone do any body tub mods to strengthen it other than adding a cage and tying it to the body in places. I'll be doing the same to mine with a cage plus some Diy4x sliders, hopefully that'll be enough to wheel it without issues.
Cntymnty77
1/2 ton status
I was thinking about trying to do a tub support like the 73-75’s had but it would have to be modified. Just trying to figure out what gage sheet to use.
SuperCAN
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@Cntymnty77 @nvrenuf what are you guys doing about seatbelts? I was doing some final planning today and realized the seatbelt bolts to the b pillar.....
Yeah my 91 had rear shoulder belts that bolted to the top which is long gone so I'm switching to 00-07 Silverado front seats and a Tahoe 3rd row rear seat, all with built in seatbelts. This is becoming a fairly common swap so there are a few builds with them and @K30Blazer did a write up on the Tahoe rear seat swap.
I originally intended to use 4pt racing harnesses but, while they are cool, they're so restrictive they simply weren't necessary. While I'd love to think of mine as a hardcore wheeler/crawler, realistically it'll be a average family wheeler that may occasionally see difficult obstacles. Besides, the harnesses would require some additional tubing in the cage design (for seat mounting as well as the belts) so these seats were easier all around.
Cntymnty77
1/2 ton status
Who uses seatbelts?! Haha! I was just going to use the 73-75 style that bolt to the floor.
SuperCAN
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Nice.
I'll do some googleing....Given the trouble I've had finding the windshield frame...I'm hoping someone like LMC has the 73 style in stock...
How are you sourcing yours?
I think 2007 is back to pillar location.
Cntymnty77
1/2 ton status
I can save you the trouble.. no one makes the header frame.. I got all my stuff on here.
07 classic was still in the seats.
SuperCAN
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A bit of progress on the chopped edition k5.....
Finished prepping for cutting and windshield removal this week.
Friday morning a local shop is coming by to remove the front windshield - Currently planning to mark, cut and weld the new frame in this Friday and Saturday. I'm pointing below at a seam in the new windshield frame - I was hoping to key off of this mark for my measurements on where to cut; however, my frame does not seem to have this seam.
Any advice on how to best measure for how far down the A pillar to make the cuts?
In other news, I've been finishing the rear seat conversion as per Merricks Garage. I found a set of 2 tone escalade seats in great shape that were close by. Some pictures below of the rear seat bracket make up. One important note is that when making the guides for the mounting rod, the hole does not go in the middle; it is offset ~1.5" toward the top. You can find the plans and some pictures at his site: http://merricksgarage.com/rear-bench-seat-bracket-plans/
Cheers!
Finished prepping for cutting and windshield removal this week.
Friday morning a local shop is coming by to remove the front windshield - Currently planning to mark, cut and weld the new frame in this Friday and Saturday. I'm pointing below at a seam in the new windshield frame - I was hoping to key off of this mark for my measurements on where to cut; however, my frame does not seem to have this seam.
Any advice on how to best measure for how far down the A pillar to make the cuts?
In other news, I've been finishing the rear seat conversion as per Merricks Garage. I found a set of 2 tone escalade seats in great shape that were close by. Some pictures below of the rear seat bracket make up. One important note is that when making the guides for the mounting rod, the hole does not go in the middle; it is offset ~1.5" toward the top. You can find the plans and some pictures at his site: http://merricksgarage.com/rear-bench-seat-bracket-plans/
Cheers!
Morris75
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Hi guys, just joined and watching closely. I've been itching to do the full top conversion for years and trying to read enough to get my courage up. Is there one master thread on here with all the information on this mod consolidated in one place?
Here are a couple of posts that answer a lot but a lot of the pics are dead.
https://ck5.com/forums/threads/full-top-conversion-questions.331042/#post-3794669
https://ck5.com/forums/threads/full-top-conversion-tech.320096/
