Bought a 85 K5 off of Smokinthehippies from CA that has been sitting for a number of years. Original fs post with pics here http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=312593 It's a pretty much loaded K5 Sierra. Power everything, cruise, CA specked emissions, roof rack, quad shocks etc. The story is about 8 years ago it was a DD then it just died. Was traded to Steve and he had to offload it fast. Steve was excellent to deal with and really helped make sure this thing didn't end up crushed.
Dealing with moving brokers was a PITA but eventually got here.
I have been holding off on a build thread since I'm having issues uploading pics. The body is very good shape, pretty straight. Very little rust, mostly surface rust. Paint faded. Interior pretty good but faded. Dash pad is in bad shape. 91k miles on odo, believable with shape of interior. All CA stuff seems there(good god there is more **** under the hood than a new truck
) motor is orange though 
that will take some investigating to figure out what that means or what it is.
Plan is a nice driver in good weather(don't want it seeing IL salt) and everything mechanicly aimed at that. If it gets a lift it will be small. Fix mechanical, keep it realitivly stock, paint and body. Liking the black and red 2 tone but not sure yet.
Ok, so what I've done so far.
Pulled plugs(looked good) and hosed in some pb blaster and let it soak. Drained gallon of coolant and added gallon fresh(looked green, tested a little low on %, was normal level) Changed battery. Rolled over motor by hand. Rolled over free from start, didn't need broke free. Dumped oil and filter. Refilled with quart ATF and oil. Spun motor over with starter. Shot pb blaster all over fenders and manifolds. Built oil pressure on gauge(think it's stuck at 60 when motor running) Did a bit of trouble shooting. Installed plugs. Put 5 gal of gas in tank. Cranked a bit and it fired up!
Setteled into a 2k idle and wouldn't come out, got up to water temp and all that pb blaster really started smoking 
0 degrees outside so just had garage door cracked, shut down because me and the dogs eyes were starting to water. Topped off coolant. Added more ATF, hosed carb, worked linkage, restarted, more carb cleaner. Idle settled down to normal. Fairly smooth idle. Cycled through gears, tried to engage, sometimes engages, check fluid, add fluid, rinse and repeat while it kept drinking ATF. Ran outa ATF after 1.5 quart and still low and foamy oil. That's where it sits now.
Dealing with moving brokers was a PITA but eventually got here. I have been holding off on a build thread since I'm having issues uploading pics. The body is very good shape, pretty straight. Very little rust, mostly surface rust. Paint faded. Interior pretty good but faded. Dash pad is in bad shape. 91k miles on odo, believable with shape of interior. All CA stuff seems there(good god there is more **** under the hood than a new truck
) motor is orange though that will take some investigating to figure out what that means or what it is. Plan is a nice driver in good weather(don't want it seeing IL salt) and everything mechanicly aimed at that. If it gets a lift it will be small. Fix mechanical, keep it realitivly stock, paint and body. Liking the black and red 2 tone but not sure yet.
Ok, so what I've done so far.
Pulled plugs(looked good) and hosed in some pb blaster and let it soak. Drained gallon of coolant and added gallon fresh(looked green, tested a little low on %, was normal level) Changed battery. Rolled over motor by hand. Rolled over free from start, didn't need broke free. Dumped oil and filter. Refilled with quart ATF and oil. Spun motor over with starter. Shot pb blaster all over fenders and manifolds. Built oil pressure on gauge(think it's stuck at 60 when motor running) Did a bit of trouble shooting. Installed plugs. Put 5 gal of gas in tank. Cranked a bit and it fired up!
Setteled into a 2k idle and wouldn't come out, got up to water temp and all that pb blaster really started smoking 0 degrees outside so just had garage door cracked, shut down because me and the dogs eyes were starting to water. Topped off coolant. Added more ATF, hosed carb, worked linkage, restarted, more carb cleaner. Idle settled down to normal. Fairly smooth idle. Cycled through gears, tried to engage, sometimes engages, check fluid, add fluid, rinse and repeat while it kept drinking ATF. Ran outa ATF after 1.5 quart and still low and foamy oil. That's where it sits now.
