'87 k5 build thread

[87 Blue Beast]

im finally starting my build after alot of thinking. i got my tires and wheels, and i have the lift kit ordered. heres what i got/ordered so far.. 38.5x15x15 tsl boggers, 10x15 rock crawler wheels, rough country 6" suspension lift kit, 3" per. acc. body lift, and 1" zero rates (total of about 10" of lift.. for now ). after i get this lift and everything done, im doing a 1 ton axle swap, a sm465, backed with a 205 t-case. then when thats all done, im building a sbc 400 (406) to power the beast. as you can see, i have my work cut out for me.

today i mounted the tires on the wheels. im waiting for the lift kit to get here to start on everything. i have a couple q's to start off with. with 10" of lift and the front axle moved 1 or 1.5" forward, will i clear the 38.5s with out cutting the fenders? if anyone is running 10" of lift with 38.5s, can you post a pic for me? ill post pics every time i get parts or install something . if anyone has any advice along the way, dont hold back because this is my first time doing a lift

 

[87 Blue Beast]

heres a shot of the tires and another of one beside the stock 31s

 

[nad]

I would say 10" of lift would be more than enough to clear 38.5's without trimming. I could probably run 38.5's on my 4" lift just by clipping the rear sections of the front fenders.

There's guys running 40s and bigger on here with no lift.

 

[87 Blue Beast]

anybody know how much lift add-a-leafs usually add? my lift kit is comming with rear blocks and add-a-leafs...

 

[87 Blue Beast]

btw, with lift blocks and add-a-leafs in the rear, will the axle be sitting far enough foreward that its noticeable? like that i would need zero rates?

 

[ShiftyK5]

ditch the blocks and get the shackle flip from DIY or ORD, my rear on my k5 is saggin but i refuse to run blocks. just my $.02

btw.. I LOVE THOSE BOGGERS!

so tempted to buy them instead of the trxus mt's

 

[87 Blue Beast]

yeah, the blocks are only temp. im doin a shackle flip eventually..

 

[87 Blue Beast]

where is the best/cheapest place to buy body mounts? figure i might as well replace em when i do the body lift..

 

[obijuan]

ord has em when you pick up the flip kit

 

[87 Blue Beast]

for the people with boggers... what is the actual height of the tires? mine are 38.5x15 on 15x10 wheels and with almost 20 psi in them (not on the truck, just sitting on the floor) they bearly measure 37" are they all like that or do they varry according to size? its not that big of a deal.. its probably actually better for me becasue thats more clearance

 

[mudboggink5]

The swampers usualy run alittle smaller, I have a spare 40" swamper, and when its on the truck with the 41s, it seems like the 40 is a couple of inches smaller rather than 1 inch. This is just my opinion. Good luck with the build, cant wait to see it jacked up

 

[87 Blue Beast]

i may have found a donor for my 4 speed swap... my cousin has a 78 or 79 (i forget exactally) k5 4 speed, d44, good running 350, and some other good parts. i can get it for about 400 bucks. first question, that should have a np205 t-case, correct? is the truck worth the price for my swap? the only good body parts on it are the front fenders i think, but ill probably take what i need from it, sell what i can, and then scrap the rest. i deffinatly dont think ill loose any money on it seeing as my other cousin already wants to buy the axles from it

also.. how much of a pita is it to do a sm465 swap from a 700r?

 

[87 Blue Beast]

ok, finally got to start on this today. i didnt get much done, but i got the rear axle down and the centering pins out of the leaf springs to get ready for the add-a-leafs and the zero rates. ill make sure to get pics tomarrow

 

[6.2Blazer]

It doesn't sound like you have any plans to flex out the suspension much, if any, so 10" should be more than enough lift. If not, just lower the bumpstops accordingly.

 

[87 Blue Beast]

no, not much flexing. i just want to be able to turn fully with no rubbing. another question.. what is the easiest way to do the body lift?

 

[87 Blue Beast]

finally got to take some pics today.. i have the rear lift done and i started teh front today. i got the front axle unbolted and the old springs off. so i have two problems.. one, how do you guys get the steering arm off? i beat on it and pried on it for almost and hour and it hasnt moved a bit . second problem, the shocks they sent me with the kit are two short. when the truck is just sitting there on level ground, the shocks are completly extended to teh point that they are compressing the rear suspension a tad . so i have to call the people i ordered it from to see thats up with that. when i compared them to the stock shocks, they were only about 2" longer.. so here it is so far. hopefully i can have the suspension lift done this weekend so i can start on the body.

so heres the questions i need answers to badly..
1. anyone know the easiest way to do a body lift?
2. how do you get that damn steering arm off?!?

 

[87 Blue Beast]

87 k5 build *pics* and q's

pics..

 

[87 Blue Beast]

got a shot of it sitting on the new tires. susp lift is pretty much done, now i just need to get the body lift done

 

[TC4x4]

Its looking good man!

 

[mudboggink5]

The truck looks sick the steering arm removel is a pain in the ass, you just have to beat on it with a hammer, and lots of lube, also try a chizel in beetween the washer cones, thats how i got mine out