Evol393
Registered Member
Awesome build!!!
CK5
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88 K5 Build Thread - 4BTA Cummins Swap - 05/18 Dory is delivered to Alaska!!
- Thread starter kdoske
- Start date
K5 Jess
1/2 ton status
subscribed! 
y5mgisi
1 ton status
Cant wait to hear about a drive report!
X2 .........
Anxiously awaiting "first drive " updates
....................better yet , awaiting first drive video !!!!
kdoske
1/2 ton status
OK so I got to take Dory out on her maiden voyage today! Starting the engine felt great but taking her out of park felt BETTER! Oh no, your eyes do not deceive you, shes got no grill or hood!
Here is the video of the actual first time I took her out of park. I only back up 5 feet but hey, I thought it was worth a video.
Here is a video I had the wife take of me backing up and taking off on the road. Please don't judge me for my grandma backup. For some reason when I was backing up I felt like I each corner contained explosives, lol.
Here is a video from inside the cabin with all windows down driving around town. When I take my foot of the pedal it starts to vibrate my iphone on its camera mount in a weird way which causes it to do this weird wavy effect and make this loud buzzing sound. That sound isn't the engine is the camera mount. Sorry the windows so dirty, I didn't think to clean it first.
So everything went great on the drive. Transmission got to about 150 degrees at its hottest. The only thing that I wasn't impressed with was the brakes. I had to push them pretty hard. When it would finally kick in it would stop the truck very quickly but they still didn't work like I would like them to. Maybe its the hydroboost brake system. I have never driven a truck with one before. Regardless, I think I am going to get the breaks redone.
Anyone know where these go, lol
Thanks for all the positive comments guys. Its really helped keep me working on this so much for the move and make the deadline.
Here is the video of the actual first time I took her out of park. I only back up 5 feet but hey, I thought it was worth a video.
Here is a video I had the wife take of me backing up and taking off on the road. Please don't judge me for my grandma backup. For some reason when I was backing up I felt like I each corner contained explosives, lol.
Here is a video from inside the cabin with all windows down driving around town. When I take my foot of the pedal it starts to vibrate my iphone on its camera mount in a weird way which causes it to do this weird wavy effect and make this loud buzzing sound. That sound isn't the engine is the camera mount. Sorry the windows so dirty, I didn't think to clean it first.
So everything went great on the drive. Transmission got to about 150 degrees at its hottest. The only thing that I wasn't impressed with was the brakes. I had to push them pretty hard. When it would finally kick in it would stop the truck very quickly but they still didn't work like I would like them to. Maybe its the hydroboost brake system. I have never driven a truck with one before. Regardless, I think I am going to get the breaks redone.
Anyone know where these go, lol
Thanks for all the positive comments guys. Its really helped keep me working on this so much for the move and make the deadline.
Last edited by a moderator:
I'm not going to go back and reread the whole thread, but did you swap the pedal also? Hydro boost takes a different pedal.
I'm also thinking the master cylinder may be too big. Do you have a master cylinder from factory diesel blazer? It may be sized right for hydro boost and 1/2 ton brakes.
I'm also thinking the master cylinder may be too big. Do you have a master cylinder from factory diesel blazer? It may be sized right for hydro boost and 1/2 ton brakes.
My hydroboost brakes will make you eat the steering wheel very easily...vastly superior boost over vac brakes.
Rene
Rene
y5mgisi
1 ton status
MAn that had to feel great! Looks like it runs really well! Yours is the type of success story that motivates guys like me to want to do something like this. Cant wait to see what you get for all aroung mpg! How does the power feel? Im really curious to see how it feels on the highway and if you feel like you could still pull a small trailer with it.
You should be very proud, that is a terrific accomplishment!
in that second video it looked like you were setting yourself up for a hole shot, I was dissapointed... 
kdoske
1/2 ton status
I didn't know that. When I did the swap I didn't even think to check. After reading this I went to my local U-pull it center to see If I could find one. To my surprise there was 1 1983 diesel truck that had hydroboost brakes
While I was there I did a walk around for any 80's surburbans, blazer, or trucks. While searching I came across something pretty cool. I have seen it on the forum before but have never seen one in person. Below is one of the pull out work lamps for the engine bay. These things are really cool to me I was so glad i found one. Anyone know the bulb number its suppose to take?
Another truck I found had a very interesting setup in it. I was running out of time so I never did trace where the HOUSE wire went but this **** was too funy not to take a picture of. I swear to you this was mounted in the dash like this when I got there.
After I got home I pulled the old brake pedal and compared it to the new one (rusted one on the right). Sure enough JDNobodi was right. The hydroboost brake pedal was different
The hydroboost brake had a spring clamp that I didn't think to take. So in order for me to use the return spring on my blazer I had to drill a small hole for the spring on the new brake pedal.
Here is the new one compared to the old one. Seems pretty close to stock location.
After that was done I painted it with a rust converter called Ospho. You can see here it turned the rust into this hard black stuff.
After the Ospho dried I painted it with some Por15.
I didn't take any pics of it installed but I started it right up and back up and pulled forward and the brakes work awesome. I can tell the brakes need to be serviced but they work great! Thanks JDNobodi, I owe you one!
Awesome
I can't wait for the day that the 12 valver is blowing smoke in mine
Thanks guys it was great! Yes JT, you will definitely love the first drive!
You know I haven't really stomped on it yet to really say but from what I can tell the acceleration seemed pretty good. I can definitely say with the 355ft pounds of torque and my 4L80E transmission I wouldn't have any problems towing with it.
in that second video it looked like you were setting yourself up for a hole shot, I was dissapointed...
LOL I know right I was straitening it up with the intention of giving it some real gas but when I got there the idea of something going wrong was just to SCARY! I'll probably give it some romping after a few 100 miles on it so I know there are no problems.
kdoske
1/2 ton status
On Saturday I swapped out my gage cluster I picked up at the U-pull it lot and my speedo AND fuel gage work again! Yesterday I went to put in that horn wire and when I tried it wasn't catching to anything when I pushed and turned. So I grabed my bolt puller and removed the steering wheel to see what was going on.
When It came off it was pretty obvious what was wrong. (Dory strikes again with delays)
Here is a more upclose shot fo the problem. There is suppose to be a tube that sticks out that the horn wire locks into. If you look close you can see it have been broken off.
Heres the horn wire so you get a better idea of what is supposed to push into that white tube. The black piece on the wire below compresses the spring under it and pushes the brass terminal on the wire against the brass terminal above.
So I am going to stop at autozone and pick a new one up. Apparently its called a 'turn signal cam' and I will install it this friday.
When It came off it was pretty obvious what was wrong. (Dory strikes again with delays)
Here is a more upclose shot fo the problem. There is suppose to be a tube that sticks out that the horn wire locks into. If you look close you can see it have been broken off.
Heres the horn wire so you get a better idea of what is supposed to push into that white tube. The black piece on the wire below compresses the spring under it and pushes the brass terminal on the wire against the brass terminal above.
So I am going to stop at autozone and pick a new one up. Apparently its called a 'turn signal cam' and I will install it this friday.
kdoske
1/2 ton status
Got the signal cam installed today so I can use the horn.
After its compressed I was able to remove the retaining ring.
New signal cam installed, horn worked great.
I took her for a drive today after i was done. Everything went great. Shes loud but drives great. When I get to AK im gonna start on fixing her up cosmetically. For now all I have left to do is install my turn signal indicators on the front with the grill and then clean her up and she gets shipped out on April 1st, talk about cutting it close. So there you have it, it looks like I made my deadline--with days to spare!
After its compressed I was able to remove the retaining ring.
New signal cam installed, horn worked great.
I took her for a drive today after i was done. Everything went great. Shes loud but drives great. When I get to AK im gonna start on fixing her up cosmetically. For now all I have left to do is install my turn signal indicators on the front with the grill and then clean her up and she gets shipped out on April 1st, talk about cutting it close. So there you have it, it looks like I made my deadline--with days to spare!
scotto0609
1/2 ton status
Nicely done!! kudos
Good for you!!
And good luck on the move!
And good luck on the move!
Very well done! Question, how loud is the engine in the cab at idle and going down the road?
kdoske
1/2 ton status
Loud and loud
Honest, this is a pretty loud engine. Louder then the 6bt. There needs to be some sound deadening done to make it a daily driver. When I drive it around like it is it sounds like a delivery truck or something.
