'90 K5 "Project Sanity" Sold 7/5/2018

[tRustyK5]

It looks like it would have been easier to drop the tank then cut that freakn' hole.
Holy s**t, that is fuuny.

To be honest it really is faster/easier to cut an access hole for the fuel pump repair. Dropping the tank is a pain, and if you are unlucky enough to have more than half a tank when it does die the job gets that much harder.

A lot of people here have access holes cut for their TBI trucks...this hole is probably just the ugliest.

Still better than finding a really rusted tailpan. Rear floor on this one actually looks quite solid.

Rene

 

[tRustyK5]

this thread is becoming a new standard.....nice Rene...

I'm heading the opposite way that most of us are going. Stock, cheap and ready to go at a moments notice. Ultra hard core is cool, so are epic builds...but if you never get out and wheel the fun of those things gets lost quickly.

Rene

 

[76zimmer]

I'm heading the opposite way that most of us are going. Stock, cheap and ready to go at a moments notice. Ultra hard core is cool, so are epic builds...but if you never get out and wheel the fun of those things gets lost quickly.

Rene

Amen to that.....I hope to have MobyDick moveable by May, then wheel it.

 

[79rustyk10]

Ive been thinkin of buying another cheap K truck and doing the same thing. but my luck it would turn into another immobile truck sitting around.

 

[tRustyK5]

No, not quite.



That's where it's at. Thanks to the help of a few friends, I've been able to run my truck just like that.

I always get a chuckle out of reading "... I'm running (insert your favorite piece of 'hardcore' hardware here)..." when I know from the board that said truck hasn't run anything in 5 or so years, not even a driveway... And those posts of "... I've built my truck, but now I don't trust it on the road, something might break..." are almost as good .

Being on a trail - any trail, in any truck - beats being at work, or wrenching. Any time, and by a long shot.

But then again, you know, one can't be NOT hardcore. Especially the young-ins.

Sorry for the hijack.

Yes, I was generalizing. Your comments...guilty as charged.

Redid the tailgate and rear glass today. The latch mechanism failed where they always do. The rod to the mechanism has a ~3" flat spot. When the latches themselves get sticky and more force is needed the rod bends where the flat spot meets the round part of the rod. It eventually breaks. I welded the rod back together, lubed the latches up and viola...it works as it should without a great amount of effort.

Next up was getting functional glass again. Not surprisingly the track the glass is attached to was badly rusted and the glass was no longer attached. Regulator looked good but was missing one nylon roller. I got a second 'parts' tailgate with the truck, so I stripped that one netting me the lower glass track in much better shape (but also no longer attached to the glass...)

The second regulator also was missing one nylon roller, so I carefully drilled out the rivet of it's remaining roller and attached it to my regulator by spot welding the rivet in place. Slight melting of the roller, but it works and rolls like it should.

Next up I found the guide tracks for the glass were almost non existant in my tailgate. Parts tailgate had a pair that were decent, with near to 90% of the felt still in place. I installed those. I then thoroughly lubed the regulator and using my cordless drill ran it up and down a half dozen times.

I then found a tube of PL400 construction adhesive and filled the lower glass track with it, and pushed the glass into the track. I re-assembled the whole works and used the electric motor to crank it up to the top. When it got about 6" from the top it stopped dead...I quickly figured out my kneeling on the tailgate had bent the motor down a little and the track for the glass was hanging up on the edge of the motor. Easy fix...I pulled up on the motor and it works like a champ now.

Gonna tackle bumpers tomorrow. Found the end plate for the 8274 is cracked. I'll have to see what Warn wants for a new one. In the meantime I'll prolly run it with stock chrome bumpers front and rear.

Rene

 

[tRustyK5]

Ive been thinkin of buying another cheap K truck and doing the same thing. but my luck it would turn into another immobile truck sitting around.

It's terrible how much discipline it's taking for me not to go crazy on this thing...

Rene

 

[yellowK20]

looks like a Diamond in the rough!! Good to see your building again Rene

 

[tRustyK5]

looks like a Diamond in the rough!! Good to see your building again Rene

Not building this one is the point.

I'm just repairing stuff so it's reliable and usable. The Crew Cab is still there as my building obsession...

I'm just terribly tired of not wheeling. The whole point of this is to get back out there and enjoy the trails again, and keep it in turn-key shape so I can head out at the drop of a hat.

So far I have not spent a single cent other than purchase price. all the fixes have been elbow grease and raiding the pile of parts I have had forever. Now I'm glad I didn't throw out much.

The near term goal is getting it emissions tested and insured. No reason it shouldn't pass now...no codes, decent cat and running good.

Rene

 

[yellowK20]

lol it's still "building" just a different type!

I hear ya on the wheeling thing it's been way to long for me to much work not enough play.
280 days gone this year and still have 23 days left on this trip

 

[tRustyK5]

Well, it'll never be a beauty queen...but this had to go!!



So out came the grinder, impact, BFH, pry bar...took a fair bit of persuasion, literally had to cut off every bolt.



Fortunately the truck came with one of these:



So, on it went along with the braces. Had to use two hex head bolts to finish bolting it up rather than the correct chrome plated carriage bolts. Bumper is firmly mounted so I don't care that much.



Better...

 

[Teck]

That does look much better

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Mmmmhmmm. I was SO glad when I got the fugly winch bumper off the front of The Blazer this summer. Looked, rode, and drove better with it gone.

 

[tRustyK5]

Front is next. I have the old chrome front off the Crew Cab lying around. I'm going to remove the Warn 8274 for now, and see how far down and back I can mount it. Hopefully I can get most of it behind the stock bumper with the solenoid pack/remote taking up residence just above the bumper. Definitely need to carve the grill a little.

My next day to work on it will be Wednesday. I want to roll the rear window down and get the felt and wipers re-installed, but I don't dare move it until i know the adhesive I used is thoroughly set. With the temps right at or slightly below freezing it's taking quite a while to firm up.

One weirdness today, my fuel guage started working again.

Rene

 

[76zimmer]

One weirdness today, my fuel guage started working again.

Rene

The K5 builder god is smiling down upon you.

 

[tRustyK5]

The K5 builder god is smiling down upon you.

Nah, it just means the next time I work on it it'll quit again.

Gonna have to start looking for the loose ground that I think is the real issue. At least now I know nobody siphoned the fuel out of it.

Rene

 

[BoondocK5]

This thread is proof positive that "functional" has become the new "hardcore."

I don't have anything to say my 4x4 (I'm hesitant to call it a chevy anymore) has so many mods and hasn't moved under its own power for so long, I almost afraid to work on it as I may actually accomplish something.
All though, I have been looking at Renes Crew Cab thinking a CC would look good mounted on my Modded all to **** blazer chassis.
I'll bet I can get just the cab off of a CC at Pick-N-Pul for a couple of bennies!

Rene, you are my shining star of inspiration, rock on my Brother!

 

[tRustyK5]

I seem to have struck a nerve with this truck and it's mission statement...so obviously I'm not the only one feeling the effects of builder burnout!

I guess "functional" and "ready to go at a moment's notice" is the new "hardcore". We'll see how this particular high miler fares off road...

It'll get E-tested on Dec 17th, and hopefully pass and be insured the same day. That gives me roughly 3 more days to work on it (I'll be working the other days)

Thanks for the kind words dude!! I would love to see a modded 6 pack cab on your K5 frame, but then again I'd love to see pics of you wheeling anything even more. My hope is getting out and wheeling once in a while, even in a stock K5, will help me regain some motivation to carry on with the Crew Cab build.

Rene

This thread is proof positive that "functional" has become the new "hardcore."

I don't have anything to say my 4x4 (I'm hesitant to call it a chevy anymore) has so many mods and hasn't moved under its own power for so long, I almost afraid to work on it as I may actually accomplish something.
All though, I have been looking at Renes Crew Cab thinking a CC would look good mounted on my Modded all to **** blazer chassis.
I'll bet I can get just the cab off of a CC at Pick-N-Pul for a couple of bennies!

Rene, you are my shining star of inspiration, rock on my Brother!

 

[throttleissues]

This may be the only build thread pending around here that looks like it's gonna be useable any time soon. I commend your self-control, Rene. I started to do a "simple" '89 Blazer, then lost interest and parted it out. It's OK, as I still have the K20, K35, and Cherokee that all need attention, just in case I get bored.

 

[tRustyK5]

Minor update that has me all warm and fuzzy.

When I bought this Blazer I got two iggy keys and that was it. Of the two one worked and the other is a mystery key. I couldn't lock or unlock the truck...so my plan was to pull a door cylinder out and have it keyed. That costs money, and I'm sure you've already noticed that I am loathe to spend a single red cent on this if it can be avoided.

So, we went out for dinner with my Mom tonight. We get back and I go outside for a smoke. Had the keys with me so I fired the Blazer up. Got bored just sitting there so I grabbed a light and the cleaner I had near the truck and started wiping off the grime. Next thing I'm opening up the console and digging through it. Garbage on front floor, useful stuff on rear floor until it's empty. Low and behold I find a few goodies in there. Winch remote (I knew that was there), various 8274 parts, 37 cents, a U-joint with 3 cups , a locking gas cap minus a key and hold on a sec...a ring of keys.

I try one on the locking gas cap and bingo, we have a winner. I see a pair of GM door keys. I can't be that lucky can I? I try it on the door...and we have a winner!

Being a curious sort I figured why not try it on the tailgate? I've never owned a K5 where a key opened and closed the glass before so my hopes were rather low. I inserted the key and I'll be damned if not only did it fit the lock, but it turned and lowered the glass. Also raised the glass.

I know it seems lame, but it was a cool find for me!! That and the power gate works fast and smooth.

Total into the Blazer so far is now $799.63.

Rene

 

[throttleissues]

Total into the Blazer so far is now $799.63.

Rene

It's paying for itself now.