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

[tRustyK5]

Yeah, I've had that done a few times too. All in all this is a case of knowing better and being stupid/lazy anyways.

Got the frame and gas tank area covered in POR-15 with a top coat of high solids semi flat black. This being my first go round with POR 15 I brushed it on as shown in their instructions. My finding is no matter how carefully I worked I was getting runs. Anything further I do with this stuff I will spray.

Once it's all dry and the fumes in the garage dissipate I'll do some clean up and begin installing fuel and brake lines. Might actually have a pic or two later...

 

[76zimmer]

I think we all fall victim to safety neglect...used to doing things by habit, and not really analyzing the situation good enough...or as you say "get lazy" about safety gear.
2 weeks ago we had a guy go to use an elevator, he opened the door ( a regular 36" wide door with electronic safety interlocks) and the car was 20' below...at 5 am (working midnight shift) your not at your most alert and he almost stepped into the elevator shaft expecting the car to be there. A last second grab of the door frame kept him from falling in.
So YES Rene' not only practice your safety, but also give just a second to analyze the situation before performing your work.

This safety tip brought to you by the safety guy:

 

[jekquistk5]

i try to be good. Coughing up metal shavings is no fun

 

[tRustyK5]

I try to be good, but it's not in my nature...

 

[max 02]

Great to see you and Deb yesterday! Sorry about the day being cut sort with the driving my kids around going to the bottle depot and Kris`s focking ear we ended up driving back and forth to Lacombe three times, Clive twice, and Alix once yesterday after noon!

Thanks for coming with us to look at the Escalade...good to have another opinion and sets of eyes about it. "It doesn't scream old man to me"

How was the weather at your place when you got back? We had some rain and a ton of wind but wasn`t bad. I got nothing done and more than likely wont get anything done today either. Hope you do better than me!

Now were are the pics we are all waiting for!??

 

[tRustyK5]

Good seeing you guys again too! The Escalade just sent the wrong vibe to me...what the salesman was telling you vs. what I was looking at didn't add up. Enough reason to look elsewhere IMO.

We ended up stopping in Wetaskawin for lunch...and that was where the weather went nuts. It was sunny and warm when we got there, then the wind roared in creating a massive duststorm and the temps dropped 10 degrees in half an hour. Leduc actually had big fat flakes of snow coming down sideways...

I did take a couple of pics last night, but am hoping to add a few more today and post them tonight. Nick (Bix) is coming over later.

 

[max 02]

Yeah for sure well look for a better one.

That's cool with Nick being able to come over and give you a hand!
Have fun!

 

[tRustyK5]

So, actual pics...

As I mentioned earlier, sometimes you pour a ton of hours into something but don't really have anything pic worthy to show for it. The last few weeks (months??) have been like this. I have the 5.3 installed and before I ask Russel to come over and help with the wiring etc I have to have certain things done. Fuel lines, fuel pump, and front inner fenders were three he mentioned.

So, I got underneath and had a good look at my current fuel lines...yikes!

The green one is a brake line I replaced a few years ago. The other collection of barnacle crust were my fuel lines. 45 psi through those anyone? Me neither. Brake lines didn't look much better. Frame lookin pretty disgusting too. So, I called inline tube and ordered all new fuel lines and brake lines for a 90 K5 Blazer, in stainless steel. Definitely a bit of a wallet hit, but when they got here I felt a lot better about the price. Very nice quality, and I can see where the money went.

Bix (Nick) came over a few times and together we got the frame cleaned up, and all the old lines removed. A fair bit of unfun work...then I brushed on a coat of POR-15 and top coated it it satin black. Turned out decent enough.

The kit from inline tube apparently isn't for a rig with rear ABS. Pretty sure mine didn't work anyways, so I removed it. My only dilemma was my truck didn't have the combo/prop valve I needed for this line kit. Dean (Max02) had one as well as a saveable pair of inner fenders, so yesterday we drove down for a short visit and snagged those parts.

I then ran all the brake lines, which went easier than expected. Not often that happens.

I like the cleaner look of no rear ABS too. Less junk is gooder...

While the fuel tank was out and the cleaning and painting had been done it was time to get rid of my old rear blocks. They were 3" blocks, so I was running those with a 1" zero-rate. Appeared to be stacked blocks, so needed to go.

For the DIY flip I mounted it up and tacked the nut plates to the inside of the frame...easy-peasy later if they need unbolting, or switching from side to side.

This pic shows the flip bracket up, no bushings in the springs and the 1" zero rate still there. My 90 has the oddball rear springs with the 1.70" rear bushing size. Kert machined some adapter sleeves so I can run the much more common 1.5" bushings.

While ordering other stuff from Kert I got these burly 10 bolt U-bolt plates. Yes I have trimmed the U-bolts and center pin...

And the money shot for me, back on all four tires again. You can see the DIY4X greasable bolts too.

I did re-drill the spring perch to move the diff 1" back. The tire is pretty much dead center in the wheel well...

Next up is running the new fuel lines and get all of it routed and clamped properly, then mount up the fuel tank.

 

[max 02]

You got a lot done!
Good job! Them new lines look nice.

 

[76zimmer]

Rene' your frame and line crust looks just like what we get in MI.
nice cleanup, and line work!
Looks good sitting up on its own again!

 

[tRustyK5]

Yeah, this truck I bought in BC, but was originally an ambulance service truck here in Alberta. It shows in places...the brake and fuel lines were a "must replace" in my mind. Nothing better than some peace of mind on the safety stuff!

Still, rust wasn't bad overall on this one. The better corrosion coating on the body steel by '90 helped noticeably. I do have a bit more to repair, but minor stuff at this point. I hope to be able to have Russel here in a month or so. Sure would be nice to post a start up vid.

 

[Russell]

Yeah, this truck I bought in BC, but was originally an ambulance service truck here in Alberta. It shows in places...the brake and fuel lines were a "must replace" in my mind. Nothing better than some peace of mind on the safety stuff!

Still, rust wasn't bad overall on this one. The better corrosion coating on the body steel by '90 helped noticeably. I do have a bit more to repair, but minor stuff at this point. I hope to be able to have Russel here in a month or so. Sure would be nice to post a start up vid.

 

[bix]

Looks awesome with it standing on its own, all the rust in the face was worth it!

 

[Bowtie85]

I to am in process off not having any pic worthy updates on my build.


Looks like yours is coming along good

 

[Captainblackwell]

I love the 5.3 in my burb!

Do you have pics of the 5.3 in your burn. I would like to see the Ac unit an wonder which compressor you used. Please any help would be awesome

 

[tRustyK5]

Been plugging away at the old girl over the last few weeks. Bix (Nick) has been over helping me a fair bit, mostly keeping me motivated!

I have all the brake lines in now, and all the fuel lines from the tank forward. Parts that recently showed up are a new fuel sender (Spectre), a Winters shifter, and a Dirty Dingo high mount AC set-up.

Today I decided to do some fab and get the shifter mounted. I chose the shifter
without the console as I didn't want to mount it to the floor. I wanted it higher and somehow integrated into the existing console. Once I removed the cupholder portion of the console I could see exactly how it was gonna go, and liked it a lot. Today I spent fabbing all day to create the mental picture I had in reality.

I needed a little more room than the old tray, so the whole deal overhangs the front of the console by an inch or so. Started with some formed 1/8" 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" angle I had. Cut my picture frame to start with.

I then weld prepped and de-burred everything and tacked it up with an angle support for the other side of the shifter.

Here is a rough fit up showing the eventual location.

New shifter sitting in the frame, checking clearances etc...

Losing the cupholders had the 'boss' mildly annoyed...until I showed her I had every intention of keeping a pair of functional cupholders.

I used some leftover 3" exhaust tubing, and made them deep (3") so the drinks would stay put when things get a little rough or off kilter.

Cleaned up

Money shots...

I have it painted satin black now. Tomorrow I'll get the console and floor drilled for cable pass through, then mount it permanently. I'll see how rigid the assembly is after that. I think I'll probably need to add some bracing from the front overhang down to the floor. The console isn't bad, but it is just plastic.

 

[tRustyK5]

Also got my fuel tank installed, new Spectre tank, new straps and anti-squeak crap.

Scored some new front inner fenders at the Red Deer swap meet a few weeks ago. Cut the holes for my shocks and bolted them up.

 

[76zimmer]

nice progress Rene'...so did I miss how it mounts to the existing console?
Love the Winters shifters!

 

[tRustyK5]

I never took pics of that. There are three tabs underneath on the two sides and the back edge by the lid. The front edge of the console i had to carve a little for cupholder clearance. That's why I think I'll end up bracing from the front down to the floor...or it might be OK. I'll know tomorrow.

I've spent a stupid amount of time looking at shifters trying to decide what I wanted. After much hand wringing, I dropped back and punted and went with the Winters solely because you had one and a few others besides. I never heard a bad thing from any of you guys...

Once it got here I knew it was the right choice. Really happy with the quality and feel, and you couldn't ask for a more positive shift feel. Winters FTMFW!

 

[76zimmer]

agreed on the shifter! I've tried a couple B&M and Hurst shifters and they are very sloppy in comparison...this is one that you can feel the precision in. I got one for the Vette too, but haven't yet installed it....gotta redo the center console to make that look decent.

I think adding some support under that front is a great idea too...one person leaning on the front edge of that framework and I could see it breaking something to do with the fiberglass console!