CK5
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'91 K5 Four Wheel Camper
This is the build for my 1991 V1500 Blazer, AKA the K5.3. It started out life being sold to the U.S. Government with a 350 TBI/700r4/241 combo. 4 years with a 5.3/700r4 Combo and now moving to an 8.1L Vortec and NV4500 5-speed.
Well, my size 15 foot does have a tendency to pulled down by gravity a little more than the next guy..
Seriously, the tune is most likely off. Team208 has offered to tweak it for me, but I've got to wire in a wide band O2 sensor to get him better data. I'm not looking forward to that since I've got to fillet open the harness that Larry spent so much time making neat and tidy. What I really need to do is study the schematic to see if I can use a preexisting circuit or add more in. I'll probably do that this week
In the meantime I came up to Denver to celebrate my boy's birthday with his grandparents. Drove the Blazer so I can check mileage again. The more miles I put on it, the more my confidence grows. I'm finding little things to address with more seat time too. I know I got more room to get better mileage, but I've got to knuckle down and get the wideband data so we can see what team208 can do.
Right now compared to the 75 with its wheezy 350 carbureted non-od 465 and 3.73gears I'm still ahead. Getting better than 13 will be icing on the cake.
Thanks again for the nomination for gm of the month too. Very flattered.
No kidding.
The run to Denver was uneventful. Which is a good thing. Got to see my boy and celebrate his 20th with some kick ass mexican food with his grandparents. Helped my Dad shut down thier swamp cooler and sprinkler system since he's recovering from a knee replacment. Made the drive back avoiding the interstate as much as possible. Mostly because all summer long it's been gridlock on I-25 between Castle Rock and Monument. I'd rather be moving at a slower speed limit than stuck in a parking lot with no way out. Plus highway 105 from Sediala to Monument is one of the prettest two lane roads you can run along the front range. It was a relaxing drive listening to the Broncos game taking in more fall color with the background music of a 5.3 running through some nice pipes. I can't say it more, I frigging LOVE this truck. I loved the old one, but this one is just so nice to drive. It's just such a change from the old one. It just puts me in my happy place for sure.
Bug guts are a badge of honor to a truck that gets driven..Coming down C470 near Bandimere speedway.
Coming down the valley on hwy 105.
Pardon the bug guts.
Along the way I noticed this dark Blazer keeping up with me.
Sunset over the Air Force Academy. Just had to stop.
I stopped and filled up at the Pilot truck stop north of Pueblo. Final mileage for the weekend from Saturday morning to that point was 293. Filled up 18.9 gallons of fuel. Fuel economy is now up to 15.50 mpg. That's with mixed speeds up as high as 75 to 55-65 on the off interstate sections. This trip I did try to not bury the throttle or try to keep ahead of traffic by running faster. I'm tickled with the performance.
Bug guts are a badge of honor to a truck that gets driven..Coming down C470 near Bandimere speedway.
Coming down the valley on hwy 105.
Pardon the bug guts.
Along the way I noticed this dark Blazer keeping up with me.
Sunset over the Air Force Academy. Just had to stop.
I stopped and filled up at the Pilot truck stop north of Pueblo. Final mileage for the weekend from Saturday morning to that point was 293. Filled up 18.9 gallons of fuel. Fuel economy is now up to 15.50 mpg. That's with mixed speeds up as high as 75 to 55-65 on the off interstate sections. This trip I did try to not bury the throttle or try to keep ahead of traffic by running faster. I'm tickled with the performance.
Hats off to you, that's great mpg!
Wow, very nice MPG's for sure! That's what my 6.5 is getting with a bad PMD 
Wow, very nice MPG's for sure! That's what my 6.5 is getting with a bad PMD
There is a slight size difference involved here...
That's awesome you're getting some good miles on that thing! Helps motivate me..
Another day trip completed. The wife wanted to go up to the mountains and see some color. It's late for it, but any excuse for a trail ride right?
This time we went for a new trail we had not done before. Along for the run was my buddy John in his well equipped TJ and my buddy Bill with his sister and bro-in-law in his new to him Tundra (bone stock). The trail was Hayden Pass in Northwest Fremont County. It's one of only two trails that traverse the Sangre De Cristo range to the San Luis Valley. The other trail was the last one we did going over Medano pass. This area we were going to had a major forest fire early this summer. I made a call last week to see if the trail was open as the fire came right up to the trail itself. The USFS said it was open, so onward and upward!
Making a pit stop in nearby Cotopaxi along hwy 50 and the Arkansas river.
Looking down river.
Not as much color, but still a nice day to be on dirt.
County road 6 leading up to the trail.
Start of the trail.
Looking across to the next ridge you can see where the fire came over it.
Another ridge.
Driving through the burn scar. Amazing how the white aspen trees escaped burning.
More burned area.
Looking through the burn area back towords the Arkansas river valley below.
Above the burn area, but below the summit we came across this mess. John, big Bill and I made short work of this with a tow strap.
Made it to the top.
Stopping for snacks at the summit.
Poser shot.
Better color on the west side.
Almost back down.
Looking out over the San Luis valley.
This time we went for a new trail we had not done before. Along for the run was my buddy John in his well equipped TJ and my buddy Bill with his sister and bro-in-law in his new to him Tundra (bone stock). The trail was Hayden Pass in Northwest Fremont County. It's one of only two trails that traverse the Sangre De Cristo range to the San Luis Valley. The other trail was the last one we did going over Medano pass. This area we were going to had a major forest fire early this summer. I made a call last week to see if the trail was open as the fire came right up to the trail itself. The USFS said it was open, so onward and upward!
Making a pit stop in nearby Cotopaxi along hwy 50 and the Arkansas river.
Looking down river.
Not as much color, but still a nice day to be on dirt.
County road 6 leading up to the trail.
Start of the trail.
Looking across to the next ridge you can see where the fire came over it.
Another ridge.
Driving through the burn scar. Amazing how the white aspen trees escaped burning.
More burned area.
Looking through the burn area back towords the Arkansas river valley below.
Above the burn area, but below the summit we came across this mess. John, big Bill and I made short work of this with a tow strap.
Made it to the top.
Stopping for snacks at the summit.
Poser shot.
Better color on the west side.
Almost back down.
Looking out over the San Luis valley.
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Cool.
Martin
Martin
Does your copilot have to use a stool to get in?
My wife had that problem on the last truck.
My wife had that problem on the last truck.
Yeah she does. She's short to begin with and adding MS to the mix she needs help getting in. Since side steps would still be too high for her to reach, a $9 step from Wally world makes it manageable.
Funny side note. This is the first time she has been co-pilot in many years. Kinda nice. But coming down the pass the slope was steep enough she was sliding under the seat belt. Her feet were not touching the floor and it caused her to just slide under the lap belt. It got past her waist when I noticed something was out of place. I asked if she was ok and if she needed help. She explained and as a natural reaction I laughed. So I stopped, she unbuckled and moved the seat up far enough her feet could reach the toe board (angled) area on the front floor. She was ok from there on out.
We had fun together for sure. If anything it did help me to convince her about the suspension upgrades that I would like to do. After getting bounced around she's all for smoother.
I ended up using bailing twine to make a rope step off my sliders. That way it wouldn't get hung up, and would hang down far enough to be actually useful. I always joked that I was going to make a rope ladder that could hang off a roll cage and she could deploy it when she opened the door.
Yeah, that's a pretty good idea, My wifes sense of balance is off due to the MS and because of it uses a cane to walk, She struggles with the step trying to make sure she isn't going to fall. I'm right behind her so she won't fall, but it's the best we found to get in safely. Plus the step folds up flat and fits right behind the seat without taking a bunch of room. I need to add a grab handle inside the door so she has a hand hold getting in.
I know it burns a bunch of real estate, but you could grab the retractable step from an RV if you wanted to automate the process...
P.S. - I like the rope ladder idea quite a bit.
So are you thinking about a handle on the A pillar, like newer stuff?
I know it burns a bunch of real estate, but you could grab the retractable step from an RV if you wanted to automate the process...
P.S. - I like the rope ladder idea quite a bit.
Uh, yeah. No.
While I love the fact that she's willing to come for a ride, it's not a normal occurance for her. She can't take the abuse or the lack of AC for summer runs. Making major modifications for access is not in the cards when a $9 step does it without killing the ground clearance the lift was put on for in the first place. I'll put it this way, even at stock height she would need the step.
At minimum, a grab handle above the door since there are already threaded holes there. Grab handles on both a-pillars is something I've put some throught in to. It's going to require a solid fastener system (thinking nut serts, at least two per end) and a loop with flanges welded for attachement with bolts to the nut serts.
