But I’ve not seen an orange 8.1L
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.
Yeah, it's gonna be orange. Like a big cast iron pumpkin. For any other reason that it's not normal.
But yeah like anything else the project changes as you go. I just want to go without flogging the engine like a rented mule every time I pull up a hill or grade. The engine change forces the transmission change obviously. Nobody I know has ever married an 8.1 to a 700r4 like I have so it was either 4L80e time or nv4500 time. The 4500 fits the same spot without driveshaft alterations, so it's kind of a no brainier.
So I'm back in the parts stockpiling stage again. Got a some stuff to finish for the bumper and some time this week I need to yank out the lower bench in the camper. I'm going to have my co worker who's a wicked carpenter build a new one. This version will have better organization to it and not be attached to the camper as we had issues last year.
Good to hear about the orange!
Yeah, I went back to where I last read (I actually reread quite a bit), and caught up, so I see all your reasoning. Makes perfect sense to me.
Even if it didn’t, you would never have to try to convince me that a big block and a manual transmission were good choices.
Martin
I don't think I have to convince anybody around here about a big block and manual trans! MAW right?
What are you doing with the 5.3L? Asking for a friend...
A friend with a '73 truck that it would be perfect for?
It will go up for sale when I'm ready to pull it for the swap. I've got a customer that expressed interest in it, but that was provided it came out fairly soon. Since that's not going to happen right away I'm not sure if he'll wait.
I'll post up here before I list it elsewhere.
I'll post up here before I list it elsewhere.
Been slacking between running to Denver and crappy weather. I don't have much to do before this year's desert trip but I do have some stuff to get done.
One of which was reconfiguring how my Ipad is situated in the truck. The window mount worked, but did fall off the glass due to the weight when it was hot out. That's slightly problematic while in motion. So I picked up a different mount that attaches with one of the seat mount bolts. It puts it much closer in reach than before and it doesn't block the view out the windshield. It does need an added support strut off of the console to stabilize it. I'll add that tomorrow.
Pretty simple setup though. Pardon the dirt/dust. Been a while since I wiped it out.
Onward to the lower bench in the camper. It was thrown together pretty quickly last year before the trip. It served it's purpose by reusing the existing lid/cushions, but it sucked to sleep on and actually started pulling away from the side during the trip. I ended up adding some L-brackets to hold it to the side for the rest of the summer. So it's coming out.
With the bench yanked it's all empty again. I went ahead and ran over to the car wash and filled their vacuum full of stuff instead of mine.
One of my guys at work is a hell of a carpenter and we've talked about what I want. I'll take the truck up to work to let him take measurements and the shape of the wheel tub. The plan is to build a box that fits over the wheel tub and is completely enclosed top to bottom. The top will have two lids hinged at the outside wall to allow access inside. There will be a divider wall in the center in line with the two lids. From there the back section will have some dado's cut in the sides and bottom to add more dividers to fit gear into specific spots like the campstove, griddle and other items. Unlike the original cushions being part of the lid I'm going to make them separate. I've got 4" memory foam and will make some covers for them. To widen the sleeping surface we are going to add a section to each lid that is hinged on the inside edge that will allow it to flip open and add another 6" of width to the surface that an extra cushion will lay on top of. There will be a couple of legs that add support when the extra section is opened up.
Since it was in the 50's today I went ahead and took care of something that was bugging me since we bolted the bumper on. The crusty white spare. I hit it with a wire cup brush to knock the loose stuff off and wiped it clean and fogged it flat black. It just looks a lot cleaner that way. Plus I could put the obligatory CK5 sticker in the center of the carrier.
One of which was reconfiguring how my Ipad is situated in the truck. The window mount worked, but did fall off the glass due to the weight when it was hot out. That's slightly problematic while in motion. So I picked up a different mount that attaches with one of the seat mount bolts. It puts it much closer in reach than before and it doesn't block the view out the windshield. It does need an added support strut off of the console to stabilize it. I'll add that tomorrow.
Pretty simple setup though. Pardon the dirt/dust. Been a while since I wiped it out.
Onward to the lower bench in the camper. It was thrown together pretty quickly last year before the trip. It served it's purpose by reusing the existing lid/cushions, but it sucked to sleep on and actually started pulling away from the side during the trip. I ended up adding some L-brackets to hold it to the side for the rest of the summer. So it's coming out.
With the bench yanked it's all empty again. I went ahead and ran over to the car wash and filled their vacuum full of stuff instead of mine.
One of my guys at work is a hell of a carpenter and we've talked about what I want. I'll take the truck up to work to let him take measurements and the shape of the wheel tub. The plan is to build a box that fits over the wheel tub and is completely enclosed top to bottom. The top will have two lids hinged at the outside wall to allow access inside. There will be a divider wall in the center in line with the two lids. From there the back section will have some dado's cut in the sides and bottom to add more dividers to fit gear into specific spots like the campstove, griddle and other items. Unlike the original cushions being part of the lid I'm going to make them separate. I've got 4" memory foam and will make some covers for them. To widen the sleeping surface we are going to add a section to each lid that is hinged on the inside edge that will allow it to flip open and add another 6" of width to the surface that an extra cushion will lay on top of. There will be a couple of legs that add support when the extra section is opened up.
Since it was in the 50's today I went ahead and took care of something that was bugging me since we bolted the bumper on. The crusty white spare. I hit it with a wire cup brush to knock the loose stuff off and wiped it clean and fogged it flat black. It just looks a lot cleaner that way. Plus I could put the obligatory CK5 sticker in the center of the carrier.
Groundbreaking fabrication day. Added the needed support strut to the iPad mount. Some 1/2" pvc pipe and fittings and a clamp the mount is much more solid.
Compared to other's fabrication talents, this is more like arts-n-crafts day. The actual mount uses a solid aluminum shaft that is bendable. The diameter of the shaft is closer to 3/8" under the flexible conduit. So the smallest size pipe I could use was 1/2". I used a T fitting with a screw in adapter to the pipe. Cut the pipe to length and attached it to the console with the clamp. Once I had it where I wanted it I blew it apart and fogged the parts with fusion plastic paint to make it match.
While I was waiting for paint to dry I took some pipe insulation I picked up and stuffed it into the gaps between the camper and the tailgate opening. It was the major source of dirt getting into the camper. This should stop most of it.
Compared to other's fabrication talents, this is more like arts-n-crafts day. The actual mount uses a solid aluminum shaft that is bendable. The diameter of the shaft is closer to 3/8" under the flexible conduit. So the smallest size pipe I could use was 1/2". I used a T fitting with a screw in adapter to the pipe. Cut the pipe to length and attached it to the console with the clamp. Once I had it where I wanted it I blew it apart and fogged the parts with fusion plastic paint to make it match.
While I was waiting for paint to dry I took some pipe insulation I picked up and stuffed it into the gaps between the camper and the tailgate opening. It was the major source of dirt getting into the camper. This should stop most of it.
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That's going to be so much nicer to get your pad out of the direct sunlight and heat this year 
Anxious to see the new lower bench installed!
Anxious to see the new lower bench installed!
That was a driving reason for the change. I never saw an iPad overheat (it actually said that on screen) and shut off before.That's going to be so much nicer to get your pad out of the direct sunlight and heat this year
Anxious to see the new lower bench installed!
Plus I'll have a better view out of the picture window.
I'm excited for the bench too. I brought up to have my guy take some measurements off of the truck today. Need to get some weight over to that side too. With it empty it's listing to the left now even before I sit my fat arse in it.
Looks like I need to get a pair of Zero Rates for the truck. But as expected, not in the normal way. Having the bench and the gear out of the passenger side of the truck has totally pointed out the lean to the left the truck has now. I don't have access to 4 corner scales but I can tell you the left side is heavy. I'm saying that before I even jump in and add my tonnage to the same side too.
Curious, I broke out the tape and checked stuff side to side. Oh boy is it off right now.
Location Driver's side Passenger side Difference
front fender opening 42 3/4" 44 7/8" 2 1/8"
bottom of door handle 54 1/2" 56 1/4" 1 3/4"
rear wheel opening 40 7/8" 42 1/8" 1 1/4"
The lean is less at the rear and gets worse as you go to the front. I know the best way to address this would be custom springs from ORD after getting the four corners weighed. But that isn't really in the cards right now. So back to the Zero Rates. Is there a problem in using a pair of zero rates on the left side only? I know it won't correct the total issue, but at least it could level it out a bit. Part of the fix will be loading the other side out and get some weight over there. The new bench will be substantial being built out of 3/4" plywood. Gear will go inside that should ballast that side too. The final thing that will really be there on the long trips is the jerry can rack we still need to build for the passenger side. It will hold 3 cans so that will add a good amount too when in use.
Obviously my situation isn't like most. Am I on crack thinking I can use zero rates only on the left side? Is that going to screw with my caster on the left or cause any screwy steering or handling issues? Throwing that out to the CK5 masses to see if I'm insane or need another idea on addressing the issue.
Curious, I broke out the tape and checked stuff side to side. Oh boy is it off right now.
Location Driver's side Passenger side Difference
front fender opening 42 3/4" 44 7/8" 2 1/8"
bottom of door handle 54 1/2" 56 1/4" 1 3/4"
rear wheel opening 40 7/8" 42 1/8" 1 1/4"
The lean is less at the rear and gets worse as you go to the front. I know the best way to address this would be custom springs from ORD after getting the four corners weighed. But that isn't really in the cards right now. So back to the Zero Rates. Is there a problem in using a pair of zero rates on the left side only? I know it won't correct the total issue, but at least it could level it out a bit. Part of the fix will be loading the other side out and get some weight over there. The new bench will be substantial being built out of 3/4" plywood. Gear will go inside that should ballast that side too. The final thing that will really be there on the long trips is the jerry can rack we still need to build for the passenger side. It will hold 3 cans so that will add a good amount too when in use.
Obviously my situation isn't like most. Am I on crack thinking I can use zero rates only on the left side? Is that going to screw with my caster on the left or cause any screwy steering or handling issues? Throwing that out to the CK5 masses to see if I'm insane or need another idea on addressing the issue.
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We put spacers on buses and medium duty trucks all the time just not on steer axles. Hell, most truck equipment upfitters add spacers during their upfit to correct leans on a daily basis.
My truck leans left too until packed for a trip and it evenly squats
My truck leans left too until packed for a trip and it evenly squats
Would removing a leaf on the pass side front and adding a shim to drivers side rear sound crazy?
That last statement confirms what I was thinking. Plus with the right side empty it's totally amplified. I'll probably hold on doing anything until I get the rest of the stuff situated over there. It just is so focking noticeable sitting there it's unnerving. But good to hear yours is the same way given the fact the cabinet, fridge, propane, water tank and hot water heater is on the left side too. Kind of hard to avoid with these things.
Would removing a leaf on the pass side front and adding a shim to drivers side rear sound crazy?
Not crazy. But it brings the same issue I think would be there with just putting the zero rate on one side. My fear is not having stuff the same side to side on the front may induce some sketchy handling issue. Also, my rough country springs only have 4 leafs (I think, maybe 5), so pulling a leaf might be a more radical change than expected. I'd sure be curious what yours is measuring out to even without the engine and trans in it. Not so much to see if yours is higher or lower than mine, but just the amount of difference side to side. These are always going to have a bias to the left given the construction of the camper, but I know you didn't go as heavy on the left in the cabinet as I did. It's not like I can take it back out, but does make me more aware where I'm going to stuff the heavy stuff when reloading like tools, gear, extra fluids, case of water, ect.
I agree with Larry. I have done the same on semis many times to get them set up correctly. On our utility trucks we usually just spec out a custom set of different rate rear springs to handle the offset load from a crane or welder but adding a block to one side and not the other to compensate would be just fine. Obviously your springs will be working harder on that side due to the extra load so they will sag again in the future. An add a leaf would help too on that side but that is hard to calculate what you need and also not affect your spring rate if it flexes well right now. My current F550 service truck has a single air bag on the left side due to a welder being added by the previous mechanic. I have to keep 80 lbs of air in it to stay close to level. It really needs a bigger spring pack on that side but that's not a fun job on a really heavy service body truck.
I have a zero rate on my left front. It fixed my problem with no issues.
I'd rather use an airbag. As mentioned. Then you have a chance to tweak it if the offset isn't quite right or if your load patterns change.
Which, given your use, is bound to happen regularly.
Which, given your use, is bound to happen regularly.
I'm not against an airbag for adjustability, but not sure I want to add the complexity.
I really need to sit tight until I get the bench back in and loaded before I jump to any solutions yet. The lean wasn't that noticable until I emptied it out . So I'll do that and if it's still way out of whack I'll revisit my options again. Thanks for the input all.
Doing some CAD design work with my coworker. Getting the fitment right around the wheel tub.
I really need to sit tight until I get the bench back in and loaded before I jump to any solutions yet. The lean wasn't that noticable until I emptied it out . So I'll do that and if it's still way out of whack I'll revisit my options again. Thanks for the input all.
Doing some CAD design work with my coworker. Getting the fitment right around the wheel tub.
