With extra long dipsticksOh, ya.... I forgot about that. Nah....these are normal engines
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.
Today was moving day. Time to get the dead lump out of my driveway and into Larry's. It's ready. But first we had a little side run to make out to La Junta to pick up a '76 Scout project for a co-worker of Larry's back in IL. It's apparently a rare one that was a bicentennial edition. Sucker is loaded with options, factory a/c, p/s tilt column. As Scouts go it's pretty rust free. Floors already fixed and rhino lined inside, but look a little scary underneath. It's pretty complete too, disassembled interior but it's all there.
Bill came along for the ride too.
You got to love the details on these original trucks. Hubcap and IH branded Warn hubs.
We stopped at a farmers market and picked up some veggies and while waiting on Larry, Bill and I noticed how the inner shackles were tied together with large flat strap. All we can figure it's some attempt at a sway bar. But Scout nuts we aren't so that's a wild guess.
With the Scout unloaded we came back to my place and loaded the K5 and the trans and t-case into the S10.
We came right back and fired up the Landa for some cleaning on the Scout and the Blazer.
With everything washed up we rolled it off the trailer and into the garage. It's ready.
Bill came along for the ride too.
You got to love the details on these original trucks. Hubcap and IH branded Warn hubs.
We stopped at a farmers market and picked up some veggies and while waiting on Larry, Bill and I noticed how the inner shackles were tied together with large flat strap. All we can figure it's some attempt at a sway bar. But Scout nuts we aren't so that's a wild guess.
With the Scout unloaded we came back to my place and loaded the K5 and the trans and t-case into the S10.
We came right back and fired up the Landa for some cleaning on the Scout and the Blazer.
With everything washed up we rolled it off the trailer and into the garage. It's ready.
Did you throw in the towel on your other tow rig?
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Dude, you forgot to show the best parts….
Like our super genius method of unloading it on an uphill driveway without having to push it or break a sweat
And the two engine bays after a bath
Ha! Funny, a couple times today I mentioned that I had hoped to have the PewterPuff Silverado unearthed from the front garage (where it’s been sititng for the past 2 years) in time for these two tow jobs as it is a much stronger tow rig than the Waggy with 200% better brakes to boot. The 6.4L Hemi is adequate and the vacuum brakes flat out suck but it is far from a big block that is for sure. In fact, that’s the plan for next weekend is to get all the crap out of the back of the Silverado to be able to start driving it again. Its been siting for two years with my wife’s aunt’s hobby supplies over it, under it, in it and all over the garage as much of her hobby stuff "temporarily" landed here when she died. We’re loading it all in the Suburban next weekend and taking our nieces house. The PewterPuff needs some exercise! The Suburban is a far better tow rig than the Waggy too but it has its own issues that need to be ironed out before it goes back into tow duty
Poor thing
My daily Crewcab has a 6.0, on flat land it does ok.... hills not so much. Or were you talking about the Crawlabago?
Poor redheaded step child is not getting any love. I am looking for something like the PewterPuff for a tow rig though.
Dude, you forgot to show the best parts….
Like our super genius method of unloading it on an uphill driveway without having to push it or break a sweat
And the two engine bays after a bath
Ha! Funny, a couple times today I mentioned that I had hoped to have the PewterPuff Silverado unearthed from the front garage (where it’s been sititng for the past 2 years) in time for these two tow jobs as it is a much stronger tow rig than the Waggy with 200% better brakes to boot. The 6.4L Hemi is adequate and the vacuum brakes flat out suck but it is far from a big block that is for sure. In fact, that’s the plan for next weekend is to get all the crap out of the back of the Silverado to be able to start driving it again. Its been siting for two years with my wife’s aunt’s hobby supplies over it, under it, in it and all over the garage as much of her hobby stuff "temporarily" landed here when she died. We’re loading it all in the Suburban next weekend and taking our nieces house. The PewterPuff needs some exercise! The Suburban is a far better tow rig than the Waggy too but it has its own issues that need to be ironed out before it goes back into tow duty
Poor thing
I forgot to get a pic of the cornbinder post rinse. Or of mine for that matter! The sketchy unloading method was brilliant, until I saw the ramps struggle to take the weight of the Waggy and trailer. Don't try this at home kids. The K5 rolled right in.
Another thing I forgot to mention was the fact that we hauled that damn Scout all the way from La Junta with the top only attached to the windshield header with a couple of chunks of wire through two of the bolt holes. Only saving grace was the top is steel and weighs a ton by itself. Even with the passenger side window falling down in the door on the way the air coming in didn't blow it off. I didn't even think to look at the bed rails to see if the top was even bolted on when we loaded it.
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Well, you just look somewhere else......my pewterpuff isn’t going anywhere!
Ah, ya… these. We totally lucked out with the top not blowing off
Number 1
A turbski or two would help in the hill climbing. Creates it's own atmosphere, allowing more fuel and produces more power with a lot of spinny noises. I've heard they are pretty fun to drive.
Option "B". Remove said 6.0, install the 8.1 you already got. You know it fits. Might not happen before BB, but it's a thought.
Looks kinda like your truck puked out some parts on the driveway. 
Those IH hubs are neat.
Martin
Martin
To get moving forward, Larry tore down further into the truck. I had planned on a change in the core support with help from @Capt Ron and his parts stash. I've been sick of the dismal lighting the Silverado quad headlight setup provides. Ron had a single headlight setup that will allow better lighting with two headlights.
Larry got busy pulling the old core support out and ran into the same problem I had when we fixed the right fender before the desert trip. My fenders are junk. The repairs we patched in split again and other spots broke and split. Captured nuts broke free. His words, it was a pain in the ass to pull. But it's out.
Some of the reported fail spots of the Chinesium fender
Many may have noticed a pronounced lean to the left on my truck. I've commented about it in the past and figured it was due to the Rough Country front springs. Which it still may be but Larry found some evidence that might help the lean happen. The left side shackle is bent, the bolt looks to be bent as well. The bushings look wiped.
Up front the spring eye bolt has backed off, even with a prevailing torque nut on it.
We didn't change the bushings when we swapped them from my '75 to this one. I guess its time to order some fresh bushings and HD shackles from ORD.
Larry got busy pulling the old core support out and ran into the same problem I had when we fixed the right fender before the desert trip. My fenders are junk. The repairs we patched in split again and other spots broke and split. Captured nuts broke free. His words, it was a pain in the ass to pull. But it's out.
Some of the reported fail spots of the Chinesium fender
Many may have noticed a pronounced lean to the left on my truck. I've commented about it in the past and figured it was due to the Rough Country front springs. Which it still may be but Larry found some evidence that might help the lean happen. The left side shackle is bent, the bolt looks to be bent as well. The bushings look wiped.
Up front the spring eye bolt has backed off, even with a prevailing torque nut on it.
We didn't change the bushings when we swapped them from my '75 to this one. I guess its time to order some fresh bushings and HD shackles from ORD.
Never thought about different light output. I always thought people preferred the looks of the grilles like yours. What vintage grille are you going to use?
A Cheyenne 2 headlight setup from 90-91. At least with that I can use the common 6x7 headlamps that everyone makes in a billion versions.
LMC sells upgrade light housings for more than I'm willing to pay for 4 crappy small lights. Changing the core support opens up the options.
beags86
Eastbound and Down
So what grill are you using?
I like the grill on mine. It's an 89 but I feel like the it's the same as the one you're talking about.
I like it better than the 84 grill I had on the K5. I did "upgrade" the bowtie to larger, newer version.
I like it better than the 84 grill I had on the K5. I did "upgrade" the bowtie to larger, newer version.
beags86
Eastbound and Down
I can't stand those grills. In my opinion the best grill is the the 85-87 silverado grill.
Now I'm tempted to change my avatar.....
