What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Body Flex... How much?

E

elks

1/2 ton status
Joined
Nov 8, 2009
Posts
324
Reaction score
3
Location
NW Colorado
I have a 72 K5. Lifted 36" tires etc.

So I have been running a soft top since I got my Blazer like 5 years ago. Every since I bought the blazer I noticed it has some body flex. Enough to feel the seats shift in twist, Door get stuck when twisted etc.

Does your blazers body flex when twistet upP If so enough to cause a door to stick?

If not why does mine? Frame seems solid and everything. I do have a small crack near power steering box, but other than that it all seems solid? It almost feel like the flex in a unibody Cherokee(not quite as bad)..

If my body is flexing will it cause hard top issues or will the hard top help fix the issue?
 
The hard top will help but these old trucks have a lot of frame flex that leads to a lot of body flex. Yours being a full convertible with no hard top means more body flex.
 
That is totally normal for your rig.:D I remember wheeling with Firefighter184 aways back and he had is flexed out so much the doors bound up and the gauge bezel shot off at him.:haha::pimp: I don't remember if he had any issues ever putting the hard top back on or not. Running with the hard top would help stiffen it up some though. But why have a full vert and not run topless! A cage would be better at tying it all together and not hard to do.

Z
 
It will flex a lot if your body is getting rusty. Bad rocker boxes and or rocker area will let the door jams move and bind up the doors. The hard top gives a lot more rigidity and will keep the a pillar and winshield from sagging over time. Mine didn't have a top for ten years until I moved to pa and froze the first year I was here. My windshield frame was about a inch back when I put a hardtop back on it and I had to use ratchet straps to pull the top and wundshield back into place to bolt it back on. I'm going to put a 6 point cage in next summer so the body stays in place when going topless. It will stiffen up the body a lot. Tieing the cage into the frame makes it even stronger.
 
Last edited:
Body flex.

I agree with the cage coments , for stiffening the body.

My original Sub had a partial cage and the doors would bind when flexed out.

The bobbed and fully caged Burb has no problen with cab flex, but I didn't extend the cage through to the front,(should have!) so now I have buckled fenders and some issues keeping the fenders together in general.

Needless to say the cage is being extended to the front before BB13.
 
My guess is that your rocker boxes, torsion boxes and cab supports are all rotten......


That's not really going out on a limb with my guess. All of the 1st Gens are rusty threre, so unless you've fixed it already......it's rotten.

Running with a hardtop might seem like a good idea except for two things:

1. You bought a convertible truck. Can't think of a more depressing way to use it.
2. Fiberglass is not going to add much torsional strength, it's a great way to tearout and ruin your bedrails.... need proof?

Bustedtopcloseup.jpg


TortillaManandcarnage.jpg


Been there....done that.


Fix the frame crack pronto, then focus on either rust repair or a solid, frame-mounted cage (preferably both).


-G
 
Yes I fully agree with everything being said. As far as the top, well this morning when I went out it was -13 at my house. I use the Blazer all winter to hunt predators and the soft top is just a real PITA when it get cold. I am going to run the hard top just like I do my jeeps. End of October he softtops get stored and the hard goes on. Then in mid April the top comes off.

I would agree a full roll cage is coming and hopefully may even be started with my tax reuturn this year.

As far as other items, there is no rust anywhere, Everything had been replaced and I keep the rig spotless. The body mounts I checked all looked solid etc.

I actually found a hell of a deal on a hard top!
 
When my trazer still had the blazer body on it, it was so bad that when flexed you could see daylight under the door. The headrests would touch the side of the cab, and the radiator fan would hit the shroud
 
My blazer is the only one I've ever seen that doesn't twist like that. Stock frame and crossmembers, and very low miles. I'm guessing that they twist like that because of repeated twisting and stress, even daily driving loosening up those rivets. I can open my doors at full flex.
 
not sure if its helpful or not.. but when i was out wheeling, with my hardtop on, in my 87 . had some body flex, heard the roof popping. Then a little more and Heard Fiberglass breaking! now there's a crack in the top
 
The body on mine creaks, and pops like an old pirate ship....
The flexier it gets, the louder it is...

Chris knows... :haha:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom