Buyer's Remorse

[jor]

I've gotten a lot of good info from this site on my 87 Suburban. Now I need some Blazer advice. In a moment of madness, I bought a 69 K5 Blazer. As soon as I got it home (about 200 miles) I started thinking that I had made a bad mistake. I had no idea what it was worth and paid the asking price of $5,000. I'm thinking I paid way too much and now I'm wondering if I should proceed with this project at all. Here's what it is:
* 69 K5
* 350 (Mr. Goodwrench in 99, runs great & doesn't use any oil)
* 4 speed manual, not sure of gearing, maybe 3.43 or so, 12 bolt rear, 10 bolt front
* Air Conditioner (after market, works fine)
* Running Gear all works fine
* Glass is all good and top is good except for a mounted roof rack
* Seats are original, I think and need some work, back one is pretty good
* Top seems to have a metal insert or something (my old Blazer many years ago just had fiberglass as I recall)


Now for the bad stuff:
* It has rust issues - drivers floor, a little on pax floor on the edge, left front bed floor next to wheel well, bed back edge, starting on one quarter panel and one door corner
* It had some rust repaired back in 1993. I found three patch panels that look well done and are still solid
* Needs brake job (probably have to replace the drums)
* Tailgate is bonded over to achieve the smooth look. Bondo was breaking and the metal looks good underneath.

Anyhow, here are a few photos followed by some links to others that show the issues. Thanks.
jor

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m105/joroiga/14-rustdriversfloor.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m105/joroiga/15-rustdriversfloor.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m105/joroiga/13-rustpaxfloor.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m105/joroiga/18-rustleftbedfloor.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m105/joroiga/20-bedrustrearedge1-1.jpg

 

[tarussell]

It's all a matter of how happy YOU are about the purchase . 69 K5's are rare so price is a matter of much debate depending what is important to you.
I would be happy to find a 69 K5 in the south/east in moderately fixable shape for that price.
There are a lot of knowledgeable folks on this forum that can help out with the first Gen stuff - some of them have taken much worse cases than yours and turned them into master pieces.
Good luck , what ever you decide to do !
Tom

 

[CDA 455]

Dude, you have vehicle that's almost forty years olds!

And it's a FIRST MODEL YEAR!

I say it looks pretty damn good for being that old too!

 

[jor]

Yea, I'm really conflicted on this. I'm a pretty good shade tree but I have very little experience with body work. I guess I was not prepared for the rust issues. It's not usually much of a problem around here (Tucson, Arizona). I'm trying to decide whether to just get rid of it now before I commit to it or figure out a plan. If I decide to dump it I'm just hoping I can get what I paid for it or close to that anyhow. I'd appreciate anyone else chiming in on this. Thanks.
jor

 

[bp71k5]

Let me know if you need someone to take it off you hands.

 

[fordeater]

Yea, I'm really conflicted on this. I'm a pretty good shade tree but I have very little experience with body work. I guess I was not prepared for the rust issues. It's not usually much of a problem around here (Tucson, Arizona). I'm trying to decide whether to just get rid of it now before I commit to it or figure out a plan. If I decide to dump it I'm just hoping I can get what I paid for it or close to that anyhow. I'd appreciate anyone else chiming in on this. Thanks.
jor

Dude, if i was you, I would put some time and money into that thing and get it done. Those things are awesome, and what better way to learn a little body work then trying to do it yourself. I wouldn't sell it just because these things are getting harder and harder to find in descent shape. Get her done and show us the finished product pictures.

 

[Yukon Jack]

If it is as solid as it looks you probably didn't do too bad. Most of these Blazers are pretty rusty and rust takes alot of time/money to repair. If yours is truly as good as it looks, you are along way ahead time and money wise.

The areas you show of you floor is pretty typical rust and is often much worse than what you have pictured. Of course you want to get it fixed but if that is delayed a year or two or even more, that won't be the end of the world.

Your front axle should be a Dana 44 unless it has been swapped out. The transfer case could be a Dana 20, pretty sure the NP205 wasn't being put in the 69 K5's. My 69 K20 has a Rockwell T221 and my 70 K5 with a 4 speed apparently had the Dana 20 from the factory though it was missing when I bought my K5.

I say drive the K5 around, get the top off and enjoy it!!!! You will soon find you have one sweet ride and it is very cool to be driving down the road and be the only 69 K5 that most people will ever see. Heck around here I hardly ever see a First Gen K5. Fix the things that really need to be fixed now and take the rest slowly after you have developed a plan.

 

[Greg72]

Before you make any decisions, do yourself a simple favor........

Take the top off, and drive it around for a week.

I guarantee you will feel differently about the truck after spending some time driving it in the "manner in which it was designed". 1st Gens should NOT have tops on them unless it's raining or snowing....IMHO.

As for the rust.....oh well. 40-year old trucks have it, and 1st Gen Blazers are no exception. The question is: "What's the big deal?"...you can still enjoy the truck while you chip away at the rust repair. It doesn't have to be Concours-worthy before you can have fun.

A decent body shop can deal with the most urgent rust issues, and the rest can be addressed as time and budget allow.....

I don't think you did badly on that truck. Buying a specialty vehicle is more of an "emotional purchase" than a "practical purchase" so the question of value is seldom relevant.

Enjoy it a little, take it for a drive with the top off and report back in 7 days with your findings.

 

[thealien]

Don't feel bad I paid almost twice that for a 1972 GMC Jimmy that looked real nice till I got it home. I have never done rust repair but I do own a mig? These trucks are getting rarer by the day. I agree take thr top off, have some fun and chip away!

 

[jor]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. Today I was working on my Suburban (replacing the trashed 10 bolt with a 14 bolt) and my eye kept roving to the Blazer which is parked right next to it. I guess I'll enlist my big burly son to help me get the top off and take the advice of driving it around a bit. I don't know though; it's about 100 degrees out there and our rainy season is just about to start. Hey, that's part of the fun, right? Anyhow, it sounds as though the Blazer is probably worth what I paid (emotional purchase, I know). Now I just have to decide whether to go through with it. I didn't mention but in order to keep it I'm going to have to get rid of a truck that I like a lot (67 F-100). The reason: My wife and I were returning from a walk the other day and she said, "You know, this place is starting to look like a wrecking yard." Ouch - I winced. Anyhow, Blazer in, one truck out. Thanks again and I'll post what I decide. It does look pretty good in the driveway though.
jor

One other question: Anyone know if you're supposed to grease or oil the inner and outer wheel bearings on a full floating 14 bolt? Thanks.

 

[Blazin'4x4]

Beautiful truck man. Sure wish mine looked that nice. You gotta look at all the good things about that Blazer before any remorse.

 

[Greg72]

One other question: Anyone know if you're supposed to grease or oil the inner and outer wheel bearings on a full floating 14 bolt? Thanks.

Those bearings receive lubrication from the diff lube....no grease is needed.

 

[DavidB]

It's hot here too. But I have an 88 K5 that I built, flipped, ruined the body, and drive anyway. No doors or windshield. Drive it in the evening or the am when it's not hot, you'll love it.

Mine looks like Mad Max. Flat black, beat to heck, muddy, 38" tires, no muffler...it gets looks, and it's a blast. You'd get "Wow, nice!" looks instead of "What the....?!" like I get though.