bluecollarjock
1/2 ton status
Hi,
Been looking on and off for a few years for a second 4x4 for trail riding and weekend joy riding. Grew up off roading an 87 K5, 2.5" lift springs front and rear, 33" mudders, pipe bumpers, 350 fuel inj 4 speed manual...I wheeled it long and hard for years (broke dang near everything on it at some point), drove it up and down the east coast falling apart and burning oil, finally had to sell it because it got towed and tagged as a safety hazard ha....well, I think I finally found its replacement 7 years later...and please be honest if you think its a horrible deal I could back out by tuesday if I wanted. Im in the metro DC area, poor cop in high cost of living area, going nuts as a city slicker and wanting to hit the outback again. Been test driving lifted Jeeps and trucks for months for the $4k price range, and out here it ends up basically being beaters I doubt could pass inspection or need tons of work which I wouldnt trust on a trail.
Here is the skinny:
-86 K5 with 87k original miles
Blazer was in a tow lot never claimed for about 4 years, mechanic bought it off the lot. The air cleaner was off it and I guess something got in the engine and it smoked a little.
-He dropped in a crate 350 with Holley 4 barrel and Edlebrock intake, about 7500 on the engine now.
-brand new exhaust
-4 speed auto 700R4 tranny just serviced by a shop he works at and says it didnt need rebuilt
-new tranny cooler installed
-brand new 8" Rancho front leaves, leaves + blocks in rear, all new hardware
-brand new custom rear driveshaft and u-joints, front driveshaft is stock he said people he asked said it didnt need replaced since it elongates and is okay with the lift
-new front brakes
-extended brake lines
-brand new and I mean brand new 36x15.5 radial Baja Claws
-brand new Mickey Thompson beadlock Classic II rims
-Sony CD player, 2 kenwood 12" subwoofers, sony amp
-new radiator
-new bearings in axles, new seals
-new warn locking hubs
-new A/C condensor and charge
-5 month old paint job, and it looks nice as heck, no rust on this thing at all except surface on the tailgate, even underneath very very minor surface rust in a few places
-interior was all custom, his dad owns a custom shop and put in special thick padding under the carpet for the stereo or something, new carpet, doors and ceiling covered with some custom canvas looking stuff with Chevy symbol
-No kidding, Dukes of Hazzard Dixie airhorn haha
-tinted windows
I think thats about it. I couldnt believe how mint it looked for a 20 year old truck. The wheel combo would cost around $2k uninstalled in this area, and the lift installed around here would probably be $1k, stereo seems to be $2k system. Crate motor if its like the one I put in another GMC of mine before is a few grand....Im getting this for $5k.
Only concerns: stock gearing in the axles....but I figure I could put 4.56's (or 4.88s??) in them in the spring after saving up some money, and maybe a locker in the rear. Are the 36x15.5 Baja Claws too much for the stock axles if Im just planning on mild trail riding? The 8" lift is overkill, I can crawl on all fours underneath it without banging my head. I think 6" would have done, but he didnt want to do any trimming. The steering is not so great, the wheel has some play in it and steers like a boat, but every lifted truck and Jeep Ive driven has had the same type of feel. Could I tighten up the steering or I have to live with that on a 8" lift and big tires? Frame was solid, but I know those years have issues with frame cracks near the steering box, so maybe I should get a plate added there in the future.
Okay, am I crazy???? Ive been lamenting the loss of my 87 K5 for years...somewhere I have videos of me in high school in a mullet tearing up Western PA and NE Ohio trails, muck fields, and stream crossings..and then driving it through college and grad school until I had to finally let her go...Jeeps are the thing around here, and thats what I was intially looking at, old CJs, older TJs, and YJs...but driving the Jeeps even without big tires were all over the road to me. The big ole K5 has steering wander, but not more than the Jeeps, lifted Explorer, or 78 lifted Bronco with 37"s I drove.
Around here, Im looking at $2k-$4k just for a stock high mileage beater Blazer with no mods, lift, or tires. This truck seems too good to be true other than the stock gears making it way slow off the line. The owner is a mechanic, races cars, works on cars for a living so I am trusting the thing was put together pretty good...and even my girlfriend gave the thumbs up because it was so nice and clean she wouldnt be embarrassed to see it in my driveway.
Any comments, questions, concerns I should think about?? Im throwing my bank account out after this haha...poor cop Ill be back to week to week with the bills.
[email protected] is my email if you have suggestions, warnings, or affirmations its a good deal!
Thanks, God Bless, Be Safe
Matt
Been looking on and off for a few years for a second 4x4 for trail riding and weekend joy riding. Grew up off roading an 87 K5, 2.5" lift springs front and rear, 33" mudders, pipe bumpers, 350 fuel inj 4 speed manual...I wheeled it long and hard for years (broke dang near everything on it at some point), drove it up and down the east coast falling apart and burning oil, finally had to sell it because it got towed and tagged as a safety hazard ha....well, I think I finally found its replacement 7 years later...and please be honest if you think its a horrible deal I could back out by tuesday if I wanted. Im in the metro DC area, poor cop in high cost of living area, going nuts as a city slicker and wanting to hit the outback again. Been test driving lifted Jeeps and trucks for months for the $4k price range, and out here it ends up basically being beaters I doubt could pass inspection or need tons of work which I wouldnt trust on a trail.
Here is the skinny:
-86 K5 with 87k original miles
Blazer was in a tow lot never claimed for about 4 years, mechanic bought it off the lot. The air cleaner was off it and I guess something got in the engine and it smoked a little.
-He dropped in a crate 350 with Holley 4 barrel and Edlebrock intake, about 7500 on the engine now.
-brand new exhaust
-4 speed auto 700R4 tranny just serviced by a shop he works at and says it didnt need rebuilt
-new tranny cooler installed
-brand new 8" Rancho front leaves, leaves + blocks in rear, all new hardware
-brand new custom rear driveshaft and u-joints, front driveshaft is stock he said people he asked said it didnt need replaced since it elongates and is okay with the lift
-new front brakes
-extended brake lines
-brand new and I mean brand new 36x15.5 radial Baja Claws
-brand new Mickey Thompson beadlock Classic II rims
-Sony CD player, 2 kenwood 12" subwoofers, sony amp
-new radiator
-new bearings in axles, new seals
-new warn locking hubs
-new A/C condensor and charge
-5 month old paint job, and it looks nice as heck, no rust on this thing at all except surface on the tailgate, even underneath very very minor surface rust in a few places
-interior was all custom, his dad owns a custom shop and put in special thick padding under the carpet for the stereo or something, new carpet, doors and ceiling covered with some custom canvas looking stuff with Chevy symbol
-No kidding, Dukes of Hazzard Dixie airhorn haha
-tinted windows
I think thats about it. I couldnt believe how mint it looked for a 20 year old truck. The wheel combo would cost around $2k uninstalled in this area, and the lift installed around here would probably be $1k, stereo seems to be $2k system. Crate motor if its like the one I put in another GMC of mine before is a few grand....Im getting this for $5k.
Only concerns: stock gearing in the axles....but I figure I could put 4.56's (or 4.88s??) in them in the spring after saving up some money, and maybe a locker in the rear. Are the 36x15.5 Baja Claws too much for the stock axles if Im just planning on mild trail riding? The 8" lift is overkill, I can crawl on all fours underneath it without banging my head. I think 6" would have done, but he didnt want to do any trimming. The steering is not so great, the wheel has some play in it and steers like a boat, but every lifted truck and Jeep Ive driven has had the same type of feel. Could I tighten up the steering or I have to live with that on a 8" lift and big tires? Frame was solid, but I know those years have issues with frame cracks near the steering box, so maybe I should get a plate added there in the future.
Okay, am I crazy???? Ive been lamenting the loss of my 87 K5 for years...somewhere I have videos of me in high school in a mullet tearing up Western PA and NE Ohio trails, muck fields, and stream crossings..and then driving it through college and grad school until I had to finally let her go...Jeeps are the thing around here, and thats what I was intially looking at, old CJs, older TJs, and YJs...but driving the Jeeps even without big tires were all over the road to me. The big ole K5 has steering wander, but not more than the Jeeps, lifted Explorer, or 78 lifted Bronco with 37"s I drove.
Around here, Im looking at $2k-$4k just for a stock high mileage beater Blazer with no mods, lift, or tires. This truck seems too good to be true other than the stock gears making it way slow off the line. The owner is a mechanic, races cars, works on cars for a living so I am trusting the thing was put together pretty good...and even my girlfriend gave the thumbs up because it was so nice and clean she wouldnt be embarrassed to see it in my driveway.
Any comments, questions, concerns I should think about?? Im throwing my bank account out after this haha...poor cop Ill be back to week to week with the bills.
[email protected] is my email if you have suggestions, warnings, or affirmations its a good deal!
Thanks, God Bless, Be Safe
Matt
