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Cleaning Up under the Hood.

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Fleeman1

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Manila, AR
Ok, first off I'm new here and I'm 16. My dad gave me his 1985 K5 Blazer that I'm restoring and I am currently putting a 650 Holley carb and putting chrome heads on and such. I am also wanting to know what things are not important to the way the engine runs, such as emissions and such...Any help is appreciated! I'm wanting to remove clutter under the hood.
 
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Hello Fleeman1,

Welcome to the site. When you can, membership up, you will not regret doing so as this IS the best site period for ANYTHING Chevy K5 blazer. As far as "removing things" since it's an 85', that will depend on the smog laws in your state. I do not know about Ar. There will be plenty of guys who will know your area. I would not recommend removing anything till your certain you do not need it for smog.

I would ditch the jack assembly as the stock jacks are junk. What are your plans for this rig? You going to want to wheel it as a light duty off road/daily driver truck? or do you want to go hard core off road? If it's running I would just fix it up and keep it a daily driver till your more able to fix it up as money permits. You said your only 16 so unless dad if funding a build it's going to take a little time to fix it up like you want.

It takes about I believe 15 posts before you can post up pictures. When you get there post up pics so we can see what'cha got. and once you explain more what your going for, or the type of off roading your wanting to do that will help us help you. We are all happy to help the youngsters out. Good for you for pops giving you a good ol' K5. :waytogo:
 
If your going for more of a off road look there is alot of sheet metal that can be cut away that does not cost a thing other then some saw-all blades or radiac cut off wheels. What kind of tool access do you have???
 
Im not..

I'm not going for the Off-road look I'm going for a full restoration blazer that will look classy, I have already put $3,500 of my own money into it. The paint job 2-tone blue(the original color) cost $1593 so that wasn't too bad and as far as smog, well there are no regulations for some in AR. My dad bought it in 1985 and you won't believe this but the plastic that came in floors are still in it and he used it as a daily work truck:) it is by far the best daily driver/work truck blazer I've seen. He put a new 350 crate motor in it in 1993 but we think the motor was older and just was a surplus motor they had so its still stock. Everything is all original only 1 tear in front seat and it needs to be cleaned up but thats about it. Also I have any kind of tool available.
 
By "chrome heads" I assume you mean chrome valve covers? If it a restoration you are going for those will clearly stand out as not stock.

Martin
 
I am going for a Restoration everywhere but in the engine compartment, I want that to look real spiffy. I want it to look like it was professionally done. The interior will be a complete restoration, for what needs to be repaired ad the exterior, but the engine compartment I want to be real clean and look show quality.
 
Well cheesy chrome valve covers are not much of a dress up. If you are going to go through the work of restoring the whole thing, and keeping it stock, I would do the same with the engine, otherwise it will look like a half ass restoration.

Martin
 
I'm doing everything in chrome under the hood and the exterior was a top of the line package in 1985 and it has a lot of chrome so I want the engine to look as good as the truck! I did not on the other hand ask for your lousy opinion, I asked if anyone knew what things would be safe to just completely remove from the engine compartment.
 
Fleeman1 said:
I'm doing everything in chrome under the hood and the exterior was a top of the line package in 1985 and it has a lot of chrome so I want the engine to look as good as the truck! I did not on the other hand ask for your lousy opinion, I asked if anyone knew what things would be safe to just completely remove from the engine compartment.
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Relax, young'un. You'll get opinions on the internet, it's how it works. Chrome might look cool initially, but it's not stock, will rust quickly (and in the case of i.e. valve covers, will never fit or seal right) ... and many of us just abhor chrome.

As for your engine, surprisingly, GM put on most of those things because they are required for function. Yes, some are required for smog and not for basic operation, but if you go removing things willy-nilly you'll also have to retune and adjust. You'll also need to know how the various systems interact so that when you remove (x) and the truck runs different/badly, what to adjust or change to get back to where you were.

You'll also need new/different belts if you were to, say, remove the AIR pump, plus you'd need to plug all the holes used by its plumbing.

I say if the truck works, don't try to fix it. I've found that fixing my truck is very often the cause of the problem.

-- A
 
Glad to see you got a k5.as far as the engine goes with the smog and all that crap I'm not sure for your state.maybe some of these guys don't remember what it was at 16 but go for it if you want to dress it up some.sounds like you will take care of it getting it painted and all.hold on to it and in time you will be wheelin it
 
I'll offer some advice. If you want valve covers, get some nice aluminum ones, or MAYBE some high dollar chrome ones...the cheap stuff bends (so leaks) and does rust quickly, people speak from experience on this stuff.

As to what you can replace. The stock carb, does it have electrical wires to it? If so, you may need a new distributor as well. All the "smog" stuff can come off, except IMO EVAP. You need to be able to vent the tank, EVAP is the best way to do so that I've found.

Might want to then look into stainless headers (hedman makes them) as they should look good, and if you get rid of AIR, you'll end up with manifolds with plugs in them anyway. If going for looks, cast iron manifolds aren't it, at least in my eye.
 
I have aid a good sum of money for my chrome heads. They are stainless steel that were chromed so the will not rust out.
 
Fleeman1 said:
I have aid a good sum of money for my chrome heads. They are stainless steel that were chromed so the will not rust out.
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I am not trying to be a dick, but you really should quit calling them "heads". The cylinder head is under the "rocker cover" or "valve cover". It is cast iron, and I am sure it has been done, but I have NEVER seen a chrome head. Post up a picture of your chrome valve covers. Trust me, when I was 16 I put a set on my Camaro. I look back and laugh at them now. They are an inferior product, and the leaks will make your engine look less than show worthy. You are already starting with an engine prone to oil leaks, there is no need to make it worse.

Martin
 
Fleeman1 said:
I did not on the other hand ask for your lousy opinion, I asked if anyone knew what things would be safe to just completely remove from the engine compartment.
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Like was said, chill son. Your new here and thats no way to start off. You ask a question and your probably going to get the opinions and answers you want and a few you don't. No big deal. Just move on from a post you don't agree with. But, if you want to stick around and learn from those in the know you can't be hot headed and whine about things you don't like that people say.

Two things will happen if you start that. You WON'T get any help from anyone and eventually you will get banned after being spanked by all the guys here, who are all very cool, and know ALOT more then you do about these trucks. I'll gladly offer help, but not if your going to play like that. Respect your elders son and we will all get just along fine.
 
Anothe option

...would be to look at chrome alternators. Often a high-output alternator can not only look nice in chrome, but help keep the system charged should you choose to upgrade stereo, add a winch down the road, etc...
 
The very biggest thing with the engine bay in my mind is just keeping everything clean. All the wires loomed up, everything organized and neat.

But you are right taking everything off except for what it needs to run cleans it up a ton.

On an 86 there are going to be quite a few wires you can clean up. I don't know which ones for sure, best to find a wiring diagram and go from there.

I know in the past when I have helped detail engine bays we have gone as far as extended certain wires so that they can be loomed somewhere other than originally intended to be. Typically most of the fuel lines and other things like the cruise etc are not very attractive so either relocating those things or just making sure the stock routing is very clean is important.

Someone who is looking at an engine who doesn't know much about it will go wow look at all that shiny stuff thats awesome but if you wanna impress true gearheads have that engine bay organized and clean. That will impress more than just alot of chrome
 
I've seen many well built engines that didn't run well or last long,because of aftermarket valve covers....if you insist on ditching the originals,be sure the ones you buy are good ones with proper baffling to ensure the rocker arms and balls get adequate lube,and they have provisions for a oil filler cap,PCV valve,and a breather,thats properly hooked up...keeping the PCV valve is important,it does a lot towards keeping oil clean,the pressure in the crankcase to a minimum,preventing seal and gasket leaks ...

You wont gain anything by removing the PVC valve,thinking its just another unessasary "emission device".....things like a smog pump and catalitic converter can rob power ,and wont "hurt" to be removed,but removing them may also bring greif at inspection time, depending on the laws where you are... I would be inclined to restore it to factory specs myself,its hard to improve on what GM put into it to start with...
 
I heard a chromed combustion chamber will add 150hp before it flakes off. And don't worry, he paid a good sum of money to have stainless steel heads chromed so there's no way the chrome can rust on top of stainless steel, duh.

:rolleyes:


Whats with adults giving children things they have no idea what they're doing with and letting them run rampant on them? You would think if the father wanted the son to learn what he's doing he'd be there to give advice on what to do and not do...
 
Stomis said:
I heard a chromed combustion chamber will add 150hp before it flakes off. And don't worry, he paid a good sum of money to have stainless steel heads chromed so there's no way the chrome can rust on top of stainless steel, duh.

:rolleyes:


Whats with adults giving children things they have no idea what they're doing with and letting them run rampant on them? You would think if the father wanted the son to learn what he's doing he'd be there to give advice on what to do and not do...
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Dude seriously.

The kid asked a legitimate question?!!!???!!

I started out somewhere too when I didn't know the proper name of every single little thing. I thought chrome was cool ( still do to a degree).

I realize he got a little uppity in a post above but your post adds less than nothing to the thread.

I have seen stupider questions answered in full without so much as a thats kind of a dumb question but heres the answer.

I could care less if his Dad gave him everything and walked away.

Rememeber what your Mom said, if you don't have anything useful to say DON'T SAY IT AT ALL!!!!!!!
 
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