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.

Converting a Truck into a Blazer.

stump_puller

stump_puller

1/2 ton status
 Premium
Joined
Apr 5, 2002
Posts
1,255
Reaction score
793
Location
Frankfort, Ky.
Well it looks like my woman is pregnant with our 2nd child. As great as this is. It leads to a big problem with getting us all in my truck when we go out wheeling. I really do not want to buy a Blazer or god forbid a Jeep. I was curious if anyone has cut the back wall out of their truck and added a back seat in the bed. This would be something similar to the layout of a Blazer. This is all in the brainstorming phase. I don't want to go full truggy.
I'm just not that familiar with the differences in the bodies between the two. Floor heights and whatnot. I know I will have to fill the gap in between the cab and bed. I have not started a roll cage but with this project in mind a cage will be high on my priority list. I guess if I shortened the bed also I could fit a blazer cap on it for weather protection.
Yes I have rambled on but I have got a ton of stuff sturing thru my head at the moment. So lets hear your ideas.
 
Have you thought about a cowboy camper?

images.jpg images (3).jpg images (4).jpg download (3).jpg


Most have a door in the back. Some have beds hence the camper name, but many have seats. Pop out the rear window and insert a gasket between the two and bam you have an ext cab pickup. Its not permanent. And the kids have their own space.
 
Suburbans are cheap right now as well,and they are great family haulers
 
Hadn't thought about the suburban route. Thanks

I still got some time before space becomes a problem. I guess in the meantime I will continue to get the truck able to be roadworthy again. Got to regear my front axle and install the 1 ton axle for the rear. Should help with the bad shifting it has right now. 35" tires and 3.42 gears in the mountains make for some slow going.
 
When my wife was pregnant with our first daughter, I was going to buy a Blazer since I had a standard cab truck and we needed the room. She's the one that talked me into getting a Suburban and I'm really glad she did. We got an 88 Sub in 2008 for $1500 and its been an awesome rig.

Katy is 7 now and having the 3rd row for hauling her and her friends has been awesome. Not to mention all the room for gear when I take the 3rd row out.
 
I picked up my 4x4 beater 'burb last year for $1600. You could find a nice one for $2500 or so.
My beater hasn't given me a lick of trouble since I've had it. Burbs are great for shopping, loading the family to go anywhere, comfortable on trips...The only downside with mine is the mileage, but then mine is carb'ed. Fuel injection would help me a little bit.
 
Yea if I get a blurb I would swap the drivetrain out for something modern to help with mileage. Plus then the woman could drive it.
 
I have noticed Suburban's tend to be in better shape than most pickups,being used as the family truckster and often garaged,when most pickups get beaten up as "work trucks" hauling heavy loads and used under bad weather conditions more often...

Up here they are often in better condition rust wise ,and have lower miles than a used pickup,and can be bought much cheaper--for some reason even high mileage rusty newer pickups here still are priced ridiculously high..
 
stump_puller said:
Yea if I get a blurb I would swap the drivetrain out for something modern to help with mileage. Plus then the woman could drive it.
Click to expand...
Why would you want to swap the drivetrain out? Get a model with stock TBI and 700R4 in it, if price is of a concern. I believe starting in '86 is when the TBI was introduced.
 
There's a lot of folks swapping in LS motors into these old tubs. You get the looks of the old with the power of the modern. A stock TBI puts out less than 200HP while a stock 5.3 puts out just over 300HP. What's not to like?


big-blue said:
Why would you want to swap the drivetrain out? Get a model with stock TBI and 700R4 in it, if price is of a concern. I believe starting in '86 is when the TBI was introduced.
Click to expand...
 
Burbdood 74 said:
There's a lot of folks swapping in LS motors into these old tubs. You get the looks of the old with the power of the modern. A stock TBI puts out less than 200HP while a stock 5.3 puts out just over 300HP. What's not to like?
Click to expand...

Oh, I am not saying not to go with a totally modern swap ... I was just pointing out that from a 'carb setup' that Big Ray mentioned to a mid-modern one, if he was going to get a burb - to get one that already had TBI. That way he can start enjoying 'some' of the benefits of out the gate. But sure, if HP is factor, then yeah - go even more modern.
 
I picked up a soccer mom 04 z71tahoe for a project the dang thing was perfect inside and out for 6500. Turned out to be too nice and the wife claimed it as her daily driver lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom