cross reference parts list for the k5?

[jbeckerson]

I recently got an 85 k5. I love digging around in the junkyards to find parts for my blazer, but im not always positive what all parts will interchange with mine. i see a lot of old chevys that have plenty of parts to pick, im just not sure what all is an exact fit. Is there any kind of direct interchange chart? I do plan on doing a lot of fab work on the inside so its not like i need a lot to have a lot of direct fit replacement parts, itd just be nice to have a chart.

 

[POORBOYK5]

No real chart that I know of. The closest direct fit items are going to be 81-86 if you don't get too picky. But many others will for 81-91 and it gets slimmer for 73-91. I think there is some sort of generation change list somewhere on here. Not so much an interchange guide, more of a blazer evolution with timeline changes. I'm sure someone will chime in.

 

[454Sub]

If it has the same front end, it will fit. That being said, its fairly easy to swap 80+ stuff on the older round headlight 79 and downs to. Chevy was pretty good about keeping the tub the same, and almost all the parts will fit anything.

It might not be a direct fit, but if it comes off a 73ish to 95ish, it will fit, it may require a bit of work, but it will work.

Chevy was king of reusable parts and RMC (rolling model changes) that were mostly a cosmetic thing. Take a look at Ford for example, and how many different bellhousings they have for their array of motors, and you will fall in love with GM genius on that.

Now, 70s style hoods and front fenders were alot different, the cowl lifted up with the hood, vs newer styles the cowl stays down. But rarely do people swap an older style front end on a newer truck, so thats not much to worry about.

 

[jbeckerson]

Alright cool. Does that go for all Chevy trucks not just including blazers?

 

[wage92]

i believe it does. only thing is, trucks changed in 88, k5s stayed the same til 91

 

[454Sub]

K5s and Suburbans stayed the same till 91. And maybe the crew cab 1 tons, but thats a rare beast.

 

[dyeager535]

Not even sure they are made anymore, but the Hollanders interchange manual was the old standby before wrecking yards went automated. Probably the same concept nowadays, just computerized.

Should be easy to find one from the mid 90's, the ones I had went back into the 60's and up into the late 80's.

Really unnecessary, eventually you will know what will interchange.

 

[jbeckerson]

thanks for the input guys. hope to get some things done to her real soon. as it sits right now, its pretty stock. simply unacceptable for me. will be posting lots more questions. its nice to know ill get quick replies.

 

[diesel4me]

The Hollander manuals were the "bible" when it came to knowing what other vehicles parts would fit and work on older vehicles,they even had some footnotes on some parts saying "this number part will also work if you modify this or that"...but we found many things at the junkyard that would also fit and work they made no mention of,or required just a bit of fiddling to get it to work too...on todays cars when you need the exact same year and model vehicle or else parts wont fit or work,or even ones identical can vary due to different emission packages in different states,the interchange manuals might be wrong more often than right in many instances...its hit or miss compared to the old days...

Often an engine for example,will fit and work for several different vehicles and years,but to install it in YOUR vehicle will require both engines to be stripped down to the bare block and your injectors,wiring harness,upper air intake and sensors to be reinstalled into the "new" engine,which is a hell of a lot more work than in the old days...its not plug and play like it used to be...no wonder many mechanics found other jobs after the 1990's!...

I've seen engines get stripped and prepped like that more than once,only to find out when they go to install it ,its missing an important bracket boss or bolt hole,etc,creating a big headache...friend ran into this on a 3.1 GM recently,when the car ,a chevy,needed a engine and the salvage yard sold him one from an Oldsmobile ,that had the least mileage,etc...went to install it and found some things had no bolt holes where they needed to be...also has had engines for "california emissions" end up having many different parts like exhaust manifolds,etc too...so be sure what you buy will work before you get too deep into it!..

 

[jbeckerson]

alright cool. thanks a lot. ive ran into a few issues already from the junkyards and parts not matching. with a bit of brains and some willingness to get off your ass, im finding its rather easy making these parts work.

 

[82355]

Other than silly transfer case spline counts, they all interchange!

Martin

 

[diesel4me]

Thats one thing I dislike about GM's 4x4s.,they used way too many diferent tranny output shafts and spline counts ,and transfer case mounts/adapters...makes drivetrain swaps a pain unless you have ALL the parts from a donor...other than that though,you can put pretty much anything Chevy in a truck they built from the 70's to 87 without many issues,a little fiddling and filing will be all you'd need to do,if anything...car engines and trucks shared almost all the same parts,brackets,manifolds,etc,and a great deal of interchanability was what made GM "good" for a backyard mechanic...and made getting used parts a breeze,you had multiple years and models to choose from at salvage yards...

Unfortunately after '87,that all pretty much went out the window,they started changing everything every year pretty much,often just different enough so it wouldn't fit a similar truck...I think that was a Ford exclusive that GM decided was a "good idea",making two of nothing exactly the same....now its a nightmare to do an engine swap,etc,on a newer vehicle thanks to that..you spend as much time searching boneyards for stupid little things as you do bolting the truck back together...