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Don't want to give up on it :(

1

19blazer78

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Aug 28, 2004
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St. Marys, West Virginia
I messed up and bought a 80 K5 for a $1000. I didn't check it out really good because it was freezing and snow on the ground. Outside was redone. New outer and inner fenders, both rockers, both rear bedsides and grille support. It looked decent..

Started to tear it apart last month to put new carpet, and to clean and fix interior parts.

Got the carpet out and found a TON more rust through than I thought there was. I'm talking both inner rockers, dr. side front and rear floor and corner, pass. side rear floor and corner, both inner wheel wells, cab susupports and tailgate support.... IDK what to do. The outside is in good condition but the inside is I guess fixable but IDK where to even start.

My neighbor said he would just cut the back off and put a flatbed on it to save me time and money, and then just get a sheet of metal and block the rear of the cab off. That way I would just have to focus on the cab floor repairs.

HELP! :doah:
 
could you part it out and recoup some/most of your money?

Rust repair is very time consuming and can rack up the bucks in a hurry....that's if you do it yourself...which requires a lot of tools/and basic metal knowledge...it can be done, if you hire it done, you will throw thousands at it probably.

BUT there are a few threads where extensive repairs have been accomplished...see these two for starters:

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=283048

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194154
 
Like Dave said, rust repair (if done the right way) will cost some serious coin. If it really is that extensive, I'd try to get as much of your money back as you can. Whether by reselling it to someone who can deal with the bodywork or parting it out.

I will say though, that it also depends on what you're planning on doing with the vehicle. My '73 had some extensive rot, but since I was looking more for "function over fashion" build, I managed to do the repairs myself and ended up satisfied.

It all boils down to how much money and effort you want to put in so that you achieve the repair and function that you want. This truck was my dad's and had a lot of sentimental value. I planned to drive it and use it like a real truck. I wasn't getting rid of it, so fixing the rust on my limited budget was the option I chose.



I never ordered any patch panels from say LMC or Classic Parts, just cut and welded my own, plus the sliders I integrated, and then put bedliner over it all.



(And because I've already linked so many photos, a couple more:whistle:)

 
I made cardboard templates and gave them to my brother in law. He is going to cut and bend the floorpans out of 18g for me for free but I have been waiting for over a month now for him to get some free time to do it. I'm trying to fix this thing with little to no money. So i've been trying to find junk washers and dryers for metal. I really need to do something about the tailgate support though. I don't think I can make one of those. So i'll probably need to buy one.

The floors themselves I'm not too concerned about, its more the supports and bracing. This is my first real project and its almost too much for me to do on my own. I don't have a welder but do know someone that has a stick welder that is willing to let me uae it or do it for me.

I'm not in a hurry to get it done but it would be nice to get started somewhere. And know i'm doing something besides letting it rot in the backyard.
 
I hate to say it but if you have limited resources and experience in sheetmetal work it may not be worth your while to fix. On the other hand, if it was me, I would buy a good used mig welder and use the truck as a learning project. If W.Va trucks are as bad as PA truck I know ya got a doozy on your hands. I think if you had the time and patience you could learn a lot making panels and welding them in. Just my .02 Good luck man

Oh. Don't try to use a stick welder on sheetmetal. It doesn't work well unless you have really good experience with them.
 
Just put the carpet in and drive the thing! I promise you that unless you have someone who has completed one of these rust repair projects that it will be the death of your K5. I learned that lesson once. Rust sucks, but it isn't like the body is going to fall off your truck. Just run it! If you must have rust free, put a for sale sign in the window and pass it on to the next guy while you look for a nice rust free one!
 
What about finding a rust free tub?

If you're set on fixing this truck, that's the best bet.
 
kind of agree with what's been said, but here's a question: What are your plans for this thing?

If it's a toy, I say find a nice looking cab and swap it in. Flat bed the back and drive it.
Quick fix for the tailgate....throw it away and put in a truck gate. No floor supports to deal with.

If it's a cruiser that you want to drive distances, sleep in, carry family around, etc etc..... I say move on. Take your losses, lick your wounds, and find something better. If you want help finding something out here, there are plenty of CA members willing to take a look a rig for you. We got a lot of rust free stuff and wouldn't mind seeing them go to a good home instead of the junkyard.
 
Well I don't have the money to find a rust free or little rust cab. I've looked on different sites for another Blazer and everyone wants $3-6k, yeah they look way better then what I got, but I wanted a cheap project, something to learn on. I just didn't expect what I got.

If I can patch up the corners where there is no support and the tailgate support I think it'll be ok. I don't need a show car. Then I'll just rivit in some flat metal to cover the holes. New carpet and be done.
 
Plywood is cheap and don't rust. Some good paint, varnish or fiberglass and its pretty rot and waterproof.
Carpet in the floorboards looks the same if its over wood or steel.

Just make sure the frame is sound, and the rest is mostly cosmetic.
 
Yeah true.

How does the bed floor attach to everywhere else? I can see 4 frame bolts and the ones that are across the middle where the floor drops into the cab. Are there anymore? And is the tailgate support welded or bolted in?
 
19blazer78 said:
Yeah true.

How does the bed floor attach to everywhere else? I can see 4 frame bolts and the ones that are across the middle where the floor drops into the cab. Are there anymore? And is the tailgate support welded or bolted in?
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Take a look at this catalog. http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/csb/full.aspx?Page=40

It shows all the parts they sell for aftermarket. You can use it to understand how the pieces go together and come up with your own solutions.
 
muddermilitia said:
This, find a truck with a blown up engine or no engine at all. Either that or its Trazer time :pimp:
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That's what I was gunna say. Find a super cheap donor truck, blown motor, trans, whatever. Take the body stuff you need (or whole body) and part/scrap the rest.

I'm in the same boat, though I already saw some of the interior rust, and knew how bad it was gunna be when I ripped the carpet. And yup I was right! So for now I'm just wheeling the snot out of it and banging it up so it fits on tight trails better :thumb:

And when a donor comes along for next to nothing, I'll grab it up. Well, I'll try. Like right now there's a early 80s 3/4 ton 4x4 swb for $500 I want sooo bad.
 
19blazer78 said:
Well I don't have the money to find a rust free or little rust cab. I've looked on different sites for another Blazer and everyone wants $3-6k, yeah they look way better then what I got, but I wanted a cheap project, something to learn on. I just didn't expect what I got.

If I can patch up the corners where there is no support and the tailgate support I think it'll be ok. I don't need a show car. Then I'll just rivit in some flat metal to cover the holes. New carpet and be done.
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It'll work out for you. Just do what you can, and don't bite off more than you can chew. Clean all the rust you can, and be sure and seal up all the seams with a good sealer. No silicone!
 
I can't buy another truck. The wife is not happy with me buying this one. I have no support from her at all, she doesn't even like to talk about it if it comes up.

So anything I do needs to be cheap. I need to save up the extra money from the week to do anything.

Thanks for the LMC tip. Looks like its bolted in on the ends. Anyone know about the middle?
 
19blazer78 said:
I can't buy another truck. The wife is not happy with me buying this one. I have no support from her at all, she doesn't even like to talk about it if it comes up.

So anything I do needs to be cheap. I need to save up the extra money from the week to do anything.

Thanks for the LMC tip. Looks like its bolted in on the ends. Anyone know about the middle?
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Fire it up and take her for a ride somewhere. Show her that the truck is both fun and useful. Things will be much easier once she is on your side.
 
She walked passed it a couple times and since its parked in the back she made the choice to do it. It was while I was working on it so she was curious.

She said it looks like a creeper van that you see in the child abduction movies. LOL

I told her once its fixed up and painted it will look better. She just says whatever.

I told her the other day I was going to drive it to Lowes and she gave me a weird look and then bitched at me because I needed to put gas in it to go. This is how much she doesn't like it. She doesnt even want me to put $10 in gas in it because its a waste of money. So if I need anything for it I have to save my spare change and not spend as much during the week on lunch or snacks, because its a waste of money to buy anything unless its for her.

I've needed to buy rotors for my DD for over a month now but she doesn't think its a nesesity, just like oil changes and other wear and maint. parts. As long as it starts and goes it doesnt need anything fixed.

Her car is now 2000miles overdue for an oil change and i've reminded her about once a week but it still runs so we dont need to spend the money for oil and a filter. Even if I do it. I'm not telling her again and when it blows she could bitch all she wants because shes going to have to walk. I'm not buying anymore cars for her to neglect.
 
Wow, sounds like you've got it pretty bad. And I thought my fiance hated my jeep haha. I tried to get her to drive while 4 wheeling and she told me she'd put it into a tree on purpose...hard. I laughed...

Well, find some straight sheetmetal for cheap or free and rivet it down for now. It's always removable if you have the means to do it right later.
 
$20 4" grinder and some cut off wheels
$100 110V Habor Freight spackler
basic hand tools (hammer, tape measure
J/Y for washers, dryers, steel shelving... for donor metal

it won't be purdy, but it'll pass inspection if you have it in your state

just fix it! the feeling of accomplishment when you're "done" is awesome.
 
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