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Early Classic Enterprises Hitch

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fall0ut

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Anyone ever actually install the Early Classic Enterprises hidden hitch on a 1st gen K5? I have one that came with mine when I bought it, but I think I see why they didn't install it. Seems you have to drill out the rear spring mount rivets and it bolts in there? How difficult is that, anything special to watch out for while I'm drilling those out?
 
Take a grinder and cut the center of the rivet head. Then use an air chisel to remove the heads. I'll use the same chisel with a punch tool to punch the rivet through the other side. If you're lucky, it's that simple, but sometimes you have to remove both heads or do extra grinding. They aren't that bad, between my K5 and C10......oh my lordie I've removed plenty of them.

Obviously don't remove all the rivets unless you want things to come off.

Try searching "rivets" in titles only portion of the advance forum search tool.

Also, if you don't have an air chisel a regular chisel you can strike with a hammer will work. Mine is nothing special, bought from Harbor Freight with probably 50+ rivets removed.
 
Doesn't look too fun to do that :(.. Not too sure how well it actually fits under the gussets either.. So much easier on a pickup.. :(
 
I installed one on mine and don't remember having to remove any rivets. Although I have a shackle flip installed and I removed one for that. It all assembled pretty easy as far as I remember. I can take pictures if it helps.

Oh, the air chisel thing never worked for me, but a cutoff wheel on the head did work much faster.
 
Pictures would be awesome, there's a lot of stuff around about putting them in C10s, but nothing on blazers.. Did the hitch go under the shackles or over them? I've got stock mounts with what appear to be Tuff Country 6" lift springs..
 
It just bolted straight up under the frame. There was one cutout on the hitch that clears at least one rivet. I'll have to check when it's light out.
 
bp71k5 said:
It just bolted straight up under the frame. There was one cutout on the hitch that clears at least one rivet. I'll have to check when it's light out.
Click to expand...

Brian's right. There's a notch in the flange for the rivet. Mine's mounted slightly different because of the shackle flip. But you get the idea here...

IMG_0151.sized.jpg
 
I wouldn't remove that gusset on the stock hangars....Out of curiosity, could you remove the gusset and then drill a hole on the side of the hitch and put a bolt through the hangar and the hitch to use the hitch as a gusset?
 
That was possibly the idea, but I think the hitch doesn't go back far enough to cover that..

I don't need spring flip hangers since it's got lift springs on it, does ORD/anyone make an improved hanger that is close to the stock position?
 
Cutting the hitch where it wouldn't hit the gusset would only leave 1 bolt at the front.. The 2 rear holes in the hitch line up with the gusset's rivets, but due to the hitch having that rear downward slope it wouldn't cover the bolt completely..

I really see why the previous owner never got around to installing this now.. Maybe I'll just look for a universal fit that will line up and hit the rear of the frame a bit better.. Maybe stick out below the license plate instead.
 
Looks like the Uhaul UHI75914CH is custom made to avoid this and comes out below the bottom of the bumper.. Anybody have non-stock spring hangers and want an ECE Hidden Hitch?

"Please note:
U-Haul is the only known company with a hitch that will fit your vehicle. However, these trailer hitches are built as ordered, so please allow 14 additional business days to complete the manufacturing process."
 
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