Hello and Help

[cperalta2]

Hello out there.
My name is Chris and I'm a 26 year old coastie stationed in New Jersey. I've been reading the site for quite some time now but this is my first post.
I'm in need of some help. I just purchased an 89' blazer with 156K miles ($2700 ) . I think I've got myself in a jam. The truck runs great but the body is in really bad shape (rust). I can fix the fenders and doors but when I went to open the tailgate, the hinges started to rip off from the body instead of the hinges bending. I just closed it back up before the whole tailgate fell off. I don't even know if this is repairable. What exactly do the hinges hold on to??? Whatever it is...I need a new one. I have access to welding equipment but I don't even know where to start or even if it's worth the effort.
Any help or advice you guys can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Chris

 

[darkshadow]

did you read this?

http://coloradok5.com/floorremoval.shtml

i only had a blazer for a few weeks and a sub is different (but gets equily rusty mine is bad too)

but its mostly mounted to the floor. read up on this artical and it will give you a good idea of what you have to do.

but you dont have to do the entier floor.

 

[zeroz400]

Here is an article about repairing that tailgate hinge. http://coloradok5.com/rustytailgatehinge.shtml


Later

 

[cperalta2]

Thanks for the help, those articles gave me a good idea of what I'm dealing with.

 

[uao85]

Something else you could think about is locating a southern rust free body pb in or around some of the dry states. Like SoCal, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas. Just locate a body, have it shipped or pick it up. Coat it with something to prevent rust and find some free time to swap bodies. Then just junk the old body. Hope that you figure something out that works either way.

Remington

 

[k51989]

Something else you could think about is locating a southern rust free body pb in or around some of the dry states. Like SoCal, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas. Just locate a body, have it shipped or pick it up. Coat it with something to prevent rust and find some free time to swap bodies. Then just junk the old body. Hope that you figure something out that works either way.

Remington

dam that sounds kinda expensive.

 

[wraenking]

chris, where are you stationed? shark river, manasquan, sandy hook? i live in belmar, so if you ever need help or need to use any equipment, let me know.

tom

 

[smalltruckbigcid]

Try this guy, he's in PA (York area) and has some blazer bodies
http://www.flmv.net/ talk to Jeff
George

 

[cperalta2]

Thanks alot fellas, I'm leaning more towards repairing the body than replacing the whole thing. I'll just take my time and work one section at a time. I'll start with the tailpan though. Thanks again.

 

[loafer]

Hello out there.
My name is Chris and I'm a 26 year old coastie stationed in New Jersey. I've been reading the site for quite some time now but this is my first post.
I'm in need of some help. I just purchased an 89' blazer with 156K miles ($2700 ) . I think I've got myself in a jam. The truck runs great but the body is in really bad shape (rust). I can fix the fenders and doors but when I went to open the tailgate, the hinges started to rip off from the body instead of the hinges bending. I just closed it back up before the whole tailgate fell off. I don't even know if this is repairable. What exactly do the hinges hold on to??? Whatever it is...I need a new one. I have access to welding equipment but I don't even know where to start or even if it's worth the effort.
Any help or advice you guys can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Chris

You'll need to replace the rear tailpan and probably the floor while you are at it. JC Whitney and LMC truck sell all the body parts you'll need to fix the truck.

I replaceced the tailpan on one of mine...royal PIA. I made sure the next one I bought was a rust-free southern truck