Highlander

[mjseverson]

I'm not an expert at searching for rigs in this way, so any help would be appreciated. Wanting an exhaustive list of details that I would look for when trying to buy a top of the line stock 1987 K5 Blazer. i.e. VIN information, factory options, etc....

 

[496truck]

This question would get better traffic in the garage section.

There are many ways to look for the truck you want. My vote is all of the above. Especially since you seem to be looking for something real specific. 87 only, or will 87-91 work? Are you trying to recreate something you used to own? What kind of price are you willing to spend? And condition plays a big role in price also.

Keep checking around here at CK5, sometimes real nice K5s get posted in the various sections of the forum here, usually under a craigslist find or ebay find. Sometimes members will hunt for their dream truck, even though they are not in the market for one, and post up some good finds on this site so the rest of us can drool too.

Remember, GM stopped making these things 20 years ago. The more specific your search criteria is, the harder and longer the search will be. My advice to you is open up the search criteria a bit, you may not find exactly what you're looking for, but you could get close enough. And the good thing about that is, these trucks are like Leggos, if you don't like what you have just add or remove untill you've built what you want. Real nice original survivors are out there, they do exist. Good luck with your search!

 

[nvrenuf]

A sticky thread from the Garage...

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=276543

 

[mjseverson]

Thanks for your help Brian,

I will make sure and post in the garage section. The reason I am looking for a 1987 is that I currently have a 87 custom deluxe and I like the TBI. The body is worn out but the drive train is great and I would like to put it into a K5 to give me more room to bring along the family. It has a newly rebuilt 3/4 ton, 4.56, fully floating rear end w/ detroit locker. A new 700R4 transmission, transfer case, and driveline. The front end isn't that great. It is a 1/2 ton, 4.56, eaton limited slip w/ 3/4 ton disk breaks. What year and type of front end would you recommend?

Dispite all the above, in you opinion what year of Blazer, 87 and older, is the is the better? and what do you think of the TBI vs. carburator?

If anyone else has any input feel free to chime in.

Thank, Michael

 

[mjseverson]

Thank John,

That thread you sent me was great and will be a lot of help.

Michael

 

[496truck]

87-91 K5 Blazer/Jimmy are all TBI. There are some differences in the t-case in that the 87-88 use NP208 and 88-91 use NP241. Both t-cases are similar and will swap except that the later ones use a VSS for the speedometer instead of a cable drive.

I prefer TBI over carb any day.

If you have good running gear and a swap is in the plans, open up your search to include 82 and up. Any of these should have been equipped with the 700R4 and will make the swap as simple as can be, just be prepared to swap over the TBI computer and harness and possibly the fuel tank with the internal pump/sender. Sounds difficult, but it's not.