I now own a 1980 k5 blazer, so excited

[Irishmic]

It spent most of its life in California. A few spots of rust on body from chipped paint, all clean underneath. The roof has cracks in it, seems like fiberglass not metal.
It had a LS 5.3 that got put in 3,000 miles ago. Other specs TH 350 transmission, headers with dual magnaflow, 6 inch lift on 35s, Texas speed 600 lift cam, roller rockers.
Breaks need to be redone. Engine is sluggish, power steering leaking. Going to have it professionally looked at to see what's what. Also, back tailgate is needing love. Window not on the rails, held up by screws.
Had an owner for 20ish years, this last guy had it for 1.5 years and I think he tried to fix basic stuff but seems like he gave up, like with back window.
We will see next week what is going on. Overall I'm so excited to have it and can't wait to get it in its best shape.
Also, just day dreaming about what can be done to just make it more awesome.

 

[nvrenuf]

Good looking Blazer, love the square headlights.

 

[Wes Harden]

Congrats, good looking truck. You'll get many years of enjoyment with it.

 

[rampage]

Sluggish engine is probably because the gears in the axles weren’t changed. Make sure to check carefully for frame cracks at the steering box.

 

[centexk5]

That’s a pretty decent cam and it probably needs a torque converter along with new gearing in the axles. Could also be the tune. Nice truck.

 

[LuceBruce65]

Very nice, enjoy!!

 

[LuceBruce65]

Very nice, enjoy!!

 

[Bent77]

That’s a pretty decent cam and it probably needs a torque converter along with new gearing in the axles. Could also be the tune. Nice truck.

Tune was my first thought. Probably worth having it looked at just to make sure it wasn't done wrong, as much as done right so to speak

 

[Irishmic]

Sluggish engine is probably because the gears in the axles weren’t changed. Make sure to check carefully for frame cracks at the steering box.

It had been sitting for most of its time from the last owner too. The oil is old, the gas is probably old too etc... I had taken it on a short ride. Left front break locked up for a second, cam undone on its own but it is not okay to drive right now. Tires need to be balanced, needs new tires too. That's about as far as I can tell other than power steering leaking a good amount, transfer case leaking and needs a service. But I am no expert and have basically everything to learn.

 

[Irishmic]

Sluggish engine is probably because the gears in the axles weren’t changed. Make sure to check carefully for frame cracks at the steering box.

Thank you. I'll look and see. Information like this is so great from this place. So nice you can get such great help from people who know so much, thank you

 

[Bent77]

It had been sitting for most of its time from the last owner too. The oil is old, the gas is probably old too etc... I had taken it on a short ride. Left front break locked up for a second, cam undone on its own but it is not okay to drive right now. Tires need to be balanced, needs new tires too. That's about as far as I can tell other than power steering leaking a good amount, transfer case leaking and needs a service. But I am no expert and have basically everything to learn.

I'd start a build thread here

The Driveway (build threads)

(All Access) Document your build here.

ck5.com

Use it to document what all you do with it. Thread gives you more user options than a regular thread
Start with safety items and make it road worthy!

 

[Irishmic]

I'd start a build thread here

The Driveway (build threads)

(All Access) Document your build here.

ck5.com

Use it to document what all you do with it. Thread gives you more user options than a regular thread
Start with safety items and make it road worthy!

Oh awesome, I will start a build thread. That's a great idea to have it all written down. Plus I can look at all the hard work by everyone else. Thanks.

 

[Bent77]

Oh awesome, I will start a build thread. That's a great idea to have it all written down. Plus I can look at all the hard work by everyone else. Thanks.

It will benefit you long the long run, and it gives me something to read

 

[TJ1978]

Nice... id get new wheels and a proper grille and replace the tail light lenses. And of course add, ck5 stickers.

 

[Irishmic]

Nice... id get new wheels and a proper grille and replace the tail light lenses. And of course add, ck5 stickers.

One of the CK emblems was falling off so I pulled it think it had all of them. But the grille will be changed back to original style. Also, just about all the seals for the windows and the cab on back are total junk. I opened the triangle window on driver door and left it open. Closed the door, a plastic pice broke and the glass itself fell out. I was able to get back in and locked but it can't be used until fixed really.
Glad to hear any and all advice, recommendations, thoughts and anything else anybody has to add. New at all of this so my knowledge is rookie level both with what can be done and how to work on any of it.

 

[TJ1978]

You'll only be limited by funds (possibly)... the options and possibilities are almost endless for these trucks.

 

[max 02]

Good looking blazer!

 

[Big Ray]

ditch the th350, put in an overdrive and some 4.1 gears . That'll wake it up good

I just picked up a 79 with a sbc 400. Ditching the th350 for a manual o.d. tranny. It has 4.10s already.

 

[Irishmic]

I don't understand what I would replace it with. I understand to move to an overdrive, but what exactly would be replacing it? I just don't know what to look up for transmissions. Nore do I even know truly what the th350 is, as far as performance goes.

 

[ZooMad75]

So a th350 was GM’S light duty 3 speed automatic transmission. It does not have overdrive, third gear is direct drive or a 1:1 ratio. It was effective for the truck when it was new but that old trans is a poor match to a modern LS engine.

The most common automatic used with most LS swaps would be a 4L60e. It is a 4 speed with overdrive that is controlled by the same computer that runs the engine in a factory setup.

The question in your case is if the person that did the swap used a factory ls harness and if they kept or removed the wiring for the transmission. That will dictate how/what you need to do to run a 4L60e.

These trucks used the early version of the 4L60e that was known as the 700r4 (not computer controlled). However they are different enough you’ll need the right cross member for the trans and you’ll have to id the t-case to know if it will match up to the later trans.

It’s totally doable, but will require some research to figure out what you got so you know what you need to get.