smith45acp
Registered Member
New to the board, new to the truck
Hello All!
Introduced to the site by DieselWarrior.
My dad had an '85 K5 6.2L when I was little. It's the only vehicle he gets misty talking about because he hates he sold it.
I started researching a "knockaround" vehicle for trips to my shooting range, hunting lease, boat towing, surf fishing etc.
I looked at a few jeeps and almost went that route, but then I remembered that old K5 and decided on a different route.
Drove from Raleigh to Atlanta with a trailer to haggle over an '87 Jimmy. Ended up getting it for 2K flat.
The good: -
-6.2L starts very quickly, runs smooth, makes good power, very little smoke and only when you mash it.
-Transmission seems to lock up tight and it shifts smoothly.
-VERY VERY little rust on this one. It's the 4th I looked at in my shopping and by far the best body of them all. No panel replacements appear necessary.
-Elec. windows all work, albeit slowly in the doors. The rear is fast but hits some kind of snag when going up about halfway.
The bad:
-Can't for the life of me get the thing into 4 hi. 2 hi and 4 lo go in no problem. The little orange indicator is missing from the shifting gate but I know where it's supposed to be for 4 hi.
- The steering is lousy enough that I don't feel comfortable driving it. I can swing the steering wheel back and forth about a half turn before it starts to swerve. It turns about half as sharp to left hand lock as it does right hand lock, u turns require a curb hop! I had someone move the wheel while I inspected from below, and there is a decent amount of movement in the steering box (? the thing at the end of the steering shaft!) I also see some welding around the backside of the box but I can't get a good look without removing stuff. The steering column is also loose and jumps up and down a good bit.
-35" BFG AT's have 80% + tread depth, but the sidewalls are kinda wavy/bumpy and there's a good amount of dry cracking between treads. I wouldn't want to hit the hwy for long with this rubber.
There is a laundry list of other items I *want* to do and can manage myself, but I'm going to have to turn it over to a pro for the steering and transfer case maladies.
I haven't searched the forum for it yet, but if anyone has tips for retrofitting late model seats let me know. I want to get the height up a few inches (I'm 6'6") and get into something more comfortable.
I look forward to learning the ins and outs of this truck and I think this is the forum for me
Hello All!
Introduced to the site by DieselWarrior.
My dad had an '85 K5 6.2L when I was little. It's the only vehicle he gets misty talking about because he hates he sold it.
I started researching a "knockaround" vehicle for trips to my shooting range, hunting lease, boat towing, surf fishing etc.
I looked at a few jeeps and almost went that route, but then I remembered that old K5 and decided on a different route.
Drove from Raleigh to Atlanta with a trailer to haggle over an '87 Jimmy. Ended up getting it for 2K flat.
The good: -
-6.2L starts very quickly, runs smooth, makes good power, very little smoke and only when you mash it.
-Transmission seems to lock up tight and it shifts smoothly.
-VERY VERY little rust on this one. It's the 4th I looked at in my shopping and by far the best body of them all. No panel replacements appear necessary.
-Elec. windows all work, albeit slowly in the doors. The rear is fast but hits some kind of snag when going up about halfway.
The bad:
-Can't for the life of me get the thing into 4 hi. 2 hi and 4 lo go in no problem. The little orange indicator is missing from the shifting gate but I know where it's supposed to be for 4 hi.
- The steering is lousy enough that I don't feel comfortable driving it. I can swing the steering wheel back and forth about a half turn before it starts to swerve. It turns about half as sharp to left hand lock as it does right hand lock, u turns require a curb hop! I had someone move the wheel while I inspected from below, and there is a decent amount of movement in the steering box (? the thing at the end of the steering shaft!) I also see some welding around the backside of the box but I can't get a good look without removing stuff. The steering column is also loose and jumps up and down a good bit.
-35" BFG AT's have 80% + tread depth, but the sidewalls are kinda wavy/bumpy and there's a good amount of dry cracking between treads. I wouldn't want to hit the hwy for long with this rubber.
There is a laundry list of other items I *want* to do and can manage myself, but I'm going to have to turn it over to a pro for the steering and transfer case maladies.
I haven't searched the forum for it yet, but if anyone has tips for retrofitting late model seats let me know. I want to get the height up a few inches (I'm 6'6") and get into something more comfortable.
I look forward to learning the ins and outs of this truck and I think this is the forum for me
