K5 factory roof rack

[Muddytazz]

The PO removed the factory roof rack from my K5 and just put a thin fiberglass layer over the top of the holes (on the outside). I picked up a replacement rack and want to install it. What I'm needing to know is what is the factory seal and what hardware was used? Any pics outside and inside would help also.

 

[Muddytazz]

No one has the factory rack still on their tops?

 

[twoslo4five0]

mine used to but the po took it off also...sorry man..my burb has one though...

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Damn, I've never even seen one.
This a rare option sorta like the body mounted swing away tire carriers of the 70's?



Okay, helpful (sorta) thought:
Checked with LMC's Blazer catalog?

 

[Muddytazz]

LMC doesn't show a thing and no its not rare for this or the swing out tire carrier. I think it was a location thing cause neither are not rare over here.

 

[twoslo4five0]

well mine was on a 80 gmc jimmy...its seems as though some of thoose options mostly came on the gmc's more than the chevys...

 

[dremu]

The PO removed the factory roof rack from my K5 and just put a thin fiberglass layer over the top of the holes (on the outside). I picked up a replacement rack and want to install it. What I'm needing to know is what is the factory seal and what hardware was used? Any pics outside and inside would help also.

Oy. I useta have one installed ... still have two of the racks, but no top for it any more =)) [Well, could put it on the CUCV ... but chrome on a CUCV? ]

We're talking about this, yes?

Anyway, IIRC the bolts are 1/4-20, and go in from the bottom into the rack feet.

I recall gaskets, oval shaped like the feet, of foam rubber or rubber, maybe 1/16" thick, when I took mine off. This was many, MANY years ago though! I suspect that liberal use of silicone and/or a sheet or two of gasket material would do the trick.

-- A

 

[GruntHunter]

Rack installation

I pulled an air deflector off of a burb when I was on a trip out in Tx. and if I'm not mistaken the racks are installed the same way. They used rubber grommets that have a nut imbedded in them and they just go into the outter shell. When you thread the screw into them they swell up and seal the hole. They're a bitch to get out of an old one without destroying them. I'm sure you could buy new ones at your local dealer.

A previous owner must have installed mine. He drilled holes all the way through, used scerws and nuts on the inside (2 man job to put them in). When I had my top painted the first time I replaced them all with ss hardware and sandwiched rubber washers between averything and have never experienced a leak inside.

My neighbor has what I think is a factory installed rack because he bought his '87 new and it doesn't have any hardware showing on the inside and his rack looks a little different than mine. I've wanted to go to a Confer rack but have been concerned with patching the old holes.

 

[Muddytazz]

The glassed over holes in the roof of my top go all the way thru as do the holes for the air deflector. But I'm NOT going to be reinstalling that.

 

[fireplug]

... if I'm not mistaken the racks are installed the same way. They used rubber grommets that have a nut imbedded in them and they just go into the outter shell. When you thread the screw into them they swell up and seal the hole.

Sounds like your talking about well nuts. I sure wouldn't trust those to fasten a roof rack though.