K5 Shopping

[Greg72]

you guys are nuts... didn't you see the duct tape? that baby's practically mint!

I guess if the desire was to build a "patina truck" it would work out well. That paint has great natural fading on the horizontal surfaces.

My concern for the OP is that to make it a good solid driver it will need EVERYTHING else to be gone through.... There will be rust repair, electrical, body mounts, rotten spring bushings, bad brakes, leaking pinion seals, gauge problems, etc.

I get the concept that the OP doesn't have $5K to spend up front for a better quality 1st Gen. However, buying a basket case and spending several years trying to get it running and safe is going to put you at that same dollar amount (I'd argue that is will cost MORE, actually). So whether you continue saving your money for something more complete or start building a beater you don't have a cool 1st Gen to drive for several more years... But with the beater, you are pouring lots of your own time into it; something that the OP claims he didn't have much of these days.

Buying a 1st Gen "cheaply" is a romantic notion, but in the end the costs will eat you alive.


-G

 

[Brett68]

Buying a 1st Gen "cheaply" is a romantic notion, but in the end the costs will eat you alive.


-G

This is so true. I have a 1st gen Camaro that I am now in my tenth year of restoration. I'm at $15k and counting. It doesn't even have nice paint yet. But It was a "barn find" in the high desert of So.Cal. with virtually zero rust, last tagged in 1988.

This is all probably just an exercise in futility. I made such a low offer as to sabotage the whole deal. Realizing I really don't need another project. But if my low offer does get accepted it will end up at my house. This is the most solid 1st gen Blazer I've seen around here in quite some time. The rockers are perfectly fine. The underside is in great shape as well. Even the body bushings aren't dry rotted and hard as a rock.

Brett in Boise

 

[ashman]

Buying a 1st Gen "cheaply" is a romantic notion, but in the end the costs will eat you alive.


-G

oh, I know. Just trying to lighten the mood. I bought what I thought was a pretty clean 1st gen about 15 years ago for $2k. I was into it over $10k just fixing bodywork before I knew it.

 

[Jessie James]

Yeah, I was in the same spot a while back. My 90 was rusted out and dying, and I could fix it ... but the time and money would have been a killer. And who has the time and money and desire? I just wanted a nice truck I could drive around with my dog before he died.

Instead I got a loan from my credit union, paid $5k for a CA truck, and had it shipped out here. $81/paycheck for 3 years and it's a nice truck that only needs a new stereo. My dog liked it for the last few months he was with me, and that was the best part.

 

[Greg72]

oh, I know. Just trying to lighten the mood. I bought what I thought was a pretty clean 1st gen about 15 years ago for $2k. I was into it over $10k just fixing bodywork before I knew it.

I was actually quite serious about the "patina truck" thing....

Assuming it was the correct buyer, you could pick up that truck with all that faded paint... carefully remove the duct tape and adhesive residue and then complete restore everything in the interior, frame, running gear, etc to mint condish.... The truck would have a battered look but would run flawlessly and be 100% reliable, and when you popped the hood you could still show off a perfectly detailed and painted engine compartment.

That would be neat... IMHO.


-G

 

[Brett68]

I was actually quite serious about the "patina truck" thing....

Assuming it was the correct buyer, you could pick up that truck with all that faded paint... carefully remove the duct tape and adhesive residue and then complete restore everything in the interior, frame, running gear, etc to mint condish.... The truck would have a battered look but would run flawlessly and be 100% reliable, and when you popped the hood you could still show off a perfectly detailed and painted engine compartment.

That would be neat... IMHO.


-G

My thoughts are along those lines, ie. transplant tbi drivetrain, rebuilt axles, new bushings, springs and drive it as is.

 

[sponsoredbydad]

I was actually quite serious about the "patina truck" thing....

The truck would have a battered look but would run flawlessly and be 100% reliable, and when you popped the hood you could still show off a perfectly detailed and painted engine compartment.

That would be neat... IMHO.


-G

Hea! Your talking about my blazer again arn't you.

 

[ashman]

I was actually quite serious about the "patina truck" thing....
-G

gotcha. kinda reminds me of mosesburb's truck (or SBD ). At some point I'd like to head down to arizona or something and try and find exactly that. Faded paint, but basically perfect body and replace the entire drivetrain with modern equipment. That'd be sweet!

 

[Deuling]

Hea! Your talking about my blazer again arn't you.

Thats what I was thinkin when I read it lol