armyboy
Newbie
I guess you could say I'm a K5 Virgin. However, I want to change that and do what feels right!! I'm looking to buy a 73-85 K5. Anyone out there selling or know where to look for one?
armyboy
armyboy
CK5
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Looking to Buy my 1st K5.
- Thread starter armyboy
- Start date
Best place to start is craigslist. You really need to know how much you want to pay, what options are you looking for, and how do plan to use it once you buy it. That will help you to determine what to look for. For a good clean k5 you will pay between 2000 to 5500 for a decent need a little work.
Burbdood 74
Giver of not a single damn...
Don't rule out the later 87-91 fuel injected models. The TBI system on these trucks are dead simple to work on and they can get you anywhere from 14-18 mpg's tuned properly.
shovelbill80
1/2 ton status
i'd make sure the body is good....the rest is easy to fix compared to rot. i vote for the TBI trucks too, but that depends on what you want to do with it.......and you need to be honest about your goals and present/future budget.
Jessie James
1/2 ton status
Also be sure to check out the Buyers Guide, it has a lot of info to help you make a smart purchase.
The name of this game is PATIENCE. Look at a lot of trucks, and only get one with no rust and that hasn't been too messed up and you will be very glad.
Get a CarFax account, too, you can thank me later. Any truck with less than 100k miles needs to be checked, and usually you will find it's 100k - 300k miles on it in reality.
The name of this game is PATIENCE. Look at a lot of trucks, and only get one with no rust and that hasn't been too messed up and you will be very glad.
Get a CarFax account, too, you can thank me later. Any truck with less than 100k miles needs to be checked, and usually you will find it's 100k - 300k miles on it in reality.
Snowy Rivers
Registered Member
I agree 100% with whats been posted so far.
I found a sweet little 85 K5 for $300
I had an 84 that had been rolled and although had been fixed, had some rot and other issues.
I put an ad on craigs list looking for a "Good body" and got the entire K5 for $300
There had been a small underhood fire that got the wiring and the plastic stuff, but a trip to the boneyard yielded all I needed to fix it well.
I have a 91 K5 that I drive daily and the project rig is going to become a 6.2 diesel truck.
24 MPG Highway is easy to get with these.
Setup right, the power can be very close to that of a stock TBI truck.
Lots of choices for sure.
Good hunting
Snowy
I found a sweet little 85 K5 for $300
I had an 84 that had been rolled and although had been fixed, had some rot and other issues.
I put an ad on craigs list looking for a "Good body" and got the entire K5 for $300
There had been a small underhood fire that got the wiring and the plastic stuff, but a trip to the boneyard yielded all I needed to fix it well.
I have a 91 K5 that I drive daily and the project rig is going to become a 6.2 diesel truck.
24 MPG Highway is easy to get with these.
Setup right, the power can be very close to that of a stock TBI truck.
Lots of choices for sure.
Good hunting
Snowy
Why the cut off year of 1985? A 1986 would be the same thing as an '85, and a 1987-1991 would be better from the standpoint of having factory EFI, upgraded TH700R4's, and just plain newer.
Martin
Martin
andyblack
Registered Loser
Don't forget about the NP241 transfer case that came on the '88 and later models (correct me if I'm wrong). They have a reputation of being stronger and more reliable than the earlier NP208 in the '81-'87 trucks. I may be off on the years. I would look for a '91 myself because I like the later grilles, it would be fuel injected and it seems like the paint and bodies on the last couple of years of the second gen Blazers seem to be less prone to rust. Also it would be newer of course.
Don't forget about the early '73-'77 if you want a full converible too, although they are likely to need way more work to get them where you want them. (I may be off on the years again).
Don't forget about the early '73-'77 if you want a full converible too, although they are likely to need way more work to get them where you want them. (I may be off on the years again).
Yea, it is 1989-1991 for the NP241 transfer case, and 1973-1975 for the full convertible.
Martin
Martin
Snowy Rivers
Registered Member
Rule number one when looking for one of these, age and mileage mean little, condition means everything.
I have seen some lovely 82-85 K5's that were in nearly new condition, and have seen 89-91's that were trash.
Currently I am driving an 89 with the 5.7 TBI thats very nice, not without a few issues but at this age, one expects some little issues.
I am not a TBI freek, I love the 6.2 diesels myself and especially the stellar fuel economy that they can get. 24 hwy is easily in reach.
Nice thing is that from 82 on you can mix and match parts pretty easily.
You can swap the core support out and have an 85 truck look like a 91.
The seat mounting was changed in 88 I believe and the bucket seats are slightly different.
These have got to be one of the best of the small 4x4 trucks ever built.
The GMT400 series two door Tahoe/Yukon was nice , but not the same as the K5.
If need be, scrounge up a couple rigs to pick parts from then add such things as the front doors off an 88-91 Burb with the electric mirrors to have a really cool rig.
You can swap in axles from a 2500 truck along with the 8 lug wheels and have bullet proof drive train.
Install a TH400 tranny and the NP 241 T case too just to make it even better.
The K5 Blazer/Jimmy is a truely bolt together mix and match truck.
If you want a behemoth of an engine, you can drop in a 502 crate engine that will send your little 10 bolt rearend to the trash post haste.
Most everything on a pickup from the front doors forward will bolt right onto a K5
I have seen some very interesting K5 trucks.
There is a local fellow that has a 91 K5 with a DMAX/Allison in it.
I have seen the newer 6.0 small blocks installed as well as all manner of other iron fit under the hood.
There is even one character here that stuffed a 7.3 PowerStroke in his K5
If you can dream it up, its likely been done.
Have fun
Snowy
I have seen some lovely 82-85 K5's that were in nearly new condition, and have seen 89-91's that were trash.
Currently I am driving an 89 with the 5.7 TBI thats very nice, not without a few issues but at this age, one expects some little issues.
I am not a TBI freek, I love the 6.2 diesels myself and especially the stellar fuel economy that they can get. 24 hwy is easily in reach.
Nice thing is that from 82 on you can mix and match parts pretty easily.
You can swap the core support out and have an 85 truck look like a 91.
The seat mounting was changed in 88 I believe and the bucket seats are slightly different.
These have got to be one of the best of the small 4x4 trucks ever built.
The GMT400 series two door Tahoe/Yukon was nice , but not the same as the K5.
If need be, scrounge up a couple rigs to pick parts from then add such things as the front doors off an 88-91 Burb with the electric mirrors to have a really cool rig.
You can swap in axles from a 2500 truck along with the 8 lug wheels and have bullet proof drive train.
Install a TH400 tranny and the NP 241 T case too just to make it even better.
The K5 Blazer/Jimmy is a truely bolt together mix and match truck.
If you want a behemoth of an engine, you can drop in a 502 crate engine that will send your little 10 bolt rearend to the trash post haste.
Most everything on a pickup from the front doors forward will bolt right onto a K5
I have seen some very interesting K5 trucks.
There is a local fellow that has a 91 K5 with a DMAX/Allison in it.
I have seen the newer 6.0 small blocks installed as well as all manner of other iron fit under the hood.
There is even one character here that stuffed a 7.3 PowerStroke in his K5
If you can dream it up, its likely been done.
Have fun
Snowy
