Lost one of my bestfriends. My K5.

[4x4blaze]

BUT there is light at the end of the tunnel. Don't get too bummed people. I'm staying positive!

Well this past Friday it was beautiful out. Not a cloud in the sky, sunny, and 65 degrees outside. So I decided to drive the K5 to work. The truck was built for days like that.

Until my worst nightmare became a reality. Was morning rush hour traffic and I was following a big box truck. All of the sudden it locked down, the box truck gave me 0 heads up as he barrelled into two cars in front of him and came to an abrupt stop. I locked the brakes down but couldn't stop fast enough and slammed him and almost got slammed by the Tahoe behind me. THANK GOD I didnt.

So, here I am 48 hours later.. I've had so much time, money, and soul invested in that truck. Its absolutely heartbreaking. And yes, it even brought tears to my eyes. It was my dream truck that I had wanted since I was a little kid.. and I finally had it done and looking exactly how I had always wanted it! (besides the faded paint) until that split second accident.

So now it's up at the body shop where I know the owner well and my best friend since we were baby's works at. He is extremely skilled and I wouldnt want anyone else working on it. So yes, it's going to cost me a fortune, but it will look like a new truck. Getting all fixed up and painted the way I have always wanted it. I've scored what looks to be a MINT 79 front clip for 300 and a 77 clip (sorta crusty) with a 86 Jimmy roller (a little crusty, but complete) for 700! So the wheels are definitely turning already! She WILL be back.

Here is her current condition. Truck sorta slid under the box truck so the frame survived. Fenders/core/ trusty 305 took all of the hit. Plan is to build/paint/fab the frame the 86 roller is on, then drop my body onto it sometime down the road! All in time!

 

[4x4blaze]

Icing on the cake is I also was planning to pull this truck apart within a month to drop my fresh, full forged, full roller sbc in it. Along with a heavily built tranny.... Well.... looks like that's getting put on the back burner for a bit....

 

[Fastereddie]

Really sorry to hear and see. Glad you’re ok and she’ll be back better than ever it sounds like.

 

[4x4blaze]

Really sorry to hear and see. Glad you’re ok and she’ll be back better than ever it sounds like.

Thanks @Fastereddie . It definitely hurts me but I know it will all be worth it. I'm still a little bruised up but I survived!

 

[tRustyK5]

An expensive lesson, but I'm glad you're OK. Good luck with the rebuild, and I would recommend having a pro examine the frame. They aren't that strong and that was a pretty hard hit.

 

[4x4blaze]

An expensive lesson, but I'm glad you're OK. Good luck with the rebuild, and I would recommend having a pro examine the frame. They aren't that strong and that was a pretty hard hit.

Oh yes, they have a state of the art rack that they are going to put it on and check it.. but the bumper really isnt mangled too bad! And looking at it, it doesnt look bad compared to many you see after accidents. I hit him doing maybe 15 - 20 after he crashed. Bumper didnt catch hardly any of the truck, just went right under. Fenders took a lot of the hit.

& Yes, definitely expensive.. But I drive to the city daily and am definitely no stranger to bumper to bumper traffic. Was just a case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Which is really unfortunate for my K5 and my wallet... But that truck is very sentimental so I know it will be worth it.

This shop also does full frame off restorations and repairs many cars much much worse than my truck.. so I know shes at the right place! I was clearly very heartbroken, but Randy the head body man said hey, I'll bring it back. Just let me work my magic. So that's what I'm going to do! Positive vibes only it's only time and a whole lot of money

 

[K5wrench]

It sucks to lose a K5.
I know the feeling.
Glad you have a plan and it is already in motion!

 

[tRustyK5]

I'm going to respectfully disagree with "wrong place at the wrong time". You were following too close, and got bit. That's what I meant by an expensive "lesson". All fine if you learn from it...

The dude that didn't rear end you, had the correct following distance.

 

[K5wrench]

I'm going to respectfully disagree with "wrong place at the wrong time". You were following too close, and got bit. That's what I meant by an expensive "lesson". All fine if you learn from it...

The dude that didn't rear end you, had the correct following distance.

Ow.
You said what I thought but did not say.
Of course, with a 6.2.. i rarely tailgate anyone besides a Prius with a flat tire.

 

[tRustyK5]

It's a hot button issue for me. I spend 12 hours a day driving, and having people cut me off and take my "following distance" away. I see it all day, every day. I bitched my eldest daughter out over following distance when she was a new driver. Two weeks later she rear ended someone. Then again a few months later. She leaves more distance now...

 

[K5wrench]

It's a hot button issue for me. I spend 12 hours a day driving, and having people cut me off and take my "following distance" away. I see it all day, every day. I bitched my eldest daughter out over following distance when she was a new driver. Two weeks later she rear ended someone. Then again a few months later. She leaves more distance now...

Hey, at least he didn't hit anybody we know here.
It could have been a bus full of nuns.
Get it?
ABusFullofNuns.

Maybe it is because i am 50 now.
But I have driven slower over time.

Living in Wyoming helps.
If one of the only 3 stoplights in my county turns green and the guy in front doesn't move.. people just wait.

When I was in California, you had 1/10 of a second to mash the gas before you got honked at passed and flipped off.

Don't miss bumper to bumper traffic at all.
Just driving through Orem 2 weeks ago freaked me out.
People are in such a hurry to get to the next red light.

Good advice you gave.
Learn from it.

 

[4x4blaze]

I'm going to respectfully disagree with "wrong place at the wrong time". You were following too close, and got bit. That's what I meant by an expensive "lesson". All fine if you learn from it...

The dude that didn't rear end you, had the correct following distance.

And I am by no means saying your wrong. I definitely learned. If I wouldve been further back, it wouldn't had happened. Of course. But that's a very fine line in morning traffic. You either follow at a safe, but closer distance, or you consistantly have idiots ducking in on you and cutting you off and almost causing accidents themselves. The amount of close calls I see along with yourself I'm sure is insane. The morning commute is a royal pain in the bunghole. But it pays well when you dont get involved in an accident....

And the guy in the Tahoe was mere inches.. If I wouldve gotten sandwiched, that more than likely wouldve been the end of her for good. So thanks you God I didn't!

 

[4x4blaze]

Parts truck coming home next week



And it doesnt look terrible in the pictures, But my gosh. It is crusty. The floors are completely shot. BUT, it has all the firewall parts I need, plus a tilt column that is crazy tight. No wobble at all! So I'll probably send it in as a nice core with some cash and get a freshly rebuilt, refurbished column in return. So! I think it's a pretty good deal..

Plus I'll part out the rest of the truck and get some money in return.. and then scrap the tub because it truly is too far gone unfortunately. Front clip is shockingly solid as can be though.. Will save whatever I possibly can off of it!

 

[4x4blaze]

And then in two weeks, I'm planning on taking a 5 hour road trip to go and grab that 79 front clip! Guy seems very straight up and easy to do business with so that's a definite plus. This clip looks solid and really is exactly what I'm looking for. So hopefully it doesn't disappoint! Have always had a soft spot for the round eyes since I was little.. so now is the time

 

[4x4blaze]

It sucks to lose a K5.
I know the feeling.
Glad you have a plan and it is already in motion!

It sure does.. I was really down about it that day and the next. But theres nothing you can do besides move on and accept it. She will be back and better than ever. I've seen the work these guys turn out and it truly is amazing. Literally is going to be spotless. Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside just thinking about it!

 

[tRustyK5]

And I am by no means saying your wrong. I definitely learned. If I wouldve been further back, it wouldn't had happened. Of course. But that's a very fine line in morning traffic. You either follow at a safe, but closer distance, or you consistantly have idiots ducking in on you and cutting you off and almost causing accidents themselves. The amount of close calls I see along with yourself I'm sure is insane. The morning commute is a royal pain in the bunghole. But it pays well when you dont get involved in an accident....

And the guy in the Tahoe was mere inches.. If I wouldve gotten sandwiched, that more than likely wouldve been the end of her for good. So thanks you God I didn't!

It is a fine line I'm well aware of, the distance I have to have is more than double the distance you have to have. I roll around in a front load garbage truck that can be as much as 53,000 lbs. There isn't any such thing as a "safe but closer" distance. You can be safe, and accept the inevitable asshole...or you can put regular money aside for next time, and the time after that etc.

I start my work day pretty early (midnight) so I can complete as much of my day without traffic. I can't avoid it completely though and have found the best way to survive rush hour, is to drop my aggressiveness completely and let the assholes have their way. I have lots of 'smart' company in the right lane doing speed limit with plenty of buffer. The 'Alpha' commuters I see each day pushing the envelope are the very same I see in ditches, or piled into the back of other morons later. Leave 5 or 10 minutes earlier, and cruise the right lane. You'll get there for sure, and you'll get there feeling pretty chill...and mostly you'll get there not having had to 'protect' your following space. There aren't any 'alpha' commuters looking for your slot in the right lane.

 

[4x4blaze]

Well heres a little update guys. My Blazer is more mangled than appears. It tweaked the frame pretty good and upon further investigation pushed in the firewall a decent amount. So it looks like my first ever vehicle/highschool sidekick/backroad cruiser/wingman is down and out.

But I am not letting a giant claw come down and pick it up for scrap. I am tucking it away in a shed as a roller and will completely restore it in the years to come. & Who knows, it may be the year 2050 or possibly be one hell of a father/son project eventually! This truck is sentimental to me and it will be brought back. Even though it needs it's fair share of body work, its still 100% rust free. And the shop I was going to have do it said its definitely fixable, they're just backed up on full restorations for the next year and a half.

Butttttt in the meantime.... I was cruising the classifieds and found my absolute dream truck. A 75 full top Blazer with 36k original miles. & No, it's not showroom perfect.. But its absolutely perfect to build! 100% solid Washington truck. So needless to say, it's coming home here shortly! Just looks like I'm going to own two of these beauties now!

 

[4x4blaze]

& Yes, parts truck / front clip is out.. I'm going to keep the 87 with the front end it originally came with since I'll now have a roundeye as well

 

[1-ton]

I know the feeling of having a classic car or truck crashed into and totaled. Every muscle car or square body truck I have ever owned was totaled in a wreck. It may have taken 12 or 17 years of owning the vehicle for it to happen, but not one car or truck I have ever had has survived. Every one of the wrecks where other persons fault.

1. 1970 Chevy 396 SS Chevelle...totaled
2. 1970 Buick 455 GS Skylark...totaled
3. 1977 Chevy 454 C30 Dually/Single cab...totaled
4. 1978 Chevy K30 Single wheel/Single cab...totaled
5. 1985 Chevy K30 Dually/Single cab...totaled

I am now driving a 1991 Chevy V3500 Crew Cab/Single rear wheel, and I am just waiting for the day that truck gets totaled too.

 

[4x4blaze]

I know the feeling of having a classic car or truck crashed into and totaled. Every muscle car or square body truck I have ever owned was totaled in a wreck. It may have taken 12 or 17 years of owning the vehicle for it to happen, but not one car or truck I have ever had has survived. Every one of the wrecks where other persons fault.

1. 1970 Chevy 396 SS Chevelle...totaled
2. 1970 Buick 455 GS Skylark...totaled
3. 1977 Chevy 454 C30 Dually...totaled
4. 1978 Chevy K30 Single wheel/Single cab...totaled
5. 1985 Chevy K30 Dually/Single cab...totaled

I am now driving a 1991 Chevy V3500 Crew Cab/Single rear wheel, and I am just waiting for the day that truck gets totaled too.

Well that's awfully disheartening...... That's why you enjoy them while you have them though! You could drive the things 10 miles per year and keep them covered consistently. And then a tornado, fire, theft, or even apocalypse could happen and you could lose it anyways.. So how I look at it is life is short so get out and drive them!

This heartbreaking experience is not going to stop me from enjoying any of my toys. They were built to be driven and enjoyed!