Need feedback on '88 K5 body restoration/mods

[Big_Blue]

I have an '88 K5 that am the single owner of and it has been ridden hard over the years. I am doing some groundwork to to start some restoration/modifications on it, and am not real experienced in this particular area, and wanted to see if anyone had already been down this road yet. Any feedback would be appreciated.

1) The tech article on this site for the convertible conversion has seriously caught my attention and my body man is on board to help. I have been trying to find a doner vehicle or a manufacturer that sells the '73 - '75 fiberglass roof. No luck on a decent doner. Anyone have a lead on a vendor where I can get the roof, and maybe the top windshield frame? My normal spots (i.e. LMC) are a no go. Anyone tried the conversion besides Baja_Blazer (great article by the way)?

2) The rear wheel well opening body panels are eaten through (as well as many other body parts). I am debating just trimming the fender openings and going with fiberglass fender flares to get some larger tires with less lift, rather than repairing openings. Anyone have any pros/cons they want to share on trimming and flares vs. standard openings and lift? Will be keeping fairly mild in tire size, probably 38"-ish, or less (mostly play in mud and sand).

3) The floor in the front half of body tub is rusted through (literally). A friend of mine was recently not impressed with the LMC replacement panels he got when working on his truck. Anyone have feedback on best quality replacment panel source?

Thanks everyone.

- Ken

 

[1BEATK5]

there have been a few people who have done the full top conversion. i'm doing it shortly on my 78'. if you have the tools and are good with a measuring tape, id say go for it. it will be hard to find a body shop that would do it.

low lifts for big tires is the way to go. i fit 42s with less than an 8" lift, and it still feels too tall. put some cutout flares, or just cut without flares. my suggestionsfor lift/tire combos are
0"-2.5" lift - 33"-36" tires
4"-6" lift - 36"-38"
7"-8" lift - 38"-42"
you should be able to keep the inner fenders, have some flex, be easier on parts, better steering angles, lower center of gravity, and have a truck with bigger tires that drives nice on the road.

rusted out floors huh? i was missing about half the floor on the passengers side front. unless you want a show truck or doing a resto job, i would go to the local steel placed and buy a sheet of steel and weld that in. that way you can get a thicker metal than aftermarket panels will be.

here are some pics for referance.

pic whore on

first pic 7.5"and 42s
sec. pic 7.5" and 39s and notice the trim job on the fenders
third pic custom 16 guage floor. cost about $15
four pic custom trans tunnel bent on the side of my table saw. it ws easie than expected. dont be afraid of diving in

 

[1BEATK5]

oh yeah. forgot about the 73-75 top stuff. there isnt much available for these. seals/gaskets. thats about it you will need a donor truck or get lucky on craigslist. they are out there. you just have to search......alot

 

[tRustyK5]

I did the full convertable conversion around the same time that article was written. I'm pretty sure I have pics somewhere. Put up a wanted ad here, that area doesn't rust much, and neither do the glass full tops. I found a donor in less than a month, although I did have to drive 600 miles round trip to pick it all up.

No real aftermarket that I know of...

I prefer making my own patches using OEM donor steel from wherever I can get it. The LMC stuff (and similar) is thinner and fitment can be a problem.

Rene

 

[Big_Blue]

Thanks so much for the info and pics. You have been a big help! Thanks... now I just gotta find a doner...

- Ken

 

[Big_Blue]

Rene,

would love to see the pics! Have wanted to do this for quite some time and finally getting serious. Luckly my body man is on board and is going to oversee the cutting and welding.

Thanks for the feedback, and if you happen to stumble upon a doner East of the Mississippi, lemme know! Will post something on the site looking for donor soon.

Stupid question... anyone figured out how large a tire you can stuff in the stock spare location/bracket in the passenger side rear of "bed". My 33" fills it up pretty full already. May be time to go to rack on rear.

Thanks everyone.

- Ken