CK5
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New Rig 91 K5
- Thread starter BT
- Start date
Beautiful.
I wanted another K5 because I had my 89 for over 10 years. I sold it to try a suburban and then tried a jeep LJ. My favorite was the K5. I like the short wheel base, seating for three kids, full size, chevy. So now I am back where I started with my 89 15 years ago. I was looking for an original paint vehicle as I am not fond of body work. This one is straight, with a complete interior, 4" lift, 33's, at 150,000 miles.
Now I just need to decide what way to go?????? I will use the truck for hunting. We varmint hunt at night in sometimes rough terrain but mostly mild pasture road with a creek crossing or some muddy spots. I will also use it a lot on the street. The varmint hunting entails a lot of highway speed travel between ranches. One other thing is I took my jeep to Colorado this summer and absolutely had a blast exploring mountain passes but never ran into very difficult trails. Just bumpy was all and some could have been rough in a stock 4x4 but the jeep well qualified. Part of why I decided to get back into a K5 is because my wife and I are having a third child and the Jeep just seats four. I am planning another trip next summer and will be taking the K5. As with the jeep I will trailer it there and unload it to use the whole time, highway or off road.
What I am considering....
My last K5 had 10 bolts, 4.56 gear, 700r4, Eaton Posi front and rear, 4" rough country lift, and 35" tires. I never broke an axle. I did break one auto locking hub, burned up a rear differential after rebuild and re-geared(no idea why), and it did just fine off road. Factory rally wheels and no rub ever.
I was thinking of going the same route with this one. However my trip to Colorado and a few searches here have me a little afraid to go 35's again on the 10 bolts. Especially considering I will spend money to re-gear to 4.56 and add the posi units. So I was thinking about swapping to a dana 60 front and 14 bolt rear. I found a set of take offs with 4.56 gears and a rear Detroit locker for a reasonable price. I am considering the swap including the crossover steering, possibly the high steer, as I need a new steering box anyways. Is this an overkill? I also thought that the 60/14 swap will hurt my ground clearance and thought about stepping up to 37's. Now I am adding lift or trimming sheetmetal. I don't want to trim any sheetmetal as I like the rig for its classic factor as well. I would add 6" springs in front and 2.5" shackle flip in rear. That would give me about 6" all the way around. Am I right thinking the 37's would still rub? Then I am thinking 6" lift and I would want to add a SYE. I fought vibrations in my 89 with 4" of lift. So there is a whole mess to consider. Any thoughts from the experts?
Now I just need to decide what way to go?????? I will use the truck for hunting. We varmint hunt at night in sometimes rough terrain but mostly mild pasture road with a creek crossing or some muddy spots. I will also use it a lot on the street. The varmint hunting entails a lot of highway speed travel between ranches. One other thing is I took my jeep to Colorado this summer and absolutely had a blast exploring mountain passes but never ran into very difficult trails. Just bumpy was all and some could have been rough in a stock 4x4 but the jeep well qualified. Part of why I decided to get back into a K5 is because my wife and I are having a third child and the Jeep just seats four. I am planning another trip next summer and will be taking the K5. As with the jeep I will trailer it there and unload it to use the whole time, highway or off road.
What I am considering....
My last K5 had 10 bolts, 4.56 gear, 700r4, Eaton Posi front and rear, 4" rough country lift, and 35" tires. I never broke an axle. I did break one auto locking hub, burned up a rear differential after rebuild and re-geared(no idea why), and it did just fine off road. Factory rally wheels and no rub ever.
I was thinking of going the same route with this one. However my trip to Colorado and a few searches here have me a little afraid to go 35's again on the 10 bolts. Especially considering I will spend money to re-gear to 4.56 and add the posi units. So I was thinking about swapping to a dana 60 front and 14 bolt rear. I found a set of take offs with 4.56 gears and a rear Detroit locker for a reasonable price. I am considering the swap including the crossover steering, possibly the high steer, as I need a new steering box anyways. Is this an overkill? I also thought that the 60/14 swap will hurt my ground clearance and thought about stepping up to 37's. Now I am adding lift or trimming sheetmetal. I don't want to trim any sheetmetal as I like the rig for its classic factor as well. I would add 6" springs in front and 2.5" shackle flip in rear. That would give me about 6" all the way around. Am I right thinking the 37's would still rub? Then I am thinking 6" lift and I would want to add a SYE. I fought vibrations in my 89 with 4" of lift. So there is a whole mess to consider. Any thoughts from the experts?
Though I am answering my own question I will simplify what I said in too many words above?
I propose....
Keep 4" lift already on. Swap to 60 front, 14 bolt rear with Detroit locker take offs both 4.56 gear, add ORD crossover steering while I am at it, add 35" tires and call it a day.
I propose....
Keep 4" lift already on. Swap to 60 front, 14 bolt rear with Detroit locker take offs both 4.56 gear, add ORD crossover steering while I am at it, add 35" tires and call it a day.
magik235
Still Alive
Exceptionally nice. You have a good plan.
Go 37's...the bigger diffs will eat up some ground clearance.
What he said
Screw these guys, DONT CUT THE BODY!!!!
That's a really beautiful rig. I will hate you long time if you trim it
TheBeast_88K5
Banned
The day i get another K5 its gonna be stock-ish, like that.
Looks great!
Looks great!
LIVEAnimals
1/2 ton status
Screw these guys, DONT CUT THE BODY!!!!
That's a really beautiful rig. I will hate you long time if you trim it
What he said
454Sub
5/8 ton status
And worst to worst, cut it in a way that you cant really tell. Keep the cuts classy in other words.
And to answer your overkill question. "Overkill is underrated"
And to answer your overkill question. "Overkill is underrated"
Update......
Decided to go ahead and power wash the motor and as much as I could get of the undercarriage. I ended up with a cel, which was always the case after washing the motor on my 89. Drove it to work today and decided to tune it up while drying it out. Installed new plugs, cap, rotor, skipped the wires as they were looking pretty new. I checked all my connections and vacuum lines and everything seemed good. CEL still on so I checked the code and it was TPS sensor. I cleaned it up good with electric cleaner spray and blew it out, light stayed on so I replaced it and all was good no more CEL. I changed the oil and called it a day.
Back in my office I started searching for axles. BINGO!!! Found a set of 60/14 off a 42,000 mile M1028 CUCV. I was told they had front and rear lockers. My research says rear Detroit and front limited slip. Any input here? 4.56 as well right? They are still in the truck so I have to get them out. The guy was really cool with a bunch of good stuff. He wants to move the truck to his shop before parting it out so it may be a few days.
Sorry no pics. They are on my phone and I don't know how to post them without putting them on computer first at the office. I am home now and the blazer is running like a charm. I can't wait to get started on the axles!!!!
Decided to go ahead and power wash the motor and as much as I could get of the undercarriage. I ended up with a cel, which was always the case after washing the motor on my 89. Drove it to work today and decided to tune it up while drying it out. Installed new plugs, cap, rotor, skipped the wires as they were looking pretty new. I checked all my connections and vacuum lines and everything seemed good. CEL still on so I checked the code and it was TPS sensor. I cleaned it up good with electric cleaner spray and blew it out, light stayed on so I replaced it and all was good no more CEL. I changed the oil and called it a day.
Back in my office I started searching for axles. BINGO!!! Found a set of 60/14 off a 42,000 mile M1028 CUCV. I was told they had front and rear lockers. My research says rear Detroit and front limited slip. Any input here? 4.56 as well right? They are still in the truck so I have to get them out. The guy was really cool with a bunch of good stuff. He wants to move the truck to his shop before parting it out so it may be a few days.
Sorry no pics. They are on my phone and I don't know how to post them without putting them on computer first at the office. I am home now and the blazer is running like a charm. I can't wait to get started on the axles!!!!
Trimming can be minimized a lot by pushing the front diff forward an inch...and proper bumpstops.
Yeah, crossover is a must for a few reasons. I used to run 39.5's on 5" of lift, with no rubbing up front at all. It was trimmed, but not extremely. Mostly the fangs up front and some tasteful (in my opinion) trimming to the rear. I did have the diff pushed forward 1 1/4".
