Newbie here, lots of questions, need help

[Timsar]

Hi,
just got my 74 K5, aptly named her Daisy mae, located in occupied Kalifornia, San Jose area.

Overall nice condition truck, straight body, some rust, lots of minor stuff, thank God for LMC.

Need help on the following items. Greatly appreciate your suggestions. Do's and don'ts. Must does or stay away.

Also if you anybody in the north kali, who works on these classics.

1) Rough ride. Thinking about getting new
A- complete body and drive train bushings and mounts

B- softer custom leaf springs and gas shocks. Bilstein are suggested!

C- already have new truck tires on steel rims.
31 x 10.5 x R15. Should I get road tires, instead of truck/off-road?

D) noise reduction. Planning on installing special sound dampening and insulation and all new full carpeting.

E) replace all the gaskets, rubber moldings and glasses.
All Scratched up.

Any other thing I can do to make the ride more comfy?


I will start a new tread for drivetrain questions.

Thank you in advance for your advice and suggestions

 

[jimmyleetn]

Welcome to CK5. Make a build thread in "the driveway" section. See link below. Also, that's a very clean '75. Good find. Most of the time you can look through them, perhaps throw a brick through them and never touch metal.

The Driveway (build threads)

(All Access) Document your build here.

ck5.com

 

[Wes Harden]

Welcome, nice k5. How much air pressure in the tires? Lowering the pressure down to 28-30 psi in fronts,
24-28psi in the rear. Tire shop probably put them at max. Drive it if to squishy on turns add 1psi at time till you like it.

Guessing you are not going to lift it since new 31" tires. If your spring bushings are in good shape, do the bilsteins 1st. Drive it around and see.

Recommend Precision brand weather stripping and seals.

 

[Blue85]

The stock spring eye bushings are bonded rubber, so they don't really seize up. You could try driving each tire up on something just to confirm each spring is flexing. The swaybar could be making it stiffer. If you remove that temporarily and the ride improves, a set of disconnects could help. Usually the stock springs are pretty soft, but if you're on big bumps and whoops, they will quickly find the bumpstops, which is really hard. How is it riding compared to what you're expecting? Is it possible the noise makes you think it's stiffer than it is?

Also, how are the tacos and could you post those pictures here: https://ck5.com/forums/threads/bad-parking-thread.302319/

 

[70jimmy]

Welcome! Nice rig, My first blazer was a 74 Cheyenne.
New body mounts made a big difference in noise and ride on mine, grease and lubricate where required. Check over ball joints, rag joint on steering shaft, check steering arm on bottom of box is tight.

When I took my top off I used topper weather stripping on the top of the bedsides which quieted it down some, you can also replace the rubber mounts on the front near the doors.

Look at your front wheel bearings since it is full time four wheel drive. Putting a part time kit in the transfer case and lock out hubs may be worth it if you are going to drive it a lot of miles, also helps a bit with handling.

 

[Wes Harden]

Oh yeah al pastor m favorite

 

[Cucv_M1008]

Sweet rig, I lived in SJ for many years. If you don't plan on working in your rig and want some one to, Rich at all American Classics in Hollister is amazing he did a bunch of work to my dad's classic car last year. But they are also easy to work on your self. Which I recommend doing.

Also casa viki on 17th street was amazing if it's still there.

 

[Joel Wilson]

Oh yeah al pastor m favorite

I already miss the Mexican food in NorCal. I was recommended to try a Mexican restaurant here in Kentucky, said it was "real good authentic Mexican food." Not even close. How can you screw up a beans, rice, and cheese burrito. An abomination doesn't begin to describe what I got.

 

[Wes Harden]

I am doing ok in Havasu, their are a couple of good Mexican restaurants. Haven't found good Al Pastor here. When I visit my Bother in CA. I hit up 2 of the restaurants for Al Pastor.
Having worked in East Los Angeles for 30+ years and growing up in just east of that I have been spoiled.
I am sure to OP would rather have truck info than Taco's critics

 

[Joel Wilson]

I am doing ok in Havasu, their are a couple of good Mexican restaurants. Haven't found good Al Pastor here. When I visit my Bother in CA. I hit up 2 of the restaurants for Al Pastor.
Having worked in East Los Angeles for 30+ years and growing up in just east of that I have been spoiled.
I am sure to OP would rather have truck info than Taco's critics

Okay Wes. Technical it is.

As said before, check ball joints and tie rod ends. Bad joints can seriously affect driveability. Sway bar bushings can too. I can't vouch for leaf spring bushings but those are on my list of things to do.

Being an older rig, check u joints. Replacing a driveline can be expensive if you don't. Trust me.

Good shocks obviously will come into play.

Nice clean rig man.

 

[Operator238]

I would go with a Tuff Country 2" lift (new leafs front and back). Bilstein 5100s. Also TIRES MATTER, specifically the LOAD range. I would suggest a Load Range C if you can find them.

 

[scoots90245]

If money is not super tight you could have super soft custom springs made.
your general grabbers are a c rated tire already check the pressure as Wes stated.
Greasable bushings/bolts for leaf springs. Don't over tighten Bolts/bushings.
Everybodys opinion on soft/stiff is different too. It would be great to find someone with a K5 near you with what you think is a good ride
Good luck

 

[kennyw]

Offroad design is the best place for suspension parts on these trucks.

I also recommend Precision seals from Mister A's. Jon keeps everything available for a squarebody in stock.

 

[500$k5]

If the front is harsh, you might remove one of the leafs from the front springs. You have the 3 leaf pack, and most are only a 2 leaf, on the Blazers.