Newbie Questions......

[embelishd]

I just picked up a '76 K5 Pickup for winter use and had a couple questions. (keep in mind I'm not mechanically inclined)

First, I was wondering what is the metal "button" on the floor just right of the e-brake?

When I first start her up she tends to die when I put it in drive...usually does better putting in reverse and backing up a little ways then going forward....any idea why? Carb need cleaned? If so is it better to have a professional do it or is SeaFoam good enough?

Last question (for now).....I park the truck on the road in front of my house and its a very slight incline....when I first parked her, she started rolling back....eventually I figured out that it had something to do with the shifter on the column (automatic trans).....When I put it in park I have to wiggle it a little for it to grab. Is this a big problem or an easy fix?

 

[jonrpick]

I just picked up a '76 K5 Pickup for winter use and had a couple questions. (keep in mind I'm not mechanically inclined)

First, I was wondering what is the metal "button" on the floor just right of the e-brake?

When I first start her up she tends to die when I put it in drive...usually does better putting in reverse and backing up a little ways then going forward....any idea why? Carb need cleaned? If so is it better to have a professional do it or is SeaFoam good enough?

Last question (for now).....I park the truck on the road in front of my house and its a very slight incline....when I first parked her, she started rolling back....eventually I figured out that it had something to do with the shifter on the column (automatic trans).....When I put it in park I have to wiggle it a little for it to grab. Is this a big problem or an easy fix?

The metal button should be the high-beams for your headlights. It used to be common. Even my Dodge Van made in 1984 still had that feature.

Dieing in drive... not sure. Someone else will have suggestions.

The incline...again, my Van would sometimes not engage park properly. I believe the internal piece in the tranny is called the "parking pawl". Someone correct me if I'm wrong. Occasionally the Van would pop out of park and start rolling, but always while I was still in it. Luckily it never happened hours after being parked. It was always immediately when it happened. I'm not sure if that'll require a complete rebuild of the tranny or not. Luckily you should have a TH350 tranny, which is cheap and plentiful.

 

[shaun89]

i would do the basic stuff, like change the oil,plugs,wires,cap/rotor and then take the carb off and clean it,then once the motor runs good. move onto the tranny. it may be confusing, but hey, 99% of us on here learned everything we know that way. and its an old chevy, so its real easy to work on (most of the time) basically just go through the whole thing from the engine back. including brakes.

 

[HarrisonTX]

When i bought my '69 chevy, it took me 2 weeks to figure out what the "metal button" was for, lol...

When it dies, how does it die. Maybe the idle is just a touch too low?

Man, i would be very worried about the truck not engaging in park, if its on an incline, like you mention, before you get out, turn the front tires so if it was to roll, within a few inches of it rolling it would hit the curb, IE, if your parking facing up hill, on the right side of the road, turn the wheel to the left, so your front right tire will impact the curb immediately if it rolls, and you aint around to stop it!

 

[dbabicky]

Wow, the metal button on the floor. I must be old, I guess I took it for granted that there are alot of people out there that have never seen/heard of the dimmer switch on the floor. I'm not bagging on you so please don't take it that way. You just made me realize how old I'm getting. When I started driving there was no such thing as a dimmer switch on the turn signal. As far as the dying thing, give her a good tune-up, clean the carb,change the oil and all the filters. When it comes to the tranny, try adjusting the linkage, if there is no actual threaded adjustment, you can clock the lever on the tranny end to give you a better engagement.

 

[Mike D]

There may be rubber bushings on the shift linkage at the column and the transmission to minimise vibration ( noises and rattles ). If a rubber bushing is worn out it may not be moving the parking prawl far enough for proper enguagement. Someone may have adjusted the shift pointer to look correct but really be out of adjustment at the tranny.

 

[embelishd]

Thanks for all the insight guys. I'll be giving her a tune-up and having someone take a look at the linkage (if I can't figure it out). I'm sure they'll be more questions to come.

 

[embelishd]

Alright so I came up with a couple more questions......

1. How do I figure out what vehicle I have for sure....The badge on the front fender says K5 Blazer but I noticed on the title is says K10.....?


2. How do I figure out what size engine I have....I've just been assuming its a 350 and buying parts for that but I guess I should make sure.....?

Thanks

 

[kennyw]

Alright so I came up with a couple more questions......

1. How do I figure out what vehicle I have for sure....The badge on the front fender says K5 Blazer but I noticed on the title is says K10.....?


2. How do I figure out what size engine I have....I've just been assuming its a 350 and buying parts for that but I guess I should make sure.....?

Thanks

1 - In many states K5's are titled as a K10 which is a 1/2 ton 4x4. You have a K5 though.

2 - It is most likely a 305, 350 or 400. 99% of the parts are the same, very few parts will be different. The parts that are different usually involve a rebuild of the motor anyway. So for tune up parts, don't worry about it. But if you search around on here you should be able to find out what #'s tell you what the motor actually is.

 

[embelishd]

Thanks for the help Kenny

 

[jonrpick]

1 - In many states K5's are titled as a K10 which is a 1/2 ton 4x4. You have a K5 though.

2 - It is most likely a 305, 350 or 400. 99% of the parts are the same, very few parts will be different. The parts that are different usually involve a rebuild of the motor anyway. So for tune up parts, don't worry about it. But if you search around on here you should be able to find out what #'s tell you what the motor actually is.

The explanation I read somewhere made the most sense... Chevy called it a K5 just to differentiate it from the pickups. Otherwise, it is technically a K10. It's a 1/2-ton, 4x4 truck.

IIRC, my title says K10 as well. A lot of auto parts stores list the parts as being for a K10 Blazer as well from what I've noticed.