Ok, about to go look at a '74. What to watch out for?

[BlazerFarm]

I'm about to go look at a almost completely stock '74 K5 for sale. I haven't owned a '73 - '75 in over 25 years.

I owned my '75 back in 1979 and only for a year before someone ran a stop sign and totaled it. I owned the '74 for a year in 1983 but it was so completely rusted out that I got rid of it.

I want another full convertible. Craig Artzner has made me envious...

Anything special I should beware of in places unique to those years? I know they have the stiffener boxes under the truck for strength. Do these rust out commonly? I know where to look for common rust in other areas from the other '70s Blazers I have.

Not sure if the full time 4wd is still there or if it has been converted. Since it's a 350/350 I know it had the NP203 and those chains can stretch over the years. Since it's pretty stock from the one picture I've seen and the lady told me it was her husband's truck for 30 years until he died it may be in decent shape. I know it has had an engine swap about 4 years ago.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[colbystephens]

yeah - those rocker boxes are VERY prone to fill up with dirt and sh!t and rot out. when i built my '73, I cut the rocker boxes out and with it came about 20 pounds of dirt collected over the last 25-26 years.

 

[blazernut]

I've got a couple 73's and i think the worst problem with the full tops is that the weight of the top stretchs the rear quarter panels at the tailgate. If anyone has an easy fix for this i'd appreciate some good ideas.