Project P-Dub - 1986 K5 Blazer Modifications and Upgrades...

[PWagon]

Hey Cyclic, your brakes look fine, and I'm sure they stop adequately. I'm not sure you read all of my post above. I chose cross-drilled and slotted rotors for better cooling and stopping ability and NEW calipers since I'm sick of 20-something year old "rebuilt" calipers from a third-world country. Now, I could not be more happy with my rig's stopping ability, and I have no fear of brake fade especially with the higher boiling point racing brake fluid. Thanks, but no... I wasn't going for the "cute" factor.

I see you're in Texas too. Let me know the next time you go wheel'n and maybe we might bump into one another.

 

[cyclic]

Exactly, the old single piston calipers were fine 60 years ago, also why I went with the four piston Hummer H3 calipers. Gave me 8 total in front and the Silverado disk rear add another two into the mix for 10 piston brakes total. I do like you brakes, I almost went with the exact same set-up, until I found the Hummer upgrade. It also gives me disk over hub for easier service.
Keep it coming, any good upgrade is always worth sharing.

 

[PWagon]

***** Headlight Upgrade *****
(I previously posted this as an unrelated post. Now I'm including it to my overall truck build.)
The modern age is making me think my OEM headlights are too dim, so I decided to upgrade them to the high intensity discharge (HID) lights.

Factory lights from the Reagan era are not gonna cut it anymore...

So, I ordered some shiny, new lights from LMC's website. They are surprising well built. They have metal housing and glass fronts (no plastic). I was shocked. Anyhow, I finally go around to installing my new lights Saturday evening. Here are a few pics of my work.

New power feed wiring and relays...

I highly recommend upgrading to a direct power feed for the lights.

Removing the old lights and installing the new ones...

Notice the difference in the direction of the light? The headlights only seem bright if you're standing directly in front of them. The light housings do a great job of directing the light down the road...

I can actually see down the road now and blind oncoming traffic.

 

[82355]

They are from the Bush era, not the Reagan era.

Martin

 

[blazinzuk]

Do you get flashed often?

I want brighter lights but I don't want to blind oncoming traffic. Most of my driving is done on 2 lane roads

 

[PWagon]

They are from the Bush era, not the Reagan era.

Martin

You do know that Reagan left office in '89, right?? My grill and radiator support came out of an '89 K5. The point I was trying to make is that these lights (from 1989) used incandescent/filament bulbs that had been used for decades.

 

[PWagon]

Do you get flashed often?

I want brighter lights but I don't want to blind oncoming traffic. Most of my driving is done on 2 lane roads

The high beams are insanely bright and obviously shouldn't be used with oncoming traffic. I've since readjusted the low beams and they only throw light at the ground 50 to 60 feet in front of the truck. The lights are DOT approved, so I'm not using anything that will blind people.

 

[82355]

You do know that Reagan left office in '89, right?? My grill and radiator support came out of an '89 K5. The point I was trying to make is that these lights (from 1989) used incandescent/filament bulbs that had been used for decades.

It was a joke. That grille was used from 1989-1991.

I think those lights are really good, so I have never understood the need to upgrade them.

Martin

 

[PWagon]

The last couple of years I've noticed my eyesight is starting to deteriorate, and I cannot see as well as I used to. So, the upgrade has helped me a lot.

 

[Truckman4life]

Awesome build, I too am gonna have to high jack your bumper design as well as some of your other tips and tricks.

 

[PWagon]

That's awesome, and I'm glad to hear that. Please let me know if you have any questions, and I'll help any way I can.

 

[Big Ray]

How in the world have I missed this thread? Very nice truck and very tasteful improvements. You have a very nice truck.

 

[BlazerFarm]

How in the world have I missed this thread? Very nice truck and very tasteful improvements. You have a very nice truck.

Agreed. I love this build thread but this is the first time I've seen it. Great truck PWagon.

 

[PWagon]

Thank you!

 

[PWagon]

*****Rearview Mirror & Dome Light Upgrade*****
I installed a rear view mirror out of a mid 2000's Tahoe and ran both power and temperature sensor wiring through the cab up the A pillar and behind the head liner. I also wired in a new LED dome map light that came out of a 2016 Suburban. That dude is nice and bright. No more squinting to find stuff in the cab.

 

[PWagon]

*****Scissor Jack Replace/Upgrade*****
I'm a big fan of High-lift jacks, but I hate how much room they take up. Plus I'm sick of people stealing them from me too. I've never been a big fan of scissor jacks, but I like how little space they take. Anyhow, I decided to order a GM scissor jack that is out of a H1 Hummer. It's rated for 5 tons, so I'll assume it'll handle a K5 Blazer with no problem. However, the jack is designed with an odd looking "stub" looking mount point. I grinded off the "stub" and fabricated a mount point that'll work better with my application. Here's what I've done.

 

[NorCalAnthony]

*****Rearview Mirror & Dome Light Upgrade*****

Wow that turned out nice! How hard was it to get the temp and compass working? Do you just mount the temp sensor behind the grill and run the wires directly to the mirror or does it go through anything else like the PCM first?

 

[PWagon]

It was surprisingly easy, and no I did not connect it to the PCM. I took the headlight trim off and drilled a hole in the radiator support to mount the temp sensor. I then ran the wires back to the rearview mirror. I then found an open/unused fuse on my fuse block for switched power. I did have a little trouble with the mounting bracket on the windshield. The thing kept falling off, so I made one out of thin sheet metal and used 3M double sided tape to hold it to the glass.

 

[NorCalAnthony]

Thanks for the info. I have an early 2000's Yukon donor vehicle that I'm still trying to figure out what to strip before I get rid of it. I never thought about the mirror or dome lights until now but they're definitely being added to the list after seeing your pics

 

[jeff in co]

It was surprisingly easy, and no I did not connect it to the PCM. I took the headlight trim off and drilled a hole in the radiator support to mount the temp sensor. I then ran the wires back to the rearview mirror. I then found an open/unused fuse on my fuse block for switched power. I did have a little trouble with the mounting bracket on the windshield. The thing kept falling off, so I made one out of thin sheet metal and used 3M double sided tape to hold it to the glass.

I added the same mirror.....great addition! I got so use to it in the suburban that I just had to have it in the Blazer! I also put one in my daughter's Xterra. Pretty easy addition.

Also, on the headlight install. Did it come set up to run all 4 lights on high beam or did you wire it that way? I have the older lights but added a relay to drive the low beams when the high beams come one. Nice to flood as much as possible.