Red Velvet | 1983 Chevy K5 Blazer

[83blazertexas]

Nice progress!
How are you cleaning, or stopping the rust on the remaining surfaces?

Get rid of all of it or best we can by grinding, and then painting with rust inhibitor paint.

 

[83blazertexas]

 

[83blazertexas]

still going.

 

[centexk5]

One piece at a time. Looks good.

 

[83blazertexas]

I would do any rust repair that you plan on ever doing now. I say this because I have seen vehicles sit for a long time getting body work done, and it isn't nice on the mechanical aspects. Sitting and then lots of start/stop cycles take a toll. No way that I would do that to a new engine. It is even worse on the battery, of course.
Then when you can drive it consistently, get after the mechanical stuff, but do an assessment of what needs the attention first, drivetrain or suspension and brakes.

A truer quote was never said. Still working on the rust 6 months later. glad I followed this advise.

 

[83blazertexas]

Quick update from Garry this morning showing good progress on our mid cab rust restorations.

He decided to leave the seat belt mounting area for the moment to repair the inner rocker on right side. Just so he could get the position of that area correct. Next will be to cut out the rear outrigger/cross member as the position of that will impact on the rear section of the rocker and seat belt panel.
It turned out that the inner rocker had rusted behind the front outrigger, but Garry managed to remove most of the rusty metal without damaging the outrigger, then modified the full inner rocker panel from LMC so it would tuck behind it as well as building in the curve out of the floor indentation.

 

[83blazertexas]

Garry working hard getting the new outrigger in place. And getting the rest of the inner rocker buttoned up. Getting closer to the rear floor pan and seatbelt area.

 

[6872xtc]

Progress!! Awesome!

 

[1300obo]

pretty amazing that you're doing all that without taking the body off the frame. it's looking great and it's interesting to see how everything fits together around the rockers and torsion box area. great pics!

 

[83blazertexas]

All right-side welding is done with clean up and primer. Garry just needs to seam seal and paint black.
Then he'll need to fit mountings under floor. not sure if he will need to loosen the rear and rad support ones to get enough room to fit new ones.

Progress boys!

 

[83blazertexas]

Ahhh. better.

 

[Chevy350Ben]

Great work, and awesome pictures. these will be a really valuable resource for anyone facing the same rust dilemma that these trucks are prone to.

looks like you are doing thing right. Im gonna follow along. Good work.

 

[83blazertexas]

1983 k5 driver side rust repairs coming along now.

 

[83blazertexas]

More progress on drivers side. Replaced out rigger, cut out some rust from body panel, you can see in pics.

 

[83blazertexas]

Wrapping up driver side rust repair, including b pillar seatbelt area, flooring, outriggers, etc... see pics.

 

[83blazertexas]

At the last stages of major rust repair. Can't believe it. Garry is putting on a trailer hitch, putting new LMC wheel wells on the the front, and wrapping up front driver side floor repair. Next up motor!

 

[83blazertexas]

Garry had to take bumper off and grill off to get the old rusted bolts off. Pain in ass.

 

[83blazertexas]

Final picks of b pillar area, seat belt area, underneath, and up top on floorpans etc. Plus the new front fenders installed.

 

[83blazertexas]

home sweet home.

 

[centexk5]

Looks great!