mrluhman
1/2 ton status
This started as a dynamat and new carpet project. When we took up the old carpet we found this so now the project gets a little bigger. 
Last edited:
CK5
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Restoration on 89
- Thread starter mrluhman
- Start date
You know, it's much easier to change the fuel pump just by dropping the tank.
Please take lots of pics of ur progress! Mine is worse then yours 
so its gonna be a soon to come project
so its gonna be a soon to come project
Wow, I'm just glad mine has never had anything like that to deal with!
How's the front floor board?
How's the front floor board?
mrluhman
1/2 ton status
Please take lots of pics of ur progress! Mine is worse then yours
I plan on taking lots of pictures and doing it right. The rest of the replacement parts should come in Tuesday. I will snap some pictures and get them up here. I got the floor pans from LMC yesterday and they need a little hammering. I am glad they are floor pans and not fenders or something that require a lot of skill to make right. LMC is known for their replacement panels coming in bent or damaged but I was happy with the thickness of the steel.
mrluhman
1/2 ton status
I haven't got that far yet. Crossing my fingers that it isn't as bad as the back. I am sure there will be a few places to patch by the seats but its an Arizona truck so I am not expecting that much. The truck was undercoated too so I hope that helped a little. Who knows though...seeing all that rust on the back was not what I was expecting either.
Just be sure you perp those panels rear good to help prevent rust in the future. Some have said the aftermarket stuff doesn't hold up very long over time.
That just has to suck to find that kind of stuff (rust).
4xcrazy
3/4 ton status
um, if this was an "Arizona truck" there shouldn't be ANY corrosive rust on it anywhere, maybe some surface type stuff, but nothing there to eat away at the steel. I would be willing to bet since it's been undercoated, any previous owners had it back east somewhere.
I lived out there for 25 years, vehicles don't rust there
btw, i can't see the pics yet either, so not sure how bad it is, just going off what you guys are saying about it.
I lived out there for 25 years, vehicles don't rust there
btw, i can't see the pics yet either, so not sure how bad it is, just going off what you guys are saying about it.
mrluhman
1/2 ton status
Found more rust. Both tailgate posts need to be replaced.
Cornfield creations
1/2 ton status
Yeup, just take your time with it. Do it right first so it doesn't come back on you. Weld-through primer on the backside of the panels helps. Afterwards I sprayed all the inside of my panels with some stuff from Eastwood that is like an oil/wax and slides into cracks and such until it hardens up.
Looks like this is become a body restoration too.
mrluhman
1/2 ton status
Progress fitting the parts
Here is the progress so far. Floor section rear LH and RH. Tailgate post LH and RH. Tail pan complete (support bar that rests on the frame). I also have some new tailgate hinges coming in from Classic Parts. They were HALF the price of the LMC parts.
Its nice to see there is a little competition in the aftermarket arena...makes me think people are making ample money on our hobby/obsession...which ensures the survival of these classic trucks for a long time. Cheers my friends!
Here is the progress so far. Floor section rear LH and RH. Tailgate post LH and RH. Tail pan complete (support bar that rests on the frame). I also have some new tailgate hinges coming in from Classic Parts. They were HALF the price of the LMC parts.
Its nice to see there is a little competition in the aftermarket arena...makes me think people are making ample money on our hobby/obsession...which ensures the survival of these classic trucks for a long time. Cheers my friends!Wasatch K5
1/2 ton status
Something's fishy about the "Arizona truck" history....
Arizona vehicles in general have virtually no rust. By "Arizona vehicles" I mean those that have spent their entire lives there.
The US military stores all of their surplus aircraft in Tucson for a reason; the climate. There's a commercial aircraft storage facility close by in Marana for the same reason.
I used to live there (Tempe) and was continually amazed at seeing 40+ year old vehicles with zero rust.
A 1989 Blazer with as much rust as yours doesn't make sense unless it was bought there in 1989 and left the state immediately.
Arizona vehicles in general have virtually no rust. By "Arizona vehicles" I mean those that have spent their entire lives there.
The US military stores all of their surplus aircraft in Tucson for a reason; the climate. There's a commercial aircraft storage facility close by in Marana for the same reason.
I used to live there (Tempe) and was continually amazed at seeing 40+ year old vehicles with zero rust.
A 1989 Blazer with as much rust as yours doesn't make sense unless it was bought there in 1989 and left the state immediately.
4xcrazy
3/4 ton status
yeah, i had already mentioned that, and now that i can actually see the pictures he had of the rust damage, i can almost bet, this truck has seen some decent amount of time outside of Arizona.
Mine is an '89, the only rust on the thing, is the surface type stuff that usually rubs off from paint that has fallen off or down to near bare metal.
eitherway, it's good to see he's trying to save it with the repairs.
Mine is an '89, the only rust on the thing, is the surface type stuff that usually rubs off from paint that has fallen off or down to near bare metal.
eitherway, it's good to see he's trying to save it with the repairs.
Ck1500
1/2 ton status
looking good, i have been doing the same thing on my 87 K-5
in the body shop location here
http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=269418
and yes everything i have had from LMC.. has taken a little extra effort to make it right.. but it is better then having to make all of the pieces myself
in the body shop location here
http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=269418
and yes everything i have had from LMC.. has taken a little extra effort to make it right.. but it is better then having to make all of the pieces myself
bpgardn
Registered Member
Mine is worse as well. I could use the progress pics . Both sides of my rig rusted all the way thru at the point where the tailgate is bolted on. Good job so far looking forward to more how too pics.................
I was wondering what you use to support the body when cutting out all that in the back? My dad was saying you have to take the body off the frame but you kept it on it looks like. Any pictures showing how you keep the body at normal height?
mrluhman
1/2 ton status
Look at the first picture above when the pieces were going back together.
There are jack stands on both wheels and then 2x4s holding the body level positioned under the rear wheel wells. This was done BEFORE any of the cutting began.
mrluhman
1/2 ton status
Update
So this truck has been in the shop now for over 3 months. I am taking a roadtrip to Ft. Robinson, Nebraska in early July for a family reunion. I was hoping to take the Blazer but it is looking bleak.
Here are some pictures of the spot welding on both the driver and passenger replacement panels and where they are spot welded inside each respective wheel well.
I received my new tailgate hinges from Classic Parts. I was happy to get them and see it was an original GM part. I also received a fuel filler neck cover from LMC and was happy to see it was an original GM part too. The more parts I order for this project and from the different companies, the more I wonder why they don't specify that they are genuine GM parts (like the Classic Parts dashpad where the aftermarket is less than the "limited availability" GM original.) You would think that in any instance the general consumer would choose and likely pay extra knowing it was a genuine GM part and not a Chinese reproduction.
So this truck has been in the shop now for over 3 months.
I am taking a roadtrip to Ft. Robinson, Nebraska in early July for a family reunion. I was hoping to take the Blazer but it is looking bleak. Here are some pictures of the spot welding on both the driver and passenger replacement panels and where they are spot welded inside each respective wheel well.
I received my new tailgate hinges from Classic Parts. I was happy to get them and see it was an original GM part. I also received a fuel filler neck cover from LMC and was happy to see it was an original GM part too. The more parts I order for this project and from the different companies, the more I wonder why they don't specify that they are genuine GM parts (like the Classic Parts dashpad where the aftermarket is less than the "limited availability" GM original.) You would think that in any instance the general consumer would choose and likely pay extra knowing it was a genuine GM part and not a Chinese reproduction.
mrluhman
1/2 ton status
Update
Here is the driver and passenger panels after all the welds were ground down, seam sealed, and primed. The underside of the new patch panels are all texture coated and painted too but those pictures serve no value as you all know what that looks like.
The truck is starting to get reassembled and I couldn't justify putting the old rusty fuel tank back on so I ordered a new fuel tank, straps, and anti-squeak kit from LMC (none were GM parts). I forgot this truck had the optional stone shield plate and all my new shiny parts were just going to get covered up. So, I had the skid plate taken in. They sandblasted it, powder coated, and painted it so now it looks brand new. At least I will sleep better knowing I didn't knowingly hide new parts with an old rusty one.
Here is the driver and passenger panels after all the welds were ground down, seam sealed, and primed. The underside of the new patch panels are all texture coated and painted too but those pictures serve no value as you all know what that looks like.
The truck is starting to get reassembled and I couldn't justify putting the old rusty fuel tank back on so I ordered a new fuel tank, straps, and anti-squeak kit from LMC (none were GM parts). I forgot this truck had the optional stone shield plate and all my new shiny parts were just going to get covered up.
So, I had the skid plate taken in. They sandblasted it, powder coated, and painted it so now it looks brand new. At least I will sleep better knowing I didn't knowingly hide new parts with an old rusty one.
