Rusty 87

[Rob54]

My 87 K5 blazer looks nice but is pretty rusty underneath. Things like inner rockers, body mount perches etc. For the most part it’s solid but it’s been patched up before. I am in the Northeast so it’s no surprise. The rear floor seems solid but definitely isn’t original. I am not sure if it’s correct or not and will have to start tearing in to find out. (Just got it) Fortunately at least I am a sheet metal guy by trade.
Wondering if anyone had some good underside pics I can reference. Especially the rear.

If anyone else is from the Northeast, how do you guys assess body rust. In other words at what point do you pull the trigger on replacing stuff. I am not looking for perfection but I do want it correct. I doubt every one has a spotless K5 that you can eat off of so where do you all stand??

Also, my frame is solid but has some type of peeling undercoat, not sure what exactly. Might actually just be paint. Open to ideas to remove this stuff easily short of various wire wheels, screwdrivers etc. Thanks to all

 

[Chickntrk]

Depends on how nice you want it and it’s intended use….if you aren’t going to park it in winter it’s going to rust again….no way around that. I spray all of my stuff with woolwax to preserve what I can but if I really care about it it gets parked in winter.

 

[Rob54]

Depends on how nice you want it and it’s intended use….if you aren’t going to park it in winter it’s going to rust again….no way around that. I spray all of my stuff with woolwax to preserve what I can but if I really care about it it gets parked in winter.

Thank you, yes im gonna park it but it will be outdoors. I will probably have it fluid filmed after i do the body work

 

[Rob54]

Ok so I am going to do inner and outer rockers, and front and rear floors. I really need pics of the channel type supports under the front floors that tie to the body mount supports ( runs from about rear of front fender to front of rear fender) and also the rear floors from underneath - assuming there is channel there too like on a truck bed? I can probably recreate if not commercially available. If somebody had some pics i could go by that would be super helpful. Some of what i am looking at is original and some of it is not. Tried uploading some pics but cant figure it out

 

[muddybuddy]

Thank you, yes im gonna park it but it will be outdoors. I will probably have it fluid filmed after i do the body work

Mine has been outdoors but is parked and i havent seen any deterioration on underside. Makes a big difference when tires arent kicking up salt into all the hard to get spots. If outside and off the street (so plow trucks or traffic passing by dont splash on your truck), you should be fine.

 

[Conner]

As for pictures to reference, I have had good luck scouring completed auctions on BringATrailer. Many of the K5s on there are totally stock or very close, and in very good shape, plus it's relatively common for sellers to include pictures of the underside with the truck on a lift. It may take hunting around on there a little bit, and mentally piecing together multiple different images, but it should help a lot. Most listings there have 100+ high quality images attached.

I am neck deep in going through rust repair on my '85 right now, and I have some pictures and thought process documented on my build thread (link) that may help you get started. I am definitely not a pro, either at welding or at auto restoration, so there's my disclaimer not to necessary do as I do... LOL.

Good luck!

 

[Rob54]

As for pictures to reference, I have had good luck scouring completed auctions on BringATrailer. Many of the K5s on there are totally stock or very close, and in very good shape, plus it's relatively common for sellers to include pictures of the underside with the truck on a lift. It may take hunting around on there a little bit, and mentally piecing together multiple different images, but it should help a lot. Most listings there have 100+ high quality images attached.

I am neck deep in going through rust repair on my '85 right now, and I have some pictures and thought process documented on my build thread (link) that may help you get started. I am definitely not a pro, either at welding or at auto restoration, so there's my disclaimer not to necessary do as I do... LOL.

Good luck!

Good tip. Thank you. I will give that a look.