- Joined
- Jul 18, 2000
- Posts
- 1,695
- Reaction score
- 2,115
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2000
- Posts
- 1,695
- Reaction score
- 2,115
Been meaning to start a build thread on my K5 for quite a while and finally making the time to do so. Also been trying to think of a catchy name for this machine but haven’t come up with much so far so I’m going to call it the Stout Mutt for now. The name will make sense later down the string.
This is the 85’ K5 carcass I scored from @Capt Ron and how it sits today. There isn’t much there but it is completely rust free and best of all, it has a title! So damn tired of seeing K5’s on CL and Marketplace that either are priced out of this world or priced decent but don’t have titles. I still can’t fathom how many complete decent looking rigs out there don’t have titles! This beauty did come with a title! Thanks Ron!
So, the color is obviously black and I really hate solid black vehicles but at the same time, completely painting a black vehicle something else is a major hassle by the time you do the jambs, dash, etc., but I did really like the old ZY6 paint scheme that was on 1985 GM trucks, especially in black and tan color . The ZY6 paint scheme never made it to K5’s or Suburban’s but I always thought they would have looked great with it so, that is what Stout Mutt will be and where the Stout part fits into its name. Black and Tan Stout, you know…. Like dark beer. Mmm, beeeeeeerrrrr.
No fancy rendering software here! I still do my renderings with pencils and crayons!
Because I am a cheap bastid, I am going to paint it myself…..outside in the open air just like I did my Polar Bear Suburban rockers. LOL But, for this cheap machine I’m going to use Van Sickle oil based implement paint instead of $$$$$ for true automotive paint. Thinking of maybe adding a little grey in with the black and tan. Not 100% sold on the gray portion yet but there is still a lot of time as this will be a slow-moving project.
Then Rob @ZooMad75 got all fancy and colored this on his computer
Not sure who all owns the rigs below but each one has a feature or two that I’ll be adding to Stout Mutt.
The Stout Mutt will look like a cross between the renderings above and this beauty below.
One thing that will be different between this rig and my K10 and Burb will be the lift height… This time I want a modest lift and cut-out wheel flares that can clear 35’s. While the 4” lift on my K10 and Burb doesn’t look hillybilly tall, the 4” sure looks yuuuge on Rob and my buddy Ian’s stubby K5’s. I’m thinking a 2.5 to 3” lift on this one. The K5 below has the perfect stance, tire size and wheel flares. I’m stealing this look for the Stout Mutt
And as lame as it is, I want a snorkel! I love the look of Camkillers M1009 on IG
And where the Mutt portion of the name comes in is from the Johnny Cash special it will be of many years. My absolute favorite grill of the sloped nose squares as the 83/84 grills with the painted power bar across from fender to fender. I picked up this grill for cheap at the local yard so my 85 K5 will be looking like an 83/84.
With my new project being pretty skinny on pretty much everything to make it a complete K5 I was in full hunter gather mode looking for some donor for body parts, etc. One day I was telling my buddy, Ty, about the new score and that I need a lot of parts to find he reminded me of a 85 C20 on his dad’s ranch South of town that needed to thrown away. He said it was a solid truck that had a later model 5.7L police car engine that got put in the back 40 when the TH400 died about 10 years prior. $200 later and I had a nice C20 bucket of parts.
I picked it clean of as much as possible and pretty much got my money back at the scrap yard for what was left. Pretty much got a 350, front clip, doors, 9.5” semi-floater, interior trim, steering column, a reman 2wd steering gear and tons of doodads for basically free
So long pal, thanks for your bits and pieces
So the idea with this K5 was to be “light”….well, not like crazy racing K5 light, but I wanted something lighter than my heavy pig K10 and Suburban to beat around the bush in and I’ve always wanted to build something with a 292 Straight Six and this 1985 K5 carcass seemed like the perfect animal. I had been sitting on a 292 for a few years that I acquired by trading some other parts for and over Christmas break 2018 I opened up to give it a refresh and reseal but once I peeled off the side cover and saw the cam my plans went South in a heartbeat as the cam was done. Every lob on the cam where the lifter rode was worn down practically flat. Hard to believe it even ran. I thought, okay….a cam, no big deal then I pulled off the oil pan and a few rod and main caps. Yep, those were done too. Well, it made no sense to rebuild the 292 when I had a perfectly nice TBI 350 out of the C20 score that was basically free. Plus I still had the entire TBI system left over from my Polar Bear Suburban when it got the 8.1L transplant.
Well, instead of spending Christmas week 2018 sprucing up a 292, I ended up sprucing up a TBI 5.7L instead. And Ty was right, it was a 92 B-body police car engine with a roller cam. The engine was soooo clean inside it was amazing. I just did a reseal and repaint in it then threw on some serpentine brackets and accessories also left over from the Polar Bears 8.1L swap. Actually, looked like a brand new GMPP crate engine when done
This is the 85’ K5 carcass I scored from @Capt Ron and how it sits today. There isn’t much there but it is completely rust free and best of all, it has a title! So damn tired of seeing K5’s on CL and Marketplace that either are priced out of this world or priced decent but don’t have titles. I still can’t fathom how many complete decent looking rigs out there don’t have titles! This beauty did come with a title! Thanks Ron!
So, the color is obviously black and I really hate solid black vehicles but at the same time, completely painting a black vehicle something else is a major hassle by the time you do the jambs, dash, etc., but I did really like the old ZY6 paint scheme that was on 1985 GM trucks, especially in black and tan color . The ZY6 paint scheme never made it to K5’s or Suburban’s but I always thought they would have looked great with it so, that is what Stout Mutt will be and where the Stout part fits into its name. Black and Tan Stout, you know…. Like dark beer. Mmm, beeeeeeerrrrr.
No fancy rendering software here! I still do my renderings with pencils and crayons!
Because I am a cheap bastid, I am going to paint it myself…..outside in the open air just like I did my Polar Bear Suburban rockers. LOL But, for this cheap machine I’m going to use Van Sickle oil based implement paint instead of $$$$$ for true automotive paint. Thinking of maybe adding a little grey in with the black and tan. Not 100% sold on the gray portion yet but there is still a lot of time as this will be a slow-moving project.
Then Rob @ZooMad75 got all fancy and colored this on his computer
Not sure who all owns the rigs below but each one has a feature or two that I’ll be adding to Stout Mutt.
The Stout Mutt will look like a cross between the renderings above and this beauty below.
One thing that will be different between this rig and my K10 and Burb will be the lift height… This time I want a modest lift and cut-out wheel flares that can clear 35’s. While the 4” lift on my K10 and Burb doesn’t look hillybilly tall, the 4” sure looks yuuuge on Rob and my buddy Ian’s stubby K5’s. I’m thinking a 2.5 to 3” lift on this one. The K5 below has the perfect stance, tire size and wheel flares. I’m stealing this look for the Stout Mutt
And as lame as it is, I want a snorkel!
I love the look of Camkillers M1009 on IG
And where the Mutt portion of the name comes in is from the Johnny Cash special it will be of many years. My absolute favorite grill of the sloped nose squares as the 83/84 grills with the painted power bar across from fender to fender. I picked up this grill for cheap at the local yard so my 85 K5 will be looking like an 83/84.
With my new project being pretty skinny on pretty much everything to make it a complete K5 I was in full hunter gather mode looking for some donor for body parts, etc. One day I was telling my buddy, Ty, about the new score and that I need a lot of parts to find he reminded me of a 85 C20 on his dad’s ranch South of town that needed to thrown away. He said it was a solid truck that had a later model 5.7L police car engine that got put in the back 40 when the TH400 died about 10 years prior. $200 later and I had a nice C20 bucket of parts.
I picked it clean of as much as possible and pretty much got my money back at the scrap yard for what was left. Pretty much got a 350, front clip, doors, 9.5” semi-floater, interior trim, steering column, a reman 2wd steering gear and tons of doodads for basically free
So long pal, thanks for your bits and pieces
So the idea with this K5 was to be “light”….well, not like crazy racing K5 light, but I wanted something lighter than my heavy pig K10 and Suburban to beat around the bush in and I’ve always wanted to build something with a 292 Straight Six and this 1985 K5 carcass seemed like the perfect animal. I had been sitting on a 292 for a few years that I acquired by trading some other parts for and over Christmas break 2018 I opened up to give it a refresh and reseal but once I peeled off the side cover and saw the cam my plans went South in a heartbeat as the cam was done. Every lob on the cam where the lifter rode was worn down practically flat. Hard to believe it even ran. I thought, okay….a cam, no big deal then I pulled off the oil pan and a few rod and main caps. Yep, those were done too. Well, it made no sense to rebuild the 292 when I had a perfectly nice TBI 350 out of the C20 score that was basically free. Plus I still had the entire TBI system left over from my Polar Bear Suburban when it got the 8.1L transplant.
Well, instead of spending Christmas week 2018 sprucing up a 292, I ended up sprucing up a TBI 5.7L instead. And Ty was right, it was a 92 B-body police car engine with a roller cam. The engine was soooo clean inside it was amazing. I just did a reseal and repaint in it then threw on some serpentine brackets and accessories also left over from the Polar Bears 8.1L swap. Actually, looked like a brand new GMPP crate engine when done
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2000
- Posts
- 1,695
- Reaction score
- 2,115
Next up on the list was to freshen up the 9.5” semi-floater from the C20. I know, I know….a 9.5” is certainly not the ideal axle but it was free and in my hand plus the original idea for this K5 was to be light. It got new axle seals, pinion seal, complete replacement of everything on the brakes and of course, a paint job. At one point I almost gave up on this sumbish as the bolt broke off in the lock pin while trying to pull the axle out. Rob turned me on to a nifty tool that was made for such a shitty job and it worked great to get the old pin out!
Also around December of 2018, I found this treasure on Marketplace for $250. I already had an older figure 8 SM465/205 combo in stock but would much rather use this later stuff just to have the round pattern 205 in case this K5 gets an NV4500 down the road. It also came with a hydraulic bellhousing too boot and I also got a squarebody hydrobooster from this dude as well.
Then around May I happened across a 91 K5 for parts on Marketplace and it just so happen I happen to be in the market for such a K5 with a TOP! The dude said he would take $50 for the top so my buddy and I ran up to Canon City to grab this top but not owning K5 for over 25 years myself, I didn’t realize the later ones had tamper proof torx head bolts holding the top on and of course, we didn’t have any of those with us. The guy that was selling it said no problem, for $50 more you can take the whole damn thing so we loaded it up on the trailer and brought it home! It was just a roller with no powertrain but it had a top, the rest of the TBI harness I needed, TBI fuel tank and EFI fuel lines.
I picked this sumbish clean too. We paid like a $100 for it and I got $103 at scrap! Whoohoo, enough scratch to buy a Sonic shake on the way home!
Early fall of this year, I finally got around to refreshing the 465 and 205. Both got a complete tear down, look-over and reseal. The 205 got the obligatory twin stick shift rails while it was apart and it needed a few bearings. Also had to sacrifice an older 205 in order to convert the round one to a fixed yoke and change it over from a synhro’d front output to a non-synchro’d. This was the first 205 I’ve ever saw in the flesh with a synchro’d front output.
The component pile is getting bigger. Maybe someday soon I’ll be able to roll the K5 carcuss in and start assembling it like a 1/25 model car
And this is where I am at right now. This is 4:10 D44 I scored from @Capt Ron where it has been going under the knife this week. Its getting a full reset with possibly even a traction device dropped in since the carrier needs to come out to replace the side bearing seals.
And, I decided to do something I swore I would never do but I am going to give cross over steering a try on this rig. The 3:73 D44 out of Rob’s old ’75 K5 has been laying here for years and it has the correct knuckles for crossover and high steer plus I have a new used 2wd steering gear from the C20 so what the hell, might as well give it a try.
Early D44 flat top knuckle on the right…. Later knuckle on the left. I'll be shipping the flattie to ORD this next week for machining
Also discovered Rob’s early D44 had the small bearing spindles. We’ll prolly use those little bastids for tire gate swing hinges down the road. Just a neat picture showing the difference between the two
That’s all there is to say for now
Also around December of 2018, I found this treasure on Marketplace for $250. I already had an older figure 8 SM465/205 combo in stock but would much rather use this later stuff just to have the round pattern 205 in case this K5 gets an NV4500 down the road. It also came with a hydraulic bellhousing too boot and I also got a squarebody hydrobooster from this dude as well.
Then around May I happened across a 91 K5 for parts on Marketplace and it just so happen I happen to be in the market for such a K5 with a TOP! The dude said he would take $50 for the top so my buddy and I ran up to Canon City to grab this top but not owning K5 for over 25 years myself, I didn’t realize the later ones had tamper proof torx head bolts holding the top on and of course, we didn’t have any of those with us. The guy that was selling it said no problem, for $50 more you can take the whole damn thing so we loaded it up on the trailer and brought it home! It was just a roller with no powertrain but it had a top, the rest of the TBI harness I needed, TBI fuel tank and EFI fuel lines.
I picked this sumbish clean too. We paid like a $100 for it and I got $103 at scrap! Whoohoo, enough scratch to buy a Sonic shake on the way home!
Early fall of this year, I finally got around to refreshing the 465 and 205. Both got a complete tear down, look-over and reseal. The 205 got the obligatory twin stick shift rails while it was apart and it needed a few bearings. Also had to sacrifice an older 205 in order to convert the round one to a fixed yoke and change it over from a synhro’d front output to a non-synchro’d. This was the first 205 I’ve ever saw in the flesh with a synchro’d front output.
The component pile is getting bigger. Maybe someday soon I’ll be able to roll the K5 carcuss in and start assembling it like a 1/25 model car
And this is where I am at right now. This is 4:10 D44 I scored from @Capt Ron where it has been going under the knife this week. Its getting a full reset with possibly even a traction device dropped in since the carrier needs to come out to replace the side bearing seals.
And, I decided to do something I swore I would never do but I am going to give cross over steering a try on this rig. The 3:73 D44 out of Rob’s old ’75 K5 has been laying here for years and it has the correct knuckles for crossover and high steer plus I have a new used 2wd steering gear from the C20 so what the hell, might as well give it a try.
Early D44 flat top knuckle on the right…. Later knuckle on the left. I'll be shipping the flattie to ORD this next week for machining
Also discovered Rob’s early D44 had the small bearing spindles. We’ll prolly use those little bastids for tire gate swing hinges down the road. Just a neat picture showing the difference between the two
That’s all there is to say for now
Last edited:
Me thinks perhaps crack is on sale in Pueblo. 4"? While I have only checked out your K10 a couple of times that thing has gotta have more than a 4" lift!
Who you callin a hillbilly?
Thank you, I always wanted to put a snorkel on my K5 but after reading Rob's opinion on them and the general consensus on CK5 I assumed mobs with pitchforks would arrive at sunset to drive me out of town. If we both do it all of the lame kids will want to be cool like us!
Keep up the great work Larry, you just keep raising the bar higher and higher.
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2000
- Posts
- 1,695
- Reaction score
- 2,115
yep, they’re all 4”. The K10 and Suburban have the exact same Superlift part number of front springs. I think Ian and Rob use the same part number as well.
These pictures certainly don’t show how the K5's usually look taller as we’re all loaded to live out of them for a week but, I swear the K5’s look taller with a 4” lift. Might just be an illusion since they are so short. Regardless, I want the Mutt to be lower, if even only an inch
Oops, I forgot you were running a 6”
Exactly! Let's start a trend
. Ya, I know snorkels are so overlandly cliché but on the right vehicle I think they look cool. I would certainly never hack up the fenders on the K10 and Burb for one but for this POS Mutt I think it would be fun to see how it looks and works when combined with cut-out flares, which is another thing people love or hate. The fenders I am using on the Stout Mutt are not that great anyway 
. Hell, I already have the China’s finest $60 80 Series LC snorkel (bought it on Wish) on hand and showed it to Rob. He didn’t razz me too hard.
It's about time you started something here about the K5. I'm excited to see the K5 develop.
@Capt Ron I've given Larry a fair bit of harassment over the snorkel since we don't have much chance of crossing rivers deep enough to require them where we live. But if he actually makes it functional I'll refrain from further harassment. I can see the benefit of a snorkel for running dusty trails, which we have no shortage of around here.
I dig the plan so far. It's not a normal Larry build as far as not being powered by a big block and heavy duty everything. Relatively light, low and capable should be a cool combo for a weekend run where the full expedition K10 might be overkill for.
@Capt Ron I've given Larry a fair bit of harassment over the snorkel since we don't have much chance of crossing rivers deep enough to require them where we live. But if he actually makes it functional I'll refrain from further harassment. I can see the benefit of a snorkel for running dusty trails, which we have no shortage of around here.
I dig the plan so far. It's not a normal Larry build as far as not being powered by a big block and heavy duty everything. Relatively light, low and capable should be a cool combo for a weekend run where the full expedition K10 might be overkill for.
Cool project Larry, I’m digging the direction with exception of the snorkel 
Nice sounding build. Nice looking drivetrain. Wish I had a space like that to work in for mine. I'm going to have to do mine in my driveway. I can't make scores or rigs or parts like that around here....everyone wants top dollar for rusted out hulks with or without titles.
FIFYCool project Larry, I’m digging the direction especially the snorkel
I think Aaron started the trend, I didn't dislike it and now you can follow the trend
I can't find a better picture in mine to show it but it grew on me and I might consider putting one on my overland suburban
Now you have got me wondering about advertised lift versus actual lift. This is 6" ORD with new 35" ( actual 33.5) tires.
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2000
- Posts
- 1,695
- Reaction score
- 2,115
He and Lawrence (Dante Peak Burb) were probably the first onesI think Aaron started the trend, I didn't dislike it and now you can follow the trend
View attachment 320076
I would have never guessed the K10 was this much taller than the Burb as they both have 35” tires and same exact lift. The major difference is the blue K10 has a D60 (and a 1” zero rate in the rear to make it sit level), which is a bit taller than a D44. Looks like you still have an inch over the K10 with a 6” lift vs. 4”
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2000
- Posts
- 1,695
- Reaction score
- 2,115
I forgot to show the nifty new Mevotech TTX balljoints for the Dana 44 that arrived this week. These are supposed to be the cat’s meow when it comes to balljoints. We’ll see! TXK8195T for the lower and TXMS50569 for the upper.
Oh, and I forgot to tell the story of the tire and wheel plans for the Stout Mutt. So, the Fierce Attitudes on the K10 are too far gone now for long-distance travels but the Suburban has basically a brand-new set of Duratracs that need to be worn out before they dry out. One of my buddys just gave me 5 late model Hummer H2 wheels with GMT900 caps. Of all the rigs, I think the argent painted H2 wheels would look the best on the Suburban so the plan is the Dirtytracs are going on the K10, the Fierce Attitudes on the K10 now will go on the Stout Mutt and the Polar Bear Burb will get a fresh set of tires on the H2 wheels. The Burb will look great with this combo……I hope! Now, I just need to figure out which tire I want to run on the Burb this go around. Probably won't do Dirtytracs again though
Oh, and I forgot to tell the story of the tire and wheel plans for the Stout Mutt. So, the Fierce Attitudes on the K10 are too far gone now for long-distance travels but the Suburban has basically a brand-new set of Duratracs that need to be worn out before they dry out. One of my buddys just gave me 5 late model Hummer H2 wheels with GMT900 caps. Of all the rigs, I think the argent painted H2 wheels would look the best on the Suburban so the plan is the Dirtytracs are going on the K10, the Fierce Attitudes on the K10 now will go on the Stout Mutt and the Polar Bear Burb will get a fresh set of tires on the H2 wheels. The Burb will look great with this combo……I hope! Now, I just need to figure out which tire I want to run on the Burb this go around. Probably won't do Dirtytracs again though
This is going to be a sweet build! Keep the pics coming
What paint did you use on the trans and t-case? It reminds me of the stuff they paint a lot of reman semi truck transmissions with and I kinda like it.
Subscribed for sure!
The details of your builds are drool worthy!
Kinda wanted to see the 292 go into something but I definitely would have decided on the cop 350 after the tear down of the 6 banger.
The details of your builds are drool worthy!
Kinda wanted to see the 292 go into something but I definitely would have decided on the cop 350 after the tear down of the 6 banger.
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2000
- Posts
- 1,695
- Reaction score
- 2,115
Thanks dude! I've been following yours on IG and the thread here too. Sweet rig!
I use Van Sickle oil-based implement paint for everything. We used to be able to buy it at the local farm store but they dropped it so now I buy it by the case direct from Van Sickle. I mainly buy this red primer, satin black, gloss black and will be buying the satin black and tan paint by the gallon when its time to paint the exterior of the K5. Oil based implement paint is the poor mans powder coating. Great paint. You can paint a greasy ball bearing with this stuff and it will stick and look great
The tcase and trans is Van Sickle 406 70 Flat Red Primer with their gloss over it. That is as about as close to the original 205 color that New Process was using on 205’s in the late 60’s through mid -70’s
