"The white truck" My 89 V3500 **DRIVING IT

[MTBLAZER89]

MTBLAZER89 submitted a new Build:

"The white truck" My 89 V3500 **New Distributor**

The White truck as my kids refer to it although at the time the Blazer was the only other vehicle I had so not sure why we refer to it by its color Got this truck in Mar of 2006 from a member here and he got it from a previous Norcal member. I had been searching hi and low for a truck like this. Got lucky as this one has the big block and Silverado trim and had less than 100k on it. Figured I would start another thread and not clutter up my Blazer thread.

Specs are 454/TH400/205. 6" Superlift springs and 33" SSR's on some classic Welds

Night I picked it up in Napa in the Olive Garden parking lot!!



Few more of right when I got it.









View attachment 230710

Read more about this build here...

 

[MTBLAZER89]

Didn't do much for a long time with it. Played in a little mud down by the river and used it to tow my K5 to Blazer fest once too.







Thats about it for now. I'll update more tomorrow night to bring us up to current time.

 

[MTBLAZER89]

Moved to WA and hauled 3000 lbs worth of stuff in the back. Started some projects on the Blazer so I ran the 37" SSRs on it for a little bit. Kinda gutless with them, but looked cool.

 

[MTBLAZER89]

Went to Montana to hunt. Took some shots for the calendar that year. I think it looked like a 1989 Chevy magazine add

 

[Babaganoosh]

Always liked this truck, no idea why. I think it's because it's a clean 1ton and not abused like a work truck.

 

[MTBLAZER89]

The paint really started getting bad so I got a small orbital sander and some primer so I could take care of the areas where the primer was rusting through.

Well I liked how the two tone looked, but didn't like that it was only partially done so like it usually happens I kept going

Removed all the trim and cleaned it up.

Found some wrapping paper that had been in the closet for too long.

Was kind of disappointed to find a light layer of filler on the corner of the box

How it turned out after the first day of masking, sanding and painting.

 

[MTBLAZER89]

I liked the black and white, but I had already sanded so I wanted to put something over those areas. I went with a grey for the middle color. It turned out a lot darker than I thought it would, but much better than the white.

Looks great when its wet!!





Overall I was pleased with how it turned out and much better than the white and wasn't rusting away anymore.

 

[MTBLAZER89]

Always liked this truck, no idea why. I think it's because it's a clean 1ton and not abused like a work truck.

Thanks man! I don't see myself ever getting rid of it. I have most of the grey interior pieces from my K5. It still needs paint and eventually a Cummins swap. I don't drive it very often, but my plates are $25 a year and insurance is $25 a month so it doesn't cost me much to have it!

 

[Babaganoosh]

Can't beat that, my 82 hasn't drove in 3 years I think? It has been insured the entire time, it saves us 40 dollars a month.

 

[chevysmithz71]

Thanks man! I don't see myself ever getting rid of it. I have most of the grey interior pieces from my K5. It still needs paint and eventually a Cummins swap. I don't drive it very often, but my plates are $25 a year and insurance is $25 a month so it doesn't cost me much to have it!

Damn you suck. Mine had to go on non-op because my registration was $300 frickin bucks. I've always loved your CC

 

[MTBLAZER89]

Damn you suck. Mine had to go on non-op because my registration was $300 frickin bucks. I've always loved your CC

Yeah I bought it in CA and looked at the last CA reg in the glove box. It ess like $340 because of the GVW taxes for over 10k.. I do out of state military through Montana so I don't pay any of it.

Thanks man! I wish mine was as clean as yours outside. I love the stance and look of the SRW but I can't wait to put good paint on it!

I'm really stuck because I love the Welds on it, but they are 16.5x12 and tires are very limited especially considering the width I need. I'd like to find some MT Challengers in a 17 and go with a 35 or 36.

 

[MTBLAZER89]

No pics, but crossover is done on the truck! I didn't think you guys would get excited about standard crossover installation pictures

Have had the box and pitman arm sitting on the shelf for a bit now. Took the old 1.25 draglink from the K5 and bought some ends and got it all set up along with the XJ shaft.

Wow! Such a nice truck to drive now. Last year I threw the Sky arm on and put in new bushings and springs and finally completed this. Towed the K5 wheeling last weekend and it was so much easier to handle.

Not much of an update, but should have finished this a long time ago!

For sale (1) dropped stock style draglink with no ends.

 

[chevysmithz71]

Cool man. It does make a Huge difference. Did you go with the springless design? I didn't see any of your wheeling pics of your weekend? Don't hold out on us.

 

[MTBLAZER89]

Cool man. It does make a Huge difference. Did you go with the springless design? I didn't see any of your wheeling pics of your weekend? Don't hold out on us.

No I just used the hand me down Sky arm from the K5. I used newer springs and shimmed them. I have the bronze bushings, but completely forgot I had them so next time I am in the knuckles I'll throw them in.

Yeah I guess I am holding out on you guys huh! Got into a couple feet of snow. I'll get them uploaded soon and update the K5 thread!

 

[82355]

I liked the white better. What will you paint it if you do go with a nice paint job?

Martin

 

[MTBLAZER89]

I like the two tone, but I could settle on a solid color. A darker grey or a blue.

 

[MTBLAZER89]

So when I painted the truck I completely forgot the tailgate. I have sorta been looking for a new one because this one at some point had a dispute with a trailer tongue. Also only one of my marker lights worked.

I was at Kmarts going out of business sale getting some new wipers and found replacement LED lights on sale. Makes the tail lights look dim now.

















Redid all the lights on the trailer too since they were all in some state of temporary repair

 

[MTBLAZER89]

Ok I am still on deployment, but brainstorming about my trucks.

The motor in this truck was rebuilt about 10k miles before I bought it in 2006 and I have put about 15k on it since then, but it is a dog, and pretty much runs like it was built on a Friday afternoon almost any time I tow with it. Empty it is fine to drive around and its snappy at low RPMs, but towing at highway speeds is a joke. Any sort of hill brings it to second gear and 35-45 mph. A 12V swap was my plan for it although the thought of keeping it "stock" is appealing to me too, and I am figuring 5-7k for a 12V/NV4500 swap so that just isn't in the cards right now.

What I know right now is it needs both fuel pumps replaced and it has a lifter tick in it. It has a few oil leaks so there are several reasons I can justify doing some upgrades and general maintenance on this motor. A side note this motor gets 6-8 mpg all the time. I know its a big block, but is 10-11 an unreasonable goal?

I only use the truck for towing/hauling so economy and power are the goals here along with a budget.

Intake/Cam/head swap? No fancy aftermarket heads as that pretty much shoots budget out of the water.
Headers?
Upgraded TB/Injectors?

Discuss

 

[82355]

Do you have the TBI intake, or the carbureted intake with adapter?

Martin

 

[beags86]

I pull 15 MPG's with my TBI big block/w/overdrive/4.10/33's unloaded at 55...its not a crew though...or lifted...
10 loaded or a trailer....

10-11 isn't an unreasonable goal.

I would spend money on an overdrive. Then maybe improved intake/decent exhaust.

I was getting 13 on the highway, I ditched the cats and went true duals it bumped to 15..