TheCaptain
Registered Member
Well - let me start by saying hello. I've been lurking here for awhile, but I've never posted before.
I recently picked up a 1974 K5 Blazer that I am planning on bringing back to it's former glory (and then some). It's likely seen at least a little hard living in the past, but the fundamental structure of the truck seems solid.
Here are the details on the truck as I got it:
4x4 (NP205)
350 V8, Edelbrock Intake and 700 cfm carb, long tube headers and dual exhaust with flowmasters.
3.73 gears, factory locking differential on the rear. (12 bolt rear, Dana 44 front.)
33"x12.5" tires, and a pretty beat looking 6"-ish lift. Currently spring over axles.
Here are the current issues that I have picked out so far.
1.) There was a frame crack near the power steering box. It's been fixed and looks like it was competently done. (Translation: The fix has held up.) I know this is a very common issue. The current fix is just a well placed weld though - no braces were added.
2.) I suspect there is a little cracking near the bump stop/motor mount area behind the steering box. It doesn't look very bad though, but it's just another issue that will need to be addressed.
3.) There is another old fix over the rear passenger shock mount area on the frame. Again - it's held up, but I think the weld could have been done better.
4.) Some minor rust, but I haven't found a single place on the truck that is rusted through. I am not sure if I want to do anything major about the floor pans, etc. There is no way I am going to go through them...but I sure do like thick metal. I think I can see some spot welds in the floor that must go down to the rocker box below too - a few of those spot welds aren't really attached anymore...that has to be addressed. The rockers are surprisingly pretty solid. The frame is almost perfectly rust free.
The previous owner claims to have found better front fenders, and doors, and replaced some sheet metal over the rear fenders. It all looks to be pretty solid stuff. The doors are in pretty good shape inside and out. The passenger door barely has a speck of rust on it, inside or out.
5.) The previous owner never saw fit to re-install the front drive shaft.
6.) The front crossmember looks like it took a hit sometime in the past. There is a little extra curve on the lip of it.
7.) The paint is beat, and pretty much every gasket, seal, and bumper on the body has seen the end of it's life. The interior is mostly beat too, although the rear seat is in surprisingly good shape.
And now for the fun stuff...
I am planning on having it taken off the frame and getting everything fixed the right way. I am going to need some guidance on some things though...so I am hoping some of the K5 gurus here will help out the new guy.
I have to run for now, but I wanted to at least get an initial post up here and introduce myself. I'll be posting more soon...there will be pictures and plenty of questions.
I am looking forward to finding out how much of a mess I've gotten myself into!
Jeremy
I recently picked up a 1974 K5 Blazer that I am planning on bringing back to it's former glory (and then some). It's likely seen at least a little hard living in the past, but the fundamental structure of the truck seems solid.
Here are the details on the truck as I got it:
4x4 (NP205)
350 V8, Edelbrock Intake and 700 cfm carb, long tube headers and dual exhaust with flowmasters.
3.73 gears, factory locking differential on the rear. (12 bolt rear, Dana 44 front.)
33"x12.5" tires, and a pretty beat looking 6"-ish lift. Currently spring over axles.
Here are the current issues that I have picked out so far.
1.) There was a frame crack near the power steering box. It's been fixed and looks like it was competently done. (Translation: The fix has held up.) I know this is a very common issue. The current fix is just a well placed weld though - no braces were added.
2.) I suspect there is a little cracking near the bump stop/motor mount area behind the steering box. It doesn't look very bad though, but it's just another issue that will need to be addressed.
3.) There is another old fix over the rear passenger shock mount area on the frame. Again - it's held up, but I think the weld could have been done better.
4.) Some minor rust, but I haven't found a single place on the truck that is rusted through. I am not sure if I want to do anything major about the floor pans, etc. There is no way I am going to go through them...but I sure do like thick metal. I think I can see some spot welds in the floor that must go down to the rocker box below too - a few of those spot welds aren't really attached anymore...that has to be addressed. The rockers are surprisingly pretty solid. The frame is almost perfectly rust free.
The previous owner claims to have found better front fenders, and doors, and replaced some sheet metal over the rear fenders. It all looks to be pretty solid stuff. The doors are in pretty good shape inside and out. The passenger door barely has a speck of rust on it, inside or out.
5.) The previous owner never saw fit to re-install the front drive shaft.
6.) The front crossmember looks like it took a hit sometime in the past. There is a little extra curve on the lip of it.
7.) The paint is beat, and pretty much every gasket, seal, and bumper on the body has seen the end of it's life. The interior is mostly beat too, although the rear seat is in surprisingly good shape.
And now for the fun stuff...
I am planning on having it taken off the frame and getting everything fixed the right way. I am going to need some guidance on some things though...so I am hoping some of the K5 gurus here will help out the new guy.
I have to run for now, but I wanted to at least get an initial post up here and introduce myself. I'll be posting more soon...there will be pictures and plenty of questions.
I am looking forward to finding out how much of a mess I've gotten myself into!
Jeremy
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