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Thinking about building something new...

if you do a trailblazer start with an 08 or better. older than that they can have meltdown issues in the computer plug area and really F up your electrical crap... we had an 03 or 04 when I was with my ex fiancé and it was a complete nightmare.... started prowling the web for answers and come up with LOTS of the same issue around the country.. most could be traced to the main computer plugs (lotta wire pins) getting moisture, corroding, and melting down. causes random dying, lights going poltergeist, gauges doing whatever the h3ll they want, etc. we traded it for a loss less than 6 months in... apparently 08 and newer was an improved design.

some run forever... some are freakin nightmares... and LOTS are from what I read
 
I'd say go for it. I like the look, a friend of mine had a later model Jimmy or Blazer or something S range two door, big tires, lift, lights, etc. And it looked really nice.


That being said, you CAN fit nearly every modern comfort into an old clunky K5. The only thing you'd have to settle either way for is the clunkyness itself, steering and suspension. You can go for beefy, or comfort.

But there's nothing stopping you from putting in nice heat and AC, sound deadening, heated leather seats, USB and 110 AC fixtures, built in NAV, modern storage, cup holders, cubby holes, etc. You can even put lighted, blinker/heated side mirrors if you want. There's nothing in my wifes 2013 Elantra I couldn't have in a K5. It wouldn't be as quiet, as smooth, and wouldn't get 30+ mpg... but it can't go off road and skull drag another truck, either.
 
Links in the front and deavers out back. The suspension is where I feel a lot of these builds fail. The goal is to have a comfy rig. Suspension is key to that a linked suspension front a good leafs out back I fully support the new build man.

It would be cool
 
72blazerguy said:
Seems like conflicting goals...a truck for wheeling and a nice vehicle to drive around. Why not keep the blazer for wheeling and get some kind of econo-box for the creature comforts?
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I have a decent DDer, that's not the issue. In the past I've had a tow rig and trailer. I've since gotten rid of the tow rig and trailer along with the added expenses that go along with them and built a wheeler that I can drive to the trail, wheel, and drive home. The whole point of this is to build something comfortable as well as capable. It's a 2+ hr drive one way just to get to a "local" wheeling spot, not to mention a 7-9 hr drive to a wheeling destination like Rausch. Then add seat time while wheeling, then the drive home. That's a LOT of time behind the wheel in something uncomfortable. I'm just done with being uncomfortable.

Any a55hole can go buy a JK, buy a bunch of bolt ons, and have what I'm trying to accomplish. I'm the a55hole that likes to be different.
 
As I get older, I too appreciate creature comforts. I also seem to have less enthusiasm for big projects. :rolleyes:

Sounds like you have a nice platform right now. Maybe upgrade a few of the creature comforts.....
What about just putting in a nice ORD/Alcan springs for a nice ride with good off-road abilities?
Good seats - you may have that already?
An aftermarket AC like ClassicAir?
I always got the quietest mufflers I could on my trucks.
Might save you some build time by just adding some comfort upgrades to your current setup?
 
Even if I spend money to add comforts to the K5, what are we talking, $2000 minimum? Sound deadening (spray on), carpets and interior bits, either a retrofit climate unit or ALL the original replacement A/C bits, all the weatherstripping. I'm thinking closer to $3000. That's what I can buy a complete running TB for (theoretically).

And I'm still left with a RUSTY flimsy body tub and floppy C channel frame.

I suppose I could start with a complete and clean K5 from the southwest. Then I'm looking at a minimum $5000 buy in plus shipping. Plus Adam would freak out if he had to witness someone cutting clean K5 sheetmetal and/or scraping it or bouncing off of trees. :D And I'm still left with a flimsy body tub and floppy frame. And, since I spent all my budget to buy, I have less to build with (not that I really have ANY funds to build with right now anyways).

I guess it's safe to say I'm done entertaining thoughts of getting what I want out of my, or another, K5. Although I do appreciate the input thus far, it's forced me to think of the alternatives.
 
Brian, I'm with you on the comfort idea. I took my clunky square body and added all the creature comforts. Now its too nice to wheel.

I'm looking towards my next project and I don't think it'll be another square body unless its a full vert. After DDing my Tahoe, you get such better tech, reliability, and comfort. I mean 5.3L, 5 link rear, fully boxed frame, much more sound body, much better brakes, the only downfall is the ifs for wheeling (unless its go fast type stuff). Depending on what the future holds, I may end up building it as my next wheeler. If not then I'm looking at a 94-02 S10 or a 99-07 swb single cab 1500 either with a V6 and 5 speed manual. Do an LS V8 swap and SAS it and you have a badass little truck.

Have you considered a 4 door S10? Similar stats with the Trailblazer and you're familiar with them.
 
I had considered doing the exact same thing, taking the axles and leaf springs from under my 92 rcsb and putting them under a trailblazer. With very few wheeling trips in the truck last year it seemed but like the parts would be more useful under a rig where the whole family could get out for a easy day of backwoods driving.
I've been keeping an eye out for one to come around in decent enough shape and cheap enough to buy and might still go that route. The 4.2L massive front sump oil pan makes for a little PITA with needing plenty of lift and little uptravel to keep the front diff from hitting.
It helps out that our only vechicle (besides the 92) is a 05 trailblazer so having matching parts from a trail rig would come in helpful at times.
 
I've considered doing another S10, even a newer body 4 door. But that limits what axles I can use. It's considerably narrower than a TB. I would pretty much be stuck with Jeep width axles D30/D44 to keep tires in a respectable location. A TB body is wide enough that I might actually be able to use my 10b/14b with the deep backspace H2s and not have them stick out too far and maybe add some fender flare to keep them under the radar. Of course, this is all speculation at this time as I don't have a TB to measure on hand.

The huge oil pan can be dealt with. The sump is in the rear most part of the pan. Some SAS builds have enough clearance to not touch the pan. I think if I really had to, I can notch out the front part and take it and have plate welded to seal it up. Basically turning it into an L shaped pan like normal.

But again, this is all a bench build right now.

First and foremost I don't have the funds. Things were looking up but I got some news the other day that has me one step away from selling/parting out the K5. I need to keep my house is what it comes down to.
And second, if the funds are there for a hobby, part of me (a big part) wants to get back into cars. So I keep flip flopping on what to do next.

But, in the meantime, it's fun to dream. :waytogo:
 
Don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but those new trailblazers and envoys did come with v8s! 5.3s for sure and then I'm not sure if the ss got a 6.0 or 6.2.
 
y5mgisi said:
Don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but those new trailblazers and envoys did come with v8s! 5.3s for sure and then I'm not sure if the ss got a 6.0 or 6.2.
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Heaths dad has an SS that was rolled that he picked up with a 6.0. They chopped the top off and put a cage in and beat on it.
 
IIRC it had to be a LWB TB to get a V8, or an SS. The LWB model is butt ugly and an SS is way out of budget.

But, further down the road, this makes a future V8 swap a possibility.
 
The Denali Envoys all got 5.3 v-8 power, even the short ones. I don't know what you may find price wise for one though.
 
Good to know. I'm not totally discounting Envoys from the potential build list. But it's a rare case of "GMC got the ugly grill". I really think the TB got a better looking front end where, with every other Chev/GMC truck, GMC had the better looking front.
 
496truck said:
Good to know. I'm not totally discounting Envoys from the potential build list. But it's a rare case of "GMC got the ugly grill". I really think the TB got a better looking front end where, with every other Chev/GMC truck, GMC had the better looking front.
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So speaking of the grilles, did the trailblazers have different ones for different years? I have it in my mind that I like some of them better.
 
6872xtc said:
So speaking of the grilles, did the trailblazers have different ones for different years? I have it in my mind that I like some of them better.
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I think it was 2007 they got a different grill. The newer grill doesn't have the crosspiece between the headlight/parklights.
 
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