What do I have?

[K5_Bigfoot]

Finally bought a K5/Jimmy again after selling my last one 8 years ago. Have been stalking ck5.com website since my first Blazer in high school over 20 years ago, and this site has helped a lot over the years. Finally became a member as new to me Jimmy is gonna need a lot of work and I’m gonna need a lot of help. So my question is what can you guys tell me my Jimmy has, as the guy I bought it from only had it a year and bought it as it sits now, other then the new wheels and tires I just put on, and he knew very little. It’s a 1989 GMC Jimmy stock 350, PO put in a turbo 350 trans not sure which transfer case, lifted not sure how much, looks like maybe 3/4 ton axles. Rear is full floating. Steering is garbage and loud! New tires and wheels helped by narrowing track by 8 inches up front but still struggles especially at low speeds. So I’m gonna try to post up some pics and humbly ask what you can tell about it. Axles, lift, transfer case, steering etc. Thank you for your time and input!

 

[regal403]

That thing is clean

 

[Bent77]

Ok

Rear axle is a 14 bolt full float
Your have a shackle flip rear which adds about 4”, plus the height of the block

 

[Bent77]

Front axle is a d44
Case looks like a 241, which is correct for that year

 

[K5_Bigfoot]

That thing is clean

Thank you. Of course it photographs better then it looks in person.

 

[K5_Bigfoot]

Ok

Rear axle is a 14 bolt full float
Your have a shackle flip rear which adds about 4”, plus the height of the block

Thank you. Does that mean 4” with just shackle flip then add the 2-3 “ block on top of that?

 

[K5_Bigfoot]

A

Thank you. Does that mean 4” with just shackle flip then add the 2-3 “ block on top of that?

Also I was told the rear end has 4.88 gears and the front is not matching yet but last owner gave me 4.88 gears to have installed in front. Definitely does not like going over 65 mph

 

[Bent77]

Thank you. Does that mean 4” with just shackle flip then add the 2-3 “ block on top of that?

That is an assumption. It depends on how that rear shackle is located.

A

Also I was told the rear end has 4.88 gears and the front is not matching yet but last owner gave me 4.88 gears to have installed in front. Definitely does not like going over 65 mph

Probably does. And I’d bet that 4.88 for the front is right. Most people don’t hand out gear sets

 

[1-ton]

I would recommend that you loose the front sway bar, get your hands on a 2WD steering box, go to Off Road Design, and get cross over steering. Also get steering box braces, and steering box reinforcement plate from ORD as well. From everything I see that would complete all the modifications your K5 would need for being a pretty decent wheeler.

 

[K5_Bigfoot]

I would recommend that you loose the front sway bar, get your hands on a 2WD steering box, go to Off Road Design, and get cross over steering. Also get steering box braces, and steering box reinforcement plate from ORD as well. From everything I see that would complete all the modifications your K5 would need for being a pretty decent wheeler.

Thank you. That was my next question, your recommendations for fixing steering. That’s a priority, that and hooking heater core up and getting new venting as that’s all missing from behind dash.

 

[ZooMad75]

Blazer looks decent. Not a fan of the home-brew rear shackle flip. The welds look like I did it and I haven’t welded since college.

Typically with a shackle flip from ORD or DIY4X you would not need the block between the spring and axle. Mainly because the hanger on the frame would have the upper pivot at or below the frame.

That one just doesn’t look that “solid” to me. A set from one of the shops above would eliminate the need for the blocks too.

 

[K5_Bigfoot]

Blazer looks decent. Not a fan of the home-brew rear shackle flip. The welds look like I did it and I haven’t welded since college.

Typically with a shackle flip from ORD or DIY4X you would not need the block between the spring and axle. Mainly because the hanger on the frame would have the upper pivot at or below the frame.

That one just doesn’t look that “solid” to me. A set from one of the shops above would eliminate the need for the blocks too.

Haha Yea I was noticing the welds the other day to, not that I could of done any better but getting them replaced might be in the cards someday to

 

[K5Devil]

Sweet looking truck. Love the color.
Off to a great start.

There’s no penetration in those welds on the photographed shackle flip. Welded way too cold and way too fast. Would definitely address that soonish.

You have some odd shaped spacers under the trans k-member. Not sure if those are needed or not.

Definitely a great color and wheel combo!

 

[Wes Harden]

Ok

Rear axle is a 14 bolt full float
Your have a shackle flip rear which adds about 4”, plus the height of the block

Is it a full floater ? How many lug bolt wheels did you buy 6 or 8 lugs ? might be a semi float 6 lug.

that shackle flip looks like it is not giving any extra lift.

The pitman arm looks loose in the picture tighten the pinch bolt, the rear drag link end is missing the boot, it may be worn. You want to grab hold of all the rod ends and push and pull hard on them, if there is movement they are bad, rotating is ok. Up and down, back and forth is not.

Take a picture of the trans pan. The red and silver tag on t case will tell what it is.

 

[K5_Bigfoot]

Sweet looking truck. Love the color.
Off to a great start.

There’s no penetration in those welds on the photographed shackle flip. Welded way too cold and way too fast. Would definitely address that soonish.

You have some odd shaped spacers under the trans k-member. Not sure if those are needed or not.

Definitely a great color and wheel combo!

Thank you, I didn’t even notice those spacers until you mentioned it. I’ll have to check those out in the morning

 

[K5_Bigfoot]

Is it a full floater ? How many lug bolt wheels did you buy 6 or 8 lugs ? might be a semi float 6 lug.

that shackle flip looks like it is not giving any extra lift.

The pitman arm looks loose in the picture tighten the pinch bolt, the rear drag link end is missing the boot, it may be worn. You want to grab hold of all the rod ends and push and pull hard on them, if there is movement they are bad, rotating is ok. Up and down, back and forth is not.

Take a picture of the trans pan. The red and silver tag on t case will tell what it is.

Yea the lug pattern is 8x6.5 under those hubcaps.
I’ll do that. I have a feeling the PO was trying to get the steering figured out but just didn’t accomplish it. Left me a couple steering parts that are still new in box, haven’t looked into what they are yet.

 

[Wes Harden]

The pitman arm is a drop pitman, you want to use that with a stock height steering arm, or a stock pitman with a raised steering arm, for 4"ish lift. @8" lift you want to use both.
post up some pictures of the extra parts the PO gave you

 

[fourwheelerjeff]

Finally bought a K5/Jimmy again after selling my last one 8 years ago. Have been stalking ck5.com website since my first Blazer in high school over 20 years ago, and this site has helped a lot over the years. Finally became a member as new to me Jimmy is gonna need a lot of work and I’m gonna need a lot of help. So my question is what can you guys tell me my Jimmy has, as the guy I bought it from only had it a year and bought it as it sits now, other then the new wheels and tires I just put on, and he knew very little. It’s a 1989 GMC Jimmy stock 350, PO put in a turbo 350 trans not sure which transfer case, lifted not sure how much, looks like maybe 3/4 ton axles. Rear is full floating. Steering is garbage and loud! New tires and wheels helped by narrowing track by 8 inches up front but still struggles especially at low speeds. So I’m gonna try to post up some pics and humbly ask what you can tell about it. Axles, lift, transfer case, steering etc. Thank you for your time and input!

View attachment 415992

in this pic; your plates that attach the outer connections of the steering stabilizers; loosen and rotate the ubolts where they are pointing straight up. that way your stabilizers will be parallel with the tie rod and the bushings won't be in a bind. the stabilizers should work better being parallel also

 

[fourwheelerjeff]

Ok

Rear axle is a 14 bolt full float
Your have a shackle flip rear which adds about 4”, plus the height of the block

I am going to say on his shackle flip that shackle bolt is about 2" lower than stock factory shackle set up. it looks like some Bell 2" drop shackles with a 2" block. I am going to guess a 6" lift.

 

[fourwheelerjeff]

A

Also I was told the rear end has 4.88 gears and the front is not matching yet but last owner gave me 4.88 gears to have installed in front. Definitely does not like going over 65 mph

if those are 35's your turning a little over 3000 RPMs at 65.