What do you love\hate about your 73-75 or 88-91?

[82355]

Do you have to smog check in Washington?

Martin

 

[pmpski_1]

Do you have to smog check in Washington?

Martin

Not for the older models, but I will for something newer. I can't remember when the cutoff is. I think it's early 80s right now, but I believe the newer models will be exempt eventually.

Of course, with the way things are going these days they'll probably start making us smog it or convert to electric.

I didn't have to pass emissions with my 76, and I don't with my 71 C20. If I get an older model I'll probably put headers and exhaust on it, but if I end up with a newer model I'll leave it be. For now.

[Edit: Looks like it may be 87 and newer that needs emissions testing]

 

[tyler__820]

I hate the round headlight front clips, well more how they dont slant forwad like the late 80's, but i would love a front clip off a 88-91 blaze, you know the ones with 4 headlights and long marker light underthe headlights....

 

[tRustyK5]

All the loves/hates are what I really love about K5's, and the rest of the 73-87(91) stuff. There was enough variety throughout the run of that body style without watering down the essense of the body style itself.

Round light
Square light old front clip
Sloped nose, 4 light and 2 light
Sloped nose, baby quad headlights
Full vert
half cab
rounded dash pad
Flat dash pad


Without going aftermarket you can mix/match choose how you want your ultimate K5 to look. I prefer the older styling...just because my K5 is a 90 doesn't mean I can't have the older styling. That's what I truly love about these rigs.

Rene

 

[COCHEV]

I would also like to add the older front clip. trick will be finding some rust free ones...

As for a hate...torks head screws and bolts. PIA. especially rusted in seat belt bolts.

 

[plumber mike]

I love them all, and appreciate the subtle differences. But as a whole, they are easy to work on and parts are cheap and plentiful.....very important since I'm no mechanic.

My sub is my favorite, and I've had a bunch. I love the TBI and Serp belt setup....plus the hydro clutch.

I'll never own another Blazer or Sub with a roll down rear window. They have failed me too many times.

 

[TDAWG1]

Love my 87 hate the Engine. Must build Better one. That isall

 

[clandr1]

Here's my take, and what brought me to buy mine almost 14 years ago.

I've got an 89. 89 was the first year of the serp belt system, but was the only serp year that didn't have ABS. It also uses a mechanical speedo, switched to elec in 90. It had the 30 spline 10 bolts (doesn't matter now, those are LONG gone, but...)

The 700R had some bad years, but the 88+ K case 700 is a rock solid case, and can be built pretty strong. The 241 IMO is quite an improvement over the 208, simply because of the pump for the fluid.

You'll find those year slots, that seam to "fit" what you are looking for. I sat down and looked over year x year builds and changes and got my list narrowed down quite a bit. The Blazer I bought is a Scottsdale, had NO factory options, which made it the perfect platform to build up from IMO, less to worry about, and I wasn't ripping power window doors and things up and out. Didn't have to rip out a good interior to goto a bedliner. The truck I bought was a worktruck model, had military wrap front springs, dual shocks, PS cooler, towing package, etc... Perfect starting point.

My TBI and 700R's have given me grief, and I'm switching to a 465 (the only thing that I wanted from the start that I didn't get) but I would never go back from TBI.

You just have to ask yourself what YOU want out of it, then go buy it.

This is really a well written post. I have an '89 and other than knowing it was the first year with the serpentine belt system, I didn't research and find out about the rest of this info until I started working on the truck and discovered the other things by accident. It really does make the best daily driver due to the amenities and perfect amount of technology. I'm sure people love the full vert and look of the early 70's models, but for me the advancements and reliability of the fuel injected models takes precedent because mine is a hunting/camping rig, not a hardcore 'wheeler.

 

[COCHEV]

I wanted the best of both with my 88. Tbi with a manual tranny. no frills interior, manual windows, no carpet, no ac. all i'd like is the 70s front clip. I guess i could have added tbi to a 70s model, but this way seems easier...

Another gripe on the newer ones is the non removable tranns hump

oh, and I like the 203 case (with the exception of removing one) I used one for quite a while as a full time case as it came from the factory and it was great in the snow. i've also done the part time kits for mine and a friends and added hubs. once the shifters are diled in they work great in my opinion. plenty strong and never leaked. every damn 208 i've had manages to seep some ATF from somewhere and eventually coats the underside of the rig. I guess it keeps the rust down

 

[Kyle89K5]

1987 is actually the first year of the improved TH700R4/4L60.

Martin

My bad... I honestly not a fan of any of them, but that's cause I've trashed so many LOL. I'm not easy on an automatic...

KP

 

[jt512]

If you can find a specific year that has everything you want , more power to ya !
Me, I like the late 80's stuff, and rear seat passengers will like the dropped floor pans from 78ish and up. I also wanted full vert, why, because I do, but I wanted super reliable, insane power possibilities and fuel mileage in the upper teens . So I bought a rust free 86, completely disassembled it, swapped in a CTD 12 valve with a 5 speed and chopped the top and did a full vert swap on it so now it has everything I want .

 

[Chief Brody]

The full-vert has no match...

And I love the Round headlights.

For me the 73-75 are just simply the best "looking"...they may not be the best drivetrain.

 

[Deuling]

If you can find a specific year that has everything you want , more power to ya !
Me, I like the late 80's stuff, and rear seat passengers will like the dropped floor pans from 78ish and up. I also wanted full vert, why, because I do, but I wanted super reliable, insane power possibilities and fuel mileage in the upper teens . So I bought a rust free 86, completely disassembled it, swapped in a CTD 12 valve with a 5 speed and chopped the top and did a full vert swap on it so now it has everything I want .

Just make it how you want it, I love my front clip, everybody else may think its the ugliest thing that ever happened, but i say I like it and i dont give a flying **** what anybody else thinks.

 

[pmpski_1]

I looked at two different K5's this weekend - a 73 and a 90. The 90 was decent, high mileage but started and ran well. Unfortunately it had a little more body damage than I wanted to deal with. There were some other nitpicks that turned me off too, cracked windshield, big chrome rims with worn out tires, medium sized leak under the transfer case.... but if the price came down quite a bit...who knows.

The 73 would have been ok, but it was more of a project than I wanted to deal with. 454, brand new edelbrock carb, full set of Autometer gauges. Unfortunately the guy had it in a garage with a leaky roof and the top was off. The entire interior was soaked and I don't know how long it had been sitting there. There was rust hiding under the carpet but it wasn't too bad for someone that was willing to put in the work. I'm not. I also didn't want the 454.

As much as I prefer the looks of the older front clips and the full convertibles I'm starting to think that unless I'm willing to pay big bucks it's going to be hard to find one with little to no rust without a road trip to AZ or SoCal.

 

[K85 Octane]

no smog would be nice
and anything that doesn't have a computer carb
didn't know that when I bought my CA '85. Stupid thing

It is so hard to come up with one. I like the full convertables, but you miss out on some of the needed upgrades the newer trucks have. The newer trucks need smog or at least standard equipment, but they have better trans & tc, floor plans, and frames.

An '89 but with a full vert body and title That's the cats MEOW.

 

[K85 Octane]

I got a full vert down the street, orangish in color, for sale. I can take a look for you.

EDIT: Just found it.
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/2248510653.html

 

[pmpski_1]

I got a full vert down the street, orangish in color, for sale. I can take a look for you.

EDIT: Just found it.
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/2248510653.html

I sure apprecitate the offer, and that is one of my favorite colors, but I'm definitely going for the square body this time around.

 

[Jessie James]

I am a fan of the 1991 simply because it was the last year with the removable top (obviously). However, to me that means that it has the latest and greatest design and features of the K5 Blazers.

I like:
> Anti-lock rear brakes
> The TBI is great, in my opinion, because when you have it working right it's just a great system. I recently got 20+ MPG in town (but I am all stock) and it turns out I am even running a little rich (bad O2 sensor) so I hope to get better MPG soon.
> The integral roll bar because I know if I get hit and roll over I need something to keep me from getting squished.
> Easy to work on
> Reasonably quiet and comfortable ride
> Rear tailgate that opens down for carrying big loads, and I can also have the glass down so my dogs can stick their heads out and bark at tailgaters.
> Plenty of leg room for a tall guy like me.

I don't like:

> The front seats don't slide very far forward for rear seat access.
> There is no option for the A/C and recirculate to be controlled manually. > The rear side windows sliding glass are not power.
> The speakers for the stereo are small and poorly placed.
> The seats don't have high enough backs for proper whiplash protection (but I am 6' 4")
> The possibility or rust is high (so get a west coast truck)
> The 155mm headlights are nearly impossible to get to work well (but see my thread in progress on upgrading them)
> Spare tire is inside the bed. I would prefer under the body.

Basically, I would never buy a carb'd truck again because they are a pain in the rear far more often than fuel injected vehicles.

 

[Yo]

I had an 84 and now I have a 91.

From day one I always preferred the 88-91 trucks. GM figured it out for these Blazers by the time they came along the end of their production run. These years have the best interiors, coolest grilles, the 241 case and the tougher 4l60 trans.

Both trucks I had were carbed, and I honestly LOVE a carbed engine over EFI. I don't wheel the hell out of my rig though, it's a DD w a hot zz350.

My biggest issue is the spare inside. It's jumps all over the place when you hit bumps, and it'll make you cringe. I wish it was underneath or on a swing out. But I have a thing w keeping my truck 100% stock looking, so fabbing up a swing out just isn't in the cards.

I prefer the 91 over the 84; seems like a much more substantial vehicle. Plus, my particular 91 is sweet in that I'm the 2nd owner!

 

[JPOutfitters]

I love my '87 Sub........but that's because it's what I own right now! (just being honest!)

I hate the 10b/10b though! But that is just an easy fix away......