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Wilsons project

7

73K5_Wilson

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Tennessee
Hello. I am new to this forum and am looking forward to getting to know a lot of you all. I have a 1973 K5 blazer that I would like to make my project car. I’m only 18 and don’t know just a whole lot about these blazers but I know that the ones I have seen have looked awesome and they just look like a blast. So I just recently made an account on this forum because I’m sure that your knowledge will be extremely helpful as I go through fixing this blazer. So before I really get started, I’d like for your opinions on wether you think this is really a project that I should undertake. I’ll be honest, I’ve never really done anything like this. I enjoy working on cars but I’ve never had to work on one as much as I know I will for this one. Also I’d like it if you’d show me some of your blazers. I’m wanting it to be a daily driver but also something I could take to car shows. I don’t want a rock crawler or a mudding vehicle. I would include some pictures of it but I cannot figure out how. If you could tell me that’d be great. I know that there is going to be a lot of body work that will have to be done and unfortunately, I’ve never done any body work. It’s a 6 cylinder but I’m not sure if it’s the 4.1 liter or the 4.8 liter (but I want to say it’s the 4.1). Its a manual. I also know you can change it from 2 to 4 wheel drive. That’s really all I know about it. We bought it from a guy we go to church about eleven or twelve years ago and we got it for $115 and it still ran and everything but it had a death wobble(I think that’s what it’s called) and a few other obvious suspension issues like if you threw on the brakes the car would veer in a random direction. Anyways, everyone in my family was terrified to ride in it (including myself) so we parked it and it’s sat ever since. That was probably 10 years ago. I guess I mostly just want your honest opinion on wether this is a project I should undertake or wether I should just find some used truck online a spend my money on it. A lot of people I know have encouraged me to take this on but I figured I’d ask the people who probably own them and have worked with them a lot. I genuinely am interested in learning more about how to work on cars and I thought this blazer might be a good project. Also tell me what problems I might run into if I end up taking this on. I’ll post some pictures as soon as I figure out how or someone tells me how. I’m also not really sure if this is the right place to post all this but I’m hoping y’all will let me know. I really appreciate it. Thanks.
 
73K5_Wilson said:
Hello. I am new to this forum and am looking forward to getting to know a lot of you all. I have a 1973 K5 blazer that I would like to make my project car. I’m only 18 and don’t know just a whole lot about these blazers but I know that the ones I have seen have looked awesome and they just look like a blast. So I just recently made an account on this forum because I’m sure that your knowledge will be extremely helpful as I go through fixing this blazer. So before I really get started, I’d like for your opinions on wether you think this is really a project that I should undertake. I’ll be honest, I’ve never really done anything like this. I enjoy working on cars but I’ve never had to work on one as much as I know I will for this one. Also I’d like it if you’d show me some of your blazers. I’m wanting it to be a daily driver but also something I could take to car shows. I don’t want a rock crawler or a mudding vehicle. I would include some pictures of it but I cannot figure out how. If you could tell me that’d be great. I know that there is going to be a lot of body work that will have to be done and unfortunately, I’ve never done any body work. It’s a 6 cylinder but I’m not sure if it’s the 4.1 liter or the 4.8 liter (but I want to say it’s the 4.1). Its a manual. I also know you can change it from 2 to 4 wheel drive. That’s really all I know about it.
We bought it from a guy we go to church about eleven or twelve years ago and we got it for $115 and it still ran and everything but it had a death wobble(I think that’s what it’s called) and a few other obvious suspension issues like if you threw on the brakes the car would veer in a random direction. Anyways, everyone in my family was terrified to ride in it (including myself) so we parked it and it’s sat ever since. That was probably 10 years ago. I guess I mostly just want your honest opinion on wether this is a project I should undertake or wether I should just find some used truck online a spend my money on it. A lot of people I know have encouraged me to take this on but I figured I’d ask the people who probably own them and have worked with them a lot. I genuinely am interested in learning more about how to work on cars and I thought this blazer might be a good project. Also tell me what problems I might run into if I end up taking this on. I’ll post some pictures as soon as I figure out how or someone tells me how. I’m also not really sure if this is the right place to post all this but I’m hoping y’all will let me know. I really appreciate it. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Well if you’re patient and willing to learn, you will learn as you go

Beside here, see if you can find and old Chiltons or Haynes manual at the used book store or thrift store.

As for the truck, converting to 4wd is a big task, and the truck may be worth more as 2wd.

The two easiest ways to do pictures
1. Become a premium member, and you can add pictures directly from your phone
2. Load your pictures to a host site like imgur and add them that way


Most of all, welcome and have fun
 
Bent77 said:
Well if you’re patient and willing to learn, you will learn as you go

Beside here, see if you can find and old Chiltons or Haynes manual at the used book store or thrift store.

As for the truck, converting to 4wd is a big task, and the truck may be worth more as 2wd.

The two easiest ways to do pictures
1. Become a premium member, and you can add pictures directly from your phone
2. Load your pictures to a host site like imgur and add them that way


Most of all, welcome and have fun
Click to expand...
I think he meant it's a part time 4wd as in not fulltime 203, which for 73 would only be the manual 465/205
 
imiceman44 said:
I think he meant it's a part time 4wd as in not fulltime 203, which for 73 would only be the manual 465/205
Click to expand...
Yes. I know it has a switch on the front wheels that will lock them in 4wd or let them roll free for 2wd. I think that’s how that works.
 
Bent77 said:
Well if you’re patient and willing to learn, you will learn as you go

Beside here, see if you can find and old Chiltons or Haynes manual at the used book store or thrift store.

As for the truck, converting to 4wd is a big task, and the truck may be worth more as 2wd.

The two easiest ways to do pictures
1. Become a premium member, and you can add pictures directly from your phone
2. Load your pictures to a host site like imgur and add them that way


Most of all, welcome and have fun
Click to expand...

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D_VN_igQU5YC4F-r4KYVRDJL7oYn0bJF/view?usp=sharing

i figured out how to share some photos finally. Does this look like a project that would be worth taking on or should i just look for a vehicle online somewhere? I hope those photos help!
 
73K5_Wilson said:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D_VN_igQU5YC4F-r4KYVRDJL7oYn0bJF/view?usp=sharing

i figured out how to share some photos finally. Does this look like a project that would be worth taking on or should i just look for a vehicle online somewhere? I hope those photos help!
Click to expand...
Well start by washing it and see if it will start and run, after that you can assess what it needs and if you are up to it.
Start with a post in the garage if you are not ready to commit yet, if you are then start a build thread in the driveway.
But move this conversation out of here now that you introduced yourself.
You also will get more traffic over there.
Not many check here.
 
Pretty sure GM only put 250 straight sixes in K5's..(4.1 liters)..the 292 (4.8L) was used in pickups,but could be put in a truck with a 250 as long as you had the factory motor mount brackets to the frame..

I've seen a few 73's with three speed transmissions,they were rare,and had a Dana 20 transfer case--the truck described in this post likely has the SM465/NP203 in it though ..
 
diesel4me said:
Pretty sure GM only put 250 straight sixes in K5's..(4.1 liters)..the 292 (4.8L) was used in pickups,but could be put in a truck with a 250 as long as you had the factory motor mount brackets to the frame..

I've seen a few 73's with three speed transmissions,they were rare,and had a Dana 20 transfer case--the truck described in this post likely has the SM465/NP203 in it though ..
Click to expand...
In 73 the sm465 was paired with the 205.
Only 74 had 203 with the sm465 and it would have no locking hubs
 
You are likely right about the '73 K5's,the ones I saw might have had earlier drive trains swapped in..

I have seen a '68 K10 and a 72 K5 with the Dana 20 & three on the tree,with a straight six in the past that were factory..

The '74's would have had drive slugs,your right about that..
I recall reading the NP203 wasn't used until 1974 somewhere..

Hard to keep track of all the changes GM made when they changed the body style in '73..
 
73K5_Wilson said:
Yes. I know it has a switch on the front wheels that will lock them in 4wd or let them roll free for 2wd. I think that’s how that works.
Click to expand...
By the way there's more than turning the hubs on the wheels to get it in 4wd, the shifter on the right is what you use to go 4wd and low gear.
Now where the blazer is in the pictures is that where you can work on it or do you have a garage or barn or even a carport?
That can determine how much you can do with your blazer.
 
imiceman44 said:
By the way there's more than turning the hubs on the wheels to get it in 4wd, the shifter on the right is what you use to go 4wd and low gear.
Now where the blazer is in the pictures is that where you can work on it or do you have a garage or barn or even a carport?
That can determine how much you can do with your blazer.
Click to expand...
Well right now I’m just working on getting it running. I got a battery and most of the electric stuff seemed to work like fans and lights and things but I didn’t do a thing when I went to turn it over so I’m working on taking out the starter to test and possibly replace. If I can get it running, I’ll get some used tires and move it to my outbuilding where I can hopefully really get to work on it. I’m having trouble jacking it up because the jack just sinks into the ground but I anticipated that so I got some cinderblocks to put the jack on. I should have the starter out here pretty soon and hopefully it will just be the starter and not faulty wiring because I hate replacing wiring but I’m sure I’ll figure it out. I would go ahead and get tires but that wouldn’t make much sense if I couldn’t get it running. So that’s what I’m working on. I bought a battery tray because the one in it was absolutely shot and rusted through. I unbolted it but it’s like it welded on and I read on this forum where another guy had this same problem so I guess I’m just gonna have to cut it off and figure out how the other guy got his battery tray on. If any of you have advice on that, I’d appreciate it. I’ll leave a link to the post and the post has pictures but I couldn’t look at them because I don’t have a premium membership. Also thanks for letting me know more about the shifter and the switches on the wheel hubs. Like I said I don’t know anyone with a blazer so a lot of this information is new to me.

https://ck5.com/forums/threads/battery-tray.337073/#post-3986583
 
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I wouldn't use cinder blocks under jacks, not safe

Use big lumber or something else that won't crumble
 
Recon 78 said:
I wouldn't use cinder blocks under jacks, not safe

Use big lumber or something else that won't crumble
Click to expand...
Ok I’ll do that for that jack. Should I be able to set the car on cinder blocks? I’ve always heard that’s was fine to set the car on. I would have used wood but cinder blocks were just the most convenient at the time but I’ll be sure to find some lumber somewhere.
 
Sharp metal edges can crack cinder blocks

If you have to use them just be extra safe and don't be under the truck
 
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