Yak's DD K5... spring center pin and u-bolts

[crazedyak]

I bought a 1987 K5 at the beginning of the month, but due to work, it's pretty much sat in the yard waiting on me. I've always wanted one, and finally decided to just do it. Interior upholstry seems good. Exterior has some small paint spots where the clearcoat has started peeling.

Things I have noticed so far.

1) I bought from the Original Owner. It has sat in his yard for a few years.
2) 148,000 miles
3) Rocker panel and Floor Pan near the E-Brake on Driver side is pretty much rusted out.
4) Rocker Panel on Passenger side has two small paint bubbles, the size of nickels, that will turn out to be rust no doubt
5) There is an oil leak somewhere near the oil pan. I have not crawled under there enough to dig top find the leak
6) The exhaust seems to be running a little rich. While at idle I see white smoke for about 1-2 seconds from the exhaust, but it does not get worse when I rev up the RPM's
7) There is definitely a Power Steering Leak somehwhere, and I'm hoping it's just a bad o-ring in a hose.
8) Fuel gauge is showing way past Full. Pretty sure that the Fuel Sending Unit is bad, as it is probably the original one.
9) Power door locks don't do anything. I don't even hear a relay try to actuate the locks. I suspect the relay to be bad, but don't have a clue where it even is.

What I have done so far (very cosmetic right now)
1) Replaced the two interior some light bulbs and covers
2) Replaced the License Plate Bulb and Cover
3) Replaced the Horn Relay and Fixed one horn (bad ground) and bought a new replacement for the other horn which proved broken
4) Replaced the A/C Blower Motor Relay
5) Bought Driver Side Floor Pan, and Rocker Panel repair kit from LMC, now just gotta find the time to start.

 

[crazedyak]

So... now to the pics.... Ideas or comment are entirely wanted.

 

[kdoske]

Not sure how much you paid but the exterior and interior look great despite the few rust spots.

 

[crazedyak]

Not sure how much you paid but the exterior and interior look great despite the few rust spots.

Now I'm wondering if I paid to much. What would you think it would be worth? I paid $2,100 which was a huge step down from his original asking price.

 

[pmpski_1]

Now I'm wondering if I paid to much. What would you think it would be worth? I paid $2,100 which was a huge step down from his original asking price.

Seems ok to me. I talked to a guy up here who had a similar truck and wanted 4800. Same mileage. He said it was in perfect condition and had new tires. Since it was quite a drive for me, I talked to him on the phone for a while about it. He couldn't answer detailed questions and was firm on the price so I passed. I don't know if it really was worth that much.

So other than the rust, it sounds like you did alright.

 

[ChuckMoney]

Uh... I think you did very well on that price. Maybe I paid too much for mine (5300) but then again I haven't seen it in person. I'll have pics of my truck before and after soon so you can judge, or feel better, about your purchase.

 

[crazedyak]

Well I don't feel bad about the price, the original owner was in his late 60's and I think he wanted to get rid of it. I originally saw the truck on Craiglist a few months ago. No one was buying it at $5,000, so i decided to give him a call, and make the drive to check it out. His original price was way high in my opinion, and after I got there and we talked for a bit his price came down some. I then found the rust in the tail, and the floor pans that he claimed he didn't know about. I then found the leaking steering unit, and the oil leak. After those discoveries the price was down near the final purchase price, and the title was signed over. Nice guy, and very glad I took the time to go see him.

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

decent deal for $2,100...

Looks like it's in great condition.

Fix rust fast.
Rust spreads fast.

 

[SilverduneJimmy]

If it runs and drives, you did pretty well. I like the color combo and the interior looks like its in good shape. I've seen similar K5's up here in Mich. for more money and alot more rust. I got lucky and found an 87 jimmy thru a guy I work with and paid $1200. The bodys extremely clean, no rust, but it has tranny/rearend issues.

 

[crazedyak]

Finally got around to ripping the old carpet out, and found some more rust. The one thing I found that scared me was the drivers rear left seat mount is almost broken through and the right rear mount is on its way to breaking out as well.

I know I'm going to have to buy a few tools, like a angle grinder and welder, and learn the art of floor panel replacement.

Driver side floor

Driver side rear seat floor

Driver side seat mounts

Passenger side floor

 

[crazedyak]

Looking at a welder and thinking of this one. I have read multiple times that welding floor panels without shielding gas is very tough due to burn thru, so I'm guessing this system with gas regulator and CO2 tank will work perfectly. Just wanna verify before I dump $350 into this.

Wound up buying the Hobart Handler 140 instead of the 125

 

[crazedyak]

Ended up spending more money on tools than I expected, but I keep telling myself that it will be cheaper than taking the Blazer to the body shop. Got a Dewalt 4 1/2 in angle grinder with an assortment of flap wheels and cut-off discs. Then I bought the Hobart Handler 140. I was going to get the Handler 125, but decided I wanted the ability to work on 1/4in if ever needed. I also picked up some Moeller Zinc Chromate after all the comments that Ryoken has posted. Lucky for me that Lowes, West Marine and Northern Tool are very close by.

Started cutting yesterday, and was surprised to find out the areas I thought were horrible were mostly surface rust with some pockets of real bad. I honestly thought the whole drivers floor pan was shot. Still got plenty of work to do, but at least its patching and not whole section replacement.

I cut out the drivers side rocker panel, and then attacked the drivers side seat mounts from the floor board today. Remounted the seats screw brackets to some 18 gage sheet metal I had, and got them welded back in. Ugly welding work, but from the forst weld of the day to the last one has been a steady improvement. I think I was trying to go to fast this morning, I got more patient towards the end of the day.

I'll try to post pics tomorrow for the pic hounds.

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

ALL tools are worth the $$$.
Except my dial indicator....

I'll prolly never use that again.

 

[smier]

Glad to hear the rust wasn't as bad as you thought, I cringed when I saw the picture of your rockers... Check all the crossmembers under your floor and get rid of all the rust asap!!! Don't ask how I know. Looking forward to the pics!!!

 

[Stock Jimmy]

I payed 1500 for my jimmy.. abit better. not much lol But got lucky a month a go and for 300 baught a 87 k5 with a bad trans for 300. I am using the body of the 300 buck doner for repair

 

[Stock Jimmy]

I cant wait too see your progress. I soon hope to show my rust

 

[Dabba]

/Necropost. Heya. How did this go? I've been looking around for pictures to help me in my quest for a non rusting floor.

 

[crazedyak]

Well it has been a long time since I updated this, April 2011 as a matter of fact. I was deployed out to the desert for a bit which has allowed me to save some $$ to dump in the Blazer, which my wife now semi-lovingly calls "The Money Pit".

Some small updates:
- Finished patching the holes in the front and rear of the interior floorpans and rocker on driver side. The passenger side is still in need of repair but it is low on the priority list as the small dime size hole I see does not reach the interior. This is on "the list" but I've got bigger fish to fry first.

- Looked at the Rear Tail Pan about 30 times, but have not even touched it other than to poke the rust and shake my head. I gotta address this sooner or later.

- Rebuilt the TBI to replace all the gaskets and install a AFPR.

- Installed the Hypertech "Salad Bowl"... nice cheap upgrade that made a noticeable difference.

- Stripped the paint (aircraft stripper is no joke btw it works amazing, but do it outside and don't stand downwind while spraying), Ryoken Zinc Chromated and roller painted the hood with Flat Black Rustoleum about 10 days prior to the deployment as it had some surface rust that I was tired of looking at and I didn't want it to get worse while I was gone and the Blazer would be sitting in a parking lot for 7 months exposed to all the elements.

- Pulled the dash off to install a new stereo system which ended up with a ground issue that was blowing fuses due to the upgraded radio pulling too much power and thereby causing the 20A Tail/Courtesy Light fuse to pop when I turned the headlights on. Solution is in progress. I'm currently radioless... I just figured out the problem a few days ago and I've been doing other things.

- Installed all new Rancho shocks... Would you believe that the ones I pulled off where original 1987 shocks... insane

- Installed new Steering Stabilizer and WOW did this help with the steering wander.

- Upgraded to 16" Summit Racing 85 Black 8 Series Wheels from the original stock 15" ($248 for 5 rims from Summit)

- Upgraded to Treadwright 285/75R16 WARDEN A/T tires from a set of mix matched 31/10.5R15s. ($700 for 5 tires delivered from Treadwright)

And now some pics...
New tires on front and old tires on rear

All new tires on the truck

Treadwright was awesome and gave me all 5 tires with BFG All-Terrain A/T casings. Shipping was super fast too via FedEx.

More to come at some point when I have some $$ again...

 

[ryoken]

that looks much better.. blackwalls/black rim always looks good imo....

evil it up!

 

[76zimmer]

well thanks for your service Crazed!....I think with what you have to work with and where your at the price is pretty good....Now bout those floors...the welder you have should do the job real nice...I would suggest .023/.025 wire and a gas hookup. practice a bit, but carrying a bead on that metal may get tough (at least it was for me) so a bunch of tack welds will work to get them into postion, then maybe you can try to stitch them in w/ 1/2" long shots. Looks like that is the Apple Red color...my 85 was that color.