Rad Tad
Registered Member
I know this will sound like whining, but I need to vent...
I am in the Illinois Air National Guard
and was deployed this time last year to the middle east last year for 90+ days. The day I was shipped out, my dad had to leave before my plane left so he took my '95 K-1500 Z-71. He called my mom about 2 hours later and said it was on the side of the road. Turns out the rear end went out. No biggie, it was for sale at the time (no 3rd door, high miles, needed a front end rebuild) so I let it go.
Upon my return to the 'states, I began searching for another K-5 (had one after high school, brother accidentaly totaled it). I had all of that deployment money buring a hole in my pocket! Found a '90 in Des Moines, IA w/ 85k on it. Cool, a low mile Blazer! Drove up there with my dad, and drove it home. I then ordered a 4" Pro-Comp kit to clear 33" tires.
Shortly after puting the lift on, the rocker panels began falling off the truck. Oh-well. I took my new sawzall and just cut as much of the rot off as I could. Another no-biggie. It's just a muddin' college truck, it dosen't have to look pretty.
My brother (who was driving my first K-5 when it ate the telephone pole) had during this time bought a 87 Blazer, and installed the same lift. So of course we had to go down the half-flooded river roads down home. I parked at the parents house and rode with him to hang out for a while. When I returned later that night and tried to leave, the trans decided to quit.
http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131429
It turned out to needing a rebuild. Again, it wasn't that bad. I had saved up some $$ and it's ok if some stuff breaks. It's an old truck, right?
So this summer the engine developed what I thought was a loose rocker arm. I turned out to be a spark knock, and #6 and 8 now had only 50 psi. Now this is starting to suck. Again I had a little bit of cash saved up (there seems to be a pattern here), so I bought a rebuilt engine with a step-up cam
It took me a little less than 2 weeks of wrenching after work and waitng for help to get it in. It runs like a champ, better than anything I have ever owned.
I have drove it for a little over 550 miles since the engine swap. Today it decides to develop a "heavy tick" towards the rear end, only under load/acceleration. I'm thinking somthing in the rear axle is going out, but I have zero experence in that area. There are only a few words to describe my frustration at this point, and none of them will make the moderators happy.
I'm hoping to hear of someone else having a bad time with there truck, but I think a major fire is the only way it can get much worse. This truck is my daily driver, and it is too cold to ride the 'cycle. Plus I'm supposed to be at my parents (a 2 1/2 hour drive away) for the opening of deer season this weekend. Fear for any animal that walks in front of my shotgun - if I make it there....
I am in the Illinois Air National Guard
and was deployed this time last year to the middle east last year for 90+ days. The day I was shipped out, my dad had to leave before my plane left so he took my '95 K-1500 Z-71. He called my mom about 2 hours later and said it was on the side of the road. Turns out the rear end went out. No biggie, it was for sale at the time (no 3rd door, high miles, needed a front end rebuild) so I let it go.Upon my return to the 'states, I began searching for another K-5 (had one after high school, brother accidentaly totaled it). I had all of that deployment money buring a hole in my pocket! Found a '90 in Des Moines, IA w/ 85k on it. Cool, a low mile Blazer! Drove up there with my dad, and drove it home. I then ordered a 4" Pro-Comp kit to clear 33" tires.
Shortly after puting the lift on, the rocker panels began falling off the truck. Oh-well. I took my new sawzall and just cut as much of the rot off as I could. Another no-biggie. It's just a muddin' college truck, it dosen't have to look pretty.
My brother (who was driving my first K-5 when it ate the telephone pole) had during this time bought a 87 Blazer, and installed the same lift. So of course we had to go down the half-flooded river roads down home. I parked at the parents house and rode with him to hang out for a while. When I returned later that night and tried to leave, the trans decided to quit.
http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131429
It turned out to needing a rebuild. Again, it wasn't that bad. I had saved up some $$ and it's ok if some stuff breaks. It's an old truck, right?
So this summer the engine developed what I thought was a loose rocker arm. I turned out to be a spark knock, and #6 and 8 now had only 50 psi. Now this is starting to suck. Again I had a little bit of cash saved up (there seems to be a pattern here), so I bought a rebuilt engine with a step-up cam
It took me a little less than 2 weeks of wrenching after work and waitng for help to get it in. It runs like a champ, better than anything I have ever owned.I have drove it for a little over 550 miles since the engine swap. Today it decides to develop a "heavy tick" towards the rear end, only under load/acceleration. I'm thinking somthing in the rear axle is going out, but I have zero experence in that area. There are only a few words to describe my frustration at this point, and none of them will make the moderators happy.
I'm hoping to hear of someone else having a bad time with there truck, but I think a major fire is the only way it can get much worse. This truck is my daily driver, and it is too cold to ride the 'cycle. Plus I'm supposed to be at my parents (a 2 1/2 hour drive away) for the opening of deer season this weekend. Fear for any animal that walks in front of my shotgun - if I make it there....
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So I have no idea what my gearing is. I'd like to find a drop in replacement because a rebuild is out of the question (price range).
I have no idea what to do now. I don't know anything about rear ends, but I do have some mechanical experience. Is it a good idea to try to rebuild it or just try to find a junkyard special?
