The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

I'm not much of a talker, but I do like to document things, so I'm just putting this down to show progress and share the process of restoring my grandfathers K5.

Long story short, this particular K5 was purchased by my grandfather new in Caliente NV at a small Chevy dealer that has long since closed shop. It was driven from Caliente up to Baker NV, a tiny town of ~100 people, where it spent the next 52 years up until this past weekend. It was always just an around town, around the desert, up the mountain trail rig, and it shows. Many bumps, bruises, and a lot of cosmetic wear and tear. Because it never left Snake Valley, it has a documented original ~34K miles on it.

I'm confident its never been in a garage at any point in its life, so the sun has taken its toll as well.

Plans are simple, but plans always change:
-Go through and get it into top shape mechanically. It runs and drives great already, but I want to do all fluids, get the AC functional again, and knock out any quirks mechanically.
-Enjoy for a bit while I collect parts for the restoration
-Tackle paint and bodywork. I'll weld in the patch panels and then off to a local shop for finish work.
-After paint, restore the interior
-Finish with a top restoration

Enjoy the next few post of pictures of the "as-found" condition. She had pounds and pounds of desert sand, tumbleweeds, and sagebrush in every spot imaginable.

I've got a large family and I'm just shy of 40 years old as of the time of this posting, so this may in fact be my mid-life crisis. I can't think of much better than this.

Thanks for reading

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

More as-found photos, from when we got it back to the house in Southern Utah

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

And some more

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

And on to some of rust condition/surprises/modifications

I was surprised to see an auxiliary fuel tank was installed in the place of drivers rocker box reinforcement. Its actually properly installed as if it were the rocker box, fully welded to the original brackets. It was clearly installed way back when new. I'll have to decide if I want to remove/replace. I somewhat like that it went with the original theme of the truck. The passenger rocker box reinforcement is very solid.

Otherwise, rust isn't crazy. It will need the exterior lower rocker boxes on both sides, I suspect some patchwork on door bottoms, and then drivers side rear wheel well has a bit of rust through.

I haven't pulled carpet but the bed floor doesn't look too be in bad shape.

The windshield frame is very solid, which I'm happy to see.

The top has some minor waviness to it on the top where pooling could occur, concerning.

I'm sure there will be surprises along the way.

The passenger fender has a dent that's probably easier to replace than repair.

Collecting quality original parts is going to be half the fun here.

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

And then the motor compartment and a few other misc pics. Interesting placement of the coolant overflow, is this OEM?

I have a lot more as-found pictures but we will leave it at that.

Next up is a proper undercarriage wash, heavy de-greasing, and the first hand wash it's received in years.

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Most guys would give their left you know what for a body that solid. Nice beginning!

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Got to feel great to have that back in the family.

Is the blue driver door decal still present? Curious about the assembly month. Any photos of the plaid seats?

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

I tried my hand at another K5 a few years back and definitely appreciate a better starting point!


The rear seat isn't too bad in the center sections, but the vinyl corners are worn through where sun took its toll and there is a rip on the back.

I haven't taken the front covers off just yet but based on how the foam feels, I assume they are pretty rough.

I'll check on the door sticker, I didn't look yet.

I'm going to have a lot of questions so I figured I'd start now.

There is no factory roll bar. Was that an option and if yes, does anybody make a reproduction?

Gun racks, I assume, were never a dealer installed option, but this one sure was installed in such a way that it is permanent (rivets). It'll stay post restoration.

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Looks really good. Have fun with the restoration. I remember side window gun racks in all of these type of trucks growing up. Maybe a Utah thing.

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Roll bar was not a factory option in this gen.

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Thanks for posting the photos. What a gem.

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Production date 3/72 in the door.
Love the little logos on these door edge guards too.

How can you tell which factory?

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

March is late for St Louis. I'm not sure they were still assembling Blazers by April of that year but am keeping an eye out.

The Adell Corp. is still in the business of making door edge guards: https://adellcorporation.com/

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Small update 9/21/24

Changed the oil and inspected underneath carefully. I have some atf leaking and I need to find the source. Steering box is seeping just a little bit of gear oil. I’ve driven it around town for half a tank of gas and it’s been great so far!

Today I decided to take off the sill plates and vacuum up and pull the carpet on the floorboard areas that rot. As expected some patchwork needed but nothing out of the ordinary so far.

I pulled off the front seat covers and the old Highlander vinyl had been recovered in a tweed at some point. No remnants to inspect there.



My wife and I took it down to the drive thru for a burger and shake and got a lot of thumbs up. She was disgusted by the old stiff seatbelts so I took them out and really scrubbed them up with oxyclean, hydrogen peroxide, and a lot of elbow grease. They were basically brown and stiff like an old pair of muddy socks before and I’m impressed with how well they cleaned up.



Question of the week: I can’t seem to find repop rear seatbelts. Does anyone make the appropriate ones, and in parchment? For some reason all three rear belts were removed at some point and I want to source them in parchment. I have a feeling I’ll be paying out the nose for a set.

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Nice find….if you get a minute could you share a pic of the bumper hitch

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Those belts really cleaned up nicely and the plastic sleeve is still present. Nice.

I don’t know of a source for new correct belts but pickup belts could be harvested for the needed ends if you wanted to have a set restored.

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Nice score, also incredible those seat belts look new. Don't cut or destroy the rubber in the top, or windshield. Soap and water then Winter green oil and Xylene will make them like new if their not cracked.

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Absolutely AMAZING transformation on the seat belts. They look brand new. As for reproduction belt sets. Counterpart (Truck Shop of Orange Co. California) DOES offer front and rear reproduction Blazer seat belt sets. HOWEVER, they only offer them in black... For a reproduction part, they are very good to excellent. All parts will interchange with the original belts. The retractors work smooth. I bought their front set, and reused my passenger front female belt because of the special opaque sleeve.

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

awesome start, great story

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Another small update.
Waiting on the title before I get too deep into ordering parts for the restoration.

In the meantime, still just pulling small interior parts off and detailing for your viewing pleasure.

Cleaned the visors and glovebox lid. I'll need to repaint the glovebox lid unfortunately due to some rust on the lower section.


Questions of the day:
-Does anyone know exactly how the OEM spark plug wires were routed, including all clips and heat protection, and could share a photo or two? If I order an AC-Delco plug set from RockAuto, what else is recommended to get the wires back to OEM? It has some aftermarket wires in there right now that are far too long and rest on header heat shields, etc. I want to get the engine back to factory.

-Is the button for opening the glovebox only supposed to have one screw on the back of its retaining cup as shown, or am I missing a screw?

-Are all replacement outer rocker panels made by the same one aftermarket vendor, or are there are few different suppliers out there and one is better than another? Same for floor patch panels?

-Does anybody make the rear lower patch panel, between the rear tire and rear bumper?

Thanks gents!

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

If you have an OE points distributor, these USA made reproduction plug wires may work nice: https://www.lectriclimited.com/produ...wire-set-1502/

There are threads on plug wire routing. Try a search if no luck I can dig for some examples.

Yes on the single screw.

Not sure about the sheet metal.

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

X2 on the Lectric Limited wire set. Specify your date code and they will fit and look right.

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

https://www.ssnake-oyl.com/

Here is a company that will make you rear seat belts but it won't be cheap or fast. I have some left over parchment belts that can probably be restored, I'll check tonight.

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Hey finally got around to getting this pic for you. If I had to guess, it was an aftermarket unit that had the end lobbed off and a new end arc welded in place.
My grandpa was a welder on an old ranch for many years and this seems like something he would have done.

I'm going to pull it off eventually and can share more pictures at that time if you would like.


Hope this helps!

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Thanks gents, ordered and on the way!
Also ordered a set of clean OEM valve covers and a can of VHT Chevy Orange. Will be restoring them and getting rid of the chrome units in there.

I have a pretty bad oil leak that appears to be dripping off of the cyl 7 spark plug area, down near the oil filter. From all I can tell its the valve covers, but it could be something else up in there. I'm starting with the covers and then if that doesn't fix it I'm taking suggestions on what else it could be :)

Those just may be out of my price range! Thank you for the suggestion.

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Thanks for your time, looking for a hitch that bolts on

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Nice find, what a nice solid truck.

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

I did mine with patch panels, luckily there is a factory seam to work into.
But some of pics are locked up in photo prison

Kick panel will need some work, but after market patch’s are what they’re

Rust hides in strange places, oh btw check under the seat for any remnants of a build sheet

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...15f85b0d_c.jpgimage by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/97391199@N06

I’d keep the trailer hitch, fingerprints of your grandfather

You sure live in a beautiful area of this great US of A

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

This area rusted out surprisingly, had to put outriggers on it

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...4f174776_c.jpgimage by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/97391199@N06

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

I appreciate the pictures and insight. Definitely blessed to have the beauty of the high desert in my backyard every day! Thank you for your service to this great nation!

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Thank you, my service was given with pride and honor following my father and brother

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A non-update update, but I finally have the title in hand! Now I feel a bit more comfortable placing the big purchases and getting started on this.

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Any updates?

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Nothing big to report! Title in hand in my name, registered in UT as an antique vehicle ($10/year), and I've driven it about 250 miles around town.

She's leaking, literally, from nearly every possible area. Mostly what I believe are the valve cover gaskets, something minor from the transmission, and even the rear diff cover.

Plans for spring are to get all the leaks cleaned up, get a new exhaust on it (currently leaking pretty bad), and continue to work out mechanical kinks.

Cosmetic restoration will be at least a year out.

I'll post pictures as I work on things.

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Leaks are all too common, and annoying. Glad you have driven it a bit.

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Thanks for the pics, don’t want to lobe off the frame horn. Just looking for ideas

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Another pint sized update. I was able to carefully remove the CST windshield trim and then break out the old windshield without damaging the original weatherstripping. Taking advice from user notsolo above, I also purchased some wintergreen oil and will be restoring the weatherstripping.

Because a full repaint isn't in the cards near term, I plan to order an aftermarket molding and install the replacement glass for interim driving, and then reusing the CST stainless bright work and OEM molding come proper restoration time.

The rust isn't bad on the frame. The upper section where I see most rot on other chassis has some corrosio along the lip. I'll be grinding it out and then decide on how to repair before reinstalling glass. Not sure if its bad enough for a patch panel at this time until I grind with a flap wheel.

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

The channel looks pretty solid, good deal.

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Howdy everyone, not much progress here but we are making some.

The new windshield is in and it is much nicer to drive without staring through all the bubbles/cracks.

I had a really bad oil leak coming down around the #7 spark plug area on the drivers side rear of the block. It would drip off the oil filter a puddle about the size of a small plate every drive. I figured it was the valve covers which were aftermarket "ERSON" branded chrome units. I am working towards more of a close to original restoration so I bought off eBay some cleaner used SBC valve covers, stripped and sanded them down, and then refinished in the proper orange.

While installing the new valve covers with Felpro gaskets I found the leak culprit. When installing the ERSON units, which I'm unsure how long this had been going on, the ground strap on the rear lower bolt hole was under the cover instead of over. With this fixed up the leak is gone and one less mechanical issue.

For the spring my major focus will be on continued fixing of mechanical issues.
My biggest ones right now:

-Brakes seem to occasionally lose pedal pressure (pedal falls to floor). Could be master cylinder but I'm going to replace the wheel cylinders, calipers, rotors, pads and shoes, along with rubber sections. It's just old and tired and needs a full redo.

-the TH350 doesn't shift up always. If I pop it down to L1, then move to L2 then L3, it always shifts when I tell it to, but if I leave it in drive sometimes (most of the time) it doesn't shift out of L1 from a stop. Any thoughts on where to start with this? Linkage I assume down on the transmission needs some tweaking but I'm just not super familiar with Autos.

-Idle is a bit "cold blooded". Usually needs help with small applications of the throttle for first 30-60 seconds. Once warm it does great.

Re: The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander
 

Also one more thing! I'm going to be taking the top off soon and installing rear seatbelts so my kids can come along.

I ordered original Parchment Highlander upholstery from Sam's Upholstery recommended from this site and I'm expecting that in the next few weeks. Really excited to get the new interior installed and make it a bit more "livable" for the family. Right now I don't mind it but it grosses out the wife and daughters :)