K5 Question !!

[Neitzertjohn]

I'm looking into buying a 71-72 K5 that is a total rust bucket !! Are the parts for these's just as Available as the parts for 67-72 trucks ? After looking through the photo's of the blazer's i find myself wanting one also, just as well and another one to my collection, lol !!!

[70cst]

If its a total rust bucket you may want to hold off. It can get very expensive to repair rusted out trucks. Can you post pics? That would really help.

[Neitzertjohn]

yes i will be going to town tomorrow and i will take pic's of it and post them to see your thoughts .

[mustardjimmy71]

windshield frame seems to be the worst part to lose to rust. they are not reproduced... yet

[Neitzertjohn]

Ok here are a couple pic's let me know if you think i should not get involved in this one !!

[72 Madness]

I think it depends on how nice you want it. You can find just about everything for these trucks. You have a lot of rust to take care of on that one. LMC truck has most of everything aftermarket. This site has some great buys in the parts section. It just really depends on how nice you want to make it.

[Neitzertjohn]

Well if i do it , it will be a total Restoration with about a 6 in lift. I just don't want to jump in a do it if the parts aren't out there to be gotten . I think it would be a nice project, and from looking out there , there isn't very many of them on the road or in fields. I did a search on craigslist through all states and to my surprise there wasn't many there either. Which made me think should i just buy one that has less rust and start where someone else left off, either didn't have the time or money to finish . I found a few out there that way at a reasonable price between 3k and 8k . This is why i came to this section to ask everyone opinion on a build like this . Thank you for all of you who chime in .

[72 Madness]

Yea you are looking at thousands of dollars to get it to the point of even thinking about paint. I would find someone in over their head. That is what I did. Even with most of the expensive stuff done to it, it is still costing me a pretty penny. Mine doesn't have any rust though. Check this site once a week. People post craigslisting all the time on here. With the money it would take to fix that one up. You could find someone that just wants to dump one. Not sure how much they are asking for that one but you might buy it for a parts truck.

[Neitzertjohn]

LOL im lurking on here all the time , and craigslist . just watching for more input !!!!!

Don't crush them, Restore them !!

[bigdon-70blazer]

Let it pass

[Neitzertjohn]

Sounds like bigdon has seen some rust in his day ..... that's what i like to see honesty, dont be afraid to speak up guy's and gals !!!!

[SeventyOne]

I'd pass. How much is that truck? Also depends on if you're doing the work or paying for someone else to do it.

[BOHICA]

You're going to need two bed sides, rocker boxes, a windshield frame, and I'm betting the floor. Yeah, that thing will need a lot of work. Remember that rust is like an iceberg: the majority of it you can't see. Would I personally buy that one? Yes, but only because rust doesn't scare me and I hate seeing these things destroyed. Even so, at the current going price, I'd be lucky to break even. However, judging by your questions you're not used to fixing rusty vehicles, so unless you just really want to save this truck or you don't mind pouring in money that it will take years to see a return on, I recommend that you pass.

[Neitzertjohn]

I guess i would say i'm not afraid to pour some money in it , and i would be having the work done by a local shop that has proven him self to me . Yes there is a-lot of rust that i have not posted . i took about 100 pic's , was thinking i would pass it by you guy's first before showing him my next project. I do like the idea of saving the Blazer, just was sure it was worth it or if the part's were even out there. I'm sure i will rack up 15 to 20 k in this easy!!!

[Firebirdjones]

Most parts are out there. There are blazer specific parts however. The windshield frame as mentioned is not available. Sometimes it's hard to see how bad it really is with the top mounted.

Bed sides are another issue. Most guys are cutting down short bed pickup sides to fit the blazer.

Doors are different too, guys are cutting down pickup doors for that.

[BOHICA]

Originally Posted by Neitzertjohn

I'm sure i will rack up 15 to 20 k in this easy!!!

Maybe you do understand what you're getting into.

If you only have a handful of small holes, you can get patch panels for the bed floor. A complete short bed truck floor will run $1000 or half of one would be about $250. $5000 would get you a good start, but there will be a lot of labor involved with fixing the bed and floors. Don't forget that everything has to be braced and aligned perfectly because of the convertible body.

[Neitzertjohn]

Ok with the three things mentioned windshield, door, and bed sides, would that be my biggest problem area's ? I was thinking the rear floor-pan would be another ?

[Neitzertjohn]

After hearing what i have heard so far i think i will take my body man over to it . now that most of you have affirmed that the part's are out there . My Grandfather said it won't be cheap or easy, i hope he get's to take a ride in it . He just made his 99 birthday, so i will have to push the shop on this build if i do it. I will let you all know what i decided . Thank you for your input guy's.

[_1966ChevyPU]

If 10 hours isn't too far away... I know where you can pick up a '75 K5 that is in excellent shape.

[BOHICA]

Sure thing. Good luck!

BTW, you haven't said how much they're asking, but I wouldn't give a whole lot for it, as rough as it is?

[Neitzertjohn]

Sorry Bohic, i went to bed early . They are wanting 2500.00 . I figured by the time i rent a trailer and buy fuel it would be the same in cost to go buy one else where (but i'm not above a little road trip either). To 1966ChevyPU , I really want to stick to the older 69-72 blazers, but thank you . I also been looking on here for the ones for sale and i have them in my mind also. After my local shop has a look at it , then i will decide if buy one on here or fix the one here.

[cleszkie]

Why penalize yourself with such a rough truck to start with when there are plenty of much better trucks out there? If you have 15-20K to drop on having someone else do the work, get a better truck. Your body man will thank you. Now if you were into it to do the work yourself and wanted the challenge, I take my hat off to you. That is a noble cause. But that Blazer isn't worth $2500 in my opinion. Good luck.

[Big Block]

Looking a might rough for $2500. It looks like a parts Blazer to me. If you are paying someone to do body work you could drop a small fortune in it. It's your call. Good luck.

[teeitup]

Way to much to buy to fix up, I bought one from out in Oregon and had it hauled here, WAY less rust than that and I'm still going to have $8K in body work and paint. You'd be amazed how much you'll get wrapped up in getting that thing fixed up

[BOHICA]

I agree with the others. For $2500, I'd tell them to pound sand. From what I can see, there's not a part on that truck that doesn't need to be replaced or restored, except possibly the roof rack. Maybe, maybe, I'd give around $1200 for it.

I hate to say it just because I hate seeing old vehicles destroyed, but if you're willing to put that much money into fixing the body, just spend $5000 on a decent Blazer when one comes along. It'll be cheaper in the long run. This one is dangerously close to being too far gone to be worth fixing.