Original finish on hatch strikers?

[IronCanine]

I pulled this link off a very old thread. You guys may have seen this truck before...if nothing else, some very nice reference pics of a reported 30K mile original Blazer...including the hatch strikers.

http://s92.photobucket.com/user/elli...?sort=3&page=1

[Senorx]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

I pulled this link off a very old thread. You guys may have seen this truck before...if nothing else, some very nice reference pics of a reported 30K mile original Blazer...including the hatch strikers.

http://s92.photobucket.com/user/elli...?sort=3&page=1

Oh my! Love me some Blazer porn. Thanks for the link.

[DeadheadNM]

That's a huge help - looks like bracket is painted body color on this Flint example. Also, excellent examples of the jack decal and spare/jack equipment. Wonder if St. Louis K5s were painted body color also.

[IronCanine]

Not to highjack...but a few quick things about the Blue Blazer...the bottom chrome strip below the Chevrolet strip shouldn't be there right? Did some make it out with everything? I thought the bottom strip only came on the intermediate level with the top strip and tail light bezels but painted letters. Also, a lot of color on the underside of the hood. Finally, was it only the Janesville '72s that had the crooked right front fender engine emblems?

[DeadheadNM]

Excellent observation that I believe is correct - above trim would need an explanation. I haven't seen similar.

[DeadheadNM]

Note the screws affixing the tailgate band have black heads. I have a NOS band from 1977 with all stainless screws included still in unopened (clear) packing. Did GM use black finish screws to affix tailgate bands or stainless? The repro bands come with black finish screws (at least the one I ordered did). Seems like a pretty correct K5 - the extra tailgate trim is curious.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Note the screws affixing the tailgate band have black heads. I have a NOS band from 1977 with all stainless screws included still in unopened (clear) packing. Did GM use black finish screws to affix tailgate bands or stainless? The repro bands come with black finish screws (at least the one I ordered did). Seems like a pretty correct K5 - the extra tailgate trim is curious.

I think it's an honest original...but I think it might have had an exterior re-spray and molding replacement...let's face it, it didn't come with Ralleys either...those interior shots are gold, though aren't they.

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

I think it's an honest original...but I think it might have had an exterior re-spray and molding replacement...let's face it, it didn't come with Ralleys either...those interior shots are gold, though aren't they.

Completely agree! I've saved several as reference material. Worthy to note that the tailgate hinges are painted body color - I missed that on my K20 but corrected that just today. I got same day turn around on a NOS set I had powder coated orange to match.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Completely agree! I've saved several as reference material. Worthy to note that the tailgate hinges are painted body color - I missed that on my K20 but corrected that just today. I got same day turn around on a NOS set I had powder coated orange to match.

Smart.

[SS Tim]

The lower tailgate trim convention on a Blazer is not something I have worked at all. The brochures (Blazer&Jimmy) and factory pictures all show (the few I have) that the band superceeds the lower tailate molding as it does on the pickups. Not to say it isn't original but it may very well have been added.

Of interest the 71 brochure clearly shows the striker as white.

[Tom Vogel]

Blazers and Jimmys had the lower tailgate strip With the woodgrain applique ... pickups did not.

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by Tom Vogel

Blazers and Jimmys had the lower tailgate strip With the woodgrain applique ... pickups did not.

Thanks Tom. I have to admit, my K5 has the trim also and I never noticed it!

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

...Worthy to note that the tailgate hinges are painted body color - I missed that on my K20 but corrected that just today. I got same day turn around on a NOS set I had powder coated orange to match.

Hey Pete...I don't know if this was a year, model, or plant specific thing..or if you were talking about trunions...but check out the tailgate hardware on the 80 mile 1970 truck that got unearthed a few years back. Unpainted tailgate linkage/supports...painted everything else.

[DeadheadNM]

Thanks for digging into this - would be fun to know if there are plant specific or other variations. My original paint Flint built GMC has painted tailgate hinges (shown below). It seems that other low mileage pickups do also but I haven't paid close attention and welcome more info. I did just have a set of NOS tailgate hinges powder coated orange for my K20, on which I left unpainted hinges on the rebuild - I wonder which set I should use.

EDIT: It's neat to see the factory painted bed wood on the blue truck.

[IronCanine]

Well...since we're(read:I'm) opening worm cans (further away from this thread's title)....My glove box arm was factory black, not body color red.

Note: I know it's irresponsible to post without doing at least a routine search of the site...but I am.

Edit: Since the blue kind of makes it confusing. This pic is of the 72 Blazer, not the 70 C10.

[DeadheadNM]

It seems the door stops tend to follow the color of the GB door. Are you matching the arm color for your build? I've seen GB hinges either matched to the GB color or black. A detailed survivor interior thread would help me sleep better

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

It seems the door stops tend to follow the color of the GB door. Are you matching the arm color for your build? I've seen GB hinges either matched to the GB color or black. A detailed survivor interior thread would help me sleep better

That's what I'm thinking. We need to start a Survivor/correct finishes thread. I've been collecting all this pics here and there for myself, it would be an easy reference for me too if they were all in a thread. We'd need to be a little specific to keep a clean reference thread. Only honest minimally mod-ed (read:unmodded) survivors. You should start it since your board presence is so strong and cross-forumed...and it might get archived or FAQ'd. I know we've got a survivor engine bay thread, but I've got more good pics of that ilk too.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

It seems the door stops tend to follow the color of the GB door. Are you matching the arm color for your build? I've seen GB hinges either matched to the GB color or black. A detailed survivor interior thread would help me sleep better

...and yes, matching it for my build. The things I felt confident about we labeled for final finish at dis-assembly...but as you know my truck had a lot of augmentation/manipulation/amputation over the years that had sent me searching.

[briank]

I may need to revise my earlier statement about 1970 not having the top to body bracket. I have never seen a 1970 with them but I just looked through an assembly manual and it shows them for 1970 truck series. No mention of the finish though. Anybody seen them on a 1970 k5??