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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Lexington, Kentucky
Posts: 67
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Difference between K5 and K10 Blazer
Hi Guys, I was at an advanced auto parts the other day and a mechanic told me some info about my K5 blazer, but is it true? He said that my 1972 full size blazer was not a K5, that the K5 was a smaller version like the small bronco. So is mine a K10 Blazer?
True or False? Also he said a conversion kit was put on my blazer, that it used to be a standard shift. It did, but how did he know? There's no hole in the floorboard. He said he could tell by the lock out hubs on the front axle. What does that have to do with a standard shift? I have had several Blazers in the past, 73, 75, and a 77 model. This was all news to me. Of course he was drunker than a skunk. :-) But he did say it was the straightest body he had ever seen on an older Blazer. And the last thing, since I have owned several blazers, I find that this one is a little higher than the rest. I do have about a 1" taller tires but the distance from the ground to the tailgate (open) is about 3" Taller than the spec sheet I have. I don't have an kind of lift kit, no extra springs that I can tell. The drunk did say that the front springs were on top of the front axle and should have been on the bottom but I find that hard to believe. JD
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Glendale Arizona
Posts: 1,354
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Re: Difference between K5 and K10 Blazer
I'm pretty sure there was never a K10 blazer 69-72 or ever lol. Surprised he didn't call it a Bronco.
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1970 GMC 1500 stepside 1972 GMC Jimmy Custom 2004 Chevy Colorado 1989 Swb Silverado 1972 Aj's Stormer |
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#3 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Murray, Kentucky
Posts: 3,490
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Re: Difference between K5 and K10 Blazer
All full-size blazers are K5 (even the 2wd's)
Lots of "experts" out there, but I would not lie to you... Nice blazer, Rg
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Roger '68 Short step - https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=849675 '69 ('70?) 2wd Blazer '70 GMC Jimmy 2wd '73 Firebird - https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=853203 |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Lexington, Kentucky
Posts: 67
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Re: Difference between K5 and K10 Blazer
My other question was now high should the K5 Blazer be from the ground to the tailgate (open) My spec sheet says 29", mine is 33. Also the height of the top of the windshield should be 68 1/2", mine is about 72 1/2". Kind of looks like a 4" lift kit. Here are some pics of my springs. Do these pics look like standard to anyone?
Thanks, JD
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Lexington, Kentucky
Posts: 67
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Re: Difference between K5 and K10 Blazer
Here are the other pics of the springs and hubs.
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 1,518
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Re: Difference between K5 and K10 Blazer
Mine was higher than spec also even with worn out springs. Speaking of springs, your front ones look like they are shot too. They should be almost flat. It might be the camera angle , but yours look like they have a lot of upward arch to them.
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#7 |
Roadtrip!
![]() Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Grand Rapids MN
Posts: 13,739
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Re: Difference between K5 and K10 Blazer
Looks like extra springs so possibly a small lift in it.
You can mention to the guy from auto zone he is pretty much wrong on all he told you...
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67 gmc custom lwb dakota truck. Sold...And bought back 69 swb 4x4 project (in progress) 70 c-10 lwb texas truck 70 4x4/BB/bkts/posi/tach(retired) 70 swb (wifes) 70 jimmy camper 71 K-5 factory 2wd 71 cheyenne 4x4/tach/posi/ plow rig 71 Cheyenne20 BB, buckets, tach, tilt, 4 speed 72 jimmy CST wyoming rig 72 jimmy Colorado rig 72 lifted texas 4x4 3/4 ton burb 65 fury conv. 383/auto 65 chrysler 300 "L" 413 auto |
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#8 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Harrah, Washington
Posts: 323
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Re: Difference between K5 and K10 Blazer
It has add-a-leafs in it. I recognize them. I have them in my blazer and it raised it about 2 1/2". My opinion is that they have a very good ride. Better than stock.
Keith
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71 Blazer 4X4 (unmolested, all original (including paint) 74,000 mile barn find) 67 Camaro RS SS (unmolested, all original (including paint) 81,000 mile barn find) Keith Riel |
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#9 | |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Colo Springs, CO
Posts: 870
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Re: Difference between K5 and K10 Blazer
Quote:
But with a little gap on the lowest spring indicates non-factory add-a-leaf.
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- Jeff 89' K5 Blazer, 2.5" lift, 35" tires ![]() 04' GMC Yukon XL, 3/4 ton, 8.1L |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Santa Ana, CA
Posts: 2,191
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Re: Difference between K5 and K10 Blazer
The later model S-10 Blazer was smaller that any of the earlier full sized K5 Blazer models.
The conversion kit he is mistakenly talking about is for the front lockout hubs. Your K5 Blazer came with manual hubs. This is not a conversion The later model 4x4 vehicles (like the S-10 Blazer) often came without manual hubs. They came with permanently engaged hubs, and four wheel drive was engaged with vacuum actuated mechanisms on the axles tubes. Last edited by cleszkie; 04-26-2018 at 02:59 PM. |
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#11 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Garnett, Kansas
Posts: 279
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Re: Difference between K5 and K10 Blazer
As a drunk Kurdish guy in Istanbul once told me: “He who says doesn’t know; and he who knows doen’t say.”
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You ever have one of those mornings where you wake up owning more trucks than you did the night before? 1972 K5 1972 K10 1967 K20 bucket truck |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Corvallis, OR
Posts: 712
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Re: Difference between K5 and K10 Blazer
Well, those don't look lik the factory hubs, but those can be changed out in about 15 minutes.
I had a guy go on and on about how much he like my "K4" blazer, how he had a late 70's "K4" blazer, and so on. I didn't correct him, just let him say it about 10 times and left.
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1972 GMC Jimmy Custom 4.8L (L20)/6L90E/NP205 1989 Chevy Suburban V2500 350/Turbo 400/4.11 gears 1996 Chevy Suburban K1500 350/4L60E |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Posts: 7,721
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Re: Difference between K5 and K10 Blazer
Those are Warn premium hubs with the brass dial.
Too bad so many people are sharing their “expert”opinion with all the wrong answers.... ![]()
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44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Lexington, Kentucky
Posts: 67
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Re: Difference between K5 and K10 Blazer
Whow........ Lots of good answers guys, thanks a lot. The only lift kit that I knew of is the 2" or 4" block between the spings and axle. Since I'm getting ready to sell the blazer, I probably won't try to fix it. I do need to fix the rusted rocker panels though.
Thanks again. JD
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#15 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Orem, Utah
Posts: 7,926
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Re: Difference between K5 and K10 Blazer
Oddly, my K5 Blazer is registered in Utah as a K10. The person at the DMV told me they're all that way, and I don't really care. But Chevy never made a K10 Blazer; they're all K5. And there was only one size of Blazer when yours was built, just like there was only one size of Bronco back then.
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I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. - Thomas Jefferson |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Klein Texas
Posts: 3,852
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Re: Difference between K5 and K10 Blazer
Does anyone know any trivia why GM called it a K5 instead of K10 Blazer?
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My Classics: '72 K20 Suburban + '65 Dodge Town Wagon '72 Corvette Roadster +'67 Corvette Roadster '73 Z-28 Camaro '63 Ford SWB Uni Pickup '50 Ford Coupe |
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#17 |
Too Dumb To Know Better
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 882
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Re: Difference between K5 and K10 Blazer
1/4 ton, not 1/2 ton
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#18 | |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Motor City
Posts: 9,204
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Re: Difference between K5 and K10 Blazer
Quote:
You can put any badge you want on the side and it doesn't change the chassis content or the vehicle's capability. Just like when the squarebody GMCs magically went from 100 series to 1500 series on the badging. K
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Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/ |
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Lexington, Kentucky
Posts: 67
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Speaking of stock springs, it looks like the front should be just 2 springs so I'll remove the bottom spring to get it back to stock. As for the rear, does anyone have any pics of a stock rear spring set up? Or how many springs should be in the rear? I looked at a spring site and they showed the 2 leafs in the front but the minimum springs they show in the rear are 5/1, which mine has so if I took out 1 of the lower springs, it should lower it about 2" maybe?
I would like to lower the whole thing about 2-3" if I can. Too old to jump up in it anymore.
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Colo Springs, CO
Posts: 870
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Re: Difference between K5 and K10 Blazer
Maybe take a few more pictures of the rear. It might be easy to see visually being an odd spring compared to the rest. I'm guessing it's the second to the bottom. If an add-a-leaf, it will have a decent amount of curve to it...moving all the other springs in that arc position.
Keep in mind that if they are original rear springs, they tend to sag a bit after years and years of time. So overall, you might get a rear squatting look if you pull one out. I don't like that rear squat look.
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- Jeff 89' K5 Blazer, 2.5" lift, 35" tires ![]() 04' GMC Yukon XL, 3/4 ton, 8.1L |
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#21 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 1,518
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Re: Difference between K5 and K10 Blazer
Yeah, I wouldn't do that ! Just go and buy new front springs with a higher spring rate. You're going to open a can of worms if you remove any more springs from an already poor design. Your truck will bottom out, and you will get axle windup under heavy braking causing the truck to veer to one side. I just went through all this, and putting in new springs was the best thing I ever did to improve handling.
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#22 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 3,082
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Re: Difference between K5 and K10 Blazer
I've never heard of a 4x4 Blazer referred to as anything other than a K5.
C=2wd K=4wd 10=1000lb load capacity 20=1500lb 30=2000lb 5=no one really ever discussed it. We could theorize that a short bed truck should/could/might be a 5 but pretty sure they all came as 10s. Were spring rates different? Who can say? Try looking at parts store spring replacements (if listed) and see if Blazer and K10 are the same. |
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#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Motor City
Posts: 9,204
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Re: Difference between K5 and K10 Blazer
I can.
They are the same. Blazer is K10 pickup components with a shorter wheelbase. It's Marketing math. K
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Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/ |
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