The Great Basin Blazer - 72 K5 CST Highlander

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by bambbrose

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!

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

[Ol Blue K20]

Nice find, what a nice solid truck.

[jaros44sr]

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

image 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

[jaros44sr]

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

image by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/97391199@N06

[bambbrose]

Originally Posted by jaros44sr

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


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

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

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!

[jaros44sr]

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

[bambbrose]

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.

[1970cstblazer]

Any updates?

[bambbrose]

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.

[1970cstblazer]

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

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by bambbrose

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!

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

[bambbrose]

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.

[DeadheadNM]

The channel looks pretty solid, good deal.

[bambbrose]

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.

[bambbrose]

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

[DeadheadNM]

Progress. Thanks for the update.

[72ironmike]

Here is a pic of correct radiator fluid overflow tank. It is the one mounted on the core support.

Some use a windshield washer tank. You can use a later model style that looks more OEM.

[bambbrose]

Thank you Mike. I wonder where the one this has originated as it looks OEM like.

[72ironmike]

Originally Posted by bambbrose

Thank you Mike. I wonder where the one this has originated as it looks OEM like.

The one on your Blazer originated as a windshield washer reservoir & bracket. GM never used them as radiator overflows, but people have repurposed them to do that job. They do not hold as much overflow as factory units.

By the way, Very nice Blazer !