My new build thread: Stage 4!

[swyfor5]

Just got a e-mail from WES, panels have been shipped! Waiting on the Diy4x Dana60 drivers side weld on spring perch! Also just ordered up a new digital camera to be able to post up more pic's!

[mcmlxix]

Originally Posted by swyfor5

Just got a e-mail from WES, panels have been shipped! Waiting on the Diy4x Dana60 drivers side weld on spring perch! Also just ordered up a new digital camera to be able to post up more pic's!

Yeah... you're not allowed to post anymore till we get some pictures....

[swyfor5]

Well, sorry guy's, no new pic's as of yet. I did get the quarter panels from WES,and the drivers side dana60 weld on spring perch. Nice quarter patch panels, but are made in R.O.C as most of the rest of the keyparts I have bought from WES. Also got the new digital camera, so will try and get ya some new pic's of the parts pile soon!

[VA72C10]

cool, looks like the frame and brackets are in good shape! Might need a LITTLE foam work

[swyfor5]

Yes, pretty solid except for the top tubes under the armrests, holes rusted thru. Cleaned it all up of old foam and fabric, threw most of it in the bonfire but saved a few pieces with the scrooling because it is so cool it still survives! Still can't belive someone thru this away, and I will be parting this out if anyone is looking.

[swyfor5]

Allright! John is finishing up one of his latest customer projects and making room in the shop. Hope to get mine fired back up soon and put in there and start on the frt and rear bumpers. Remake of the Kennewsaw mtn bumper I bought way back, and a custom rear from Chaos Off Road! Here's some pic's of the Twinkie out on the trailer for the next step!

[swyfor5]

Yea! Will not hesitate any longer to get the K5 up to Chaos Off Road! Heres a couple more of the Twinkie!

[swyfor5]

Might I mention, Chaos Off Road is not a body shop/per sa, more of a custom off road suspenion-build what you want shop. The Twinkie pictured was only in the shop for the custom 4x4 upgrade, the rest on that project I understand is up to the customer-just my take on it. But what I have seen John build lately looks damn good and seems to be holding up really well under the stress it is put under! Glad he is only like three doors up from me! Can't wait to get started on the K5 SOON!

[VA72C10]

That will look much better!

[swyfor5]

Thank's VA! Seems your the only one following my thread, but as slow as I have been moving, I am not surprised. Felt good to get the rough grinding done today. This was an expensive bumper that I bought a few years ago, and it just was not made right. I am confident that I can modify it into one I can use and like. I heard all the feedback on KENNESAW MOUNTAIN products before I bought it, but I went and bought it anyway. Actually, the way Kyle welded the center stinger hoop on, even though it was not how I ordered it,may just work out better as I can mount my KC offroad lights next to the frt. hoop below the outer tubes. Next step is final sanding, and get it up to Chaos Off Road to get it test fitted to the front end, and then weld on the new outer tubes. It may need some extra boxing in to strenghten it for winching. Not a problem, I am on a roll!

[swyfor5]

Spent a couple hours final sanding the weld spots tonight. Not quite there yet, but real close. Got one spot where I got careless with the sawzall and cut into the center tube a bit. No problem, a little weld and some more grinding and it will be ready for welding on the new outer tubes. I'll mock up the tubes, and then drill the 2 holes for the KC offroad lights!

[swyfor5]

Off topic, no progress on the K5 lately, because it's NOW TROUT SEASON! Kinda busy this weekend with the wife and brother in-law bringing home the next slabs to go on the grille! Pic's!

[swyfor5]

Well, glad to say I got a little done today. Started cleaning out the barn and organizing some of the rebuild parts. Almost looks like a repro parts catalog for a first gen K5! Heres some pic's!

[VA72C10]

I'd see what your friend says but if it has issues plan on a full rebuild. If there aren't high dollar heads id just rebuild your own. Once you start the resto you won't be driving it anyways so you could do it then.
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[swyfor5]

Thank's VA! Planning on a complete rebuild from bottom to top if I do get it. I t does have some vortec heads on it, but I will know more when my partner from work takes a look at it. Wife said maybe-if I start working some more overtime! I can do that! I do plan on taking my time rebuilding it as I work on the rest of this project.

[swyfor5]

Oh yeah! Spent a couple hours cleaning up the high hump trans cover I picked up from Sharpie a while back, needed this one to swap in the NP205 t-case. Dropped it off at Chaos Off Road to have some unneeded holes welded up, and restored. John came down again and looked over the K5. As soon as a customers jeep V8 conversion is out of the shop, my K5 is next in line! Gonna set up the custom bumpers first, and then move on to the floor pans, rockers, etc. Lot's to do, but ready to go! Can't wait, John's talking me into twin sticking the NP205 t-case, but not sure if I want to go there!

[swyfor5]

Went up to Chaos Off Road again tonight. Got the t-case together for the customers jeep in the shop. One step closer to getting the K5 in there! Making sure I have everything set for the poly body bushing set to go in first!

[swyfor5]

Yes! My partner from work looked at the 383 stroker my friend has for sale today. I will buy it tommorrow. It is what I want for this type of build! It is set up right on the lower end, just need to go through the top end, cam etc,.Telling the wife, it won't cost too much! She is good to go on it, yeah, but how much does that cost?

[VA72C10]

Looks like fun with only a little carnage

[swyfor5]

Thank's VA, and he had it fixed for another run before it all wrapped up to end the night! All the kiddies had such a blast riding the bus, it was awesome! The Jeep owned the pit, and nothing even compared to it! Big blocks/built do rule. K5 goes up to Chaos off road soon!

[swyfor5]

Wife got mud in the blood yesterday. Awesome! New she always had it in there, but here we go again!The K5 is going up to ChAOS OFF ROAD SOON!

[swyfor5]

Almost got all the rear hatch parts in order, restored, organized, and ready for some pic's tommorrow. I have quite a collection of hatch parts, been working on this for a while! Still need to rework my replacement hatch for my resto, but at least I have what I need to get it done right! I will have some leftover parts up for sale when I am done.

[swyfor5]

Found a few more hatch parts to clean up and paint, wow way too many! Got a couple buds who do fiberglass, so trying to work a deal on the hatch. Pic's this weekend, weather permitting!

[VA72C10]

cool, looking forward to the progress!

[swyfor5]

Thank's again, VA! Spent a couple hours refurbishing the "72" front grille in my "70" Blazer. Massaged out a few dents, cleaned off a bunch of gunk, painted the inner honeycomb part black again, ready to replace the bowtie tommorrow! Gonna put the grille back in after it is cleaned up to make it ready to see how I have to modify my new "70" grille to mate up to my wincher bumper! I will take some pic's of the "72" grille after it is redone tommorrow. Defintialy a little better than driver quality, but not perfect. That's fine with me, I have a brand new NOS inner and outer ready to go in when ready. Old one is for testing winch bumper first. Man, this grille cleaned up nice, I was surprised! It will still be in decent shape when I am done cutting it up for my prototype setup! Need to put the hood latch back on to be able to drive it, and figured I might as well put a grille back in for now, and make it look more complete!