1971 K5 Blazer - down under

[BigBird05]

If that is an "S" as suspected. It would be a pre-December St Louis build.

[68ls1]

Been a while

So a little while ago the shop pulled off guard, door, carpet etc to check out the extent of rust and lower door hinge issue. Photos attached.











I finally got an opportunity to go and see in person today.
My original plan was to leave as was, fix issues, put on road and drive for a bit.
After seeing it today, and a chat with main man (Shane), I have decided to go ahead and strip it down, remove paint and then body work and paint.
As Shane said, that the rocker and lower hinge appear to be only areas that need rust or panel repair, his words "that is nothing". Floor looks really solid, just some holes to fill, guard was really good, Pretty sure quarters will need some remedial work, so in the scheme it is in really good shape, so let's get on with it.
This has changed my parts requirements in the short term.

Now I need to decide on color. Had always wanted white, but I kinda like the original light yellow. Have also thought about a lighter blue metallic. Want to go with Highlander interior, so
White with grey plaid
Light yellow with grey plaid
Blue with blue plaid

[DeadheadNM]

Good to see an update. When life hands you lemons, make lemonade: I'd go the original light yellow color. That's my favorite 72 color. Grey or orange plaid would be stunning. Any plaid color paired with that light yellow would be great (even green).

[1rippen6]

I'm a big fan of the light yellow also!

[68ls1]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Good to see an update. When life hands you lemons, make lemonade: I'd go the original light yellow color. That's my favorite 72 color. Grey or orange plaid would be stunning. Any plaid color paired with that light yellow would be great (even green).

May have come across wrong, but I am so pleased that there was no other areas that need metal replacement. The fact it is in such good shape, and will require minimal work/time in body prep is the reason I am going this way, so will only assemble once. I didn't want it disappearing in to paint jail.

Here are some images of 70 Camaro they did a build for me

[68ls1]

Tear down completed. No nasty surprises, paint removal next week. The frame is possibly better than I had hoped, just had to remove the tow hitch that had been welded on. Need to make brackets to hold front anti sway bar, a good clean and then off for powder coating.

Can anyone suggest a supplier for Truckworld seat covers. I am after a white set with grey plaid.

[68ls1]

Back from blaster, no surprises . Doesn't appear to be any large accident damage

[68ls1]

Drivers rocker and lower A Pillar is by far the worst area.

[68ls1]

Passenger rocker, looks like will just need to replace outer

[68ls1]

and rear of bed, will make up some patches to fix

[DeadheadNM]

Good deal. How were the doors?

Reach out to SoCoC10 regarding seat covers.

[68ls1]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Good deal. How were the doors?

Reach out to SoCoC10 regarding seat covers.

Doors are really good, expected back from media blasting tomorrow. As you can notice no media blast on large flat surfaces, will hand strip those.

Thanks Pete for lead will contact him

[68ls1]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Good deal. How were the doors?

Pics of doors, bottom corners were worse than expected but are an easy fix. Someone was good at hiding holes . Bottom of doors are as good as i could hope for











Tailgate was also pretty good, just a small depression on inner to sort.

There is a small dent around tail lights on passenger side, on the lower section. Will unpick quarter, so can do the repair from the inside

All in all still very happy overall with the body.

Dropped engine at rebuilders, will tear down and report. Had a remanufactured tag on rear side of block so assume it has had at least one rebuild.
If rebuildable, plan is around 9.5 to 1 compression using AFR Eliminator heads (or like), small cam, Comp Cams X4260HR, Edelbrock Performer EPS manifold and Holley Terminator Stealth with Hyperspark ignition
Local gear specialist picked up transfer case, will pull it down and put new bearings and any other items it may need. Thinks the damaged rear yoke might be able to be machined.
I have Turbo 350 to drop off to my local transmission guy to recondition tomorrow.
Waiting on lots of parts currently shipping via ocean freight. Alcan springs should be available around Sept 9th

Pete do you have pics of transfer case colour, or where on your rebuild thread I can find, so I can forward to the rebuilder?

[DeadheadNM]

Not bad at all. Glad the sheet metal won’t be too much of a barrier toward the rebuild.

Folks have said Chrysler red is a close match to the red used to paint the transfer case. I believe that can be had in a spray can too.

[68ls1]

After unpicking quarters. more rust spots were revealed. Every corner of panels had some amount, and behind door strikers. Lower A pillar on passenger side needs some work. More filler than expected,

Nothing that can't be sorted pretty easily for these guys. Inner rockers done. Hope to have all the tub sorted by end of next week.

And I'll know i have a rust free, straight Blazer









And this is a lot of filler. Panel will be repaired from the inside.

[DeadheadNM]

Making quick work of the body. Nice!

[68ls1]

Some more progress pics

[68ls1]

More progress pics

[68ls1]

So this is what we salvaged from engine, currently at machinist, and the goodies going in to it





Transfer case done (so is Turbo 350, but no pics)





Also a lot have parts have arrived, just waiting on shipping forwarder to say come collect. Frame at powdercoaters.

Hopefully next update will be the reassembly of chassis and drive train install

cheers Roger

[Louisvillekytruck]

Nice work looking good

[68ls1]

Originally Posted by Louisvillekytruck

Nice work looking good

thanks

[68ls1]

We have come a long way

[best view]

I hope you paint it light yellow

[best view]

And I vote for green hylander

[68ls1]

Progress pics, back as a rolling frame, engine, trans & transfer case, all rebuilt and in frame. Waiting on some bushes to fit Gen 2 front sway bar, fuel tank in fab shop getting in tank pump for fuel injection fitted.