My new build thread: Stage 4!

[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!

[swyfor5]

Plan on reworking the Kennesaw mtn wincher bumper tomorrow. Need to grind off the original welds, and prep for welding on the new tubes. Also, drill two holes for the KC off road lights I want to mount. Will post up pic's as progress happens!

[swyfor5]

No progress today, had to work again. Will do some grinding tommorrow if its not raining!

[swyfor5]

Wow! Finally I can say I got "some" progress done today. Got the Kennesaw mtn wincher bumper back out and did some grinding on the welds where I had cut off the outer tubes. Got most of the rough grinding done, just need to finish it up and make it look right again. I will finish sanding it, get it ready to have the new outer tubes welded on the way I want them. Here's some pic's, before, during, and kinda how it will look when it's done! It hopefully will look sorta like what it was supposed to look like when I ordered it. Ok, here goes!

[swyfor5]

Here's the way I wanted it to look when I ordered it, and also a pic of the rear seat I scrounged out of the dump, after I stripped it of old foam and etc!

[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!

[swyfor5]

More pic's!

[swyfor5]

More!

[swyfor5]

Got a second wind this afternoon, and created some wall art! Hung the fenders, and etc., just trying to make some room here. Have a bunch of stuff ready to go, wife jumped in today and said-ready to get going on this! Will try and get some pic's tommorrow of the art!

[swyfor5]

Went out and dumped some gas in the carb today, and the K5 fired right up! Sounds real good, been a few months, last fall. A fuel leak on top of the carb, but it will start when you pour a little fuel in and get it running! Going up to Chaos Off Road in a minute, heard some grinding up there, gotta check it out! Feels good to start the old girl up again!

[swyfor5]

Oh yeah! Went and looked at a motor a friend of mine is selling. 383 stroker he just pulled out of his corvette, selling the vette, so wants the numbers matching engine back in it. Motor has some issues, but I will completely go through it if I do end up getting it from him. Gonna get my partner from work to come look at it monday, and get his advice. My opinion, is I will pick it up and build it into a awesome small block for stage 4!

[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?

[swyfor5]

Yep, it is setting on a stand in my pole barn. Awesome! Also got the high hump back from chaos off road today, looks great! Also had the retaining rings for the-tcase and the 4 speed blasted, look great!

[swyfor5]

Primered the trans high hump, ready for black paint. Mocking up the new/used shifter boots! Need to straighten the NP205 shifter retainer ring I just had blasted! Only reason I had to change hump was because I am swapping from a dana20 t-case to a np205 t-case, they have different holes. Will post up some pic's when I get time.

[swyfor5]

Oh man! Big mud bogg tommorrow! Taking the Chaos off road bus, and the jeep. Pic's tommorrow night! Been working on the K5 high hump, and shifter retaining rings, almost ready to go! Happy Memorial Weekend everybody!

[swyfor5]

Yep, bogging today! Fun , fun, fun! Pic's!