Sarge's rattle-can rebuild

[SeventyOne]

This is a great build. I've always liked these CUCV Blazers and occasionally see what's for sale locally but alas I already have other projects

Keep up the good work!

[68Timber]

The rear is done, but I don't have pics of them welded in. I've been dragging ass on this because the next part of the repair is beyond my comfort zone. The outside edges of the floors, next to the front part of the door jambs, have rust through on each side. made2drag gave me a set of new floor pans that came with a 2wd 77 he recently bought, but the cutting and welding to get them in? I'm nervous about it so I've been putting it off.

[made2drag]

You'll get there, just keep on truckin'

3M 8115 is the go-to and they say shine both pieces shiny and squirt it on...press the pieces together and the next day it's a permanent strong-as-weld connection that will never rust. It acts like a seam sealer at the same time.

[68Timber]

Thanks! That's what I bought, it arrived yesterday. Hopefully either this weekend or next I'll be done with floors so I can start putting an interior in this thing. After 8 years of ownership I'm ready for just a little more creature comfort than it came with!

[68Timber]

I made a little time for the truck this weekend, but not much picture-worthy. I got the last of the extra brackets cut off the floor and ground smooth and vacuumed all the dirt and mess out. Oddly enough, this was the only piece of civilian floor trim in truck. For all the other stuff that gets deleted it's kinda odd this piece is there. The screws were stuck but a 3/8" manual impact driver did the trick. Good thing it was there, that would have been an odd piece to track down. I thought I had the trim pieces rounded up but I've gotta find the chrome bezels that trim out the floor latches for the passenger front seat and rear bench seat. I got started on the rust in front. This is the passenger side foot well.

[48cj2a]

John,

The CUCVs came with a floor mat in the cab area that slightly went up the riser and this piece of trim secured it.

There should also be the metal pieces in the door openings that secured it there too.

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by 48cj2a

John,

The CUCVs came with a floor mat in the cab area that slightly went up the riser and this piece of trim secured it.

There should also be the metal pieces in the door openings that secured it there too.

Interesting. So the trim survived but the floor mat did not. I think it's the same piece that used with carpet, so it'll get a coat of SEM and get reused then.

One door sill plate was intact, the other one long gone.

Right now I'm fully up to speed on why guys hate rust repair. And I don't even have very much to deal with. Any is more than anyone wanted, though, right?

[made2drag]

Cool deal. Remember, I got dibs on those door rubbers. My son was not excited to hear both my doors rattle violently while he was riding in the back seat with the top off. I'll eventually buy a new pair but right now used will be great.

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by made2drag

Cool deal. Remember, I got dibs on those door rubbers. My son was not excited to hear both my doors rattle violently while he was riding in the back seat with the top off. I'll eventually buy a new pair but right now used will be great.

You mean for that sweet 2wd K5 you just bought?

[made2drag]

Originally Posted by 68Timber

You mean for that sweet 2wd K5 you just bought?

Yes, but it's not sweet yet...kinda tangy, sour, lemony but on it's way I guess....

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by MTCK

That’s going to be rock solid when you’re done! Looks real good.

Thanks Marcus. Hopefully no more than two or three more days of this then I can move on to sound deadener and the civilian interior bits.

Originally Posted by made2drag

Yes, but it's not sweet yet...kinda tangy, sour, lemony but on it's way I guess....

You need a thread...

[68Timber]

Having zero experience with this made me put it off. If dread were labor I'd be done by now. Today I dove in.

[MTCK]

That’s going to be rock solid when you’re done! Looks real good.

[made2drag]

^ excellent!

[68Timber]

I got started on the driver's side today but didn't get as far. There's a thin rubber mat bonded to the floors in the footwell area of the front only. After I made my initial cut I noticed the mat was loose and after peeling it back I found more rust. There's more rust on this side, so to be safe, I put a wire wheel on the grinder to remove it all. First pic, initial cut and the "bonus" rust I found after peeling loose rubber back. Second pic, the loose piece laying over the grinder. Third pic, all gone. I also ground the seam sealer out of the channel under the sill plate. I found a few pinholes to weld but it's all solid. A few tack welds, POR, new seam sealer, and it'll be ready to go. Last pic is the channel. Tomorrow I'll enlarge the repair area to get rid of the bonus rust and fit a patch panel.

[made2drag]

Looks good. A flag shaped patch instead of a skinny rectangle, no big deal.

[68Timber]

Question for anyone with experience or learned opinion... My drivers side inner rocker has some rust that I've cut out back to good metal. I'm going to use panel bond adhesive to patch over the area. I want to use POR to treat the area first but I'm concerned about the panel bond instructions that say to use on bare metal. Do I need to be concerned about panel bond not adhering to POR?

Also, apparently the seat bases changed more times than I'm aware of. I've got two sets of front bases from a 79 that don't fit this 85. I know they changed again in the later 80's K5's. If anyone knows what years I need to shop from I'd appreciate it, I need to put an ad up in the classified area and need to know what to ask for.