Attempting my first build 72 K5

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

It's been a while so I thought I would update with a few more progress pics.

The PO made some modifications to the frame that required some minor work to put this back to its stock form.

First was the custom tow hitch that was welded to the outside of both sides of the frame


He also made some bad drill holes on the top side of the frame, so I patched that up to make it look decent enough. I'm not even sure if there is supposed to be a hole there or not.



The rear cross member was drilled out to compensate for the larger gas tank and he welded a cross bar to the hangers for the body mounts. I cut that off using a sawzall. Then I cut the rest of cross bar as close as I could to the hangers off and then finished it off with an angle grinder and flap disc to smooth it down.

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

managed to save the hangers and then drilled out the rivets.

[DeadheadNM]

Nice!

[SeventyOne]

Awesome! Powder coat is the best.

Hopefully the areas we worked on look like they were never messed with now that it's coated.

[1956cameo]

Great build! Way back on page one you were asking about the heater core and where you could get a replacement because LMC didn't carry it. The Truck Shop in Orange, California sells new ones. They are $59 if I'm not mistaken.

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

Thanks guys!

Cameo - I think I'm going to just have mine refurbished. I've been talking to the guys at Classic Auto Air

[1956cameo]

Probably a smart move. I am sure they will make it better than the new Chinese reproduction stuff.

[tristan]

I now have a bad case of frame envy - just beautiful.

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

opinions / options please

I have a original 72 blazer tank thanks to 1rippen. I had a couple of options I was thinking I could do with it, so here goes

Options 1 - Have the dents repaired ($250-$300 quotes from local shops) Then have my guy at the radiator shop acid wash the inside and relined for $175 - Total $475 and I have a nice original restored tank.

Option 2 - Buy a steel reproduction tank which are made in China to my knowledge ($175ish), plus shipping cost, and the radiator guy will swap the filler neck for $45 - Total w/o shipping cost $230

I like the idea of buying a new steel tank, but with all the nightmares I hear about repro stuff I'm afraid it still wont fit correctly. In the end I and up pissing more money down the drain and reverting back to option 1.

If anybody has done option 2 and it worked out great, please let me know where you bought the steel tank from and if you had any issues.


I have the original straps, the 2 square washers, 1 spacer bracket, (need 1 more) and the original square u-shape bolt. I'm in the process of fabricating the rubber isolators thanks to member seventyone who is sending me is originals to use for making the dimensions.

[DeadheadNM]

Throwing this out there: skip the dent repair as these will be covered by the skid plate and just acid wash/reline...

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

I guess you and I will be the only ones who know.. or anybody that reads this.

I think I'll just sand it down to get all the scale/rust off then have it acid washed/lined and then primer and paint it myself.

In the meantime I'll ask around and see if someone would fix the dent's for less. They don't need to be perfect.

[IronCanine]

I faced the exact same situation. Radiator guy couldn't get the original straightened out good enough...and to his credit he called the ball and didn't charge me. I got a new tank (from 1rippen btw) and swapped the neck. It came out great. I used the original straps which cleaned up nicely. I had a local machine shop reproduce the square u-bolt which was trash and had to be cut out on disassembly. We did line the new tank. The radiator guy had kind of gotten into the project (he did my radiator re-core as well) and painted the tank with some "galvanized" paint to homogenize it after neck swap. That didn't look too good, so we repainted it. Here are a few pics.

[tp85]

nice rolling chassis...this is when the fun really starts.

where did you buy your fuel lines?
and, for the brake lines, what were the problems with inline tube?

i'm about the buy all new lines or bend lines myself...just trying to decide which route is best.
tom

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

Originally Posted by tp85

nice rolling chassis...this is when the fun really starts.

where did you buy your fuel lines?
and, for the brake lines, what were the problems with inline tube?

i'm about the buy all new lines or bend lines myself...just trying to decide which route is best.
tom

I bought the brake and fuel lines from Inline Tube. They're just a PIA to get them correctly line up, but they will. just take a little persuasion.

Currently, the only problem I see is the rear of the brake like does not line up with the bracket that extends out of the frame that connects the brake hose to the brake line.
I'm going to mess it later tonight to see if I can make any adjustments to so it lines up straight enough to go through the hole without having to force it.

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

I bought a used tank from 1rippen solely for the purpose of the using the filler neck. I then got a new steel tank and the Radiator shop I use lined in and swapped the neck for me. I painted it GM OEM gunmetal Gray..

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

Looks nice! That might be a viable option if 1Rippen has a new tank and I can swap the necks.

I noticed on your rear leaf springs, the U shape bracket with the bolts that slides through the other end, you have them facing the rear. I put mine on the opposite way. Do you know if it makes a difference?

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by 72K5CSTDarkOlive

Looks nice! That might be a viable option if 1Rippen has a new tank and I can swap the necks.

It's the same re-pro tank that most vendors sell. I got lucky that he one sitting around. It saved me a few bucks.

Originally Posted by 72K5CSTDarkOlive

I noticed on your rear leaf springs, the U shape bracket with the bolts that slides through the other end, you have them facing the rear. I put mine on the opposite way. Do you know if it makes a difference?

I don't think it matters...or that is to say I hope it doesn't.

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

It's the same re-pro tank that most vendors sell. I got lucky that he one sitting around. It saved me a few bucks.



I don't think it matters...or that is to say I hope it doesn't.

If the repros are all the same then I guess it matters if I want my truck 96% american and 3% china 1% mexico.. My main concern is if the repro tank doesn't line up like it should, but seems like you didn't have any fitment issues and it sure does look nice

[mx289]

Here's a pic of a repro tank that was installed in my jimmy by the P/O.

Looks to fit ok.

[Eat Soot]

I went with the Repo tank and straps on mine. The filler neck is a real pain. I spent an hour up stairs at a Napa to get a hose that would work to connect to the tank and get around the body mount, I guess i could og cut off the old neck. Other than that I had no other fitment issues at all.

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

I'm ordering a new steel tank and have the neck swapped.

Got the tub back from media blasting. Came out real nice. I was worried about the rear quarter panel but there was only a very thin layer of bondo from when it was i a wreck back in the late 70's.

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

more pics

[tjsblazer]

Tub looks good. Having good metal is 90% of the battle.
I'm still debating whether to refurb my tank or swap the neck to a new ones. Opinions are about a 50/50 split.

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

Originally Posted by tjsblazer

Tub looks good. Having good metal is 90% of the battle.
I'm still debating whether to refurb my tank or swap the neck to a new ones. Opinions are about a 50/50 split.

Thanks! They're going to do all the body work next. fix a few dents and remove the bondo and fix the curved lip of the rear wheel well. He's also going to repair the dash so I can put the original am Radio back in.

I took my tank, the one with all the dents to the guys I'm working with at the body shop and he immediately said "F... fixing that, buy a new steel one and swap the necks. I'm not sure how bad yours is, but if you are putting in a brand new engine like me, why take the chance.

[IronCanine]

Mike...that tub looks fantastic. I am so jealous of that metal. You are doing such an awesome job.