1972 CST East Coast K5

[ShortbedClayton]

I have a build thread going on my 72 crewcab k20 but I put that project on hold for the time being. So I pushed my newest purchase into the shop and figured I’d start a thread on it. This is gonna be a very long term thread as my current intention is to get it on the road as a driver and post some of the adventures I take it on. Some day down the road I’d like to do a frame off restoration on it. I don’t have many pics currently but will post what I got. 1972 CST K5. I bought it in Virginia back in June. It’s quite rusty but for the most part it’s complete and original paint. Has some good options as well. Tach, tilt, extreme tow hooks, skid plates, manual throttle to name a few. All the seats and console are there as well. Was missing some pets but I have enough laying around to replace what’s missing.. first round of pics are on the trailer and the day I got it home… sat since 2000
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[jaros44sr]

I'm in for the journey, lots of potential there,I'd start with a big bucket of soap

Just about where mine started, minus tow hooks, cool paint

Good luck,

What engine?

[ShortbedClayton]

Here’s some pics after the first pressure wash. It was very satisfying washing 22 years of slime off. 350 350 turbo 205. Far as I can tell original drivetrain is still there. First thing I did was removing that awful 4” body lift. Looks to have a fresh 4” suspension lift in it. Things missing was tailgate handle, cluster, door panels and the under dash wiring harness…
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[ShortbedClayton]

After sitting under the shed for almost 6 months I decided to put some wheels and tires on it to look much better. Well that motivated me to push in the shop and that’s where I’m currently at. First order of business is to give that original paint some running compound. Turning out nicer than I expected..
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[DeadheadNM]

I'm on board. Nice find. Were the OE tow hooks still present?

[Thealien]

Watching this

[ShortbedClayton]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

I'm on board. Nice find. Were the OE tow hooks still present?

Yes sir. Extremes were still there. Only option missing was the manual throttle. I messaged the lady originally and tried to buy just the hooks but ended up with the whole thing
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[DeadheadNM]

That's great. When time allows, can you scour those hooks for any evidence they were painted white? Pre-72s were painted white but only offered as an option on painted bumper trucks. For 72 chrome bumpers no longer precluded factory hooks and I'm trying to learn if these also were painted white.

[yote1234]

wow what a find! looks good. im watching!

[ShortbedClayton]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

That's great. When time allows, can you scour those hooks for any evidence they were painted white? Pre-72s were painted white but only offered as an option on painted bumper trucks. For 72 chrome bumpers no longer precluded factory hooks and I'm trying to learn if these also were painted white.

Yes sir I can definitely look into it for ya
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[ShortbedClayton]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

That's great. When time allows, can you scour those hooks for any evidence they were painted white? Pre-72s were painted white but only offered as an option on painted bumper trucks. For 72 chrome bumpers no longer precluded factory hooks and I'm trying to learn if these also were painted white.

DeadheadNM you know quite a lot of info on these trucks and blazers. I seen somewhere that lower woodgrain trim was kinda rare on a k5? Any truth to that? My gate had a woodgrain band on it and upper and lower trim on the gate?
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[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by ShortbedClayton

DeadheadNM you know quite a lot of info on these trucks and blazers. I seen somewhere that lower woodgrain trim was kinda rare on a k5? Any truth to that? My gate had a woodgrain band on it and upper and lower trim on the gate?
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I fake most of it

Not uncommon. All CSTs had the trim and was available on non-CSTs as an option. Most 72's have the extra bright trim piece below the wood tailgate band, not seen on pickups or earlier model year K5's. Fun fact.

[ShortbedClayton]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

I fake most of it

Not uncommon. All CSTs had the trim and was available on non-CSTs as an option. Most 72's have the extra bright trim piece below the wood tailgate band, not seen on pickups or earlier model year K5's. Fun fact.

I figured it wasn’t to rare.. this had a spare tire carrier behind the seat. That a CST thing too?
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[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by ShortbedClayton

I figured it wasn’t to rare.. this had a spare tire carrier behind the seat. That a CST thing too?
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Behind the rear seat? That's standard I believe but as part of the package, a CST would have a black spare tire cover. The spare tire carrier was mounted behind the driver seat on K5's not optioned with a rear seat.

[ShortbedClayton]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Behind the rear seat? That's standard I believe but as part of the package, a CST would have a black spare tire cover. The spare tire carrier was mounted behind the driver seat on K5's not optioned with a rear seat.

Yeah behind the rear seat. I was glad mine was still there. No tire cover tho
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[ShortbedClayton]

Little back story on it…. Was posted on Facebook marketplace and I messaged the lady about the extreme bends on it but she wasn’t interested in selling seperate. She listed it for her husband. So after some phone tag we agreed on a price after some pics were exchanged. Old fella wouldn’t budge on price but I wouldn’t of either but never hurts to try.. So I called my buddy and we hooked my trailer up and headed 3.5 hours south into VA. About an hour away a deer runs out and smacks the front of my buddys truck… At that point I was ready to turn around and head home but he insisted on picking it up. We get there and the husband and wife that owned it we some of the nicest people I’ve come across. We loaded it up on the trailer and I started asking the 70 year old man about the k5. He had purchased it in 2000 for 500$ running and driving. The people he gotten it from installed a 4” suspension lift and a 4” body lift and it had some 40s under it. They were gonna take it mud bogging but they couldn’t get the steering to connect with the body lift so they gave up. He purchased it for a couple pieces to finish both his sons k5 blazer builds. It sat in the same spot since then until I loaded it up. He said it was decent shape when he bought it but sitting out for 22 years took its toll. After his wife found out we hit a deer she made him give me 100$ back.. she offered to cook me and my buddy dinner and sent us home with food and drink and told us to call her and let us know when we made it home even if it was gonna be 2:30am.. not an exciting story but I’ve said it before that you meet some of the nicest people thru these trucks and at the end of the day it’s those relationships you build that make it all worth while. Still talk to them occasionally and they said if I’m ever down that way again to not bother with a hotel they have plenty of space to spend a night or two..
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[68panelman]

That's a great story! Good luck with the K/5, I'm in for the ride

[tim71]

Very nice find, well optioned. How about some interior photos?

[ShortbedClayton]

Interior is nothing special. Cluster and door panels were missing. Put a tach cluster in and threw some door panels I had laying around. Most of the stuff that was also missing was laying in the blazer when I got it. Ignition switch was gone as well. Dash radio hole is cut out as well but I’ve repaired that before so not a big deal. Nice spare tire carrier was behind the rear seat. Bucket seats are complete but torn up pretty bad. Rear seat is very nice condition. We’re some cowboy killer butts in the ash trays so it was used at some point. The single wall top is nice with not much damn age other than a few holes here and there from a roof rack and antenna. Just gonna put some white caulk in the holes when I get it on the road. Couple months back I picked up a spare rear seat so that’s in the blazer as well as I’m running out of storage space
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[72gmguy]

Looks pretty good after the polish. I would get it running and drive it as is. Good luck with it!

[ShortbedClayton]

Originally Posted by 72gmguy

Looks pretty good after the polish. I would get it running and drive it as is. Good luck with it!

That’s the plan. Gonna have to patch some rust in the floors and doors but I’m not getting in restoration mode. Hopefully I’ll be able to get it all buffed this weekend
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[richard2717]

Missed this up until now. Looks like a nice find. I sometimes wish I would have just fixed the one i am working on now just good enough to be a driver but I opened up the wormhole and it is hard to close it once open.

[ShortbedClayton]

Originally Posted by richard2717

Missed this up until now. Looks like a nice find. I sometimes wish I would have just fixed the one i am working on now just good enough to be a driver but I opened up the wormhole and it is hard to close it once open.

I feel ya there the more it sits in the shop the more I look at well I could fix this and this and this and at that point ya my as well frame off it. But I really wanna drive it around and enjoy it awhile. I wish I’d a picked up that green 72 k5 you had a few years back
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[ShortbedClayton]

Should have some buffed pics here shortly been super cold in these parts and heating the garage isn’t worth the effort.. I did pick up some wheels for whenever it gets restored.. some 15x14 weld super singles
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[richard2717]

Originally Posted by ShortbedClayton

I feel ya there the more it sits in the shop the more I look at well I could fix this and this and this and at that point ya my as well frame off it. But I really wanna drive it around and enjoy it awhile. I wish I’d a picked up that green 72 k5 you had a few years back
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Thats the one getting frame up done now. At $7 per gallon for K1 there will not be too many shop days on it this winter as I had hoped. In middle of metal work now that the frame down is done. Good luck with this one