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#1 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 216
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1971 K5 Blazer - down under
Intro to my Blazer. Purchased last November from California. Due to covid affecting shipping (and everything else) I was only able to take in to my possession last Thursday. She is a little rough, but does not appear to be rusty. Has been bleached by sun. First thing is to get her running and driving nicely, then on to body and interior
I replaced 15" rims and non roadworthy tires with 17" rims, and 285/65 Toyo Open Country AT tires. We are working on brake system overhaul, new rotors, pads, shoes, flex hoses and master cylinder, make sure it stops. This in part necessitated by the fact that customs remove pads and shoes, and anything they deem may have asbestos. Of course we then found a couple of grumbling wheel bearings, leaking rear seals and one bent shock absorber, so have ordered new set of shocks and bearings and seals. Will then do fluid and filter changes to see how sound drive train is. I will have lots of questions, but this message board is a fantastic resource Last edited by 68ls1; 08-02-2021 at 07:43 AM. |
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#2 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Brigantine NJ
Posts: 820
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Re: 1971 K5 Blazer - down under
Looks like a great start. Customs actually takes parts off or they have you do it?
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Jeremy 1969 Blazer 4x4 original cst 1971 Blazer partial 2wd convert 1972 Blazer 4x4 original cst 1970 Blazer 4x4 w/ 2 1/2in lift and 33in tires w/4 wheel camper 1970 4x4 suburban w/ 6in lift and 35in tires 1968 Corvette convertible 1970 Malibu convertible 1959 Brookwood wagon 1972 International Scout ii |
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#3 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 216
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Re: 1971 K5 Blazer - down under
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Olathe, KS
Posts: 384
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Re: 1971 K5 Blazer - down under
So they take off pads and shoes because they may have asbestos so you can put on new ones that may contain the same?
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#5 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 216
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Re: 1971 K5 Blazer - down under
Quote:
![]() I know a lot of us feel it is revenue raising. The new one here is decontamination for stink bug. There were 11 cars unloaded at same time as Blazer, all were failed by quarantine (2 of these that I saw were show quality) and sent off for cleaning at the quarantine station, cost of around $700 AUD. |
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#6 |
Carpe manana
![]() ![]() Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Eau Claire, WI
Posts: 12,378
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Re: 1971 K5 Blazer - down under
Good that it arrived and best wishes for your build. Eager to follow the progress. Cheers.
__________________
1972 K5 CST Highlander Blazer: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=708547 1972 K20 Cheyenne Super: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=528308 ![]() |
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#7 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 216
|
Re: 1971 K5 Blazer - down under
To date we have now updated front brakes, with new rotors and pads. Calipers rebuilt. New wheel bearings and seals. was a good call to go all in. New spark plugs, oil and filters etc. May have an issue with ignition switch. Rear brakes are next on agenda, and replace shocks. Sorry no pics at this stage as it still looks same
![]() Took hatch off as was broken at bottom and we could not close it. Some pics of repair progress attached, will post in main forum with some questions I have after pulling hatch apart. Thanks to all those who have responded in my other threads, info is scarce down here. So many small differences between a pick up |
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#8 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 216
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Re: 1971 K5 Blazer - down under
So as part of the hatch repair had a new reinforcement plate made to replace old rust/pitted one
Now waiting on some hatch pieces from Motor City K5, to reassemble, and finish repair |
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#9 |
Carpe manana
![]() ![]() Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Eau Claire, WI
Posts: 12,378
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Re: 1971 K5 Blazer - down under
Nice progress. Glad Motor City K5 had some helpful pieces. Keep the updates coming.
__________________
1972 K5 CST Highlander Blazer: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=708547 1972 K20 Cheyenne Super: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=528308 ![]() |
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#10 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 216
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Re: 1971 K5 Blazer - down under
Most of the brakes are done, but is 2 steps forward, 1 step back like all these builds.
Pulled rear axles to do bearings, and found that one bearing had eaten through the hardening. New axle on the way from Rock Auto. |
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#11 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 216
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Re: 1971 K5 Blazer - down under
I have the Blazer back at home, after new brakes, shocks, wheel bearings & seals, new universal joints, 1 rear axle, ball joints, drag link ends, steering box. Not much has changed to look at, but have been able to drive it a couple of times.
Had a wheel alignment done and has 5 degrees positive caster. Still feels lighter than I was hoping. I have a square body anti sway bar set up on the way, hopefully here early January I also have an operable rear hatch. Next on list is lower driver's door hinge, driver's side lower rocker panel, steering column, interior rear view mirror. Have ram horn manifolds to install and new exhaust. The driver's seat tracks, are loose and rock, does anyone have image of what I would most likely need to be replaced/fixed on these. |
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#12 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: May 2011
Location: Greencastle PA
Posts: 6,714
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Re: 1971 K5 Blazer - down under
One or possibly all 3 of these pieces missing.
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#13 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: May 2011
Location: Greencastle PA
Posts: 6,714
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Re: 1971 K5 Blazer - down under
I just rebuild 2 sets for people last week, here was the worst set.
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#14 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Orem, Utah
Posts: 7,907
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Re: 1971 K5 Blazer - down under
Congratulations on getting your Blazer. It took me a while to get mine back on the road (7 years - it's a long story) but I drive it every day now. Does Australia have tough inspection laws like the European countries do?
__________________
I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. - Thomas Jefferson |
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#15 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 216
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Re: 1971 K5 Blazer - down under
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#16 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 216
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Re: 1971 K5 Blazer - down under
Yes we do. It can seem a little over the top, but in the end you have a safe car to drive.
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#17 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: May 2011
Location: Greencastle PA
Posts: 6,714
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Re: 1971 K5 Blazer - down under
Well, they are internal, you have to remove rivets to get to them. I may have a picture with the disassembled but will have to look. I had to buy rivets to put them back together, depending on which end, if any are missing, will determine which length rivet you need.
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#18 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 216
|
Re: 1971 K5 Blazer - down under
Yes we do. It can seem a little over the top, but in the end you have a safe car to drive.
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#19 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 216
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Tailgate finds
So as I continue to peel back the layers of this truck, i got stuck in to the tailgate. It had a rubber matting covering the inner.
From a previous question we had found that there was no original weatherstripping and brackets had been removed So I pulled off the rubber matting, held by so much glue and so many screws, to find a piece of styrene board attached to tailgate, by again so many screws. I attempted to remove the screws using a rust penetrant, but was mostly unsuccessful. So i did next best thing and started breaking pieces of it off only to find spray foam on tailgate. I swear a previous owner must have owned a hardware store. I am planning to take truck to body shop later this week for work on drivers side outer rocker and A pillar for door hinge issue. Will discuss if tailgate is salvageable, as there are so many screw holes to fill |
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#20 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 216
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Rear Seat Belts
A follow up on a previous question on bolt sizes to hold rear seat, thanks member richard2717 for the answer. Not sure again why the rear selt is not held down, can only guess previous owner was using as a 2 seater.
So this is how seat belts are attached, which seems to align with assembly manual. Appears an extra set has been added for a middle passenger Can someone please confirm if this correct or not |
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#21 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 216
|
Re: 1971 K5 Blazer - down under
So yesterday I removed a coolant overflow set up which went no where? Started looking for horns as nothing was happening when pressing horn button. It finally rained, so I know wipers now work, and washer seems to be aftermarket, no spray yet, so need to check if it hose or power.
Today we (help from son) removed what I can only assume was not a factory optioned auxiliary battery (non working) ![]() Bolted horn to rad support, connected wires and now have horn. Not a great sound, so one may not be working. Have electrician coming this week to hopefully diagnose wiring and remove any surplus. When removing auxiliary battery, we found a positive terminal, a ground terminal and a yellow terminal with two black wires that ran through firewall, but stop under door sill plate. There are multiple circuit breakers and relays that appear to have no purpose. I think we will have removed a couple of hundred pounds of non functioning upgrades by the time i have finished. I have included pics of what i believe to be a non genuine auxiliary battery bracket ![]() |
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#22 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Md
Posts: 2,472
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Re: 1971 K5 Blazer - down under
Super rare left handed spanner.😎 Blazer is looking good, hatch repair looks solid. If the Tailgate is as straight as it looks, definitely worth saving.
__________________
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=635605 |
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#23 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 216
|
Re: 1971 K5 Blazer - down under
Had auto electrician come over and clean up wiring, removing any redundant pieces. Also checked all of lighting operation, and with a cleaning of a few sockets, a few new globes everything works. Replaced the current faulty aftermarket water temp gauge with new aftermarket gauge, this is a temporary remedy as I wait for new dash I purchased from member anew4961 to make it's way down here.
Engine bay previously After wiring tidy up Still not very pretty, will look better with ram horn manifolds and spark plug leads run as factory. The goal right now is to make it a fully equipped and functioning vehicle that I can take out for a drive. The cosmetic restoration will be undertaken further down the track. |
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#24 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 216
|
Re: 1971 K5 Blazer - down under
Big moment today, we completed the 140 mile trip to the body shop
![]() Blazer ran pretty well, no issues, temp solid, used around half a tank. Got up to around 70 mph at times. Body shop to peel back the horrors of driver's rocker and A Pillar. Bit of rust on top of passenger rocker, see how deep this goes. Tailgate to be asessed, repair or replace. Good news looks like we can use original seat belt arrangement. Is there a way to confirm build date? VIN KE181S6004xx Last edited by 68ls1; 01-21-2022 at 06:20 PM. |
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#25 |
Carpe manana
![]() ![]() Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Eau Claire, WI
Posts: 12,378
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Re: 1971 K5 Blazer - down under
Congrats.
Check w the build date project to see if this can help dial in a build month: https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=815033 it appears to be a very early model year sequence number. FWIW I think that should be an "S" not a "5" after the 1.
__________________
1972 K5 CST Highlander Blazer: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=708547 1972 K20 Cheyenne Super: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=528308 ![]() |
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