How crazy does this sound?

[72 Cheyenne K20]

I bought a 71 Blazer about a month ago. It's in Wyoming and I'm not. I called a transport company to get it here (Minnesota) and it's been 3.5 weeks now with no pick up date in sight. I started calling other shipping companies and they told me (while laughing) that the price given to me by the co. I contracted was WAY low and the fact that it's in the middle of nowhere means it's probable going to sit for a long while. Now to the ?

How crazy would it be to drive this thing back to MN, 1150 miles. The PO says it starts and runs good, brakes and electrical are good, tires are good. The only thing is, it has only had about 20 miles put on it in the last 4 years. It only has 84K original miles which is good, but not sure if it still runs on leaded gas? I'd make sure to do some pm work on it before hitting the road (change oil, check fluids, tires, brakes, etc. Probably bring upper & lower rad hoses, water pump, fuses, anti-freeze, ps & brake fluid, etc. BUT, do I sound like I've lost my mind or does this sound OK . What do you think!

Scott

[Random Guy]

Its a risk, but its also a good way to discover any problems. I would make damn sure I had a back up plan. Maybe a follow along with a decent trailer.

[Random Guy]

Just to add to that. I did something simliar. I had my wife follow me in our fall back vehicle with trailer and I rode my 68 back to base for about 850 miles. I made it just fine, but I wouldnt have tried it if she wasnt nearby with the fallback.

[Walts_restoration]

DO IT!!!more power to ya, that way you get a feel for it, make sure it doesnt need anything. Take plenty of money for a bus ticket, plus if you get it halfway home your transport bills are half as much haha

[72 Cheyenne K20]

I have my wife going with me, my first thought was to trailer it back, but my 06 Colorado can't take the weight. So, next plan was to drive it and have her follow.

Scott

[Random Guy]

Ok Rent a Truck lol. It will still be less than the freight charges! If nothing else go with Uhaul =). I did this one when I picked up a new Camaro from my son. Uhaul wouldnt let me rent the tow trailer with my halfton so I rented their one and half ton truck (all they had) and the trailer. Still came out ahead since it was a "local" rental hehe.

[rcbildr]

A good friend of mine has done something like that twice. The first time, he bought a 76 (or 77, can't remember) K5 Blazer from ebay. It was in California and we lived in Bellevue, Wa at the time. It made the trip with only one real problem. When he got to Medford it was only firing on 2 or 3 cylinders because the spark plug wires were wasted....it sat for a while too. The second time he bought a deuce 'n half of ebay...it was in Minnesota. So we took the train out there and drove it back with no problems...that was a fun trip.

[70gmcjimmy]

Hey Scott,
I assume that you would be running I-90 so if you need anything passing thru the Black Hills area I can give you my contact info. If there is a problem you would be welcome to use my shop for repairs. I sure dont see any reason why not to try it. I belive there are still "lead replacement" additives that are still available at any good parts store. If the engine is all original it may not be a bad idea to use it.

Later---DAC

[jeffspower]

You might make it back without any problems, but in my experience (and I've had a bunch of them) it's too risky. Unless you have all the time in the world to make it home, & plenty of cash for BIG problems, I wouldn't try it. Just about every old truck/ car I had to go considerable distance to get wasn't fit to make it across town. A lot of people's idea of "runs good, I'd drive it anywhere" is BS. I've encountered bad fuel pumps, burned valves, fouled plugs, leaking radiators, plug wires that are beyond junk, a wheel that flew off because the idiot didn't change out too short of wheel studs when installing aluminum wheels (this happened 300 miles from home, 10 miles from where I bought it), bad starters... the list goes on & on.

[CrashEd]

Id do it just take lots of oil and water Id bet it will make the trip without a bit of trouble. I spent many years on the road being a semi driver and theres a lot of great folks out there willing to help a travler that breaks down. If you get somewere and it stops all together go to a truck stop and talk to the truckers theres always guys in stepdecks deadheading to pickup a load and welling to help out. Ihave lots of storys of people that have help me out and people i have helped. And it never hurts to have a CB radio with ya too channel 19 a direct link to the truckers and thay have all the connections to help ya or find help.
Ed

[70gmcjimmy]

Scott- I just noticed looking at the engine pic closer that the upper heater hose loops up over the top of the box and down and foreward where it is almost layin on the exahaust manifold. That could lessen the odds of gettin home without problems!! I'd probly put new battery cable ends on too especially getting rid of the wingnut RV lookin ground one.

Later---DAC

[Random Guy]

Originally Posted by 70gmcjimmy

Scott- I just noticed looking at the engine pic closer that the upper heater hose loops up over the top of the box and down and foreward where it is almost layin on the exahaust manifold. That could lessen the odds of gettin home without problems!! I'd probly put new battery cable ends on too especially getting rid of the wingnut RV lookin ground one.

Later---DAC

Also now that you mention the heater hose, look at the upper radiator hose near the thermostat housing. Is it just me or does it appear to be bulging about 4 or 5 inches above the clamp?

[71swb4x4]

Originally Posted by Random Guy

Also now that you mention the heater hose, look at the upper radiator hose near the thermostat housing. Is it just me or does it appear to be bulging about 4 or 5 inches above the clamp?

That part of the "radiator hose" is a metal tube, so I doubt it's a bulge. It just where it curves back in.

I bought a truck in Billings and drove it back to Brookings, but it was a daily driver. I would be hesitant to drive that one for 1100 miles.
If you do try it, let me know I will PM you my contact info in case you need anything.

[72 Cheyenne K20]

Hey DAC, thanks for the offer, if i decide to do this, your info would be much welcomed. Yeh, I saw that hose to, I was going to take plenty of hose just in case I needed to replace any, probably bat cable to.

Random Guy, no bulge, original metal rad hose.

Thanks, Scott

[Southedisto]

I would drive it back, for nothing else but the experience. Its a GM product, it will make it.

[Random Guy]

No no no. I wasnt talking about the housing tube. Further up the hose. I marked it on your pic. In any case its not major just something I noticed.

[glock35ipsc]

That's not a rubber hose, it is a metal tube. That is a kink in the tube from when it was formed. To the left of your box is a hose clamp, then about 5" or so of rubber hose, then another clamp at the t-stat housing. My 70 looks the same.

[Random Guy]

Mine doesnt look anything like that, but then I dont have the original housing anymore either. It just seemed out of place to me.

[killer71]

20 miles in 4 yrs. With my luck there AIN'T no way in He!! I would do it without a very very good backup plan!

[special-K]

I`ve driven alot of trucks back east 2,500 or more miles.But,15 years ago was the last.There`s a few tales to tell,but nothing serious ever happened.I bought a`72 K/20 in`04 from Colorado.The seller said "drive anywhere" and that`s what I was going to do.Or,drive to Sante Fe for the time being.I got too busy and paid for transporting,$950.I`m glad I did.When the driver was unloading it he had to start it in gear(no clutch).I went to gas it up,I got less than a mile and the frontend was hopping(ball-joints shot).I decided to take it to my shop with a slow painful journey expected on back roads.The first hill less than a mile away and it bogged when I shifted to 4th.When I shifted down it nearly stopped(calipers hot and froze).Once I tore into it there was more.Like I said,glad I shipped it.

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by Random Guy

Mine doesnt look anything like that, but then I dont have the original housing anymore either. It just seemed out of place to me.

I've only seen it this way on 4x4's, have never seen it on 2wd's. But it is original.

[eedgell]

I agree about the heater hose. Get that rerouted. What good is it to have a fall back rig when it cant tow any way? Get a rig to tow it home, or take your chances. Either way still cheaper than ship.

[1969k10stepside]

Originally Posted by glock35ipsc

I've only seen it this way on 4x4's, have never seen it on 2wd's. But it is original.

Yes,the 4wds had the metal tube which was a stock item on the 4wds to accomodate for the motor being farther back in the chassis than a 2wd

[72 Cheyenne K20]

Thanks for all the advise, I'll wait and see what the 2 companies I called today say for shipping. I e-mailed FedEx last night and got a quote of 1650.00 and the people I talked to today say 1100.00 to 1200.00. The more I think about it, if I can get someone to move it for around 1100.00 I'll do it in a heart beat. I cant see driving 20 hours out and 20 or more hours back in a vehicle that may or may not make it and at what cost. I figure it's going to cost 6-7 hundred for gas and whatever else may happen alomg the way who knows? If I was 20 years younger, I'd already be in Wyoming, Thank God I'm not as stupid as I used to be. I;ll post the results soon

Scott

[AuggieStyle]

funny you said that about being younger, i used to do that sort of thing all the time when i was in my 20's but ever since I hit the three o's I dont. I once drove a six four impala I bought in el paso back to dallas. took a bus to elpaso and drove back to dallas in it no tools no cell phone just a big wad of cash and a big smile on my face for scoring such a deal. all with the PO's word that the car was in great shape and drove well. It was a SS convert and I almost made it home I broke down 40 miles outside of dallas near grandbury/fort worth on twenty. My dad had to come get me.with the help of some truckers one of which had a wife at home who tuned into his channel, he used his CB to contact her and she called my dad with her home phone. my dad came out and we figured it was the rotor it basically melted. we went to a parts store and popped in a new one and I made it home. moms wasnt too happy with me but it was an experience. gotta love the truckers!