How To: Ruin a Perfectly Good K/5

[gringoloco]

Well, I'm back in a Blazer after a short hiatus. Some of you may remember my former pale yellow '72 that was a 2wd conversion, How to: Ruin a perfectly good Blazer...

I started looking around for a replacement for it a few months back so the family can ride with and stumbled upon a Craigslist ad for a nice, original Highlander in Denver, CO for a great price. Talked a bit to the guy and decided I would fly out and pick it up. Unfortunately, by that time, someone local had snapped it up...

Fast forward a couple of weeks as my search continued and whattayaknow, the same Blazer pops back up, albeit at a much higher price. I tossed an offer at the guy, well below his asking price, and he countered reasonably.

Here's a couple of shots from the for sale ad:

[gringoloco]

It looked to be in very original, unmolested condition, but I wanted to get a closer look at some of the problem areas, as we all know how these things can look great on the outside, but be rotting from the inside out. Happily, the seller was willing to photograph anything I asked before I spent any time/money heading out to Denver.

A few interior shots from the ad:

[gringoloco]

After a bunch of back and forth with the seller, I was satisfied with the condition and decided to book a flight to Denver to finalize the deal in person. The guy thought I was crazy for wanting to drive a 40 year old truck across the country, but the way I see it, 40 years ago this is all people had So, I packed all the typical hand-tools into my checked luggage and so started the adventure...

The plan was to make it a two day drive, stopping halfway in Kansas. Unfortunately, I chose the worst possible time to try to drive out of Colorado. There was a little winter storm, Euclid, that blew in the night before I was set to leave. I made it all of 80 miles before the DOT shut down I-70 due to blizzard conditions.

Here's a shot the morning I left and one from the seedy motel I stayed in during the blizzard...

[darkhorse970]

Very cool! I'm in...

[gringoloco]

I figured the worst was behind me after getting caught in a Blizzard on the first day of my trip, but little did I know, disaster was looming. An alternator bracket bolt managed to somehow shear itself off in the cylinder head somewhere just south of Wichita, KS. I managed to make a quick, roadside repair with some coat hangers I sourced at a truck stop and limped my way to a hotel. Next morning, I picked up some easy outs, a drill and an extension cord (the three things I didn't pack) and bolted the bracket up (in the hotel parking lot) with some grade 8 hardware and red thread locker. I didn't want them working loose again before I got home...

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by darkhorse970

Very cool! I'm in...

Thanks for tagging along

After I got the alt bracket fixed up, it was smooth sailing all the way home. Glad to be back in the south! Also glad to know that the choke and heater work when called upon

[fastcam1]

Following!
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[gringoloco]

The truck is really pretty clean and original, as the pics will illustrate. It is missing a few things here and there and needs some minor TLC, but what fun would it be if it didn't? The only major deviations from stock are the tires/wheels and a Tuffy locking console. I can live with that (or change it)...

[bouncytruck]

Looks like a good find. Are you going to convert or keep it 4wd?

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by fastcam1

Following!
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Welcome!

So, I was looking for a nice truck with the intention of converting it to 2wd, but I think this one might be too nice to do that to. Right now, I'm just tinkering with the little things that it needs to be reliable and comfortable to drive.

Today was alternator and battery replacement. I pondered doing the SI internally regulated alternator conversion, but couldn't bring myself to alter the stock wiring, so it got a rebuilt externally regulated unit with the original fan and pulley swapped on. Also wire-wheeled and painted the bottom of the battery tray. Couldn't resist a little rattle-can resto while I was at it

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by bouncytruck

Looks like a good find. Are you going to convert or keep it 4wd?

My original intent was to find one to convert, and do a step-by-step for the forum, but I'm not ready to go there with this one yet. It is NICE not having to use a floor jack to work underneath the truck--just grab the creeper and roll right under! The 4wd worked out pretty well when I, um... made my own exit to the frontage road to avoid a jack-knifed semi

[LEEVON]

Dang nice Blazer and one hell of a shakedown run! I'll be watching this one.

[roOstersan]

She's beautiful... Im considering the 2wd conv with my k5, but it's just a no frills stocker... I'll definately be watching tho!
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[2003 silverado]

Nice find good luck with her . TUNED IN ALSO

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by LEEVON

Dang nice Blazer and one hell of a shakedown run! I'll be watching this one.

Thanks- I figure after that, she's pretty much sorted out and we've become great friends

Originally Posted by roOstersan

She's beautiful... Im considering the 2wd conv with my k5, but it's just a no frills stocker... I'll definately be watching tho!
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Thanks a lot- if I do convert, there will be details galore.

Originally Posted by 2003 silverado

Nice find good luck with her . TUNED IN ALSO

Thanks for tuning in- more to come
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[lolife99]

I'm in for the conversion!

[72BlckButy]

I'm in.... love this Blazer!

[bigguy69]

Im in
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[PHAT TONY]

Lookin to see how you "ruin" it.....

[floyd]

Shortest build thread ever!!

Now that you have a nice finished 4wd...go find one of those down south k5s that are rusted from the bottom up about 12"......replace it all ,and convert to 2wd!

[raull]

I'm in , whether you go low or high !!!!!! I'm Leaning more towards 4x4 though ,
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[sourkraut]

Very nice! Just my two cents keep it 4x4, you have a killer 2wd so that way you have the best of both worlds if needed.

[fastcam1]

Originally Posted by lolife99

I'm in for the conversion!

X2
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[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by bigguy69

Im in
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Welcome

Originally Posted by PHAT TONY

Lookin to see how you "ruin" it.....

Some would say doing anything at all is ruining the originality...

Originally Posted by floyd

Shortest build thread ever!!

Now that you have a nice finished 4wd...go find one of those down south k5s that are rusted from the bottom up about 12"......replace it all ,and convert to 2wd!

Now that's funny. I travelled a long way to avoid major rust repair

Originally Posted by raull

I'm in , whether you go low or high !!!!!! I'm Leaning more towards 4x4 though ,
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Yeah, it's growing on me

Originally Posted by sourkraut

Very nice! Just my two cents keep it 4x4, you have a killer 2wd so that way you have the best of both worlds if needed.

Well, my killer 2wd is in Canada, so I gotta figure out what I wanna do with this one

Originally Posted by fastcam1

X2
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Hm, I've already done a trailing arm swap on a 4wd frame- maybe I'll convert a LWB for Blazer use...
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[gringoloco]

So, after replacing the alt and batt, I was back charging again. Only now instead of 10.5v, I was seeing 15.5! I found a nice solid-state piece, a Wells VR715, that mimics the style of the original, but uses a circuit board instead of mechanical points--functions more like a modern alternator/regulator by shunting to ground instead of cycling on/off constantly.

Check out this piece of history I removed from the Blazer. Ah, the good old days when Sears was a trusted manufacturer of seemingly everything, instead of just another retailer...








Made in Korea, but looks right at home on the core support. Would this be considered 'ruining' it? Check out those chalk marks!


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