Difference between K5 and K10 Blazer

[JDSurge]

Hi Guys, I was at an advanced auto parts the other day and a mechanic told me some info about my K5 blazer, but is it true? He said that my 1972 full size blazer was not a K5, that the K5 was a smaller version like the small bronco. So is mine a K10 Blazer?
True or False?
Also he said a conversion kit was put on my blazer, that it used to be a standard shift. It did, but how did he know? There's no hole in the floorboard. He said he could tell by the lock out hubs on the front axle. What does that have to do with a standard shift?
I have had several Blazers in the past, 73, 75, and a 77 model. This was all news to me. Of course he was drunker than a skunk. :-) But he did say it was the straightest body he had ever seen on an older Blazer.
And the last thing, since I have owned several blazers, I find that this one is a little higher than the rest. I do have about a 1" taller tires but the distance from the ground to the tailgate (open) is about 3" Taller than the spec sheet I have. I don't have an kind of lift kit, no extra springs that I can tell. The drunk did say that the front springs were on top of the front axle and should have been on the bottom but I find that hard to believe.
JD

[mgkgmc]

I'm pretty sure there was never a K10 blazer 69-72 or ever lol. Surprised he didn't call it a Bronco.

[raggedjim]

All full-size blazers are K5 (even the 2wd's)

Lots of "experts" out there, but I would not lie to you...

Nice blazer, Rg

[JDSurge]

My other question was now high should the K5 Blazer be from the ground to the tailgate (open) My spec sheet says 29", mine is 33. Also the height of the top of the windshield should be 68 1/2", mine is about 72 1/2". Kind of looks like a 4" lift kit. Here are some pics of my springs. Do these pics look like standard to anyone?
Thanks, JD

[JDSurge]

Here are the other pics of the springs and hubs.

[hemi43]

Mine was higher than spec also even with worn out springs. Speaking of springs, your front ones look like they are shot too. They should be almost flat. It might be the camera angle , but yours look like they have a lot of upward arch to them.

[too much stuff]

Looks like extra springs so possibly a small lift in it.
You can mention to the guy from auto zone he is pretty much wrong on all he told you...

[praisegeetarman]

It has add-a-leafs in it. I recognize them. I have them in my blazer and it raised it about 2 1/2". My opinion is that they have a very good ride. Better than stock.

Keith

[Ski-me]

Originally Posted by praisegeetarman

It has add-a-leafs in it. I recognize them. I have them in my blazer and it raised it about 2 1/2". My opinion is that they have a very good ride. Better than stock.

Keith

Front looks like an add-a-leaf. Normally fronts come with 2 springs...almost flat. An optional third leaf with a HD snow plow option (or something like that).

But with a little gap on the lowest spring indicates non-factory add-a-leaf.

[cleszkie]

The later model S-10 Blazer was smaller that any of the earlier full sized K5 Blazer models.

The conversion kit he is mistakenly talking about is for the front lockout hubs. Your K5 Blazer came with manual hubs. This is not a conversion The later model 4x4 vehicles (like the S-10 Blazer) often came without manual hubs. They came with permanently engaged hubs, and four wheel drive was engaged with vacuum actuated mechanisms on the axles tubes.

[Sand Wrench]

As a drunk Kurdish guy in Istanbul once told me: “He who says doesn’t know; and he who knows doen’t say.”

[87Skier]

Well, those don't look lik the factory hubs, but those can be changed out in about 15 minutes.

I had a guy go on and on about how much he like my "K4" blazer, how he had a late 70's "K4" blazer, and so on. I didn't correct him, just let him say it about 10 times and left.

[Mike C]

Those are Warn premium hubs with the brass dial.

Too bad so many people are sharing their “expert”opinion with all the wrong answers....

[JDSurge]

Whow........ Lots of good answers guys, thanks a lot. The only lift kit that I knew of is the 2" or 4" block between the spings and axle. Since I'm getting ready to sell the blazer, I probably won't try to fix it. I do need to fix the rusted rocker panels though.
Thanks again.
JD

[truckster]

Oddly, my K5 Blazer is registered in Utah as a K10. The person at the DMV told me they're all that way, and I don't really care. But Chevy never made a K10 Blazer; they're all K5. And there was only one size of Blazer when yours was built, just like there was only one size of Bronco back then.

[Bigdav160]

Does anyone know any trivia why GM called it a K5 instead of K10 Blazer?

[low'n slow]

1/4 ton, not 1/2 ton

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Bigdav160

Does anyone know any trivia why GM called it a K5 instead of K10 Blazer?

Marketing.

You can put any badge you want on the side and it doesn't change the chassis content or the vehicle's capability.

Just like when the squarebody GMCs magically went from 100 series to 1500 series on the badging.

K

[JDSurge]

Speaking of stock springs, it looks like the front should be just 2 springs so I'll remove the bottom spring to get it back to stock. As for the rear, does anyone have any pics of a stock rear spring set up? Or how many springs should be in the rear? I looked at a spring site and they showed the 2 leafs in the front but the minimum springs they show in the rear are 5/1, which mine has so if I took out 1 of the lower springs, it should lower it about 2" maybe?
I would like to lower the whole thing about 2-3" if I can. Too old to jump up in it anymore.

[Ski-me]

Maybe take a few more pictures of the rear. It might be easy to see visually being an odd spring compared to the rest. I'm guessing it's the second to the bottom. If an add-a-leaf, it will have a decent amount of curve to it...moving all the other springs in that arc position.

Keep in mind that if they are original rear springs, they tend to sag a bit after years and years of time. So overall, you might get a rear squatting look if you pull one out. I don't like that rear squat look.

[hemi43]

Originally Posted by JDSurge

Speaking of stock springs, it looks like the front should be just 2 springs so I'll remove the bottom spring to get it back to stock.

Yeah, I wouldn't do that ! Just go and buy new front springs with a higher spring rate. You're going to open a can of worms if you remove any more springs from an already poor design. Your truck will bottom out, and you will get axle windup under heavy braking causing the truck to veer to one side. I just went through all this, and putting in new springs was the best thing I ever did to improve handling.

[franken]

I've never heard of a 4x4 Blazer referred to as anything other than a K5.

C=2wd
K=4wd
10=1000lb load capacity
20=1500lb
30=2000lb
5=no one really ever discussed it.
We could theorize that a short bed truck should/could/might be a 5 but pretty sure they all came as 10s. Were spring rates different? Who can say? Try looking at parts store spring replacements (if listed) and see if Blazer and K10 are the same.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by franken

Who can say?

I can.

They are the same.

Blazer is K10 pickup components with a shorter wheelbase.

It's Marketing math.

K