Mr S
Posted a lot
10-4 Good buddy.
Posts: 2,654
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Jun 12, 2013 20:09:57 GMT
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As I've owned this truck for a few years, I figured it was probably about time I got round to starting a build thread for it... It all started as I was browsing ebay (how many have said that!?), just seeing what was localish with a big V8 and this appeared. Now, I've always wanted a K5 Blazer since I was a kid, and this turned up literally 5 miles down the road at a price I couldn't resist. I went down to see it one lunchtime with 2002Gimp and it looked good. The bloke started it up, and told me to take it up and down the road, the very second I touched the throttle we both knew I'd be buying it. A deposit was left, he MOT'd it for me and a week or two later, I drove it home! Now, the seller said it was a 5.7, but it turned out to be a 6.6 (400 cubic inches). Bonus, more cubes means more torque! He also knocked me a bit of money off as he was sure it was empty as the fuel gauge was faulty. He was half right, the fuel gauge was faulty, but it was almost full of fuel, that was worth around £100 alone! This was as I picked it up: First thing I did was to remove the sidesteps, and take the roof off. Well, it was a sunny day, so it would have been rude not to! Orsumz. I then drove it around for a while, then I have the bright idea of taking it off-roading. In this case at Sibbertoft, Leicestershire. As you can see, it didn't quite fit down the 'landrover' sized tracks that had been carved out, causing this slightly irksome state of affairs. Thankfully the only damage was a bit of a dent on the wing, the stainless a-bar took the brunt of the impact! Undeterred, I carried on playing and had a great day, I just chose my tracks a little more carefully....!
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Suzuki GSXR1000 K2 BMW R1150GS BMW K1200RS Chevy K5 Blazer Chevy Suburban LT Jaguar XKR
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Mr S
Posted a lot
10-4 Good buddy.
Posts: 2,654
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Jun 12, 2013 20:16:59 GMT
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I carried on driving it around, pretty much until the MOT ran out. Highlights were taking the bricks from my dismantled garage to my neighbours field so she could make some hardstanding for her horses. The first load weighed around 1400Kg (conservative estimate...). Given that it's only a half-ton rated thing, it didn't like that too much. After that, we only loaded about 800Kg at a time into it! It towed a Panda back from somewhere (I forget where) on a dolly that I made. Then some joker in a 3 litre V6 Omega looked like he wanted to race away from some lights, so I duly obliged and thoroughly embarrassed him up to the 40 mph limit. I like torques. I then focussed all my attention on building my garage (see the link in my sig). Hello, cheeky nose Overlooking the progress... Snowy Hmm, a sign of things to come? 37" of tyre? Surely not!
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Suzuki GSXR1000 K2 BMW R1150GS BMW K1200RS Chevy K5 Blazer Chevy Suburban LT Jaguar XKR
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Mr S
Posted a lot
10-4 Good buddy.
Posts: 2,654
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Jun 12, 2013 20:27:48 GMT
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Then, at some point in time, I noticed a '74 Blazer (the only other 73-75 full convertible I've seen in the country...) on eBay, it was lifted 6 inches and looked badass. However, it was miles away, I had no way of retrieving it and didn't have any spare cash, so I ignored it. Kept a picture though: Fast forward a couple of months and I see a bunch of parts listed on ebay (basically this guy had bought the above truck and it turned out to have a rotten chassis!), axles, gearbox, springs, doors and all sorts. I asked him how much for the doors and bonnet as mine are a bit crusty, and he offered me the lot, again for a price I couldn't refuse. They even delivered it for a further £50. The total parts haul was a pair of doors, a bonnet, a tailgate, full length hard top, pair of axles, TH350 gearbox and transfer case, various other panels (scuttle, grill etc.), and most importantly, a nearly new 6" Skyjacker lift kit, complete! I then sold the axles and gearbox for what the whole lot cost me, including the delivery. Happy days, essentially free stuff Here's the bits, filling my other garage (technically it's my sisters garage now, but she didn't drive at the time...!) So, fast forward a couple of years to... ooohhh a couple of weeks ago. I had some work to do on my GSXR, which following a top end and gearbox rebuild, required me to drop the gearbox again due to me putting a selector fork on slightly wrong. Sod dropping the engine, I'll just turn the bike over Then, with that out of the way, my Alfa (amazingly) running without a problem, I decided it was time to start on the Blazer.
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Last Edit: Jun 12, 2013 21:27:18 GMT by Mr S
Suzuki GSXR1000 K2 BMW R1150GS BMW K1200RS Chevy K5 Blazer Chevy Suburban LT Jaguar XKR
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Mr S
Posted a lot
10-4 Good buddy.
Posts: 2,654
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Jun 12, 2013 20:44:51 GMT
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So, jack the truck up, massive axle stands under the chassis to hold it up, attempt to undo the u-bolts holding the springs to the axles. Not a bl**dy chance! So, more axles stands under the axle (they weren't actually tall enough, but a bit of wood made up the difference) and cut the U-bolts. BANG as they let go, thankfully they just sounded dramatic, no injuries or axles bouncing on the floor. Bonus! Shocks off next. Seized. Grinder again. Undo the leaf spring bolts next. Nuts come off with a large portion of brute force, but the bolts were completely seized in the metal bushing spacers. Bother. Out with the grinder again, cut through the nuts and off with the springs. 'Damn they are heavy' I thought as I almost gave myself a hernia trying to arrest it's fall. Huzzah, it's off now. Then round to the other side, cut the u-bolts, cut the shock bolt, cut 3/4 of the way through the leaf spring eye bolts. Then I get the obligatory breaker bar on the nut, ready to apply liberal force and.... it just undoes, nice as pie, not seized at all. Splendid! Shame I had to cut a bolt, but meh! Anyway, there's a distinct lack of photos of this stage as I didn't take any. It's not very exciting anyway. To cut it short, old springs off, new springs on and SHAZAM, we have a truck that is somewhat large in the posterior. Now, I'm 6'2" and the top of the tailgate is just over my shoulder height... I think I'll call that a result! The front end of the chassis is now up on axle stands, ready for the same treatment. More photos at this end I hope! The list of jobs left to do in order to get the truck ready for RRG 2013 is - Replace the front springs and fit the dropped pitman arm that I have - New shocks all round (already have them) - Repair rear arches with panels I managed to get from UK ebay last week - Replace slightly crispy sills with box-section - Remove pickup bed and repair rust underneath it - MOT/Tax/Insure the monster - Pour fuel down it's throat to try and quench its insatiable thirst! Simples, 60 days to go, sure that's enough time?!
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Suzuki GSXR1000 K2 BMW R1150GS BMW K1200RS Chevy K5 Blazer Chevy Suburban LT Jaguar XKR
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Mr S
Posted a lot
10-4 Good buddy.
Posts: 2,654
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Jun 12, 2013 20:45:46 GMT
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Oh, the tyres are 35x15x12.5 if anyone is interested. They are about the biggest I can realistically go without regearing the axles and I can't afford to do that right now...
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Suzuki GSXR1000 K2 BMW R1150GS BMW K1200RS Chevy K5 Blazer Chevy Suburban LT Jaguar XKR
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Jun 12, 2013 22:05:09 GMT
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Mega epic truck dude! Many likes for this swamp donkey. Bookmarked :-D
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1976 Triumph TR7 v8 2003 Mg zr 105 daily driver
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Davenger
Club Retro Rides Member
It's only metal
Posts: 7,272
Club RR Member Number: 140
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1975 Chevrolet BlazerDavenger
@dminifreak
Club Retro Rides Member 140
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Jun 12, 2013 22:10:27 GMT
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Sir, your truck is epic! Truefact
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LowStandards
Club Retro Rides Member
Bigging Up The Sum Sum Man Since '99
Posts: 2,647
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Jun 12, 2013 22:23:05 GMT
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Two things
The first, you appear to have used both the words huzzah and dare I say it, a capitalised SHAZAM in this thread
The second, you have pics on internetz of us in shirts and slacks, no longer can we pretend we don't work in a curse word office.
I'm adding a third, I really hurt my head as it almost bullseyed the windscreen during that little offroad misdemeanor, not to mention the shock of finding the driver escaping sharpish leaving me to clamber out as it slowly sank
Feck it, heres a fourth, its all types of awsome
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cort1977
Kinda New
1970 Mk 2 Cortina Estate (in UK) 1973 Pontiac Grand Ville 1993 BMW 325iS (Daily)
Posts: 9
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Jun 12, 2013 22:40:52 GMT
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"I like torques"
Me too bud. Love the truck, can only agree with what others have said - Epic.
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Jun 13, 2013 10:39:26 GMT
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charles grodin says youre the worst bounty hunter hes ever seen
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2001 HONDA CT110 (NOT RCV)
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Mr S
Posted a lot
10-4 Good buddy.
Posts: 2,654
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Jun 13, 2013 12:28:23 GMT
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Thanks chaps, it's been a long time coming! As I've finally got some time to myself I figured it'd be the best chance I got to actually do some stuff to it.
Tonight will hopefully end with the front springs on, and a 'full height all round' shot. I expect the bodywork at the rear to be a bit lower than it is now, purely because of the current hot-rod stance...
And hairnet, I'm afraid that reference is lost on me, sorry!! lol
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Suzuki GSXR1000 K2 BMW R1150GS BMW K1200RS Chevy K5 Blazer Chevy Suburban LT Jaguar XKR
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Jun 13, 2013 12:47:08 GMT
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2001 HONDA CT110 (NOT RCV)
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Mr S
Posted a lot
10-4 Good buddy.
Posts: 2,654
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Jun 13, 2013 12:53:36 GMT
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Makes sense now! lol Cheers
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Suzuki GSXR1000 K2 BMW R1150GS BMW K1200RS Chevy K5 Blazer Chevy Suburban LT Jaguar XKR
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Jun 13, 2013 16:37:27 GMT
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love it ! I used to go offroading in landies, if they got stuck another landy would recover it, if it go reeeeally stuck out came the blazer V8 MOOOTOR, massive ground clearance, unstoppable p.s I remember midnight run. this is jack walsh !
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Last Edit: Jun 13, 2013 16:38:31 GMT by darrenh
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Jun 13, 2013 21:28:48 GMT
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That's an absolute beast , looking forward to seeing the progress
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72 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400. 95 BMW E34 525i Manual. 80 Lotus Elite, sold 86 Mk4 Escort RWD V8, sold
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Mr S
Posted a lot
10-4 Good buddy.
Posts: 2,654
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Jun 13, 2013 22:07:18 GMT
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Another productive evening was had tonight! I naturally expected the worst with the front spring and shock bolts, so imagine my delight and surprise when only one was seized and needed to be cut off! It even had the decency to be the easiest one to get at with the grinder, how often does that happen? Even the u-bolt nuts came off, made my life much easier, that's fo shizzle. Here's the old springs. They aren't much fun now, are they? Apparently they are that flat when new, it's just how they were made! A lot of sweating, grunting and manhandling (not handling men you understand) resulted in the arb being tied up out of the way temporarily and the new springs being offered up into place. Everything (and I do mean EVERYTHING) on this truck weighs about as much as your average semi-detached house, so it's a bit of a struggle at times! Look, shiny new bushes! One of the bush sleeves was a little bit long, so some filing and more grunting, sweating, manhandling etc. later, we have both springs in place, bolts in (but not tightened). At this point, I was pretty tired, so rather than do the sensible thing and go to bed (I'm in work at 7am tomorrow...), I decided that there was no way I wasn't getting it all together and the front wheels on So, u-bolts and axle on thusly: Then we have possibly the most nerve-wracking jacking up I've ever done. 2 and a half tons of Yank 4x4 teetering on a high-lift Halfords trolley jack had the sphincter muscles clenched. In hindsight I'd have been better using 2 bottle jacks under the axle and lifting them equally. But I didn't, and I didn't die so all was ok in the end. I'll definitely be using a pair of jacks next time though... Wheels on (15x10 modular steels, effing heavy with the 35" tyres on!), jacks off and there you have it! Self portrait (to give an idea of scale): And a couple of others: To actually bolt the front axle up, I had to remove the front prop, so I'm hoping it will go back on now that it's resting on it's wheels again. Failing that, I'll have to extend it which is a job I could do without, but hey, if I have to then I have to! I also had to remove the front ARB, I'll almost certainly think of a way to put that back on. Must remove the old shocks and put the new ones on too.... Incidentally, here's an old VS new shock-length photo! That's all for now folks...!
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Suzuki GSXR1000 K2 BMW R1150GS BMW K1200RS Chevy K5 Blazer Chevy Suburban LT Jaguar XKR
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stwat
Part of things
Posts: 546
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Jun 13, 2013 22:12:53 GMT
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Bout time too Sir Tis nice to see the old rangie in the background of a few pics Oh how I miss that beasty.
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1992 190E 1.8 manual
1989 300SE Low mileage LuxoBarge
1988 190e 2.6. 1988 190 2.3-16 Cosworth
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luckygti
Posted a lot
I need to try harder!
Posts: 4,912
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Jun 13, 2013 23:43:03 GMT
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Epic. Lot of love for the Blazer. And V8's
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excellent...but which of you is billy-bob and which is bubba (yawl) must be nice to have a V8 rhumble from under the bonn......sorry hood
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Mr S
Posted a lot
10-4 Good buddy.
Posts: 2,654
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Jun 17, 2013 20:58:41 GMT
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Howdy! Had a quick couple of hours in the garage tonight and figured I ought to strip down the rear bed to see how bad the rust was under there. First I tried to figure out how to remove the (seemingly hardwood!) wooden pickup bed bottom. Couldn't see any way of doing that, so I just sort of tugged at it and it seems that it was just sat in there. It was bl**dy heavy, I know that much. Then I removed the side chequerplate panels to reveal the (already known about) rotten wood panels. Amazingly, the passenger side (offside in this country lol) wasn't rotten but the drivers side was completely goosed. Simple enough to replicate though, and will probably be covered with some sort of carpet when I put them back rather then the chequer plate, if I'm putting the full length roof on (which I intend to...). To get the wood bits off, I had to remove the stainless capping from the top of the sides. To remove that, the roof had to come off - that also involved removing the rear of the cab (which is removed when the roof comes off anyway, so no drama). Roof coming off - it's naturally a power roof. Sadly you have to provide the power yourself I'd forgotten just how cool this thing looks with the roof off. Oh look, a 'helper'! Amazingly, there is a lot less rust (on top of the bed at least!) than I feared. Just a few bits round the edges. Yes. It's easier to get in the back with ladders.... I'm still torn between keeping it as a pickup and putting the full length top on. I suppose I don't technically need to decide, I can knock up a better rear-of-cab-piece for pickup duties and just switch and choose depending on my mood Y'all take care now, y'hear!
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Suzuki GSXR1000 K2 BMW R1150GS BMW K1200RS Chevy K5 Blazer Chevy Suburban LT Jaguar XKR
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