How To: Ruin a Perfectly Good K/5

[gringoloco]

Hello, everyone! OTS went well- ended up a distinguished graduate (top 10%) Made it over to the UK and picked up a BMW to tool around in. It's nice, but lacks the soul of a good, old Chevy truck. Also scored a converted flat in an 14th century castle, so we're living pretty well I'm back here for a few months getting some training, then will head back across the pond, where we JUST got our furniture delivered.

Feels good to be back in the ol' girl and I've gotten plenty of compliments and a handful of offers to buy just in the last few days. No thanks, I think she's a keeper...

[darkhorse970]

It sounds like things are going well, I'm glad to hear it!

[gringoloco]

Did a little 'work' today in the AF base hotel parking lot (I think this is the second time I've done that with this truck). I pulled the Tuffy console that I sold here on the board and will replace it with an 'original'.

Funny thing, my classmates (10 years younger Lieutenants) pulled up as I had the truck part disassembled and asked: "Whatcha doin', installing a stereo system?". No, I'm removing this console to replace it with an original. They just looked at me funny and walked away.

[Tom Vogel]

Man, thats a pretty Blazer.

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Did a little 'work' today in the AF base hotel parking lot (I think this is the second time I've done that with this truck). I pulled the Tuffy console that I sold here on the board and will replace it with an 'original'.

Funny thing, my classmates (10 years younger Lieutenants) pulled up as I had the truck part disassembled and asked: "Whatcha doin', installing a stereo system?". No, I'm removing this console to replace it with an original. They just looked at me funny and walked away.

More pictures of the console install.
Congrats on the high finish-officer Gringo!

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by Tom Vogel

Man, thats a pretty Blazer.

Thanks! She's not without her issues, but I'm working on it.

Originally Posted by mcbassin

More pictures of the console install.
Congrats on the high finish-officer Gringo!

Thanks a lot More console pics to follow when the console arrives. I will do a quick (though I do tend to get carried away sometimes...) restoration/color-change before installation. I shipped the Tuffy to its new owner today, so I'm riding without and have no place to put drinks, sunglasses, or stereo head unit. I have another couple of Blazer projects working too, that I will update as they become photo worthy

[SCOTI]

Just caught up on this one. 1st off.... congrats on the career moves. 2nd, the Blazer is looking tight. I'm a drop 'em kind of guy but love a mild 4x4 that looks OE-ish.

Glad you kept them both (I was going to offer keeping the truck for you ).

[Tom Vogel]

Where is the new one coming from? Someone restoring it for you?

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Just caught up on this one. 1st off.... congrats on the career moves. 2nd, the Blazer is looking tight. I'm a drop 'em kind of guy but love a mild 4x4 that looks OE-ish.

Glad you kept them both (I was going to offer keeping the truck for you ).

Thanks, Scot. I would have let you keep it- heck, I'd even let you drive it

I'm pretty torn on this one, too. It is just SO clean and original in appearance, which is a big part of its appeal. If I came across an original 2wd frame (like the TWO that sold here while I was away!), I would consider a tub swap, but I'm hesitant to do a 'hack job' on it. On the other hand, if PB would produce a complete conversion kit, like they do for 73-87, weeeeeeeelllll, I might have to change my mind...

Originally Posted by Tom Vogel

Where is the new one coming from? Someone restoring it for you?

I purchased a nice, original cupholder style; should arrive next week, I hope. I will be performing the console resto myself, including tear-down, cleaning, color change to parchment, and reassembly with stainless hardware (and maybe a stereo inside). I will document the process here.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Thanks, Scot. I would have let you keep it- heck, I'd even let you drive it

I'm pretty torn on this one, too. It is just SO clean and original in appearance, which is a big part of its appeal. If I came across an original 2wd frame (like the TWO that sold here while I was away!), I would consider a tub swap, but I'm hesitant to do a 'hack job' on it. On the other hand, if PB would produce a complete conversion kit, like they do for 73-87, weeeeeeeelllll, I might have to change my mind...

I purchased a nice, original cupholder style; should arrive next week, I hope. I will be performing the console resto myself, including tear-down, cleaning, color change to parchment, and reassembly with stainless hardware (and maybe a stereo inside). I will document the process here.

Buddy..... You're like me/others around here that are rather anal. Nothing you do would be a hack job. But, when you have multiple trucks, they don't all have to be planted (so I'm told ).

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Buddy..... You're like me/others around here that are rather anal. Nothing you do would be a hack job. But, when you have multiple trucks, they don't all have to be planted (so I'm told ).

Man, I know, I'm really enjoying it as-is. ......but I can't shake the idea that it would look awesome tuckin' a set of white powder-coated 20" mobsteel/centerline smoothies with factory 3/4T dogdishes...

Nasty, dirty, filthy 5-minute photo-hack:

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Man, I know, I'm really enjoying it as-is. ......but I can't shake the idea that it would look awesome tuckin' a set of white powder-coated 20" mobsteel/centerline smoothies with factory 3/4T dogdishes...

Nasty, dirty, filthy 5-minute photo-hack:

Oh yes it would.....

[Rusbuilt]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Oh yes it would.....

x2!

[Slammed66]

Loooooooooove it.


I sold a conversion kit to a buddy here in town , he went mild front and rear.
It's not a bolt in kit, theres some fitting and it's welded in.
But was pretty slick,

I just finished a 68 Lwb on mobsteels.
Your idea for them and a 3/4 cap would be a home run.

( subliminal chant: Cut it up! Cut it up! Cut it up!)

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Oh yes it would.....

Originally Posted by Rusbuilt

x2!

Originally Posted by Slammed66

Loooooooooove it.


I sold a conversion kit to a buddy here in town , he went mild front and rear.
It's not a bolt in kit, theres some fitting and it's welded in.
But was pretty slick,

I just finished a 68 Lwb on mobsteels.
Your idea for them and a 3/4 cap would be a home run.

( subliminal chant: Cut it up! Cut it up! Cut it up!)

Don't tempt me! I could fall on either side of this fence

[Slammed66]

I've seen the work you did on the last blazer at Darren's.

Don't be mad, buuuut you know where we're gonna push you,

It won't hurt , that side of the fence is closer to the ground!!

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by Slammed66

I've seen the work you did on the last blazer at Darren's.

Don't be mad, buuuut you know where we're gonna push you,

It won't hurt , that side of the fence is closer to the ground!!

I honestly bought this truck as a planned conversion, but the ability to hop curbs is really growing on me We'll see what comes out of PB's shop...

Been doing a little work on restoring the console I nabbed off eBay. It actually went pretty smoothly. I disassembled, stripped with garden-variety paint stripper and acetone, then coated with SEM super white, which is supposed to be a good match for parchment.

[gringoloco]

Put it back together with stainless hardware and new bumpers after polishing the chrome with Mother's and 0000 steel wool. Also painted the bowtie blue using Testor's bright blue model paint. Looks pretty good sitting on the floor, but the SEM color is much cooler than the warmer, factory parchment. So, I will tear it apart again and the 'super white' will be an extremely expensive primer for the correct color that I'm having the local paint shop mix for me

[mcbassin]

Very nice work on the console. I have a black one that needs the same treatment. How long you here for? I'll send it right down.....bummer about the color mismatch. Been there done that on a hood and fender bc/cc it sucked

[gringoloco]

I'm around for another month or so, but I'm not sure I'm ready to tackle another console just yet. People look at you funny when you're disassembling your truck in the parking lot and spray painting in your hotel room I do have another couple of things I'd like to get done before I leave, though.

[classicchev]

Looks pretty good low there Chris....HMMMM What to do , what to do??

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by classicchev

Looks pretty good low there Chris....HMMMM What to do , what to do??

Oh, I'll find 'some' way to ruin it

Tore the console apart again to change the color. This is a MUCH better match than the SEM super white- should have just had them mix it in the first place- oh well...

Top is super white, lid is the custom mix:

[gringoloco]

While I had it apart, I decided to go ahead and mount the head unit inside. I tossed around the idea of putting it in the glove box, but saw a few members had used an under-dash kit in the console and liked the way it looked. Also puts the controls within arms reach. Pretty happy with how it turned out and was stupid easy to fit- almost like it was made for it...

[Slammed66]

Super clean install.. Love it!

[72BlckButy]

That's a great location for the headunit.

Awesome work!