My 87 K5 Blazer project

[NCTyphoonKid]

Originally Posted by tallcrown

The Center Piece of the grill painted red looks great. It adds a lot to the Blazer. What did you mean you "Got your grill painted", Does that mean you took it to a body shop for that paint or you painted it? Just curious

Exhaust.... I always like the Deep sound of 2 1/2" to 3" pipes.

I painted the grill myself. How should I do the exhaust? With headers? I'm planning on doing 2 1/2" to 3" pipe but haven't decided on what mufflers I should go with.

[motornut]

looks better with the red in the grill
stainlees steel seem to be a good idea for headers
my 78s PO did 2.5 duals with manifolds

[68Timber]

For a stock engine, go with 2 1/4" duals. As for the mufflers, it just depends on how loud you want it. Dynomax Super Turbo mufflers have a deep throaty sound that sounds nice but isn't too much louder than stock. Magnaflows are straight-through and louder than the turbo mufflers but still have a deep performance sound. On the louder end is the 40 series Flowmasters. Pick your poison.

[DirtyLarry]

Originally Posted by NCTyphoonKid

I painted the grill myself. How should I do the exhaust? With headers? I'm planning on doing 2 1/2" to 3" pipe but haven't decided on what mufflers I should go with.

Oh, don’t do headers Korey. For what little HP you actually gain from headers they are not worth the hassles of dealing with the never ending exhaust leaks, burn wires, overheated starter motors or the cost to purchase them and install them. Stick with exhaust manifolds, dual pipes (don't for get to add an O2 bung) with some nice mufflers. I went with the Thrush Flowmaster knockoffs last time I did the exhaust behind my 8.1L and it sounds mellow at an idle or cruise but gets a set of lungs when you poke it in the neck. What I found really makes the exhaust sound nice is adding a crossover pipe. I swear the engine even revs up smoother during acceleration.

I would recommend no more than 2.5 pipe on a gas engine or you start to lose bottom end torque. My 8.1L breaths just fine through manifolds and 2.5 pipe. Even at the height of the muscle car era they were running dual 2.5 pipe with manifolds behind high HP shag nasty big blocks. Headers (and big 3" pipe) are overrated!

BTW….nice Blazer you have there!

[motornut]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

For a stock engine, go with 2 1/4" duals. As for the mufflers, it just depends on how loud you want it. Dynomax Super Turbo mufflers have a deep throaty sound that sounds nice but isn't too much louder than stock. Magnaflows are straight-through and louder than the turbo mufflers but still have a deep performance sound. On the louder end is the 40 series Flowmasters. Pick your poison.

i have some dynomaxes ,to me they sound better then my now cherry bombs

[NCTyphoonKid]

Heres what i'm planning on 2 1/4 or 2 1/2 pipe with more than likely magnaflow mufflers.

[68Timber]

If you have a cat, you really need a small one to get any sound. My daughter's 94 GMC had the factory single 3" exhaust still on the truck. She wanted some rumble so I got an 18" Magnaflow with 3" single in/dual 2.5"s out. I don't recall the case diameter but it is a very small muffler. But it was really mild with the cat, I was floored. It was so close to stock that most people wouldn't know it wasn't stock. You can look straight through them just like glass-packs but they are way more mellow. Choose carefully.

[NCTyphoonKid]

Went to the junkyard today. I got another radio and this one works I wanted to get the bumperettes for the front but some one took them so I had to get the carriage bolts instead.

[NCTyphoonKid]

[NCTyphoonKid]

new pics




Car show pics



saw a blue K5

and this

[NCTyphoonKid]

got some cool stuff at the junkyard today i got a pushbar and i got a factory exhaust for my truck i'll get some pics soon

[NCTyphoonKid]

[NCTyphoonKid]

Found a pic of the K5 the day I got it

This was from yesterday

[NCTyphoonKid]

should i keep the pushbar on? or should i take it off? hmm need opinions

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by NCTyphoonKid

should i keep the pushbar on? or should i take it off? hmm need opinions

Right? It's era correct but your truck is way pristine - it does the clean OEM look way better than any original mid 80's truck I've seen in a while. If you're thinking about it, you're probably feeling the same way to some degree. For a guy that was driving when these are new, it's very hard to believe, but those old school center brush guards are somewhat rare now. You shouldn't have any problem turning it for a buck if you decide to remove it.

[tobiahr]

Originally Posted by NCTyphoonKid

should i keep the pushbar on? or should i take it off? hmm need opinions

its not good for anything other than an attachment point for additional lighting and adding more chrome to polish. unless you really need the fog lights i say take it off. if you need extra protection on the front end save up and get a good aftermarket bumper with a heavy duty grill guard. i'm more of a function over form person when it comes to a 4wd vehicle though.

[motornut]

Wish mine was chrome I'd keep it
looks in good shape
why not keep it,mention it for sale if someone sees it parked and likes it

[NCTyphoonKid]

Took these this morning without the pushbar. I think it looks cleaner without it and my tow hooks arent covered by it either. Who likes my backglass? lol

[motornut]

it does look cleaner tho

[RandyP]

I liked the push guard, but I'm old. I'd at least put bumper guards on it, I like those also. And a hood emblem, I gotta have a hood emblem on a square.

[NCTyphoonKid]

Thats what I was wanting to get were the factory bumper guards but I saw the push bar and didnt find any bumper guards. That K5 looks like a twin lol got any more pics of it?

[d-666]

i liked the pushbar too,its old skool,and the chrome is clean, but it does look good without it i have one too but its black(was really rusted)

[NCTyphoonKid]

I'm glad I pulled the pushbar off it started scratching my bumper If it sells on cl I'm gonna be repainting my top and putting in all new top gaskets.

[NCTyphoonKid]

I like it alot better without the pushbar

[tallcrown]

I agree that "Push Bar" took away from your blazer.
I think you should win an award for the most pictures of the same red blazer and change your title to "Red Blazer Detail Job". Did I miss the part where you cleaned and detailed your tires? They are still the same tires you bought it with right?
But Hey you sure got a great deal on a Blazer that is in great shape and you cleaned it up very well. We are all jealous of a find like this. You saved it from someone who would not appreciate it. Ahhhh But if your Blazer could talk,It would say "Thanks for saving me from Kids with baby bottles and chewing gum on my seats".