SoCal Newbie -- Back in the Saddle
 

Hello 1st Gen K5 Brethren (and Sisters),

I Didn't see anywhere for specific for Newbie's to introduce them selves... Life story to follow. Promise future posts won't be so long.

I'm back in the K5 saddle again after 10 long years. I bought my first K5, a Black '71, in 1982... dropped in a new 350, rebuilt the th350 and proceeded to break and rebuild pretty much everything under the truck at least once (with much help from a buddy).

Having FUN! Never mind the rust holes in the wheel wells, rockers, and full length scratches through the paint, revealing the original blue color. It's Beast... meant to be beaten!

Moved from Michigan to CA after HS Graduation with all my belongings packed in the back. After a few years I found a rust-free Green '72 with no motor, rear end or top. I combined the two into one solid truck (except for the hard top of course) Did this in 1990. It was like Yin and Yang the way the two trucks fit together. Everything bad on one was new or still good on the other. (I have a picture somewhere of the 71/72 yin-yang next to the corpse... I'll look for it)

Blew up the motor in 1992, 2 weeks before moving from NoCal to SoCal... had to sell it.

Regretted it ever since... until now. Spent the last year or so searching for a mostly restored 1st Gen that I could afford. Let a couple slip through my fingers, looked at many that were too much money and not very well restored, and finally found "The One".

This '72 has a rebuilt 350 with about 5000 miles on it, solid th350 trans and np205. The paint is nearly perfect. Interior fully restored. Nice rally wheels and 32" BFG's. New radiator and hoses. New rubber, visors, mouldings, you name it.

I have had it about a month now. I installed some Headman headers, had a local carb guru hook me up with a totally dialed in q-jet and realigned all the body so she is nice and straight.

Next is to decide what to do with the stock suspension. That is one of the reasons why I am here. Later... I'll be restoring the engine compartment (only thing left undone by the seller).

I am stoked that I found this forum. I'm looking forward to participating and hope to get lots of good advise.

http://www.schwagg.com/72k5/money.jpg

Welcome to the board. lots of great info and connections on here.
By the way nice ride. Have fun and be careful this board is addicting.
Rick

Thanks for the welcome Bucket-O... my next buy will be a 1st gen Camaro. Looks like you are way ahead of me in the game of "He who dies with the most toys wins"

Nice blazer!! Is your top smooth, or does it just look like it is in the pic?? I am doing my top smooth, but white instead of black. Glad to have you aboard!! Have fun with that blazer!!!

Dual Blazer Family... nice! All my wife says is "As long as you are happy now..."

No, my top is textured. It was sprayed using a spray-gun with black undercoat. Turned our very nice. I think smooth would look pretty nice too. Are you going to match the paint on the top and body?.
I Have more pic's. Is it appropriate for me to post more?

You can post as many pics as you would like to post. no rules on that, and we ALL love LOTS of pics!!! Most guys can't figure out how to post pics for at least a few days! You must be smart:cool: Also I am doing my top white and my blazer is the orig. dark blue. I should be getting my top back from the pointer this week sometime. I had a friend of my husbands hand sand the top smooth. The guy did an awesome job- he has his own boat building business so he is talented! Post more pics of your blazer. Interior too! I am trying to get ideas for my blue blazer for the interior!
Thanks-
Diane

OK... here goes
 

The interior is stock, except the front seat covers are not quite stock. BTW, I have an extra dash bezel and the original guages as well. Mine was upgraded to include the tachometer.

http://www.schwagg.com/72k5/dash1.jpg

Here is the other side showing the tach.

http://www.schwagg.com/72k5/dash2.jpg

Front seats dont have the original pattern

http://www.schwagg.com/72k5/frontseats.jpg

Front carpet and mats.

http://www.schwagg.com/72k5/frontfloor.jpg

Rear carpet. Custom panals with ABS plastic at the base that runs full length.

http://www.schwagg.com/72k5/rearcarpet.jpg

Exterior left

http://www.schwagg.com/72k5/ltprofile.jpg

Engine compartment... needs to be restored.

http://www.schwagg.com/72k5/engine1.jpg

Under front. Stock springs. I'm interested in what others are doing for lift. This truck will not see any hard core off road. But I would like a more agressive stance while maintaining somewhat of a decent rie on the street.

http://www.schwagg.com/72k5/under1.jpg

Underside rear. Has anyone tried the shackle flip?

http://www.schwagg.com/72k5/under2.jpg

Oops... guess I don't have a under rear shot. Here is the front.

http://www.schwagg.com/72k5/front.jpg

Wow its perty, nice picture quality too.

Welcome to the board from MN! Your starting point is my future finishing point! Congrats on the find - very nice!

Ya man,that's a pretty sweet truck!

Yeah... been there, done that with the built it - not bought it scenario. More trime driving... less time wrenching.

Wow that truck is cherry. have fun with it. I still regret selling my first blazer. I joined the Army and my parents talked me into buying a newer vehicle. I bought a f@rd and it sucked the life our of me and the money out of my pocket.

Very nice blazer. I just bought mine about 2wks ago but would have loved to found one like that.

as for a lift, never done the shackle way. this is my 2nd 1st gen and both have been done with rear blocks and new front leafs. Some have complained but it rides better then a lot of 4x4's i have had a ride in.

BTW nice rig:)

What a beauty! A lot has been done to it.

I'm a big fan of Tuff Country's lift. I did the shackle flip on my 69 from www.offroaddesign.com

Make sure all of your rear leafs are in good shape. Found I had a broken one while doing the lift.

I have a section on my website listed in my sig on installing my original lift.

Welcome and enjoy that Blazer!

That is a sweet Blazer. Wish mine was done. It'll get there though. Welcome to the board. You'll soon be spending as much time on here as you do on the truck. Could you post the paint code for your paint? Thats a nice blue. Thanks and welcome, Jeff.

Thanks... It's called Maui Blue. I'm pretty sure it's a chevy color. I'll try to get more info if I can and let you know.

http://www.schwagg.com/72k5/frontright.jpg