My 78' 2wdk5 progress - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**mm1077** · 08-05-2013, 12:03 AM

Purchased my 1978 2wd k5 in August 2012 from the original owner with all of the original records since new. It's ran pretty good since then, but when pulling our camp trailer this June it almost left me stranded so I decided to make some upgrades! Future plans are to lower (I have 3" spindles and 4" drop leafs already) and do a full top conversion (have the window frame already). I'll try and keep this thread updated with pics as I make progress!
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**mm1077** · 08-05-2013, 12:09 AM

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**mm1077** · 08-05-2013, 12:12 AM

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**mm1077** · 08-05-2013, 12:22 AM

Here's what I've finished up over about the last 6 weeks

Edelbrock 1406 carb
Edelbrock performer manifold
Edelbrock e-street aluminum heads
Comp cams 262/270 cam / lifter kit
Comp cams pushrods
Comp cams 1.5 roller rockers
Edelbrock performer fuel pump / line kit
Hedman long tube headers
Summit racing street and strip mufflers (but I'm replacing w magnaflow 18" case mufflers this week and getting the exhaust routed over the rear axle)
New alternator
Aluminum finned valve covers/air cleaner
Vintage sun tach

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**mm1077** · 08-05-2013, 12:29 AM

Got my tach installed today...

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**mm1077** · 08-05-2013, 12:47 AM

Put in some low back buckets I found on Craigslist a couple months ago

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Jabes1 · 08-05-2013, 11:59 AM

Looks good, nice work! The vintage trailer looks cool behind the K5... We plan on pulling ours with my truck too.

**mm1077** · 08-07-2013, 01:24 AM

Had the day off today(well most of it anyways) and took the blazer down to get the exhaust finished up.

Before:
(And finding that x-member off a 74 gmc I think was the highlight of this whole thing so far lol)

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**mm1077** · 08-07-2013, 01:30 AM

After:
Sounds great and runs better too.

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Jabes1 · 08-07-2013, 02:02 AM

Very clean! One day one of these or a Crew Cab will be the family vacay hauler.

rusty76 · 08-07-2013, 04:37 PM

Awesome blazer.

**mm1077** · 08-08-2013, 08:35 PM

Well got the engine bay detailed pretty well today by masking/painting for about 3hrs. I think the jack and hardware looks pretty good now that it's cleaned up so m gonna leave it.
One of those AC delete covers definitely needs to be in my future, that giant box on the firewall is wearing me out.

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motornut · 08-09-2013, 04:08 PM

gotta love duals eh,truck looks great

**mm1077** · 08-13-2013, 12:11 AM

Got some more work done on the blazer over the last couple days. Western chassis 4" drop leafs are on. I didn't find any hits on searching for pics of the drop leafs on a blazer so I'll be sure to post up some once I get everything torqued down and get it out in the daylight. I think it looks good so far but I'm gonna have to remove the bump stops for clearance.
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**mm1077** · 08-13-2013, 12:17 AM

Western chassis leafs next to the stockers...stock was 5 leafs and some kind of spacer mount plate between the perch and the springs. WC are 3 leafs. I removed the mount plate and put the leafs straight on the perch...hope that's right this is my first time doing this : )

New u-bolts from right way spring in Tacoma. They made them up in about 10 min.

The second side went way faster than the first after I figured out what I was doing

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**mm1077** · 08-13-2013, 12:27 AM

Measured the driver side before @ 30.5"

After was 27.5"

Best pic I could get in the garage. I'm thinking that if I put some air shocks on I should still be able to pull my trailer ok. I'm prob less than an inch off the bumps stops right now, but it looks perfect IMO

Jonboy · 08-13-2013, 09:11 AM

You can always trim the bump stops as well. Looks good.

**mm1077** · 08-15-2013, 12:03 AM

So I got everything tightened down and got it out of the garage in the light today. I removed the bump stops and I've got maybe a little more than 2" of clearance between the axle and the bump stop mount. I was a little concerned at first, but when I had my wife get in the back nothing even moved. There's hardly any arch to the springs but I'm assuming that's how they're supposed to be; western chassis has a pretty good reputation online for making quality parts anyway.
Now I need to find out what air shocks will work...and start on the front tomorrow.

**mm1077** · 08-16-2013, 09:54 PM

Dropped the front today using some 3" spindles that I got from a friend for 100 bucks and cut off 1.25 coils. I'm not sure if the front needs to go down a little more but I think I'll wait and see how the springs settle in.

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**mm1077** · 08-16-2013, 10:03 PM

Couple more pics....2nd pic also shows the grill/emblem that I found and cleaned up a few months ago...

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mooseknuckles · 08-16-2013, 10:13 PM

sweet!

Pro Performance · 08-17-2013, 11:20 AM

That is one very clean blazer.... Looks good!
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hopped up · 08-17-2013, 11:30 AM

I think the height is right on! Nice blazer!!
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ksbrktracer · 08-17-2013, 01:11 PM

I was wondering ..... What size tires do you have on it now.....? 15X8 Rally's all the way around ......? I have a gray version of yours and I am trying to decide what to do to it .....!

Very Clean looking .... Drop looks just about right on too. Definitely need to let it settle before you cut anymore though ...!

**mm1077** · 08-17-2013, 01:30 PM

It has the stock 15x7 rallys on all fours. I'll check the tire size and post it up. I need to change out the tires and am trying to decide between keeping the rallys (and what tire sizes) or to go with a 20" back and 18" front of something else. The 15x7s fit with the 3" spindles but with probably only about a 1/4" (maybe a little more) clearance between the wheel and the cont arm.

08-05-2013, 12:03 AM	#1
mm1077 Active Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ooltewah, TN Posts: 166	My 78' 2wdk5 progress Purchased my 1978 2wd k5 in August 2012 from the original owner with all of the original records since new. It's ran pretty good since then, but when pulling our camp trailer this June it almost left me stranded so I decided to make some upgrades! Future plans are to lower (I have 3" spindles and 4" drop leafs already) and do a full top conversion (have the window frame already). I'll try and keep this thread updated with pics as I make progress! Posted via Mobile Device

08-05-2013, 12:09 AM	#2
mm1077 Active Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ooltewah, TN Posts: 166	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress Posted via Mobile Device Posted via Mobile Device Posted via Mobile Device

08-05-2013, 12:12 AM	#3
mm1077 Active Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ooltewah, TN Posts: 166	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress Posted via Mobile Device Posted via Mobile Device

08-05-2013, 12:22 AM	#4
mm1077 Active Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ooltewah, TN Posts: 166	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress Here's what I've finished up over about the last 6 weeks Edelbrock 1406 carb Edelbrock performer manifold Edelbrock e-street aluminum heads Comp cams 262/270 cam / lifter kit Comp cams pushrods Comp cams 1.5 roller rockers Edelbrock performer fuel pump / line kit Hedman long tube headers Summit racing street and strip mufflers (but I'm replacing w magnaflow 18" case mufflers this week and getting the exhaust routed over the rear axle) New alternator Aluminum finned valve covers/air cleaner Vintage sun tach Posted via Mobile Device Last edited by mm1077; 08-05-2013 at 12:36 AM.

08-05-2013, 12:29 AM	#5
mm1077 Active Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ooltewah, TN Posts: 166	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress Got my tach installed today... Posted via Mobile Device

08-05-2013, 12:47 AM	#6
mm1077 Active Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ooltewah, TN Posts: 166	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress Put in some low back buckets I found on Craigslist a couple months ago Posted via Mobile Device

08-05-2013, 11:59 AM	#7
Jabes1 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Apple Valley, CA Posts: 275	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress Looks good, nice work! The vintage trailer looks cool behind the K5... We plan on pulling ours with my truck too.

08-07-2013, 01:24 AM	#8
mm1077 Active Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ooltewah, TN Posts: 166	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress Had the day off today(well most of it anyways) and took the blazer down to get the exhaust finished up. Before: (And finding that x-member off a 74 gmc I think was the highlight of this whole thing so far lol) Posted via Mobile Device Posted via Mobile Device

08-07-2013, 01:30 AM	#9
mm1077 Active Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ooltewah, TN Posts: 166	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress After: Sounds great and runs better too. Posted via Mobile Device

08-07-2013, 02:02 AM	#10
Jabes1 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Apple Valley, CA Posts: 275	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress Very clean! One day one of these or a Crew Cab will be the family vacay hauler.

08-07-2013, 04:37 PM	#11
rusty76 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Midway, NC Posts: 3,275	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress Awesome blazer. __________________ http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=581873 The low buck build threads. Check'em out! http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=666022 My build thread Crossmembers CC

08-08-2013, 08:35 PM	#12
mm1077 Active Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ooltewah, TN Posts: 166	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress Well got the engine bay detailed pretty well today by masking/painting for about 3hrs. I think the jack and hardware looks pretty good now that it's cleaned up so m gonna leave it. One of those AC delete covers definitely needs to be in my future, that giant box on the firewall is wearing me out. Posted via Mobile Device

08-09-2013, 04:08 PM	#13
motornut 78K & 79C Jimmys Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ottawa Ont CANADA Posts: 7,901	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress gotta love duals eh,truck looks great __________________ John 1978 GMCJimmy4X4-350/203 1979 GMCJimmy4X2-305/350

08-13-2013, 12:11 AM	#14
mm1077 Active Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ooltewah, TN Posts: 166	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress Got some more work done on the blazer over the last couple days. Western chassis 4" drop leafs are on. I didn't find any hits on searching for pics of the drop leafs on a blazer so I'll be sure to post up some once I get everything torqued down and get it out in the daylight. I think it looks good so far but I'm gonna have to remove the bump stops for clearance. Posted via Mobile Device

08-13-2013, 12:17 AM	#15
mm1077 Active Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ooltewah, TN Posts: 166	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress Western chassis leafs next to the stockers...stock was 5 leafs and some kind of spacer mount plate between the perch and the springs. WC are 3 leafs. I removed the mount plate and put the leafs straight on the perch...hope that's right this is my first time doing this : ) New u-bolts from right way spring in Tacoma. They made them up in about 10 min. The second side went way faster than the first after I figured out what I was doing Posted via Mobile Device Last edited by mm1077; 08-13-2013 at 12:38 AM.



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08-13-2013, 12:27 AM	#16
mm1077 Active Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ooltewah, TN Posts: 166	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress Measured the driver side before @ 30.5" After was 27.5" Best pic I could get in the garage. I'm thinking that if I put some air shocks on I should still be able to pull my trailer ok. I'm prob less than an inch off the bumps stops right now, but it looks perfect IMO

08-13-2013, 09:11 AM	#17
Jonboy Slots go on anything! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 5,957	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress You can always trim the bump stops as well. Looks good. __________________ 1974 Jimmy- 5.3/4L80e/NP241

08-15-2013, 12:03 AM	#18
mm1077 Active Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ooltewah, TN Posts: 166	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress So I got everything tightened down and got it out of the garage in the light today. I removed the bump stops and I've got maybe a little more than 2" of clearance between the axle and the bump stop mount. I was a little concerned at first, but when I had my wife get in the back nothing even moved. There's hardly any arch to the springs but I'm assuming that's how they're supposed to be; western chassis has a pretty good reputation online for making quality parts anyway. Now I need to find out what air shocks will work...and start on the front tomorrow.

08-16-2013, 09:54 PM	#19
mm1077 Active Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ooltewah, TN Posts: 166	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress Dropped the front today using some 3" spindles that I got from a friend for 100 bucks and cut off 1.25 coils. I'm not sure if the front needs to go down a little more but I think I'll wait and see how the springs settle in. Posted via Mobile Device Posted via Mobile Device

08-16-2013, 10:03 PM	#20
mm1077 Active Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ooltewah, TN Posts: 166	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress Couple more pics....2nd pic also shows the grill/emblem that I found and cleaned up a few months ago... Posted via Mobile Device Posted via Mobile Device

08-16-2013, 10:13 PM	#21
mooseknuckles Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: ottawa,canada Posts: 4,550	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress sweet! __________________ my build threads '86 C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=415628 '67 C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=635078 '63 GMC http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=674682

08-17-2013, 11:20 AM	#22
Pro Performance Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: AZ Posts: 3,069	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress That is one very clean blazer.... Looks good! Posted via Mobile Device

08-17-2013, 11:30 AM	#23
hopped up Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: los angeles,ca Posts: 3,617	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress I think the height is right on! Nice blazer!! Posted via Mobile Device

08-17-2013, 01:11 PM	#24
ksbrktracer TNT-MOTORSPORTS Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: TULSA OKLAHOMA Posts: 2,692	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress I was wondering ..... What size tires do you have on it now.....? 15X8 Rally's all the way around ......? I have a gray version of yours and I am trying to decide what to do to it .....! Very Clean looking .... Drop looks just about right on too. Definitely need to let it settle before you cut anymore though ...!

08-17-2013, 01:30 PM	#25
mm1077 Active Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ooltewah, TN Posts: 166	Re: My 78' 2wdk5 progress It has the stock 15x7 rallys on all fours. I'll check the tire size and post it up. I need to change out the tires and am trying to decide between keeping the rallys (and what tire sizes) or to go with a 20" back and 18" front of something else. The 15x7s fit with the 3" spindles but with probably only about a 1/4" (maybe a little more) clearance between the wheel and the cont arm.

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