Chevy blazer questions

jeepcj3a

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2006
Location
winston salem
Back again for more advice.
I have wanted a full size Chevy either truck for blazer for years, and with my last project sold, I am starting to look for one. My budget for the blazer itself is 1000, I know its not a lot.

First off I want something I can take the top off of, drive to work or URE and have fun, nothing extreme and then make the trip back home (no tow rig or trailer, and don't see either of those happening for awhile). Will be a slow build up over the years, I have made the mistake of buying Jeeps or a Toyota and trying to build it all at once and getting burned out...ect.
So right now I have 4 options. And would love any input/advice from yall. I have never been to URE or any offroad park, just wheeled on our farm.

Option 1 is to buy a '72 and a '73 as a package, '72 is a CST and runs, 350v8) but bad tranny, '73 has a good tranny. This is over my budget by a few hundred, but maybe I could sell off the extra parts of the '73 to recoup some money. But they would be a longer term project for me, not done by the end of the summer.

Option 2 is a running driving '83 blazer with a 305 v8 and factory AC that blows cold. It has new shocks, and exhaust but needs cat converters put on. Also will need new tires soon, but it was a daily driver. It is right at my 1000 price limit.

Option 3 is a '77 with rebuilt engine(not sure what all was done) and some sort of lift kit, looks around 4in. Rough paint. It is also right at 1000.

Option 4 is do nothing now, and wait till I get more money.

Which would yall rather have on the street/trail, a 350 v8 and no a/c or a 305 v8 and cold a/c. I would love to have both, but has been hard for me to find in my price range.
Am I crazy to think I could drive a fairly stock K5 on 31/33's an hour to URE, drive around just to get outdoors and have fun, then drive back? I will eventually upgrade, but it will be little by little as I can afford stuff.

Guess Ill stop my ramble here. Thanks yall.
(Last jeep cj7, 2.5 lift, 31's, full cage, and stock drivetrain, a blast to drive. Then toy truck, v6,th350,duals, 36's...got burned out and sold it before it was done.) Instead of trying to make something else like a full size chevy, might as well buy one.
 
I recently bought an '89 K5 and want to make a streetable trail rig out of it. The tranny took a :poop: on me and I have been debating of rebuilding the 700R4 or swapping in a SM465. My plans are to put a 4" lift on it and pull out the cutting discs and run 37's on it after I drop in a 14b and d44. If I were you I would go with option 1 b/c yeah, it might be a few hundred out of your price range but you would also have a parts truck and a new tranny (unless you want to gimme the transmission for free :bounce2:). Keep us posted on what you go with and the buildup.
-Mike
 
jeepcj3a said:
Option 1 is to buy a '72 and a '73 as a package, '72 is a CST and runs, 350v8) but bad tranny, '73 has a good tranny. This is over my budget by a few hundred, but maybe I could sell off the extra parts of the '73 to recoup some money. But they would be a longer term project for me, not done by the end of the summer.
Click to expand...
72 should have full removable top I think, not just back. D44 front and 12 bolt rear. Not a bad option, but see #4.

jeepcj3a said:
Option 2 is a running driving '83 blazer with a 305 v8 and factory AC that blows cold. It has new shocks, and exhaust but needs cat converters put on. Also will need new tires soon, but it was a daily driver. It is right at my 1000 price limit.
Click to expand...
Screw a 305 and 10 bolt axles. Probably a non-OD tranny too.

jeepcj3a said:
Option 3 is a '77 with rebuilt engine(not sure what all was done) and some sort of lift kit, looks around 4in. Rough paint. It is also right at 1000.
Click to expand...
D44 and 12 bolt again.

jeepcj3a said:
Option 4 is do nothing now, and wait till I get more money.
Click to expand...
If your going to drive this rig on the street a lot more than just to the URE, then I'd hold out for an 87 and up model. It will have a 350 with EFI. It will also have an OD tranny, and A/C. Yeh its got 10 bolt axles, but you can upgrade later.
 
Yeah, get a k5 blazer! I just got one and it is sweet! AC too!!
 
How about a Ford Bronco? Again, I'd look for a 90 or newer model with a 351 and OD tranny if you are going to be doing much street driving. If mostly trail duty and the road to URE, look for a 78-79. It will have the D44 solid front axle.
 
Well right now I have gotten it down to either the completely stock '83 which has no rust, a 305, auto and cold ac. Id get a set of 31 or 32 mtrs or all terrains and go. Or waiting for awhile and finding a '87 and up fuel injected blazer. I just dont have the time for a long term project right now.

I had a carb on my jeep and for what I did was great. Are the stock carbs on 305 known for dieing on off camber situations, or having problems? I know they wont be as good as efi.

Thanks
 
I'd say wait and save a few more dollars and get a nice shape, mildly built K5. Also just say no to 305s and who needs a/c when the top comes off.

Check us out over at www.wheelindixie.com, we're mainly fullsize chevy guys and most of us own or have owned a few K5s. There are lots of great trucks out there for sale right now with the gas prices scaring everyone.
 
Stay away from option 1....trust me on that...


Pm sent with details....
 
Just called the guy with the '83 to get more info. Turns out it has 124k miles, he is the second owner. First was an older lady, and he works at a body/paint shop. Tires are bald, has the 700r4, clean inside and out. Now just have to decide between a 305 or holding out for 350tpi, but this seems like a pretty solid place to start.
 
IMO i wouldn't base your decision for holding out on Fuel injection, maybe on the engine size but not the TBI, Holley truck avengers are so much easier to deal with and adjust to power mods than the TBI is, course I know the TBI like the back of my hand have done a bunch of em and have modded the crap outta the system i have on my truck but it was a PITA and expensive, I run Holley truck avengers on all my offroad junk, and Holley double pumpers on all the street stuff :driver:
 
Stay away from a 700r4 thats been sitting a while also.

If I were you I'd find one with TBI350/SM465/NP205, atleast 3/4ton axles geared around 4.10 to 4.88s and running 35" to 38" tires.
 
700R4s kinda bring the suck... have a spare one around if you plan on sticking with it. I'm on my 2nd one, and I'm not sure how long it will hold up. Luckily the 700R4s do have a 3.06:1 first gear, which can compensate for bringing the suck. Mine has the 350TBI/700R4/NP208, but is riding on 4.56 D60/14B which takes some of the stress off of the other driveline parts.
 
whatever I get will just be on the street for awhile until I get more money. But I hope to keep what I get for awhile so A/C and auto is what I want. He said he just drove the blazer to colorado and back.

I have a price in mind that I will pay for his, and right now he will take 1200 to buy it or he is taking the highest offer by july 1st. So we will see.

Thanks for all of the advice/input
 
1983 K5

Are you refering to the 1983 on Craigslist in Greensboro, near the coliseum?
DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME!!!!!!
I rode all the way from Concord yesterday to look at this 100% rust free, one owner truck. It is a complete POS. It has a rust hole on the fire wall you could honestly stick your fist in! When I showed it to the guy (White dude, lives in the hood, rotten teeth, METH?) he said " I swear I never seen that!" If you drove that thing around the block you would have felt the heat from the motor!! It was also bad rusty under the back seat.
I talked to him several times on the phone and he gave me his word it was rust free. I even had him crawl under it while I was on the phone! He told me the same story about one female owner, yada yada yada.
Again, I repeat, DO NOT waste your time.
Take care and I hope I saved you a trip.
BBB:beer:
 
BTW nothing wrong with 700s if they are bult right and cared for. they are as strong as a th350, and can be made as strong as a th400 (but not for free)
 
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