K5 Blazers

It is actually amazing what the early TBI sbc's can get for fuel mileage...

The soft tops are so dang expensive...Ive actually got a line on a company that was interested in one time at making these and selling them for about half the price...just needed like 20 at a time...then I sold my last blazer and never pursued further...
 
A K5 too big for Uwharrie?!?! Nope! I wheel this whale there, a K5 fits more than fine! (before anybody calls me out on all my dents, they aren't from Uwharrie, the only dent from Uwharrie is one on my back bumper from when I was moving out of somebody's way and was dumb enough to hit a tree, LOL!) A full size is a bit of a challenge at times but, quite fun!
ai253.photobucket.com_albums_hh43_biglightblue87_photo_50_zpsbc8adf12.jpg


That being said, I miss the heck outta my old full size K5 Blazer!!! (mine was a Jimmy but, same thing!) It did GREAT at Uwharrie!!!:
ai253.photobucket.com_albums_hh43_biglightblue87_House_20and_234778f8128348136a93bb8242037e783.jpg


They are VERY easy to build up!!! Dana 60 front and K-20 14BFF rear will bolt right in (K-30 14 BFF (such as CUCV) will require moving the spring perches on the axle), parts interchangeability is CRAZY good! Mine had 350 TBI, SM465, 203/205 Doubler, CUCV axles. (simplified list, a LOT of goodies) A 3" lift and some fender trimming will have you running 37" tires easily! They make awesome trail rigs!!!

Issues:
Steering box area of the frame needs reinforcing!
10 bolt rearend is a ticking time bomb, lol!
Stock steering setup sucks so plan on crossover steering!
The prices on them are climbing! (a couple years ago when I sold mine I could barely give it away, now a mediocre one is as much as what I sold my built one for! Deals can be found still though, just gotta be patient and search for them!)
 
Last edited:
There a major pos and you would be a fool to even try it.:rolleyes:
 
Last edited:
06redwagon- I wish I'd have thought to say that- look, there's another Power Wagon wheeling at Uwharrie too!!! Something to the effect of- if these two fit, you know a K5 will!!! LOL!

BigClay: By 90s K-5, do you mean 90&91 or 92-99??? (arguably 92 onward isn't really a K-5 but, plenty of people still call the two doors K-5s anyway!) 90&91 are awesome!!! 92 onward gets the IFS frontend and fixed (non-removable) roof and of course is a more comfortable pavement cruiser with the newer interior. I've seen some impressive SAS'ed 92 onward ones but, were it me, I would stick to 73-91 for a wheeling rig. The only real improvements that 92 onward saw were:
4L60E behind the 350 TBI and 350 Vortec and a (rare) 5 speed manual overdrive (not as strong as the earlier SM465 4 speed though, I believe it was the New Venture NV3500 (also didn't have the SM465's awesome granny low!!!))
4l80E behind the 6.5L Turbo diesel (rare)

To make you feel a bit better about a 73-91 K5 as a prospect for a wheeling rig, consider this- it's not that much larger than your ZJ was:
Dimensions:
wheelbase: K5- 106.5" vs ZJ: 105.9"
overall length: K5- 184.8" vs ZJ: 177.1"
overall height: K5- 73.4" vs ZJ: 64.9"
overall width: K5- 79.6" vs ZJ: 70.7"

Having owned both and wheeled both at Uwharrie, I can say ZJs and K5s both do great out there!!!!
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the info.

What are the pros/cons of the CUCV (sorry I don't know the real ID number) K5 blazers? Do they all have 6.2 diesels?
 
BigClay said:
Thanks for the info.

What are the pros/cons of the CUCV (sorry I don't know the real ID number) K5 blazers? Do they all have 6.2 diesels?
Click to expand...

M1009

6.2 diesel and 10 bolt axles. :poop: No A/C too I think.

I still recommend an 87+ model.
 
Ahh, so the M1009s didn't come with 60s and 14Bs.
 
BigClay said:
Ahh, so the M1009s didn't come with 60s and 14Bs.
Click to expand...

M1009s are Blazers and just have 10 bolts.

M1008, M1010, M1028, and M1031 all are Dana 60 and 14BFF. All are regular cab 4x4 trucks. M1008 is a pickup, the others are sometimes too. IIRC, M1010 are ambulance bodies, M1028 are communications (and have trac-lock front diffs, IIRC), and M1031 are chassis cabs. There were also some duallies too. I think (not 100% but I think) that the duallies had NP205s.
 
You guys are great, thanks for all the info!

General question, will a front 44hd with stock shafts stand up to 37 or 38" tires?

Also, are these blazers prone to leaking with the removable fiberglass tops?
 
BigClay said:
You guys are great, thanks for all the info!

General question, will a front 44hd with stock shafts stand up to 37 or 38" tires?

Also, are these blazers prone to leaking with the removable fiberglass tops?
Click to expand...


The tops dont leak....unless you take them on and off frequently then yes.

The 44 is (marginally) weaker than the 10b.
Either will do fine on 38s on the street or dirt road. Bind them up or bounce them and you may get a second chance.

I ran a front 8 lug 10 with 38 boggers for 2-3 years.
Went all over URE, even had 1 tellico trip on them.
But I left it open and babied it.

I wouldnt do it again, but I was broke and it was free then
 
BigClay said:
Thanks for the info.

What are the pros/cons of the CUCV (sorry I don't know the real ID number) K5 blazers? Do they all have 6.2 diesels?
Click to expand...
Cons,
10 bolt axles,3.08 gears and a gov bomb in the rear.
6.2 diesel engine thats a weazer w 3.08 gears.
24 volt system,starters and alts are $$$$,$150 gear drive starter is the fix.
No a/c, no carpet,no creature comforts at all,2 windows down at 60 MPH.
Prices for them have gotten stupid high,esp since they dont have any heavy duty parts under them.
Covered in paint thatll make you sick if you try to sand it.
$4.00 a gallon

Pros.
6.2 diesel is adequate with lower gears and a tire size that works with the gears.
Never had carpet in them so the tubs are usually waaay better than the civi blazers.
Easy/cheap to build anything that fits a civi blazer,and most trucks will work on em.
They have been built in any combination you can think so theres all kinds of tech on the net.
Already fuel injected.


Its been my experience that when you finally get the top off it will probably never go back on,but it didnt help that the bed rail on mine is pushed in past the door post 2/3 inches.I wouldnt not buy a CUCV but I would try to find a civilian version.A mil Blazer will be refered to as a M1009.
 
Back
Top