Author Topic: My '78 K5 Cheyenne  (Read 3109 times)

Offline 78 K5 Cheyenne

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My '78 K5 Cheyenne
« on: April 10, 2019, 06:32:07 PM »
Hello all,

Figured my very first post should be my introduction, and some pics of my newly-acquired '78 K5 Chevy Blazer Cheyenne 350/350.

So, here she is. I bought her about 6 months ago. She needs some love, but I am excited to continue improving the truck, and keep getting it closer to a place where I can romp up fire trails with my family on weekends.

The paint is pretty fresh, and she runs pretty good. Bought her off of a body shop in Turlock, CA (I'm in Sac) and they put a fresh coat of paint on it, but didn't bother to replace or save any of the EXPENSIVE trim pieces, emblems, badges, tail gate banners etc... so I'm working towards that.

I've already started the power rear window and tail gate rebuild (as you can see from one of the pics), and I've picked up a tach conversion kit from  . I was also lucky enough to find a beautiful used tail gate banner. Parts will start showing up tomorrow. Very excited!

It also needs some interior love, which will come later (minus seat belts) and it needs some drive-line love. It has an NP203 transfer case, and has been converted to what I believe is a part-time 4WD set up. I have a couple of drip leaks, one from the rear T-case seal (common on NP203s that have been converted) and one from the front diff. T-Case shifter also needs adjusting.

Anyway, that's my baby so far. Feel free to chime in, ask question, or just say hi.

-Mike
« Last Edit: April 11, 2019, 03:28:39 PM by 78 K5 Cheyenne »
Mike - 1978 K-5

Online Rapid Roy

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Re: My '78 K5 Cheyenne
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2019, 08:11:35 PM »
 8)     Welcome
1974 Cheyenne 10 LWB STOCK 350 W HEI /TH350/AC/4 BBL Quadrajet
Mopar by Birth
Chevy by Choice

Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: My '78 K5 Cheyenne
« Reply #2 on: April 11, 2019, 11:49:25 AM »
Welcome from maryland
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes

Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: My '78 K5 Cheyenne
« Reply #3 on: April 11, 2019, 01:16:05 PM »
Welcome from SoCal!

Beautiful truck!

I have the K 10 version, same year.

What did you have to give up for her?
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline 78 K5 Cheyenne

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Re: My '78 K5 Cheyenne
« Reply #4 on: April 11, 2019, 02:29:13 PM »
Thanks for the welcomes, guys!

I actually had to give up a 2005 Stone White Neon SRT-4 that was a garage queen for years. It was a lot of fun, back when I was younger, and didn't have two kids. I would race it in SCCA, open track days, hill climbs, 1/4 mile etc... As I'm sure some here know, once the kids start arriving, car/truck projects and hobbies can tend to take a back seat.

Now, I have a 2yo and 6yo, and I wanted to a vehicle we could all enjoy together. My Dad had an '85 Ramcharger, so I always loved this body style. Since Ramchargers are very difficult to find A) not completely clapped-out or B) in my price range, I went with a K5. I think I got a good deal, and I couldn't be happier.

My first boxes with tail-gate, power rear window, and tach conversion parts arrived TODAY!
« Last Edit: April 11, 2019, 03:27:39 PM by 78 K5 Cheyenne »
Mike - 1978 K-5

Offline blazer74

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Re: My '78 K5 Cheyenne
« Reply #5 on: April 11, 2019, 02:42:53 PM »
Nice

Offline rayjos_1

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Re: My '78 K5 Cheyenne
« Reply #6 on: April 13, 2019, 12:01:31 PM »
A Chevy K5 is always worth more and a better vehicle than a Neon, ANY DAY OF THE YEAR. HaHaHa

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Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: My '78 K5 Cheyenne
« Reply #7 on: April 13, 2019, 09:16:53 PM »
Well, in all fairness, that was a pretty special Neon... google it.

I rented a Neon once and the e had fallen off-  No n  apropos
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline rayjos_1

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Re: My '78 K5 Cheyenne
« Reply #8 on: April 13, 2019, 09:52:40 PM »
I googled it, n on impressive! I had a94 Acura Legend GS that was faster than that. 0-60 in 3.9 secs. Google it. Type-S motor,  no mods.

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Offline rayjos_1

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Re: My '78 K5 Cheyenne
« Reply #9 on: April 13, 2019, 09:59:26 PM »
Sorry, Type II motor, not type S

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Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: My '78 K5 Cheyenne
« Reply #10 on: April 14, 2019, 05:16:37 PM »
Nice ride! I had a 1969 Volkswagen DOKA (google :>))

It did 0-60 in














20 minutes... 8)
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline 78 K5 Cheyenne

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Re: My '78 K5 Cheyenne
« Reply #11 on: April 15, 2019, 10:36:15 AM »
I Googled it, and I am having a hard time believe your Acura Legend was going 0-60 in the same split as a 2017 Mustang GT350R. Fastest stock 0-60 time I can find for any model year, any trim Acura Legend is 6.7 seconds (certainly no slouch). The bone stock SRT-4 was good for about 5.6 seconds. An Acura Legend is special to about the same number af folks as a SRT-4 Neon, but I digress.

I did love that car, but it was time to move on to a new adventure.
Mike - 1978 K-5