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General Site Info => Welcome => Topic started by: talon on May 14, 2009, 12:35:31 pm

Title: New K5 owner
Post by: talon on May 14, 2009, 12:35:31 pm
Hello from wonderful North Carolina! I recently picked up this 86 Jimmy and absolutely love it. I've already removed the brush covers over the headlights and the running boards will be next to go. My future plans consist of a 4 or 6 inch lift and 35's. I'll also rebuild the 350 or possibly replace it with an LS motor. The interior needs a mild refresh as well. This truck wont see any serious wheeling, just light duty hauling and mild mountain trails when we go camping. 

(http://www.shand.us/images/jimmy/blazer.jpg)

(http://www.shand.us/images/jimmy/DSC00564.JPG)

It is just nice to once again have a vehicle I can work on myself, not to mention that parts are readily available and (relatively)cheap! I say that because my other 'toy' vehicle is almost impossible to work on without special ($$$) tools and knowledge. In addition, being a double jointed midget with 4 foot long arms would really be a plus if you wanted to do much more than change the oil on it!

(http://www.shand.us/images/lotus/DSC00147.JPG)
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: JRConnieK10 on May 14, 2009, 12:41:04 pm
Welcome from Ohio. Nice K5, cute toy also.
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: choptop on May 14, 2009, 01:41:53 pm
Sweeet rides.....both are awesome
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: ccz145a on May 14, 2009, 01:46:50 pm
Nice set. Welcome from AL!
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: talon on May 14, 2009, 02:16:11 pm
Thanks everybody! Before I really dig into the truck I have to put a new engine in my g/f's Grand Am. I hope to get that wrapped up in the next month and then I'll have the time and space to really dig into the truck. In the meantime I really need to see if I can get some sort of soft top as I would like to get the hard top off the truck and still protect it from the elements
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: VileZambonie on May 14, 2009, 03:02:16 pm
Welcome! Nice ride, def ditch those running boards. I like these tops the best http://www.skylercorp.com/
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: talon on May 14, 2009, 03:24:19 pm
Actually checked on them prior to getting the truck. Skyler is no longer accepting orders :( It looks like Softtopper is the only company out there still producing them :( Seems like a large chunk of change for a top...
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: VileZambonie on May 14, 2009, 04:13:45 pm
That sucks. The same thing happened with bestop. Skyler made a nice soft top I must say. I would rather have one custom made because the Softtopper is kinda ugly.
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: oldwhity on May 14, 2009, 08:19:00 pm
Welcome from Maryland! Nice Lotus. I looked at a couple of them back in the late 90's but went with something else. They are pretty cool cars. Blazer looks awesome too. I don't care for the running boards either but i'm sure it really protected the rockers by being there.
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: oldyeller on May 14, 2009, 09:27:01 pm
Welcome from Texas.  Nice set of rides. 
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: 69byrd on May 14, 2009, 10:45:18 pm
Welcome from Tennessee.
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: Blazin on May 15, 2009, 05:52:34 am
Welcome from New Hampshaa, K5's rule!  :)
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: talon on May 15, 2009, 09:36:58 am
That sucks. The same thing happened with bestop. Skyler made a nice soft top I must say. I would rather have one custom made because the Softtopper is kinda ugly.

I agree. I am going to talk to the guy that does canvas work on my boat to see what he would charge.
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: talon on May 15, 2009, 09:40:02 am
Welcome from Maryland! Nice Lotus. I looked at a couple of them back in the late 90's but went with something else. They are pretty cool cars. Blazer looks awesome too. I don't care for the running boards either but i'm sure it really protected the rockers by being there.


I will probably remove them this weekend. I'm a little concerned that they are hiding rust because there is already a spot rusted through on the drivers side rocker. I guess there is only one way to find out :)

As far as the Lotus, I had a couple older 4 cylinder ones but this one is definitely a completely different beast - 3.5 liter V8 making about 500 hp in its current configuration. Enough to really motivate such a light weight car.
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: FresnoK5er on May 15, 2009, 09:47:29 am
Welcome can't wait to see the changes to your k5. Good luck with it. It looks really solid and a good starting point.
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: talon on May 15, 2009, 10:52:17 am
Thanks! I was just popping through your intro thread and looking at the buildup pics. What are the specs on your lift/wheel/tire combo?  Probably overkill for what I plan on using my truck for, but wow - that looks great
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: FresnoK5er on May 15, 2009, 05:38:22 pm
Lift: 2 inch body lift, front pro-comp 6 inch springs, rear superlift 8 inch springs
Wheels: Weld Terra-6 15x12
Tires: Super Swampers TSL Radial 36x14.5x15
Shocks: King Nitro Resi. Shocks
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: Captkaos on May 15, 2009, 08:15:51 pm
I would definitely ditch the running boards, they generally CAUSE rust on the rockers.

Love the Lotus, I always wanted one of those, got a Vette instead.
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: talon on May 17, 2009, 10:55:19 pm
Excellent! I come from a long line of vettes. I've had 13 of them, the most recent is an 08 Z06

Update - The running boards are off and, as predicted, seem to be hiding some rust. I'm going to pull the interior and carpet next to find the true extent of it.
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: Captkaos on May 21, 2009, 06:10:44 pm
I would LOVE to upgrade to a Z06 (ZR1 is way to pricey for me), but I can't let got of my 00 FRC, there wasn't that many made so I want to hold onto it.

Definitely check the floorpans and rockers.
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: talon on July 08, 2009, 11:11:09 am
Just a quick update. I yanked the top off about a month ago and have really been enjoying the truck since. I'm now starting to seriously plan some mods for the fall. The first thing on the list will be floor plans on both sides as mine are rusted through. The carpet is really all that is holding the front of the seats into the truck, particularly on the passenger side.

Where is the best place to get replacement panels? I am looking for the section that runs from about midway through the seat to about 9 inches in front of the seat...

(http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs112.snc1/5122_233130640104_554835104_7385251_3186095_n.jpg)
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: frogman68 on July 08, 2009, 11:41:02 am
Chris here sells all the floor pieces.
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: Captkaos on July 08, 2009, 04:28:32 pm
look in my catalog, this is the blazer specific stuff:
http://store.73-87chevytrucks.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=7&Category_Code=B
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: talon on July 09, 2009, 12:19:18 pm
How far forward of the seat do these panels go?

http://store.73-87chevytrucks.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=7&Product_Code=0853-223-224&Category_Code=B
Title: Re: New K5 owner
Post by: frogman68 on July 09, 2009, 01:15:39 pm
To like the front of the wheel well there is another piece that goes from the wheel well to the lip .

http://store.73-87chevytrucks.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=7&Product_Code=0853-099&Category_Code=B

To go towards the back these are needed (2 one DS and one PS)

http://store.73-87chevytrucks.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=7&Product_Code=0853-097-098&Category_Code=B