1985 K5 Blazer: Added another one to the stable

[Captkaos]

Sunday, January 25th, 2015: Got pics of the Hooker exhaust and started sorting out the tail mounting.  I was able to re-use and existing hanger on the passenger side, but needed to buy one for the drivers side.  None of the provided hangers would work and none of the suggested locations for the center hanging will work. 

[Captkaos]

Saturday, January 30th, 2015:  Previously I had a power steering leak that appeared to be a hose, well it wasn't.  I removed the pump from the truck on  along with the AC and brackets.  It was then that I found it was the reservoir on the pump.  I reseated it and then attempted to make it seal. 


Tuesday, February 3rd, 2015: with the tails on prior to removing the pump I took this quick video for sound:

Saturday, February 7th, 2015: I had put some power steering fluid in it and it sat the below position and nothing came out for a week.  So I proceeded to bolt it back in.  During this time I found the hoses leaking at the steering box and thought that is what was leaking on the ground.  They were tightend and I wrestled the pump back in along with connecting the hoses.  With the pump back in I refilled it and put the new belts on.  Started it up and found this lovely little spot.  It was late so I had no idea where this was coming from other than the suspect power steering box. 








The next morning I cranked it again and discovered this wasn't power steering fluid, it was transmission fluid...

[Captkaos]

Saturday, February 14th, 2015: Spent the evening cutting the lower trans line out as I discovered where all the fluid was coming from.  Apparently the lines I got had a hole in them.  I sectioned it back together, but the battery was dead so it has been on trickle charge for the past few days in the sub 20 degree temp.  I also discovered my power steering is still slightly leaking...

[LTZ C20]

Nice video, I love the old diesel clattering. Same with the 6.5T. I also hate leaks.

[Captkaos]

This think is REALLY loud.  I am going to have to quieten up the cab.  I don't remember them being this loud...

[LTZ C20]

My buddy used to have a 83 K5 with the 6.2 and a TH400. That thing was SO loud it annoyed everyone but him and I. Miss that truck. Had 35 inch super swamps on it. I love the 6.2, the 6.5T and all years of Duramax (even tho they don't sound like their falling apart). Just sounds good all rattle rattle clatter bang rattle.

[Captkaos]

Tuesday, September 1st, 2015: As Winter is yet approaching again this is getting some attention once more.  Hope to have it ready for winter if I need a 4x4.  I picked up a Warn 8474 winch that was in good working order.  Got a new proper hook along with the remote.

[Captkaos]

Monday, September 7th, 2015: Since I swapped out the radiator support back in February 2013 (WOW that was a long time ago..)  The hood NEVER was lined up correctly so I could never shut it.  Now was the time to fix all of this.  I practically had to remove all the fender bolts from both sides along with removing both battery trays and removing the bolts from the inner fenders and core support mounts.  After some pulling and pushing I finally got both sides lined up.


You can see how bad it was with these 2 pics:



End result was now the hood shuts completely

[Captkaos]

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2015: Since I had a Winch I needed a bumper to mount it too.  I had looked online for some but they were really expensive.  My brother Toolmaster found this one for cheap and decided to bring it home.  It is HEAVY!

[Captkaos]

Monday, October 19th, 2015: Pulled the factory bumper off the truck along with the outside bumper braces to get ready to mount the new winch bumper.

[Captkaos]

Tuesday, October 20th, 2015: I had to use a cherry picker to get this thing up on the truck but got it up on the framerails to see how well it was going to sit. 


I was told it was mounted on a 81-87, but apparently they were not running the lower valance panel as it hit.  I couldn't get the bolts in so I make some marks off the face of the valence and checked the rest of the clearance.



Sides cleared the fenders, barely.



For the framerail I will need to get some more holes drilled to mount it with more than just 2 bolts.


That evening I also started tearing into the rust on the floorboards to get ready to put some patch panels in.  Was too dark for pics.

[Captkaos]

Wednesday, October 21st, 2015: Spent some time during the late evening cutting off the clearance on the bumpers for the Valence.

[Captkaos]

Thursday, October 22nd, 2015: Now that the bumper was cleared of the Valence I was able to get the bumper in place and bolt it up.


Quick shot of the rear of the bumper and you can see that I have a little clearance for it.  I also sat the winch down in place to see how I was going to mount it.


Drove it up to the shop to see if they had some scrap steel to make a mount for the winch.  As it sits now, the body line at the front is now 40" from the ground where the rear is now 45" from the ground.  I apparently need to figure out what I am going to do as far as lifting the front of this thing.

[Captkaos]

Sunday, October 25th, 2015: Went to Lowes to get some 1/2" Grade 8 bolts to permanently mount the bumper, winch and Roller Fairlead to the truck.  Also pulled the rear brakes to make sure I get the right size and ran by the parts store and picked up rotors, pads, shoes and drums.  Next on the agenda is getting the brakes redone.

[Captkaos]

Friday, November 13th, 2015: After putting the new bumper on and setting the winch in place I found that the stance of the Blazer was lacking.  I didn't want to go bigger than 33's but the front was WAY to low.  There is 5" of different at the body line above the fenders front and back in the above picture.  I didn't plan it this way but I called and ordered a BDS lift kit and ended up getting a 6" lift.  Pictured is the front springs, box kit (bushings, u-bolts etc and 4 front shocks...)