Road Tank

Well I owned 2 K5 Blazons... the first one sucked the life out of my wallet, while I tried feverishly to afterrmarket parts the milage up to at least 10 mpg highway. I tried everything on the engine and trans to get it better. headers carbs cams shiftkit removing front drive shaft.... anything and everything.

All I got for my trouble was a louder noise when I stepped down on the throttle, but it didnt go any faster. BUT It seemed faster and larger cuz of the noise. My wallet was not fooled tho.

So my conclusion..... they are tanks ....leftover military tank parts.

No matter what you do it will never handle or grip the road. It will tip over and skid for 2.5 miles.... from the weight.

I'm only sorry that I had to be the one to break the news to you. And no you may not give it to me, so dont even ask.
Thanks I hope this helps

 

yea I guess your right,
but what about stiffening my suspension, for when I get big rims put on for less suspension travel ?
I originally wanted 24's, I was planning on tubbing the back myself and I'd like to make a new inner fender well, but that would be later.
so for room I was thinking 22x8 24x10 in back setup, or 20x8 22x10 in back setup

 

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/pts/593307305.html

http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?N=700+400323+4294908216+4294925023+115&Nao=0#rstop

They should work for your K5 also ...not many were 2wd...but truck parts should work...
Add 1-ton(or aftermarket) sway bars on both ends

Poly Bushings

Heavy-duty springs

Lower the rear by instaling an axle flip kit which converts it to spring under

Add caltracs.

Performance Shocks.

Huge wheels create alot of unsprung weight(bad for handeling and performance) and look plain silly.


Shane

 

454 springs and the big sway bar will do wonders.
my 79 C-10 LWB is not a bad handler at all.
and with a 454 will get 14mpg on the freeway----3:08 rear.

This Blazer will NEVER handle like a late model mustang cause it is just too heavy.

ANYTHING that will help a 73-87 Pick-up will help the Blazer.

Also look for a set of rear springs from a 6100lb GVW pick-up
I think they will fit---and they will stiffen the rear up quite a bit.

 

http://www.classictrucks.com/tech/0601ct_shock_absorbers/index.html

 

454 springs and the big sway bar will do wonders.
my 79 C-10 LWB is not a bad handler at all.
and with a 454 will get 14mpg on the freeway----3:08 rear.

This Blazer will NEVER handle like a late model mustang cause it is just too heavy.

ANYTHING that will help a 73-87 Pick-up will help the Blazer.

Also look for a set of rear springs from a 6100lb GVW pick-up
I think they will fit---and they will stiffen the rear up quite a bit.

ok cool, I'll look for that stuff but I was wondering if theres a visible difference between the sbc and bbc springs, casue I got It already lowered and without and engine, but the last engine in it was someones 454, so I want to check the springs
and it's got leak springs now, is the conversion to springs not that hard, (you no as long as you got tools, and skills) haha, and what does from a 6100 gvw pickup mean exactly??

 

You could also add fiberglass body componets to lighten it up.

Shane

 

yea, my first pick is a hood, but thats alota $$$$ so thats latter on

 

I saw a pair of 73-80 front fiberglass fenders go for 50 bucks on ebay...watch for deals.....or make your own parts.

Shane

 

In the words of a true gentleman racer, named Colin Chapman, "add lightness"...

If you've never heard of him, google is your friend...

K

 

These trucks came in 3 different Gross Vehicle Weight configurations.
4900---lightweight truck
5600---middle of the road truck
6100---heavy duty truck-----essentially a 3/4 with 1/2 ton axels

3 leafs on the 4900
I think 5 on the 5600
7 on the 6100

454 springs will only raise the truck if the stock springs are weak.
they are a tiny bit shorter and have a fatter coil wire size.
Piece of cake to install----a spring compressor is not needed at all.

remove lower shock---release stabilizer from lower control arm---
undo upper ball joint (car supported with jackstands under the frame and a floor jack under the lower control arm)---(may have to remove caliper and hang it to get enough drop of the control arm.

The front spring rates for the small block springs are also different for all of the different GVWs

 

OK so your saying I should be looking for the springs out of a heavy half preferably, those are hard to find though compared to a normal truck, so what do you think of the straight 3/4 or 1 ton springs.
I bin driving around an old 3/4 now and it suspension is SOLID I wouldn't even want it that tite on my k5

 

The lightest 3/4 had a GVW of 6400
Those front springs "might" work for you (never tried it)
the rears on those trucks are just too hard for the Blazer.

My 79 is dropped 3"/4" and I use it to tow with---works quite nicely.
Not a Corvette---but it is responsive----rides real nice too.

 

ok so I should be looking for the "Heavy half" ton for the right springs? and I would want to use both front and backs?

about bb springs, they didn't put a bbc in a 1/2 in the 73-87 trucks, as far as I know, so I would only be able to get the 3/4 bbc springs which is even more then more then I need (haha sounds funny)
what'ya think??

 

454 in a half ton was avail til 78
the 454 in mine came from a 75

 

o great, see thats how american cars used to be, ******!
they stopped it right before the 80's and they only brought back some good **** in the 90's and it had to be the special SS model truck