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Square bodies.

bonesfab

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So as I have stated on here before I have a square body issue. I currently have 6 of them. My first was a 1974 k5 blazer I rebuilt in my moms driveway when I was 20.

My second was a 2wd crew cab c20. It was a beater we called hoopty. I was going to turn it into a 4wd but a good deal came along on a factory k30 crew cab that was a theft recovery.

That turned into my big orange truck. I did a frame off build 22 years ago and still have it. It has a blown 509 with a 4l80e/np205 combo in it. That got replaced with a 12 valve Cummins and a Allison 5-speed combo.

The hoopty got totaled so I bought a 88 crew cab dual my with a bad engine and put the drivetrain from the totaled truck in it. That lasted for a while and it picked up a rod knock. Decided to do a 6.0-4l80e swap and try and get it pat the smash nazis. Still working on the smog issues.

My little orange truck was the bright idea of doing a shop truck that I could let potential customers take for a spin to see what a ls swap could do for them. Like all projects it has gone a little sideways. It now has a mildly built 6.0 ls with a Vortech supercharger and a t56 manual. It has a ridetech street grip suspension kit and 14” Wilwoods all the way around. A Dakota dash and vintage air help out the comfort inside. I got some help from some of the manufacturers that I deal with on this one


I found another 74 crew cab on Craigslist and for some stupid reason brought it home. The fact it was orange had nothing to do with it. It has a 350tbi and 4l80e combo and was lowered. I havent done anything with this one yet but a crew cab short bed is in the thought process.

And the final one is a 89 suburban that a customer had and we did some trading. Didn’t need it. Now I am thinking a stock 12 valve and 4l80e combo and make it my stealth river runner. 80 mph and 20 plus mpg and nobody would look twice at it.

Now the reason for this post was the rebuild of the blazer. I got it back after trading it away for a piece of equipment when I opened my business. Drove it for a few weeks and it blew a head gasket. So now I am rebuilding the way I want to now. When I built it I was young and poor. Now I know more and have a few dollars to do it right. Plus these things are getting popular and I might be able to make a few bucks on it. I started ordering parts a few months ago and now the fun starts. All ORD suspension. Alcan springs, king shocks are on order, PSC crossover steering should update the suspension nicely. I am putting the 509 that was in the other truck in it after a freshen up. A 4l80e/np205 combo now. Might be going with one ton axles. Got it all stripped down and mocking things
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WildWilly

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I'm starting a K5 build now and pretty sure I'm going ORD....but are you doing their custom springs or doing the 4 link coilover conversion ?
 
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bonesfab

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I'm starting a K5 build now and pretty sure I'm going ORD....but are you doing their custom springs or doing the 4 link coilover conversion ?

I did there custom springs. Thought about linking it but decided not to. I did a customers 72 k5 with their link kit for the front and it road real good. a little to soft for the street. He kinda talked me out of the links.. I am going with King shocks with alcan springs so i am hoping it will ride nice.
 

WildWilly

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I did there custom springs. Thought about linking it but decided not to. I did a customers 72 k5 with their link kit for the front and it road real good. a little to soft for the street. He kinda talked me out of the links.. I am going with King shocks with alcan springs so i am hoping it will ride nice.

At first I was going full link front and rear. Then I realized I'd be 15k in suspension and probably over doing what I needed so I was thinking of dialing it back to Linked front with the custom ORD springs and Kings in the rear....looking more like they way I'll go
 

getoffmylawn

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All those are my flavor too. Had a 74 K5 in the early 80s. Loved it! Wtf was I thinking when I traded it for a 68 RS Camaro? 🤦🏻‍♂️
Good luck..........
 
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bonesfab

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At first I was going full link front and rear. Then I realized I'd be 15k in suspension and probably over doing what I needed so I was thinking of dialing it back to Linked front with the custom ORD springs and Kings in the rear....looking more like they way I'll go

I am going to be linking and air bagging the rear of the big orange truck in the above pics. I may end up doing the front also. better ride and it will tow better with the bags. Also going to put an AAM 11.5" axle out of a newer duramax at the same time.
 

E4L

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I too have a squarebody fetish. I really want a 87-91 blazer or jimmy. I used to have a 88 and i loved that beast
 

Backlash

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I have the same problem here. My K5 is completely gutted and the frame pulled. Body is sitting on a dolly and there is no drivetrain whatsoever. It's a clean slate just waiting on some time and bunch of money. 😁
 

JUSTWANNARACE

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Some progress. Okay a lot of progress. The parts showed up for the engine. The body is in the body shop. I have them two weeks to get it done. Now I need to get the frame done. View attachment 860527 View attachment 860528 View attachment 860529 View attachment 860530 View attachment 860531

You're making my ol lady jealous.. both the K5s I posted are HERS by the way, the white one I'd a 1ton swap but all matching otherwise. My dream car is a '57 chevy, hers has always been square body K5s, next is a '76 full top
 

JUSTWANNARACE

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We also had an '84 short wide identical to her '89 K5 same color and everything and she still cusses me till this day for getting rid of it!
 

bonesfab

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You're making my ol lady jealous.. both the K5s I posted are HERS by the way, the white one I'd a 1ton swap but all matching otherwise. My dream car is a '57 chevy, hers has always been square body K5s, next is a '76 full top

I have a 57 Chevy 2-door post car in stock. 383 tri-power 4-speed. Old school hot rod.
 

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bonesfab

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Loves your posts but my neck always hurts after reading them!

What serpentine belt system is on you motor?
One day I will figure out the camera on my phone. that is the new holley drive. Small block big block amp Ls engines. The main bracket is a one piece casting that uses a late style cartridge water pump. Pretty nice kit and I think it will clear the tensioner for the blower.
 

lenmann

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One day I will figure out the camera on my phone. that is the new holley drive. Small block big block amp Ls engines. The main bracket is a one piece casting that uses a late style cartridge water pump. Pretty nice kit and I think it will clear the tensioner for the blower.

It looks great, finally one that isn't a piece of billet.

What are the specs on the motor build?
 

bonesfab

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It looks great, finally one that isn't a piece of billet.

What are the specs on the motor build?

509 with oval port aluminum heads. 230/236 114 camshaft. H-beam rods j-e flat tops. Should be 9.0-1 or so. With a old school B&M 174 blower with Holley Efi on top of it. Should make 6-650 hp and a ton of torque. With 11” 2400 stall precision converter and a 4l80e it should be plenty of fun to drive. the short block I had from the big orange truck.
 

DrunkenSailor

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Make sure you post a thread on the burban when you start that project. A smog exempt reliable river runner with decent mpg numbers and ice cold air is intriguing. Bet it would be cheaper than a new rig and way cooler
 

bonesfab

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Make sure you post a thread on the burban when you start that project. A smog exempt reliable river runner with decent mpg numbers and ice cold air is intriguing. Bet it would be cheaper than a new rig and way cooler
My thoughts exactly. And semi stealth mode.
 

LargeOrangeFont

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Make sure you post a thread on the burban when you start that project. A smog exempt reliable river runner with decent mpg numbers and ice cold air is intriguing. Bet it would be cheaper than a new rig and way cooler

I keep thinking of doing a "restomodded" one of those, It is hard finding the pre 76 models that aren't basket cases though.

Thing would run down the road pretty nice with a 5.3/6.2 and a 6L80 trans.
 

bonesfab

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I keep thinking of doing a "restomodded" one of those, It is hard finding the pre 76 models that aren't basket cases though.

Thing would run down the road pretty nice with a 5.3/6.2 and a 6L80 trans.

My dually with the 6.0 4l80e runs real well down the road. it gets 12mpg driving like an asshole. With two less tires and a little less weight it would be real good.
 

bonesfab

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More progress. All the exhaust is mocked up and the body shop is getting the body ready. PPG stepped up and helped out with the paint.
 

bonesfab

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I really don’t know what is up with the pics. Sometimes they are right and most they are not.
 

lenmann

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I really don’t know what is up with the pics. Sometimes they are right and most they are not.

The exhaust looks great. Nice to have access from both top and bottom.

How do you cut your bends to get the desired segment?
 

bonesfab

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The exhaust looks great. Nice to have access from both top and bottom.

How do you cut your bends to get the desired segment?
thanks. Portaband saw. Made it a lot easier from the top.
 

WildWilly

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after talking to the ORD guys and contemplating level of effort I decided to go with their custom springs in the rear on King's with the extended towers. Front I'm doing the 4 link and Cross steer. He said I'll be real happy with it but I'll be interested to hear what you think on just the springs
 

bonesfab

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Frame is done at powder coat. Silver vein to hide the roughness of the frame. All brackets and parts are gloss black. I got the transfer case finished over the weekend. Time to put it back together. And the body is ready for paint. But since I canned my painter last week I might spray it myself for sentimental stupidity. I sprayed it 30 years ago in my moms driveway.
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warpt71

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Damn you wasted no time on this one! Totally bitchen having a "new" K-5 👍👍
 

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bonesfab

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More progress pics. The springs are under it the brake lines are ran the fuel tank is in the motor trans and transfer case are in. And the body has paint on it. The axles are back In but not done yet as I don’t know if I am doing one tons yet.
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t&y

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Is the front diff just free hanging? Curious what that shackle angle is going to look like under load
 

bonesfab

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Is the front diff just free hanging? Curious what that shackle angle is going to look like under load
just hanging for now. when there is some weight on it it comes back a bit.
 

Backlash

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Did you spray that black?? Damn Brother that turned out BEAUTIFUL!!!! 😎 Now I know who to call to spray mine when I get ready! 😁
 

bonesfab

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Did you spray that black?? Damn Brother that turned out BEAUTIFUL!!!! 😎 Now I know who to call to spray mine when I get ready! 😁

I actually let my body guy do it. I didn't have the time
 

WildWilly

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On another topic....anyone have a 70/80's dually for sale? not high dollar upgraded finished...I want to do that part.
 

bonesfab

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More progress pics. It’s been happening just terrible at documenting it. It’s starting to look like a blazer again. Fitting the Spidertrax rear end in it and then another kid off to Powdercoat.
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bonesfab

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More progress. Getting closer. Only bad part is the axles are 6-weeks out.
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bonesfab

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Getting closer. Moves under its own power now. On the front axle as I am awaiting my rear axles still. Made some Amp research power boards fit it also since I am not getting any younger.
 

WildWilly

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badass.

how hard was it to modify those AMP steps? I thought about doing that but only found one video of someone showing the after, nothing on what it took to do it. And dropping the coin up front for them to expirement seems tough to swallow.
 

HubbaHubbaLife

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Loving this thread.... and thanks for helping me understand how/ why folks are asking $50-70K for these frame off K5 builds lately. I had a 72 K5 I got my surfer chick maybe 10 years back.... nothing quite like your build but fun as hell. The best Tonka Toys around!
 

bonesfab

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badass.

how hard was it to modify those AMP steps? I thought about doing that but only found one video of someone showing the after, nothing on what it took to do it. And dropping the coin up front for them to expirement seems tough to swallow.
It wasn't too bad. I didn't modify the steps at all. I made brackets to mount them. I had to cut two holes in the rocker box floor to sink them in a touch. I will post some pics of the brackets. I have the number for the steps and I can cut some more brackets if you are interested. Jim
 

bonesfab

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Loving this thread.... and thanks for helping me understand how/ why folks are asking $50-70K for these frame off K5 builds lately. I had a 72 K5 I got my surfer chick maybe 10 years back.... nothing quite like your build but fun as hell. The best Tonka Toys around!

It adds up in a hurry. And I don't even count my time I have into it.
 

bonesfab

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Not to shabby considering I started this project in March. I wanted it moving under its own power for my 50th birthday party we are going to have at the shop.
 
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