89 K5 Blazer. Thoughts and opinions?
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Has the site changed since I was here last? :whistle:
I have an 89 K5 blazer. Its a FL truck but due to the neglect and abuse it has some rust in the most typical GM truck spots. from the lower B/S molding down it’s pretty bad in some spots. The frame is solid, drivetrain is decent, and the 350TBI will roll down the road at 75mph without breaking a sweat. I just want to get the body in good shape again.
The color scheme is a repaint of the factory colors, and it is a horrible job. painted right over rust, seals, moldings, etc. I would like to know how I should go about replacing panels on this to have a minimum of downtime. It is garaged right now and out of the elements, but I do LOVE driving it, so I don’t want to have it out of commission for an extended period of time.
Pics.
[IMG]http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/6643/k5web.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/3096/k516.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/4282/k511.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/4470/k509.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/9327/k505.jpg[/IMG]
Fortunately, they make lots of rust repair panels for this truck. i guess the only way to have minimal downtime is to get all your parts, materials, tools, etc together and then i could see myself completing that entire truck in 10 days of serious non stop work.
so if I bust ass on it I’m looking at 80 hours for the body work? Is that Newbie time or body man time? lol
I knew they had most of the rust panels when I bought the truck, thats why I wasn’t scared away like I would be if there was nothing available. After I dug into it, Classic Industries has ALL the panels that I need available, which I’m pretty stoked about.
This is the worst part of the truck. Its the rear body support channel and rear floor, in one spot. The sound deadener mat is soaked with something caustic right there, I think somebody left a bad car battery in it at one time. The rest of the support channel and floor is solid, with a little surface rust only.
[IMG]http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/6058/20110328221410188.jpg[/IMG]
How can I install new parts, and still make sure they are protected from rust? Adhesive? The front floor pans and such are accessible from both sides so I can handle that, but this cargo area has me scratching my head.
Here is a shot of the back of the bedsides, just dirty. Overall the truck is pretty solid I think, and worlds better than some of them I have seen people start with.
[IMG]http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/4900/20110328221259956.jpg[/IMG]
i doubt its possible for a newbie working alone to complete it in under a months time. just take your time and do it right the first time. no need to rush when its your own truck. ;)keep in mind all the money youll be investing.
rust repair is a real pita and if not done right, expect it to come creeping back in a matter of months if not soonerI’ve resto’d a couple boats and their steel trailers, but the rust on sheetmetal scares me a bit. Is there something to neutralize the panel after I get it sanded to fresh metal and before I shoot epoxy primer on it?
Getting closer to jumping on this, how do I start getting the tail panel and tail light panels separated? Just pick up the spot weld cutter and go at it? I don’t want to screw up anything more than I need to getting it apart…
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