1970 K5 Project...or "Am I in over my head?"
 

Hey all...after doing a few builds and thinking my crew almost has a clue about how to work with these magnificent beasts, I came upon a unicorn...a '70 K5.

When the add said "this rust is not for the feint of heart" I didn't blink an eye...we've cut and patched floor pans, door bottoms and skins, fenders, used torches to knock out and straighten bedside tears...we got this!

What I bought is someone's cruel joke of a K5 that was slammed and converted to a BBC drag truck (ugh). now a 2wd with Mickey Thompsons, the engine, tranny, and transfer case are gone...2WD front end...Genuine Flintstone floor pans...ugh..the list goes on and on. I think I paid for a frame, top, VIN plate and title...the rest we're going to have to re-do.

My thinking is to take this thing back to factory condition as much as possible, but I'm not sure how to tell which V8 was used (I think both 307's and 350's were used..how do I tell which one?). I've got an OPR code of 4M20AL, so I know I need to find a Granny 4...but how to tell which transfer case was used, or does that matter?

I'll see if I can get a build thread started here...will appreciate any input at all I can get....I know there're going to be many, many questions...I love these things and am learning more and more about them, but still soooo much to know, and greatly appreciate all the help.

Re: 1970 K5 Project...or "Am I in over my head?"
 

Truthfully, I think restoring it to original would cost more than making a nice 2wd blazer out of it. But I'm partial to the 2wd's!

I've seen worse tubs get fixed, but it is not for the meek.

Good luck, Rg

Re: 1970 K5 Project...or "Am I in over my head?"
 

On my '70 the 350 is listed on the SPID...
also on the cowl is chalk marked LS9....which would also indicate 350 V8....
the transfer case would have 99.9% surely been a NP205...
Attachment 1648110

Re: 1970 K5 Project...or "Am I in over my head?"
 

Wow, it's all in what you want. If you have the skills and deep pockets the sky is the limit. You can build it either way. I have a 4x4 72 Blazer now. Just sold a 71 two wheel drive Jimmy. Love driving them both topless. The two wheel drive was a much smoother ride but the Blazer is completely original and is my keeper. If the Jimmy didn't need everything redone I would have kept it. But I going to be retiring and relocated in a couple years and I can't keep them all. Good luck with which ever way you decide to go with your project. You can't go wrong either way.

Re: 1970 K5 Project...or "Am I in over my head?"
 

What makes this Blazer a unicorn? Its not a true 2WD according to the SPID. Just another "well seasoned" 70 4x4 with some kind of a 2WD conversion.

Re: 1970 K5 Project...or "Am I in over my head?"
 

if you still have the white sticker on the inner fender wheel well - on the driver side - it may tell you if it was a 307 or a 350.

Re: 1970 K5 Project...or "Am I in over my head?"
 

Sorry for my excitement...it's a unicorn to me, as they just don't show up for sale around here...been looking a while, this is the first one so I jumped on it.

Re: 1970 K5 Project...or "Am I in over my head?"
 

I'm guessing it's a standard 350/NP205/Sm465 Blazer, just hoping to figure out for sure.

The markings on my cowl (left to right) are T284 K10 S14 4A TZ84

Could be another T284 on the right, but that one looks more Z-ish.

Still learning what all these things mean, appreciate the help, thank you.

Re: 1970 K5 Project...or "Am I in over my head?"
 

looks like it will be a fun project. i think that's the one i posted in CL finds last week. i agree with an above post-you may be better to leave it 2wd. if you want to restore one original, i wold swap you my yellow 70 4x4 in similar shape;)
im ~ 45 mins away from you.

good luck with it and please shoot us progress pics

Re: 1970 K5 Project...or "Am I in over my head?"
 

Happy to post pics as we make progress...halfway through a '71 C20 build right now, then on to a '68 short bed...hope to hit the Blazer around mid-June or so.

I didn't see your post...if it's the one from Fayetteville then yes, this is it.

You're more than welcome to visit the shop anytime...fun stuff going on up here...could probably use some input as we go, no doubt.

Re: 1970 K5 Project...or "Am I in over my head?"
 

i rarely travel north of charlotte but i will take you up on that sometime. Pm for adress coming

Re: 1970 K5 Project...or "Am I in over my head?"
 

Ah, I understand. I wasn't trying to knock your Blazer find. Based on your experience with these trucks, I'm certain you will transform it into something sweet.

Re: 1970 K5 Project...or "Am I in over my head?"
 

My 70 came with a 307 sm465 & a Dana 20 tcase. I believe some 69s & 70s came with the Dana 20.

Re: 1970 K5 Project...or "Am I in over my head?"
 

Build a prostreet 2wd blazer, cheaper to keep the build moving in the same direction as someone once did versus trying to restore it back to a 4x4. The 2wd modified blazers still bring more money than a stock 4x4 it seems, so stay with what you have if you're in it for the money. To actually do a proper restore on it would take a lot longer and cost more than it's worth in the end given it's current condition.

Re: 1970 K5 Project...or "Am I in over my head?"
 

But there's no way of knowing which came with mine originally?

Converted to a 2WD drag blazer, I'm hoping to do her right and get her back to stock as much as possible.

Found a '76 4x4 setup in a pile of weeds...SM 465 and NP 20 with axles and hubs...may throw those underneath until I can figure out something better.

Re: 1970 K5 Project...or "Am I in over my head?"
 

It has been my experience of it had a 307 there was nothing other then the inner fender sticker marking it as such. If it was a 350 it was listed on the glove box spid as well as fender badges . Seems to me the 69-70 blazer was still using the dana tcases but not real sure on that.

Re: 1970 K5 Project...or "Am I in over my head?"
 

I don't know if there is a way to tell what transfer case it came with - just giving you another option.

Stealing parts from that 76 would be perfect - you'll get front disc and I believe gm used Dana 44 front diffs until 78. I plan on finding a newer 44 with discs for my 70.

Re: 1970 K5 Project...or "Am I in over my head?"
 

Not sure where you are located but I have transmission, 205 transfer case, a pair of axles (disc front) engine crossmember and more out of a 72 blazer I parted.