Attempting my first build 72 K5

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

Fired the motor up and she's alive and breathing. I let run for about 2 minutes. I'm hoping my friend can make it over to help me set the timing. I want to get that dialed in right away.

Here's a video of me starting the motor.

Starting motor - YouTube

[Tom Vogel]

If this motor doesn't have roller lifters, you need to stop starting it up for theses short periods and. You need to start it up and get the rpm's up to 2000 and keep it there for 20 minutes, or you will flatten that cam. Continued short runs won't allow the break in lube to do its job on the lobes. That first start up is critical to the longivity of a flat tapper cam.

[SeventyOne]

Not to speak for Mike but pretty sure he went with a roller set up.

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

Originally Posted by Tom Vogel

If this motor doesn't have roller lifters, you need to stop starting it up for theses short periods and. You need to start it up and get the rpm's up to 2000 and keep it there for 20 minutes, or you will flatten that cam. Continued short runs won't allow the break in lube to do its job on the lobes. That first start up is critical to the longivity of a flat tapper cam.

Originally Posted by SeventyOne

Not to speak for Mike but pretty sure he went with a roller set up.

Yep, roller cam.

[DeadheadNM]

Another milestone achieved. I smell success. Congrats!

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

Figured out why the e-pump would receive power as soon as I connected the battery.. I removed one of the red wires, the one I had going from the pump to the battery.

I now have it setup like this:

Positive wire from e-pump to switch
Red power supply wire from positive battery terminal to switch
Ground for pump
Ground for switch.

Now I got to go hide this switch somewhere only I know

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

A family friend of ours has been a mechanic for 50 years and he's been my go to for any kind of trouble shooting over the phone. He was supposed to come over today to help me bleed the brakes and set the timing, but he had a few things come up. Hoping he can make it tomorrow.

There's a local car show happening October 15th, less than a mile from my house. It's at the Santa Cruz Harbor and I plan to debut it there.

It would be safe to say the list of things I need to get done is now a short list.. I'm down from 3 white boards to only half of one.

That damn Horn relay as been lingering for a while. I don't think that's the right description for what I need to do. The horn closest to the fender originally had a plastic housing connector ( I still have it but took the terminal out of it) that used a two spade type terminal. the connector plugged into the horn closest to the fender and it used double spade terminal to feed the other horn.

Been searching everywhere for this kind of terminal but no luck


Here's where I was 8/14. I had three white boards filled back in the middle of June when I first got her back from paint.


Where I am now.

[parb]

Super cool!

I'm new to the board. I just bought a 72 Jimmy area weeks ago. Will have it repainted and restored over the next couple of months.im trying to retain it mostly stock and the original orange color. I'm just over the hill in mountain view.

I hope to meet you on the road next year sometime!

[IronCanine]

Mike--apologies for being late to the congrats...can't believe I missed this most important milestone. Congratulations!!!! Huge step. You're conscientious and thorough approach, your willingness to share, and gosh, lately your ENGINEERING are all to be commended. I sure have enjoyed this follow. You'll be spinning that odometer any day now. Well done!!

[DeadheadNM]

That has to be seriously rewarding. Big congrats. The Blazer looks great and the black plate couldn't be cooler. Keep the pics coming!

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

I can officially announce the K5 is finished.

It was 3 1/2 years ago I started this journey of restoring my Blazer. The initial project started out as a mechanical overhaul that quickly led me down a rabbits hole and the next thing I knew the body came off the frame.

I had no idea what I was doing or getting myself into. Growing up as a kid I always wanted to own a muscle car and learn how to work on them. My father never owned or had any experience working on classic cars, which led me to learn everything on my own.

This experience has taught me so much and the knowledge I gained is invaluable. I hope one day do something like this again with my son or daughter (if she's into that) and pass this knowledge down on them.

I can't thank this board enough. The information and the willingness of other members to provide help is invaluable. There would have been no way for me to do this without it.

So for that, I want to thank all of you for the support, help and compliments over these last 3 years.

Here some pics of my road trip down to Big Sur.

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

more pics

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

a few more

[Gillnetter]

Blazer looks great! Time to enjoy it.

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

Originally Posted by Gillnetter

Blazer looks great! Time to enjoy it.

Thank you. I was planning to take it to its first car show tomorrow but we have rain in the forecast.

[DeadheadNM]

Whoa!! Congrats! How about some interior pics?

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Whoa!! Congrats! How about some interior pics?

PS: re post #568 the photo of the ebrake cables. My ebrake cable coming from the cab lacks the hole to accommodate the spring that is suspended from the undersurface of the pan and it's a replacement from In Line Tube. I notice that your spring does join the cable. Did your cable come from ILT and if so was there a hole to acccomodate the spring? The bridging cable to WAY too long and the first set of rear brake cables were for a 3/4t application.

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

PS: re post #568 the photo of the ebrake cables. My ebrake cable coming from the cab lacks the hole to accommodate the spring that is suspended from the undersurface of the pan and it's a replacement from In Line Tube. I notice that your spring does join the cable. Did your cable come from ILT and if so was there a hole to acccomodate the spring? The bridging cable to WAY too long and the first set of rear brake cables were for a 3/4t application.

Pete - Mine came from Inline Tube via Wes at Classic Heart Beat. It did have the hole for the spring to hook into. Here's a close up pic. Is this what you're talking about?

[Ol Blue K20]

Absolutely gorgeous, congratulations on the finish. I have only done that ride on my Harley a few times. Lots of pretty scenery.

[briank]

Wow does that look sweet!!! Question about the black plate though. Didnt the blue and yellow ones start in 1970? Only reason I ask is I have a 1970 Gmc jimmy bought from original owners family that lived its life in southern Cali and I have the original plates ( I think) from day one and theyre the blue yellow ones. I run them currently even though I live in Illinois and we can run year of manufacture on it ( vehicle code doesnt say they have to be Illinois year of manufacture��) Figured youre from Cali and should be able to answer.

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

Originally Posted by briank

Wow does that look sweet!!! Question about the black plate though. Didnt the blue and yellow ones start in 1970? Only reason I ask is I have a 1970 Gmc jimmy bought from original owners family that lived its life in southern Cali and I have the original plates ( I think) from day one and theyre the blue yellow ones. I run them currently even though I live in Illinois and we can run year of manufacture on it ( vehicle code doesnt say they have to be Illinois year of manufacture��) Figured youre from Cali and should be able to answer.

Thank you Brian. Blue and Yellow for vehicles registered as passenger cars started in 1970. 72 was the last year for commercial vehicles. Blazers where registered as pass vehicles.

A few years ago California DMV started letting people order vintage style plates (black and yellow only) for any vehicle. I see a lot of people put black plates on minivans, prius, and others that don't look right and I just shake my head. lol

You can tell the difference in the font and spacing of the new ones like mine and originals.

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

Per Pete's request

Rain held off for this year's Hod rods on the beach car show. It's a relatively small show, I think last year had about 400 cars. All proceeds go to the SCPD.

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

more pics.

[DeadheadNM]

I've been ogling the pics for the last two days. Fantastic job! Thanks for having us aboard over these last few years. I learned a lot from your build and I suspect others will draw upon this thread for future blazer builds. How's the Blazer being received - any thumbs up along your travels?

Inline definitely sent me the wrong cables. Thanks for posting your cable pic. The threaded end on mine is now drilled out and the intermediate cable cut and capped.

[Ol Blue K20]

Gorgeous pics, it looks great in the sun. Even the dog looks proud!