Wrecked K5s: a case study

[Irish1941]

As somebody who drives one everyday, I thought maybe some wrecked K5 pix might help those who forget traffic laws like the dummy who passed me yesterday doing 85-90 in a mid '80s K5.
That "integral" roll bar they talk about built into the cab the '76-'91 does not exist. I've cut maybe 30 of them up and have yet to see one.
Got this from an auction company I deal with time to time. I guy I spoke with said it supposedly hit a overpass concrete upright @ 45 and was flipped few times after the impact.

[SilverMiner]

From the single photo, it looks like there was at least "room to live" as they used to say decades ago in my Driver's Ed class. Well, assuming they all had seat belts on. The passenger area in the rear looks quite a bit spookier, though.

I'm interested to hear more about the missing integral roll bar, though. Have you cut into the B-Pillar behind the door and saw nothing? Or are you talking about something that was supposed to be integral to the fiberglass top?

[Irish1941]

Inside the B pillar there is nothing but air. Not my photo but this what's in there when you cut the roof off.


There is steel in the fiberglass roof but not much. Goes around the top edge above the windows and across over the rear window as well as down in the very rear post. The tops are made in pieces then laminated together with the steel structure in-between.
That being said if you look at this wrecked truck and think about the shoulder harness that was used in the 90-91 roofs, there is no extra safety other than for a front or rear impact.

I saved a few more pictures of it.

[Zoomad75]

Comparing that truck to recent NHTSA testing photos of new cars I'd have to say id didn't do too bad. At least for the front passengers at least. As far as the integral roll bar, it's not actually a bar, but how the rear of the steel roof is formed and linked in as the "b" pillar. Let's face it, if you end up going ass over in K5, the body isn't going to survive well. Driver and passenger should get out ok depending on the circumstances.

I have a 75K5 with the factory roll bar. I can say this, it's probably less safe compared to the 76 and later models with the "integral" bar. Reason I see is you only have 1 hoop with the 75 version. The windshield header is NOT going to support a thing if the truck ends up on it's lid. It's only bolted to the floor and nothing is out back either. Go look on youtube for a 73-75K5 climbing potato salad hill at Moab that ends up going over and watch what happens to the top. At least a 76 and later metal cab structure forms more of a "box" that won't deform nearly as much as a full fiberglass top would.

IF you want to make it safer to survive a roll over or other accident, cage it. Tie it in right and use triangulation to add strength.

[Zoomad75]

double post...

[special-K]

Looks like the integral roll bar did what it's intended to do. I think removable fiberglass tops went to the wayside for obvious safety reason that just couldn't be denied any longer. The 90/91 rear shoulder belts were a simple add-on to get through a couple more years a bit safer. Those help a lot I'm sure. You can always fond a wreck where an area is damaged in a way the safety device didn't help. Those rear shoulder belts do nothing with the top removed,that's for sure,and there's no law saying the top has to stay on. We used a '90 Blazer as our family car for 15+ years. I always wanted to put a full roll cage in,but never did. I knew it would be a bad scene if that thing went on it's top with passengers in the rear. The same was true for the slide-in camper I took my family all over the place in. Nothing to it if there was an accident.

[Flatpat]

I bet that was one clean looking K5 before the carnage.

[68Timber]

Hate to see one busted up that bad, especially one that apparently survived well up to that moment. I worry a little with my sons in the back only when the top is off. There's so many ragtop cars on the road on the road being enjoyed I try to enjoy my half-cab trucks without thinking about it too much.

[eighteenninetytwo]

My kids aren't getting in mine until it's lowered and therefore more stable, I have solidly fitted the roll bar I recently got, and put rear seats in with shoulder belts. As they get bigger then a full roll cage is necessary. Its not like I go anywhere extreme, no rockclimbing and getting it a bit muddy is about as far as it'll go, but no sense taking chances.

[special-K]

It's on the hiway that I'd be concerned with

[eighteenninetytwo]

This is my toy project really and for any Freeway driving I'll be in my ' 02 Mazda P5. Got 230k miles and still going strong at over 30 mpg. The Blazer doesn't QUITE compare.

[Irish1941]

I run my truck all over California with 4" lift and 33". Solid as a rock and I fixed all the problems with K5s at speed. Tires @ 40psi, stiffer shocks, rear sway bar, bigger tie rod, all new front parts...even managed to get rid of the common K5 brake pull problem.
They act weird over 75. Get very light in the front end.

We have the baby in a Simpson baby seat made the race car seat belt co. but she is rarely in the truck on the highway.
There is an optional rear roll bar that was from '76 to '80 or so. Never seen a factory installed after '81. Another member, JeffinCo, install one in his '89 for roof off safety.

[swissarmychainsaw]

Either this did not land on the roof, or the "roll bar" worked!
The cab is not crushed at all.

As a plus the spare tire and hitch look nearly perfect!

Originally Posted by Irish1941

I saved a few more pictures of it.

[motornut]

that must have been one hard hit,
I'll take the steel roof over my head then nothing....

[Irish1941]

I hear ya.
Here's a 73-75 that went over...

[motornut]

wow scary and I always worried about flipping this chop

[Irish1941]

Flying the red and white….
Reminds me of these guys…
http://youtu.be/yUuLSTwd39g

[motornut]

Originally Posted by Irish1941

Flying the red and white….
Reminds me of these guys…
http://youtu.be/yUuLSTwd39g

that would be some ride,wouldn't wana tip that either lol

[special-K]

Originally Posted by eighteenninetytwo

My kids aren't getting in mine until it's lowered and therefore more stable, I have solidly fitted the roll bar I recently got, and put rear seats in with shoulder belts. As they get bigger then a full roll cage is necessary. Its not like I go anywhere extreme, no rockclimbing and getting it a bit muddy is about as far as it'll go, but no sense taking chances.

Originally Posted by special-K

It's on the hiway that I'd be concerned with

Originally Posted by eighteenninetytwo

This is my toy project really and for any Freeway driving I'll be in my ' 02 Mazda P5. Got 230k miles and still going strong at over 30 mpg. The Blazer doesn't QUITE compare.

This will be a trailered off road-only rig? What I meant was rolling over while driving down the road with my kids in the back seat would be my concern. If I did serious four wheeling I would have a full cage even if I only went alone. The first Blazer shown I don't think ever rolled. The damage to the removable top came from side impact with the bridge pillar

[Irish1941]

Hey Tim! You are correct sir. Bridge upright.
I was told it flipped on it's nose, spun around and nailed the other upright 40 feet away. Roof never hit the ground. It was marked bio hazard in the auction so somebody got hurt...
Right with you on a full cage tied to the frame.
Defeats the purpose of "topless" off roading but I had my fun in full 'verts in the desert yrs ago.
I must say there truly is nothing like being way the heck out there, going from dusk to full moon light with no roof as you bomb across the desert.

[special-K]

I agree. I was like most people who wondered what's so great with spending days in the middle of nowhere where it's barren and lifeless,for the most part. And,I love the wilderness. But,my wilderness was generally in the forest,on a mountain,near a river or lake...maybe a deserted seashore or swampland. Then I lived in Flagstaff and discovered what I was missing. The openness is what it's all about! And there is plenty of life,you just might have to look harder and it's different life than anywhere else.

I've experienced a light roll over (onto side and slowly) with my top off and my two kids in the back seat in a '71 Blazer (one in baby seat). I feel we were very very lucky. I was young and dumb,had just put it on the road. That woke me right up. It had 7" lift and the first bias Swappers in 37/13-15 and no roll bar! I built a full cage for that thing before I started the damage repair from the accident. I also fitted shoulder belts all around.

My '90 wasn't lifted and was set up to handle better on the street. The same stuff as IRISH1941 mentioned. The 33/12.50 BFG A/Ts on 10" rims gave it a very stable track to wheelbase ratio. That thing felt like a sportscar.

I haven't done much with my '85 Jimmy but lift 4" (incl. sway bar spacers),35/12.50s,and soft top. It feels very stable and steady,but a roll cage is on the list...along with winch/fabbed bumpers/tire carrier,Stan's Headers,Dana60/TruTrac,14bolt/Detroit Locker,and put the dash pad,factory stereo,tilt column,and tach in I already have. In the three years Ive had it I've only had passengers in the rear seat on time. I probably would have removed it by now but that's why I own it. It's my car,I have plenty of trucks with only a front seat

[bowtieguy79]

I stuff my kiddo's in back of my K5 when the weather is nice. We have talked about taking it on Vacation this summer.... This makes me cringe to think about the what ifs.. etc

I've had thoughts about a station wagon... maybe its time to think more heavily on that for a family cruiser?

[68Timber]

I don't consider them dangerous. How many convertible Mustangs are sold every year, or full convertibles? I am much more mindful of my driving when kids are in the back, but I'm not going to sell them or cage them or stop driving them with the top off - its not a death sentence. Use common sense and enjoy.

[bowtieguy79]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

I don't consider them dangerous. How many convertible Mustangs are sold every year, or full convertibles? I am much more mindful of my driving when kids are in the back, but I'm not going to sell them or cage them or stop driving them with the top off - its not a death sentence. Use common sense and enjoy.

I couldn't agree with you more, use of common sense with old trucks goes together like PB and Jelly. You can have one with out the other, but they go so much better together

I already have plans to mount some 3rd Row Late Model Tahoe/Sub seats in back. I think I'll look into at least a rear role bar. Would give a guy a little more piece of mind.

[eighteenninetytwo]

I'm on the seat thing too. GMC yukon / Cadillac Escalade apparently have third row sets with integral shoulder belts.