So I bought this K5 that someone started to convert to 2wd...

[floyd]

Ok this post is my build thread/post .....(didnt take too many pics so Ill just show you how its turning out....)

This one was pretty straight forward once I had got my direction planned and decided to not swap in the coiled rear suspension from my 72 C-10 LB donor(pics if the first post!!!)

I used pretty much everything from the C10-great running 350/th350 all the parts for the 5 lug conversion,front sheet metal...and all the little stuff that would make this a long drawn out build had i not had the complete truck for parts...

Having all the parts I needed made this a really reasonable conversion. I only bought new ball joints/bearings and seals,brakes, axle saddles,dropped front spindles and a seat from a 90-ish reg cab truck.


Notice how well the rear tires sit in the opening.....that 1" wheelbase stretch centered the tires like the factory should have!....IMO...

Once i order the patch panel for the left rear qtr and a drivers floor pan patch its off to my buddy who is a body guy for a little smoothing of its dents.

Once thats done Im gonna vinyl wrap it like my chevelle (except in matte orange) , put some C5s on it and have a nice cruiser at under $5k ...total!!!

[PHAT TONY]

Looks really good, and you're spot on about the wheel base; neither wheel sits center on mine and it bugs me greatly!

Oh yeah....orange? Sweet!

[floyd]

Originally Posted by PHAT TONY

Looks really good, and you're spot on about the wheel base; neither wheel sits center on mine and it bugs me greatly!

Oh yeah....orange? Sweet!

I looked at alot of pics and read a bunch of build threads and it doesnt seem to matter if its a real 2wd(with the factory coil rear suspension) or a converted truck like mine(leafs) in the rear....they arent even close to centered and the lower they get the more it shows. I even went as far as to put the front 2wd crossmember as far forward as possible(there is just enough room for the steering center link to clear the crossmember and not hit it...) in an effort to center the fronts as well.

I like the orange on your truck alot but in an effort to keep this one as budget as possible a complete vinyl wrap costs me about $400(not counting the top...) in material...and the install is free(isnt building your own stuff free labor..... )
The bonus with using a matte finish vinyl it is pretty good at hiding small imperfections in the body...

heres the color Im thinking of...(with coys c5 chrome wheels 22s rear,20s front)

http://autovinylsolutions.com/3M_108...m_matte_orange

[floyd]

Im gonna bump this because maybe someone knows of a quarter panel repair section that includes the bottom of the taillight?

I ordered the brothers truck half qtr panel to find out its been discontinued.... as well as the lower section panel for a long bed...that was just a face panel that didnt include the lower part of the taillight....

So my options are.... a whole bedside... or cut my really nice longbed just for a factory section...?

Any other options?

[Effeckt]

Take a look at the classifieds on this forum. That exact area is messes up on my Blazer and I found someone parting out a longed and had them cut the section off for me to use as a patch.
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[floyd]

Still working on this....replaced all the body mounts with urethane ones had a friend who is a bodyman fix the drivers section behind the tire in the rear by shortening a longbed section i cut off a donor bed... Ordered up my wheel and tire package to keep me motivated.... boss 338s Chrome 20x8.5 fr 20 x 10 rear 255/295 40 20 toyo's








I still got a few dings to work out and it will be ready to vinyl wrap.... in 3m brushed steel!

[Low Elco]

Looks great! Glad it's going again!

[bouncytruck]

Looking good. The wheels make a huge difference.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by bouncytruck

Looking good. The wheels make a huge difference.

Yeah I looked at a bunch of pics and finally decided on the chrome 338s.... the body work is done just need to prime and sand it before I order the vinyl. Ill make sure to get more pics of the vinyl wrap process since I think most guys can do a good job that is 1/4 the cost of a nice paint job if you do it yourself.

[hotrodhomi]

I want to see this wrap. It looks good so far.

[YBNORML]

Looking good so far, I'm definitely interested in seeing the wrap go on.
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[floyd]

Originally Posted by hotrodhomi

I want to see this wrap. It looks good so far.

Originally Posted by YBNORML

Looking good so far, I'm definitely interested in seeing the wrap go on.
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The black chevelle on the first page is my first vinyl wrap....

Im planning on using this color on the blazer...

3M Scotchprint ? Wrap Film 1080 Series SEMA :...

[floyd]

Its all one color again....finished the body work,added a smooth tailgate taped and primed it up! Should be ready to start wrapping within the week...$775 in material is in transit!

[floyd]

Finally Im onto the fun part.... wrapped both doors and the windshield frame after work tonight....



This thing should come together pretty quickly now!!!

[oldschool18]

how are you doing the door jams? are you wrapping them also

[floyd]

Originally Posted by oldschool18

how are you doing the door jams? are you wrapping them also

I have seen in really high end cars where they wrap the door jambs....mine have been prepped and painted black to match the dash and doors...

Ill post some more pics today...planning on wrapping the passengers qtr panel..windshield frame and some small pieces

[floyd]

a little more progress!!!

[oldschool18]

thats lookin really good

[floyd]

Originally Posted by oldschool18

thats lookin really good

The vinyl is a bit of a challenge because splicing it is made more difficult by it having the grain...... its more work and planning ,but well worth the effort IMO

[floyd]

drivers qtr...



down to half the hood and the front fenders....

wait until you see how I make the stock grill shell get re-chromed without leaving my shop!!!!

[mcmlxix]

SO .. how perfect was the body before you wrapped it? Since its not paint, how much time was put into block sanding the body? I have a K5 Blazer that I was going to cover in Line-X but I may just wrap it in vinyl instead... its will be easier to change color if I change my mind later....

[jjzepplin]

Subscribed!

[floyd]

Originally Posted by mcmlxix

SO .. how perfect was the body before you wrapped it? Since its not paint, how much time was put into block sanding the body? I have a K5 Blazer that I was going to cover in Line-X but I may just wrap it in vinyl instead... its will be easier to change color if I change my mind later....

vinyl is very much like paint when it comes to how straight the body needs to be.....if you were to wrap a vehicle in gloss black the body would need to be as straight as if you were gonna paint it.

The matte colors are alot more forgiving because there is no shine to draw your eye to the imperfections.

After I finished the actual body work on the blazer I gave it three heavy coats of primer and just used a DA sander with 240 grit to take away the orange peel then cleaned the dust and started the wrap...so no real block sanding...just about 3 hours with a DA.....

Vinyl wrap takes some patience and two people to set the large pieces of vinyl on the vehicle to begin the process of applying it. I learned by watching some youtube vids and buying some vinyl and going for it!

[sson20s]

Looks good
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[71swb4x4]

How is it going, any updates?