just my 0.2

[1974k5blazer]

why are people ruining 73-75's by (1.) putting a run of the mill boring 80-91 front clips on them or (2.) beating the crap out of them by turning them into hardcore trail rigs! to me its the same as taking a 69 camaro ss and putting a honda motor in it! 5 years from now 73-75 k5 are going to be untouchable for less than 5k! mark my words!

[bigblock73]

I agree completely with you about 81+ front clips on 73-80's...bugs the hell out of me!

[kevinr1970]

If you prefer the looks of the 81-87 trucks and you find a really solid foundation but it is a 73-80, you do what you have to do?

In AZ, I can see this being an issue as rust isn't as much of a concern as other areas. You can find a good foundation for cheap probably no matter what year your looking for.
I suppose in the rust belt it would be the same as no matter the year, your doing major rust repair anyways.

Locally though, you'd have better luck finding a rust free 81-87 truck than a 73-80 truck so I could see the opposite happening.

Since this is the Blazer forum I could also point out that some people want the full top AND the newer look. In AZ they might just be 73-75's with newer clips on them. But up here, better chance they are a newer truck converted to a full top.

BTW, alot of the trail rigs have been that way for quite a while or started as beat up Blazers. So really, no loss?

[lapranch]

When I started hunting for a blazer to buy, I specifically looked for a 73-80 body style. I prefer the look of those years as opposed to the 81-91.
(even though I own a 91 suburban)Apparently GM changed the front clip for better forward visibility and to shave 300lbs of weight.
I remember in the early 80s a lot of guys were putting the newer clip on there 73-80s. Probably to give there trucks an updated look without having to buy a new one.Back then I could understand it these trucks were a dime a dozen they were everywhere.Parts were plentiful.
IN the early 90s I could still get every conceivable part for my 73 stepside from my chevy dealer.
So I agree with the OP, I don't see any reason these days to change them.
as time goes on the think the 73-80 style will become more collectible.

[1974k5blazer]

I want to state that I did not mean to critisize anyone who has converted their k5, as I got older I want to see these trucks be put back to the way they were, as appose to how I was as a teenage I wanted to cut and hack everything I got my hands on! reguardless of the front clip at least these old blazers are getting the attention they deserve!

[Zoomad75]

You probably don't like people chopping the windshield frames off of 73-75's to make full convertibles out of the later K5's either then.

I've got a 75 and will do with it what I please. Which is wheeling it, but then again I got it in a rusty condition anyway.

You just touched on a subject that drives me up the wall to no end. People with pre-set minds to what they think should be done with a certain model of Car or Truck. My Dad's been blasted for having 63 Corvette knock off wheels on his otherwise bone stock all original 57 Bel Air Hardtop. The 57 pureists say it needs to be 100% stock, while the vette nuts think it's blasphamy to have knock offs on any other car but a 63 Vette. Here's what he's told them which usually shuts them up. If they pay him what the car is worth, they can do with it what ever they please, until then it's his car. As far as the wheels go he told one vette nut to trade him 2 sets of reproduction knock offs and he would give him the originals. (the new ones won't slice your hand on the fins and yet are worth twice the repop's).

I've had a guy blast me for putting a tilt column in my 69 Nova, saying it wasn't an option in 69 so I shouldn't put it in mine. I asked him how to get my fat arse in the car without it and he shut up.

The way I see it, Cars/trucks are all about personal choice. I'll do what I want to mine and won't try to impose what I like on somebody elses baby. Besides, in my mind weren't K5's built to be off road (2wd's excluded of course)??? I love seeing them in their natural habitat in the woods, mud, mountains or parked by a lake fishing off the tailgate on a lazy saturday.

I appreciate stocker's for what it took to preserve them. I appreciate 2wd customs for the effort it took to do what they did to them. I appreciate the off roaders for using them for the original intent and built up bits. Would I go build a 2wd custom? Probably not since I got my Nova to go fast in, but I can appreciate the work that goes into all of them without critisizing the choice that owner made for his particular ride. Unless you plan on buying every last 73-75 in the country to preserve, your going about it the wrong way. People will continue to do what they please when it's their property. Cut it, junk it, use the k5 frame for a 69 Camaro car/truck project (how's that for a double whammy) or something else. Your going to drive yourself nuts if you keep worring about what other people do with their trucks.

[1974k5blazer]

wow touchy! read the title to that thread sir! America is great I can say what ever I want and so can you !

[kevinr1970]

Originally Posted by lapranch

I remember in the early 80s a lot of guys were putting the newer clip on there 73-80s. Probably to give there trucks an updated look without having to buy a new one.

Probably the same reason people put the 89-91 clips on the older trucks. I used to realy be into the idea, even bought a core/grill/harness/etc., but now that I have it I am not so sure? If I were building a really custom truck I would have already done it. But my trucks are more like "stock-rods"; they are basicly OEM GM parts, but not for the year truck I have.
But how is it any different than me having a grill and bezels from an '85-87(8) on my '82? The only way I would run an OEM 81-82 Chev or GMC grill is if it was on a super-clean, low mile original. I just don't like the looks of them.
I see the big wheels are the trend now. But I just really like the look of a clean set of rallye's. Love the look of the big wheels on others rides... just not mine?

Originally Posted by Zoomad75

My Dad's been blasted for having 63 Corvette knock off wheels on his otherwise bone stock all original 57 Bel Air Hardtop. The 57 pureists say it needs to be 100% stock, while the vette nuts think it's blasphamy to have knock offs on any other car but a 63 Vette.

When I bought my 86 Buick GN in 92 it had a set of 16" IROC rims on it. And they looked pretty good; blacked out between the "ribs". Certainly better than the stock wheels to me. But I grew tired of the "Dude, sweet Monty" comments from the uneducated. And the absolute loathing I got from the other GN guys. Even the ones running after-market aluminum rims!?!

Originally Posted by Zoomad75

... use the k5 frame for a 69 Camaro car/truck project (how's that for a double whammy)...

There used to be a 67-69 Camaro that ran around locally that the body was mounted on a 70-something K5 frame. Interesting but I always wondered how the visibility would be as you sit so low in the car compared to a truck? This thing was lifted pretty high and was certainly no driveway queen. He used it for wheeling.

[lapranch]

I could't care less what somebody does to there own ride nor would I presume to tell someone what to do.we're just stating opinions here of our likes and dislikes.What wrong with that?
The frustration for me comes when these "personalized" vehicles hit the market again.It's getting harder and harder to find unmolested trucks and blazers out there that arn't butchered or turned into mini monster trucks that become nothing better then parts trucks

[N2TRUX]

OK guys, lets bring it down a notch. Everyone is entitled to their opinions as long as you don't try to impose it on someone else.


Please keep the discussion civil so I don't have to issue infractions, or lock this down...

[73k5kid]

Then you must hate my 89. I don't feel bad cutting the windshield frame and doors I used for the conversion. The blazer was going to scrap. Chevy/Gmc pumped out thousands of them I don't see them being collectors anytime soon. Price may go up a little but nothing the average joe could not own.

[cochino12]

Originally Posted by 73k5kid

Then you must hate my 89. I don't feel bad cutting the windshield frame and doors I used for the conversion. The blazer was going to scrap. Chevy/Gmc pumped out thousands of them I don't see them being collectors anytime soon. Price may go up a little but nothing the average joe could not own.

I love you blazer! you should trade me ha

[73k5kid]

Originally Posted by cochino12

I love you blazer! you should trade me ha

Sure for a nice 2wd anyday.

[1974k5blazer]

why would I mind you cutting on an 89? 89's arent rare? and to be honest with I dont mind beating the crap out of any of the blazers that makes mine more valuable in the long run........ then just like people do now when they get old ... they think man! I should of hung on to that car I had back then...... usually they have this epiphiney when they see they same car/ truck they owned at one time, go across the auction block for a 6 figure number, and thats when it hits them, wow and I really shouldnt have destroyed it while I had it! so carry on blazer owners! there big toys!

[Zoomad75]

Originally Posted by 1974k5blazer

wow touchy! read the title to that thread sir! America is great I can say what ever I want and so can you !

I'm not saying you can't say what you want. But as you said we can say what we want. I don't agree with your opinion and voiced my own and you call me "touchy".

Look I wasn't trying to start a flame war. I was merely stating the opposing viewpoint that maybe, just maybe people don't like being told they are ruining a K5 by modifing it from stock.

Model T resto geeks did the same thing to the hot rod crowd. 55-57 Chevy pureists do it to the streem machine/pro touring guys and pure stock muscle car guys do it to the ones that make Resto-mods or anything diviating from stock.

I'll I can say is you can have your opinion. It won't stop them from being used as the owner desires. I've got my personal viewpoint too. We agree to disagree.

[Jonboy]

I've owned a nice '75, a rusty '73 (that ended up losing the windshield header because teh rest was too far gone to fix), a rusty '74 that had severe issues (also lost windshield header, too far rusted to even want to try to sort out), a decent '75 that got run into the ground, and a converted '77 2wd. The long and short of it is that I love Blazers. I can appreciate pretty much all of them. I do think that a lot of the reason that you see so many trail rigs is there are a lot of Blazer only parts that aren't being reproduced. It would be great to see these trucks get the aftermarket respect the earlier versions do. There would probably be a lot more of them around if the rocker boxes were being reproduced.

[Plumbnutz]

Originally Posted by kevinr1970

In AZ they might just be 73-75's with newer clips on them. But up here, better chance they are a newer truck converted to a full top.

BTW, alot of the trail rigs have been that way for quite a while or started as beat up Blazers. So really, no loss?

That's right, here in the rust belt chances of finding a rig that isn't in need of a restoration are slim and if you do you'd be nuts to wheel the piss out of it because it would have cost you $$. What better rig to wheel the piss out of, than one that's already thrashed, no harm done. That's exactly why I bought this 75 K5. To each their own on the newer grilles on older rigs, not my business to tell somebody what to do with their rig. Personally I like the older grille on an older rig and the newer grille on a newer rig.

I do have plans on restoring this rig with a donor, until then I'm going to wheel the piss out of it.

[streetstar]

I want to go the opposite direction with my '88 K5 ---- i like the vintage front end better, and i have my eyes open for a full top from a rusted out '73 - '75.

I don't "wheel" mine, but it is fun to cruise the dirt lake roads occasionally ---(fun for me is pretending to be Ivan Stewart, ---instead of trying to crawl over and through stuff, i'd rather fly over it or around it)

[1974k5blazer]

Its never too late to save a full removable case in point.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EvHKSt_JLk

[Plumbnutz]

Originally Posted by 1974k5blazer

Its never too late to save a full removable case in point.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EvHKSt_JLk

That's more work than I have tools for or am willing to pay somebody to do. Swapping cabs and/or minor sheetmetal repair is about it for me, bodywork is not my best attribute. I'm glad I don't have to do that much work to restore mine.

That sucker was hammered

[Zoomad75]

That vid is from Quebec, which would explain the extreme rust. Out west here, that's a parts truck. I got to give them credit from bringing one back from a rusty death, but that's beyond the skill of a lot.

Now that the dust has settled a little lets all move away from the keyboards and go outside and give our K5's a big hug and treat them to some premuim fuel....

[1974k5blazer]

ha ha ha thats funny

[1974k5blazer]

i still need a 73-75 front clip anyone want to trade for an 80 something

[streetstar]

that sounded like a bunch of cajuns in the video --- funny they did all that work and didnt paint it --- maybe there's a sequel coming up

[1974k5blazer]

no he painted it in a nother video and his choice on paint was horrable like my spelling!