'88 K5

[wuan2000]

Of course, the open frames on these K5's aren't super stout and require some beefing-up in areas. However, the platform is and has been a lot of fun to get working on holistically.
I picked it up for $2800 in primer gray and with straight body lines. The interior was shot and smelled like it was, at some point, the home for the Rats of Nimh.:frown:
I didn't do much early on with it besides putting on the steelie 15's and 35" Maxxis Treps. I had a fun trial run in the K5 on Metberry Gulch late last summer with some fine FR4x4 forum members. But, since then she's been parked awaiting the transformation. Well...it's begun in full force now that I've offloaded the Chvy Avalanches.

Little things:
- Beige rattle-can bed liner
- White & amber LED conversion
- Grill
- Crown Vic electric fan mod and new radiator (she runs cool now)
- Corbeau baja seats with harnesses
- Gutted the interior and ditched the rear bench

Underway now:
- Ditched the 10 bolts; installing the trussed 14 bolt rear and rebuilt Dana 60 King Pin. 4.56 gears and Detroits front and rear. Almost done with the pricey Dana rebuild.
- New 17" steelies and 37's for the 8 lug axles
- Bed cage 90% done. Cab cage next.
- Coilovers, hoops and 4-link after the 1-tons are in place and mapped out (need to beef up that open frame on the K5 first)
- Bed mount fuel cell on order, stock tank out.

Coming soon after the axle swaps:
- TH400 to replace the 700R
- Hopefully an NP205 to replace the 208
- New driveshafts
- Some narrowing to accommodate the flex and mitigate tire rubs
- My wife disagrees...but there will likely be more. :D


I haven't taken a ton of pics along the way, but here's a few:

[wuan2000]

......

[TJS86TOY]

Looking Great!

[Jim]

Progress

Where in cheese country?

[Brian]

:woot:

[wuan2000]

Progress

Where in cheese country?

Ha! You noticed the man cave flag. I've always been a Packers fan. I grew up in northern Michigan but never loved the D-town Lions. An old friend of mine played for the Packers (Tony Mandarich). Madison, WI is a favorite place to go in addition to Green Bay to visit Lambeau field. :2thumbup:

[wuan2000]

Getting ready for the link build-out in the rear.

[Java]

Nice rig and awesome garage!! :thumb:

[TJS86TOY]

Very cool, did not realize you where going to link it. Doing the front as well?

[dieseldoc]

Nice looks good.

For you front 60 did you use the stock nylon bushings for the king pins?
The upgrade is not expensive and switches to a brass bushing.
Next is the axle shaft u-joint stock?? OX joints are expensive but dam near built proof.
As well as rebuildable. Again uses brass. Rebuild is cheep as well.

[wuan2000]

Very cool, did not realize you where going to link it. Doing the front as well?

Oh yeah. Linking both. Going full hydro steer too. Ye old steering box needs to go to make room for the coilovers...among many other reasons.

[wuan2000]

Nice looks good.

For you front 60 did you use the stock nylon bushings for the king pins?
The upgrade is not expensive and switches to a brass bushing.
Next is the axle shaft u-joint stock?? OX joints are expensive but dam near built proof.
As well as rebuildable. Again uses brass. Rebuild is cheep as well.

Went stock on the king pins. Just went that route out of convenience and with parts on hand.
The axle U-joints - that's a darn good thought on the OX's. I have the Spicers, but not afraid to do the upgrade now. I see they're around $199 ea.
Thanks!

[TJS86TOY]

Depending on your intended tire size I think spicer "x" joints are plenty strong. Always broke a stub shaft before a joint running spicer. And sorry Greg, I know everyone has advise but, Have you considered ORI struts instead of coilovers? They save you getting bumpstops/limit straps. It's Likely I am going over to those this fall after seeing a rig with them perform. As for the king pin bushings, I run a spring eliminator kit as well as brass bushings from ruff stuff however, in my old rig ran the stock bushings forever and never had an issue.

[dieseldoc]

x2 on the ORI, they are tuneable, rebuildable, as well as all the other stuff you would need.
This is the way i will go on mine. ya they are expencive but by the time you buy spring, might go through 3 or 4 sets before its right, you have more than spent the money. plus the limit straps, swa bar, abump stops you are getting rid of.....
way worth it.
and well they are some off road bling!

[wuan2000]

I should be okay as I don't plan on going over 40" tires. I'll be running 37's for now. I guess I hadn't given enough thought to going the strut route. They are simpler in many respects and as both yourself and dieseldoc point out...the aggregated costs of coilovers may balance out with the cost of struts. I appreciate the suggestion and please, I'm not one to take offense to feedback/advice/suggestions on the build. I truly appreciate it!!

[TJS86TOY]

No problem. It's just that I went through building a K5 back in the day and a lot of memories. Thats why I love following your project. Two things aside from the ORI's and U-Joints, do yourself a BIG favor and get a Yoke for that 14Bolt from Advanced adapters (if you dont have U-Straps already) with the U-bolt style straps. It will save you a TON of headache with the original straps letting the u-joint slip in the yoke. Both truggy and 4runner had the same problem. And do you plan on doing rear disk? If so, I can look up my mounting kit on the 4runner. It has skid's for the caliper :) and every other component besides the caliper mounts is 77'ish chevy dana 44 stuff, rotors, calipers, everything.

[wuan2000]

Mocking up the links with PVC tonight. I still have some finish welding to do on some of the brackets, but after I measure for angles/clearances.

[wuan2000]

You're the man TJ. Good news, I have the u-bolt straps already. This is the Dana 60 yoke, but I do have the same for the 14 bolt. I remembered reading several posts from others on that very issue that you brought up. I thought about converting to discs at some point, and for all the obvious benefits. I plan on seeing what remains in the build budget after getting this darn thing rolling and drivable. I've made a few equipment investments along the way that detracted from my actual build $$. Nonetheless, yes...at some point I'll go disc brakes.

on another note, I should have the cnc plasma table delivered in another week or so. After I get it up and running, learned the software, etc., I'll be cutting out some beadlock rings. When I reach that milestone I'd like to talk with you about your powder coating services - if you still do that. As always, I appreciate the ideas and support on my first full K5 crawler build.

[TJS86TOY]

I've made a few equipment investments along the way
:) I know that!

I was forced to do the disk upgrade on the runner due to every brake component in that thing was a mess and at the time cheaper just to swap them to disk. Are you doing gears? If so, and you don't already have it, I have a clamshell bearing puller that does a great job for the 60 and 14b. Everything looking awesome! Looks like your'e putting it together nicely. I have been down this road more than a few times and I enjoy watching your build. By the way, the cheapest place I found ORI's is https://www.filthymotorsports.com/ORI_ST_Struts_p/ori-stx.htm (if you go that path). And if you do find them cheaper, let me know. That K5 is going to be a completely different animal than at Metberry!! Keep up the good work!!

[TJS86TOY]

By the way, is that 14 bolt pinion guard from Ruff Stuff? I have the same one.

[wuan2000]

Declaration: Getting this going and on track again!