Help With Building Up My K5 Into An Off Road Rig?

ecsong187 · Dec 22, 2006

Hey guys i have a 85 K5 with 180,000 miles on a 305 . Im selling a ton of my guitar gear so that i can get a rebuilt 350 SBC and than replacing the tranny because right now it has the original tranny. after that im gonna get some 1 ton axles. how does that sound for a start? what comes after all that? im tryin to get a good priority list of what to get done. i know that i will also eventually get some lockers either add more lift to fit 37"s or jsut cut out my fenders tons to fit 37"s, and look at a winch and CB.
thanks for any input guys i want to build a real reliable mud eating machine
edwin song

pokey · Dec 22, 2006

sell it and buy or build something smaller. NW trails really dont favor the fullsize rigs and no sense in building something that will tear up the trails and get torn up in the process. :booo:

and buy the winch first before the tires and other goodies.

xjoffroad · Dec 22, 2006

x2 what pockey said.

KarlVP · Dec 22, 2006

What's wrong with fullsize rigs?

All you fullsize nazi's need to shove it.

There are other rigs besides Jeeps you know.

briejer · Dec 22, 2006

Are you building a strictly mud eating machine? or do you want it to run trails? will smashing the body to a pulp upset you?

ecsong187 · Dec 22, 2006

ok first off what is wrong with fullsize? fullsize is way more sturdy compared to all these small little rigs. you guys may be able to do more trails but their is plenty of mud and trails for the big rigs. i was askin for help on building my
K5 so if we could stay on that subject. im not looking for another vehicle im stickin with the K5.
thanks
edwin song

ecsong187 · Dec 22, 2006

no i dont want jsut mud id like to do trails too. body damage doesnt matter to me. as long as it runs strong and good. hahah

pokey · Dec 22, 2006

ecsong187 said:
no i dont want jsut mud id like to do trails too. body damage doesnt matter to me. as long as it runs strong and good. hahah

It didnt use to matter to me either then I grew up and seen the writing on the wall. having a hammered up rig just shows people that you dont care for your rig or the trails. Dont believe me ask just any forest ranger.

Just so you know my first rig was a 69 K5 and I hammered the crap out of it then I got tired of fixing it all the time and went to a more trail friendly size rig. Now my friends and strangers dont glare at me for beating up the trails and having to spot me around every obstacle in the trail:booo:

welcome to web wheeling:cheer:

briejer · Dec 22, 2006

ROLL CAGE!!!! then....60's or bigger would be first on the list. I would consider 2.5 ton rockwells for a K5. Then make sure your new motor is fuel injected or propane. If you like mud, make sure to extend all your breathers and make sure your air filter is away from water. Electic fan with a cut off switch is also a good mud mod. Stay away from manual trans for the mud....you will lose your clutch after the mud packs in it. Make sure to run a huge cooler for your auto and make sure the vent it ran up high as possible. And no matter what DO NOT PUT BOGGERS ON IT!!!!!

ecsong187 · Dec 22, 2006

thanks for the help guys. roll cage you say? whats the best way to go just build one up? if you have any experience advice on how to build the cage would be very helpful. yea i dont plan to put boggers what do you reccomend? so you guys are sayin after i get the new engine and tranny to at least get some 1 ton axles and than get a roll cage? im jsut tryin to get all things in order.whats the easiest way to move all the breathers etc away from water? yea its gonna be an automatic for sure
thanks
edwin song

briejer · Dec 22, 2006

I say cage first, then axles, motor last

ecsong187 · Dec 22, 2006

ok how much is that gonna run me $ wise? and do you have some tips on what to use and how to go about building the cage?
thanks
edwin song

briejer · Dec 22, 2006

Do you have a tube bender and are you a good welder? I'm neither and paid to have my cage built. I tip over or roll multiple times most every trip out wheeling. It's good to know that I wont be injured rolling in a heavy rig.

Cage should be engineered by a fabricator with experience and made from tube.

Pipe cages have been built and held up. but it's more of a crap shoot to get consistent material. Save the cheap stuff for bumpers and skids.

There are several decent cage builders on the forum

I say $1000-$1500 could get you a decent cage

cisco · Dec 22, 2006

If the rig runs now, you should just start wheelin it. Take it easy, put around. When you come to obsticles you cant get through or over, think to yourself what mod would give you the advantage you need. Build it up slow and enjoy it, no need to go all out right out of the shoot. This will also give you time to build it how you see fit instead of how someone else would do it.

C

ecsong187 · Dec 22, 2006

yea i definately would rather pay someone to build one. who on this site do you know that builds them?
thanks
edwin

zig80toy · Dec 22, 2006

Check out this site http://offroaddesign.com/
They have a lot of good stuff for your K5.
And as for someone to build your cage, well, all fingers will point to Crash.

briejer · Dec 22, 2006

zig80toy said:
Check out this site http://offroaddesign.com/
They have a lot of good stuff for your K5.
And as for someone to build your cage, well, all fingers will point to Crash.

crash.......mike
amj.......... Andy
moto261...Dan

SN fab...Jason& Trevor
Bent metal customs....Dean
Crazy Daze...Corey

i'm sure there are a dozen others that are not coming to mind

archer1965 · Dec 22, 2006

ecsong187 said:
ofullsize is way more sturdy compared to all these small little rigs.

My Taco is about a sturdy a truck as I've owned. I've had a Bronco, Suburban, and CJ5. the Taco is the most reliable, sturdy, and trail-worthy rig I've owned.

Boxxerace · Dec 22, 2006

I do suggest you consider skipping the whole build big chevy thing over several years, wheel it, break it, realize it is big and heavy, buy expensive heavy duty stuff, wheel it, break it again pattern. It's not about you, just the reality of full size trucks.

I think many here have been there before. I set myself up with crossover steering, dana 60 / 14 bolt locked up, 32 spline this and that, 454 MPFI, Th400 + NP205, 40" tires before realizing how limiting weight and size are. I kind of knew this all along and now I plan to slap my good bits between toy framerails.

Now, lets see if I can afford the 4spd Atlas case...

So, long way about saying that learn from others mistakes. Consider one of the many great small rigs, then solid axle swap it (if needed) and lock it up and you will be amazed at what you can do!

ecsong187 · Dec 22, 2006

thanks for the tips guys. i dont really have the cash to buy a different vehicle and build it up thats why im stickin with the K5. if i was to go with a smaller rig id be lookin for an older toyota 4runner. but everyone wants way too much money for their Yotas i realize they are good trucks but still im not gonna pay $4000 for a 81 yota.
thanks
edwin song