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

Edwin, whatever you do. This hobby isn't cheap.

In the last year I have spent over $6000 on my Jeep. And that doesn't include gas, basic maintenance (oil changes etc), or all the nickle and dime stuff I have forgotten about. And my Jeep still looks like ass

Research what you do... which you are by coming here.

Basically a rig should start with a good running platform, then safety and recovery gear (Cage, winches bumpers and such).

Once you have that stuff down, you can start looking into suspension / axles / lockers / gears / tires.

One of the things I did, which I really reccomend. Is, make the rig driveable and take it out wheeling "stock" so to say. Go on a run with some equipped folks, and look at what they have and do. You will learn your rig and see what you need to do to make it better. Expierence is key in this hobby, that and money.

Remember, all those "big dogs" you see didn't build those rigs overnight. And not a one of them is "finished."
 
hmm i have a chevy 350 im painting right now then useing for a presentation for school and wil probably be for sale here next month towards the end of the month. Its bored out to like a 400 and pushing almost 400 horses
 
"pushing" 400 hp implies it is actually together. Right now your block is nothing buy pushing hot air! :) looks purdy though.
 
ecsong187 said:
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
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Psst. I got one for a G. I bet you can too. :D (88 with a running 6cyl.)
 
Boxxerace said:
"pushing" 400 hp implies it is actually together. Right now your block is nothing buy pushing hot air! :) looks purdy though.
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Good point, but when its put together (next week) it will be a mean orange machine thats for sure
 
Dont let the anti full size bullshit discourage you. I wont lie to you, sometimes you aint gonna fit! But, theres a lot of times those litle rigs cant even think about the stuff you are able to do, both in the mud and on the trails. I agree with what some folks are telling you though. Strong cage, reinforce the hell out of the frame, choose a very reliable and proven drivetrain, definately TBI or EFI, and run rockwells if you can it'll cost 1/3 the price of building dana 60's or 14 bolt axles. IMO I would run the manual tranny though, auto's are nice and easy but the damn things break, blow lines or just flat crap out unless you spend a fortune on building one. I like my sm465, its a hell of a lot tougher than an auto tranny but its your truck.:devil2:
 
thanks for all the help guys. first off im gonna be getting either a rebuilt 350 or 383 to put in my k5 bc its got 180 000 miles on it and has some small quirks to work out. after that im gonna take it on a couple runs to see what i really need to get next. Im gonna get a cage built pretty soon, and what are some tips on really reinforcing the frame so that is real strong?
 
first, box in the entire frame, start where the front clip boxing ends and go all the way past the rear hump. The chevy C chanel frames like to twist and break with abuse. Second, seam weld the front clip, they are not truly boxed, they are bent into a rectangle and then tack welded up the seam. If you complete the welds it will be far stronger. I would also fab a much stonger tranny/trans mount and turn it into a true crossmember brace.:devil2:
 
ecsong187 said:
thanks for all the help guys. first off im gonna be getting either a rebuilt 350 or 383 to put in my k5 bc its got 180 000 miles on it and has some small quirks to work out. after that im gonna take it on a couple runs to see what i really need to get next. Im gonna get a cage built pretty soon, and what are some tips on really reinforcing the frame so that is real strong?
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blazer frames like to crack right around the steering box. this area needs to be plated over. there are several mfgs out there that make ready to weld on plates or any of the fab guys listed earlier can make you one. as for which ones are best I havent seen you post up what area your from that would help in refering the fab guys. then cage and winch
 
pokey said:
blazer frames like to crack right around the steering box. this area needs to be plated over. there are several mfgs out there that make ready to weld on plates or any of the fab guys listed earlier can make you one. as for which ones are best I havent seen you post up what area your from that would help in refering the fab guys. then cage and winch
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Crap i cant rmemeber the company but they make a good kit for this! Booxerace help me out here man! (He knows the company)
 
i just sold my 85 k5 a few months ago. the simple fact is that no matter what you build or drive theres gonna be someone ready to flame you.

if i had the cash id build a 396, skip the 60/14 and go to unimogs locked ( teximog.com ) over the rockwells for the simple fact of diff clearence. trim the wheel wells, some 38's atleast, cage (tied to the frame), 465/205 clocked or dual cases, flat belly, trim your tub and add sliders, 5 point harnesses to hold you in, and a winch front and rear.

every frame will crack around the steering box unless braced and even some will when braced if beat on too hard. heres some pics and measurements on fender trimming.

a good place to go for k5 info is colorado K5
 

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The first step in fullsize building/ wheeling is to disregard any negative comments these jeepers may have. They are already brainwashed and are trying to convert you to a jeeper.:flipoff:

That Said.
Regardless of your Engine/Tranny/Axle Combo 37s' Wont get it done
you need to think 39.5 or bigger in the tire department.
 
pullUout said:
The first step in fullsize building/ wheeling is to disregard any negative comments these jeepers may have. They are already brainwashed and are trying to convert you to a jeeper.:flipoff:

That Said.
Regardless of your Engine/Tranny/Axle Combo 37s' Wont get it done
you need to think 39.5 or bigger in the tire department.
Click to expand...

Hey im a jeeper who used to have a fullsize, i still like them its just mine was a pile of crap so i got rid of it. Im not biased to either though and have little knowledge of both:redneck: hahahaha
 
thanks for the tips guys. im gonan be gettin g rebuilt 350 with less than 3,000 miles on it for $500 what a steal it has everything but the fuel pump sounds liek a steal? next im gonna look around ot ge tmy tranny rebuilt and than do some runs with my truck while i save up for a full roll cage?
thanks
edwin song
 
ecsong187 said:
thanks for the tips guys. im gonan be gettin g rebuilt 350 with less than 3,000 miles on it for $500 what a steal it has everything but the fuel pump sounds liek a steal? next im gonna look around ot ge tmy tranny rebuilt and than do some runs with my truck while i save up for a full roll cage?
thanks
edwin song
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Your gonna need tires and at least 1 locker to get you into situations where a full cage is warranted.

If you simply must have one JEGs' sells a 10 point cage kit for 73-05 trucks.
at around $250.
 

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