I’m looking at an 85 in decent shape. Has an new 383 motor and rebuilt transmission. I’m thinking about a 6” lift and some 35’s. Anybody have one? This is just a toy to haul the kids around and use during hunting season.

Awesome vehicles you will have fun

I had a '76 w 350/400 and PTO.
Poor thing rotted out, had over 200K on it and was still running fine (had transmission rebuilt).
It sucked in the woods, it was so big.
Cold in winter (too much space for just front heat).
But it hauled my crap and had room for a deer inside.
Could get my camo cold gear on while still seated behind steering wheel.
Was a good vehicle,.
Took out a doe on interstate at about 80 MPH. Hit on frame rail, so bumper grill and hood crinkled. Fender too.
Drove it 50 miles past that to get home ( tire smoked due to alignment screwed up).
Kid was in baby seat in middle of back seat, never even woke up.
Deer was a mess.

Mine was full time 4wd and no lift. Did OK, but was gas hog.
Dunno what the axle ratio was.

Mine was a '73, the last year of the 1 piece fiberglass roof, I think. I saw it on a dealer's repair lot. It had a 327 and a 3 on the tree, the only one I've ever seen on a Blazer. The linkage was worn out and they couldn't get the parts to fix it. I found a floor shift conversion kit that I knew would fit and made them an absurdly low offer. They grabbed it. It had about 100k on it. It took me 2 hrs to install the shift kit and I ran it another 100k. Then I sold it for the same price that I'd paid for it years before. I had a ball with that thing. It seriously needed a 4 speed but by using the low range to get moving sometimes, it never failed to get me there.

I had a '74. Dad had several '73-'79. Mine was lifted with a hopped up 350 and a set of Super Swampers. Never had it stuck despite trying just about every weekend.

Would own one as a play toy again.

Been around Blazers, Prospectors and Broncos. All fun wagons.

Okay rigs. Hated deer hunting out of one, kill a deer then have that nasty stinky bastard in passenger compartment with you.

I'd recommend against a 6" lift on a Blazer. Will likely need new driveshafts and brake lines, and that much lift makes the vehicle taller than necessary (i.e. easier to roll). You can fit 35s with less height. With that being said, I wouldn't recommend 35s on stock 1/2 ton axles, because of gearing and lack of axle strength. If swapping to heavier duty axles, go for it.

75 was the last year of the full top Blazer. Someone must've swapped in a 327, if that's truly what was in your Blazer. IIRC, 1969 was the last year for the 327.

You're right about the top. '73 was the 1st year of the full top, not the last. It was a 327 for sure. It's possible that it wasn't the original but that 3 spd transmission was an odd one, too. I sold the Blazer with 200k and that was a lot of miles for an engine back then. It's possible that the engine was much newer.

73 was the first year of the new body style. The 69-72 Blazers had a full fiberglass top, as well.

Had a 72 350 automatic. Loved that truck. Picked it up with a plow in 81 for $3500 and 12,000 miles on the odometer. Only problem lack of parts by 81. Wanted a step-bumper but they were crazy rare. 73 stuff wouldn’t fit. It was a tank.

Dad had several, they were tanks.
30 gallon fuel tank centered in the back.
Fill that sucker up if you knew you needed traction.
High center was the only thing that ever stopped us.


Guess who got to lay in the dirt and dig the thing free?

Had a '75 for several years back in the day. With a good set of tires, it went everywhere I wanted to go in some very muddy country in east-central Kansas and the montmorillonite clays of Wyoming's Thunder Basin.

I have an '80 K5 in my fleet. IMHO one of the better years, as it has the NP205 cast iron transfer case and non-overdrive auto trans that actually live, unlike the 700junk4s they started using in 1982.

I’ll be the second to recommend against a 6” lift. Besides being too much tire for stock 1/2ton running gear with 35”s it’s going to be way top heavy. I’d be running no taller than 33”s, preferably skinny 33”s if you can find them and either a 2” lift to fit them or if it has any rust just trimming fenders with a sawzall. If it’s got a TH350 behind that 383 budget for a replacement, doubly so if it’s got the OD 700R4. I think some of those had 10 bolt rearends and they’l be a weak link especially if you run big tires.

Overall it’ll be fun for you and the kids if you like to wrench on stuff, not so much if you don’t or can’t. 34 year old 4x4 will require some wrenching sooner or later. But it’ll be good for you and the kids to spend time together and teach them how to work on stuff. Plus you’ll get to have fun together out wheeling it and tearing it up again.

PS like somebody said above it sucks hauling a dead deer inside with you, especially with the heater going. If it’s not a serious wheeling trip to get to where you hunt look into a receiver mounted cargo rack you can strap your deer onto.

My '70 K5 Blazer is the reason I've never bought another Chevrolet. Cold with that uninsulated fiberglass top, top heavy, over sprung, short coupled, rode like a lumber wagon, rusted badly and drank gas like it had a hole in the tank. Last straw was coming down a slippery hill backwards with the plow attached being that light in the back end.

Correct. The 307 replaced the 327 during the 1969 model year.

I had a 1971. It was a blast on pavement and dirt.

Bad years for any American vehicle. They all seemed to come pre-rusted. Quality in general was at a low point.
EPA had totally f'd things up.
Probably a gutless 350, automatic, with full time four wheel. There were a lot of those and pickups like th st around here.

Ford it seemed, did a bit better (not much) but most of those trucks were lock out hubs and 4-speeds.
With the gutless engines of that time, it helped.


Dad would only buy 4 speed, lock out hub vehicles.
A cousin had a 400, auto, with full time.
A bobtail semi does much better on fuel.

It is easy to swap out both the front and rear ends out , get them from a 2500 truck, as long as you are lifting it, put new brake,
And fuel lines on while you are under it.

I’ll keep that in mind for sure. Thanks.

I really just want the ability to run 35’s. I’ll have to look at what lift and wheel configuration will get me there.

That’s my favorite body style, but the square body is a close second. That’s a nice rig.

Love it!

Why are all the car companies turning their good SUV's into cars?

I had a '72 Blazer with a 350 V8 4 bbl. carb and 4 spd. transmission, it was a great truck. Last year of that body style, I don't like the later ones a buddy had a '73 and it was a POS. The car companies have turned their 4WD's into cars because so many are driven by "sidewalk 4wheelers" and soccer moms who require the cushy amenities.

Because 4x4's cost more too make,
are harder too assemble,
weigh more, so.....
slower acceleration and,
less MPG.

And,

The dipshits that buy the vast majority of them "need" them, to drive on
the highway when there might be a little snow, thats plowed and salted/cindered.
They never realize that they are driving a reconfigured minivan,
That's not as good of a people/cargo mover as a minivan.

yeah, but.... the minivan don't have that cool '4X4' sticker on the side.

The 4x4 has been replaced by 'AWD' and the frame drags the ground when you get into a bumpy parking lot.

Had a 72 and you described it perfectly. Couldn't hold a good downshift to the current 4Runner TRD Pro. As Sam says, "These are the good old days."

Had a 70, 71, and 89. Loved them. Wish I had room for another project. If I did I'd get a 73-75 model.



The reason you get a K5 is the same reason you get an old muscle car. Nostalgia. Nothing made in the 60s-80s is as functional as you can get today, but sometimes it's about style.

I would be inclined to disagree about not being as functional.

With rock crawling being an exception, nobody that builds a hard core 4x4 builds
something that is like a 4-runner. And your examples are a special version.


The Blazers were all designed to be off road vehicles, it's why they weren't popular like today's
"suv's".

Now as for comfort, drivability, ride, modern convience, little routine maintance.........
modern is the cats are.

But for tough cast iron, heavy duty springs, strong solid front axle, hook a heavy trailer, or tree,
to it and pull it through the mud and do it daily?

I would choose a Blazer, Bronco, or Ramcharger.

Rose colored glasses taint the view. I have acquaintances that use today’s trucks hard. They beat on them for 150,000 to 200,000. On the highway and construction jobs and for the most part they hold up.

The K5 was a sharp looking vehicle. It also was a tin can that would mame or kill you quickly in a serious accident. As would most of the others mentioned.

Friends had Bronco’s. Which was another tin can. They would crush your heart with the steering wheel in a head on, take off you head when it rolled and the engine had the capability to come into the front seat and take off your legs. The windshield folded up like the proverbial $2. Barlow, and you could almost hear them rust while you bounced down the road. Yet some think it is better than what is being made today?

Maybe it DID have a hole in the tank!!! LOL!!

Mom sure liked hers, until it rusted to nothing. That took about five years.

From what the word on the street is, 1999 and back a few years are the sh~tts , big blocks, great styling and air bags. Lots of winners out there.

I have a '71 K5 sitting out back that hasn't run for several years. It has a good motor and transmission but needs rear ring and pinion. I'd like to get it running again but it needs quite a bit of rust repair and I'm struggling with the decision to throw a bunch of money at it.

Just don't see them much anymore. I had a 87 or 88 in highschool. Navy blue with navy blue top. Ran 33in tires on it easily.

Perfect inside and out with fresh paint and no rust when I bought it in '92 with original motor @ 180k miles. 27 years and two motors later, it's a little tired

For sale? Old man had one just like it growing up, love to have it back

My wife would love to see it go away I promised her I'd sell it rather than restore it when I bought this '72 K10. That was eight years ago and I can't seem to part with it - I'm telling her now it will be a retirement project. I do have a guy here locally that's been trying to talk me out of it for several years.

I had a 1970 K5 back in the day, with the 350 and three on the floor. Bright yellow with the white top. Its long gone. Now I have an 84, with a 6.2 diesel and the Turbo Hydromatic 400. Lockers. The interior floor is all coated with bedliner. I run 33-12.50's on it.

Yep. I had a 75 Model right after HS. It had the full top. That was a heavy sombitch to remove!!! Mine had a 350 and the auto tranny. Had to replace that big ass rear window twice and it was a pain in the ass! It was a great ole truck for spotlighting coyotes and chasing quail at the Ranch with the top removed. Sold that sob after a lady t-boned me at a red Light and it reared up on both driver side wheels. It almost caused a roll over, and with the top off, it scared the schitt outta me. 🤠

I will be there in........4 hours.


Trailer and folding cash money!

Sounds sweet. Pics?

That sounds like an ex military Blazer.

THAT is a nice pickup.

My former Auto student Jay, owner of Tucson Differential, here in Tucson, has a 70s Blazer. He put in a roller rocker big block along with 3/4 ton axles. Dana 60 front and 14 bolt rear. 205 transfer case 411s with a detroit locker in rear and power lock posi in front. What a beast!

There are quite a few of these older Blazers running around Tucson and they don't have ANY rust!

While these are not blazers they are closely related:

I had a 73 GMC suburban with 4 speed and 205 transfer case. Switched out axles to 3/4 added locker and power lock posi. Ran it into the ground with over 300,000. Body kept cracking, we chased welds forever.

Currently have a 87 heavy duty 3/4 ton suburban with turbo 400 (somewhat rare). IIRC 88 was the last year they made Suburbans with straight front axles and turbo 400s. This vehicle has a 14 bolt rear with locker (took the 73's replacement axle with me) To get the emergency brake cable to connect to old diff had to switch out backing plates. Ended up with huge 3 1/2 x 13 shoes and monster drums. This one has AC and throttle body. Now at 428,000 miles. No rust. Body is holding up nicely too. I did have to replace both fenders due to inside cracks but nothing like that 73.

I realize these vehicles are dinosaurs with poor gas mileage. However if they get scratched or dented it is no big deal. Most parts are still available with visits to junk yards for the discontinued parts. Tucson's junk yards are great for rust free stuff.

It was repainted a few years ago. A bit scruffer looking in recent days.

I used to have an '86 Suburban. I totally wore it out. The engine was going, I'd replaced the a/t once and was close to wearing out the 2d one. The seats were totally shot. The body was decent, though, only a few dings and very little rust. I parked it in front of my house with a for sale sign and a high price. A guy grabbed it. He'd done a complete custom rebuild on his '86, crate engine, new tranny, all new interior, camo paint. Then he rolled it. He was looking for a good body for all the new stuff he'd put in the wrecked one. He was ecstatic to find mine. If I'd known he was coming, I could have doubled the price and he still would have grabbed it.

Still kicking myself for letting this on get away a few years back.

If anyone needs a Suburban 4x4 body, I have TWO that I am going to junk. Both AZ vehicles, zero rust, one a 1986 & the other 1991.

Yup!