Chevrolet K5 Blazer Review

Good Points
Wheel Base, Power, ease and comfort while driving long distances, off road capability, looks, availability of after market upgrades, factory options,

Bad Points
Most of the following are not bad points only recommended upgrades as your time and Money permit.

Factory Auto Hubs, get rid of them, replace with Warn Brass Manuals.
early 700-r4 tranny weekness, have it rebuilt with current upgrade parts.
On lifted vehicles aquire a steering box to frame plate, many steering boxes will seperate from the frame.
Replace factory exhaust system with Flowmaster 3" or better, or 2.5" duel exhaust system.
Add an additional battery to the vehicle with the correct relays, having an Automatic rig that weighs 5600 lbs doesnt push start.
Replace the factory air filter with a K&N filter element.
Replace the PROM chip if yours has a computer.
Replace the factory 65Amp ALternator with a Minimum 94 Amp Unit.
Add a roll bar to the vehicle.
Add Rancho 9000 or RSX shocks to the vehicle
Lift 4" and add 33" tires
Add Front Diff Locker
Add Transmision Fluid Temp Guage to dash display where the clock is, or where there is not a guage, usually lower left hole.
Replace factory steal wheels with Alluminum Allow wheels, they wont bend like steel wheels offroading, they are lighter.
Add a leaf in rear springs, and add a leaf from a stock spring set into front spring set. giving it 3 in front.
Add undercarriage skid plates over fuel tank and transfer case area.
Replace interior moulding screws and hardware with stainless steal hardware.
Replace factory plastic headliner that usually fall out with a sturdy fabric or leather.
Replace clutch fan with a Flex fan, or replace with an electric fan.
Replace factory radiator with alluminum heavy core unit.
Replace stock 3.07 diff ratio to 4.11 ratio and replace dana 44, 28 spline axles with 30 spline dana 60 axles.
Replace certain Rochester carbs, with better ones or upgrade to a Carter.
Replace factory screw jack with a good hydraulic jack.

General Comments
Chevrolet K5 Blazer:

There isnt many vehicles that can stand up to my 1986 K-5 Blazer, being the Silverado model it has everything. Growing up only minutes away from the Rubicon and places like Pyramid Lake I have had many opportunities to run it pretty hard. The wheel base approx. 6" shorter than the short box pickup and the difference in weight puts it in a class of its own. The availability of after market upgrades is endless. The Vehicle comes with many different options from the factory, so if you are looking a them make sure you know what you are wanting, and look at each very carefully. For the ultimate off-road model look for whats called a CUK-V military version, usually diesel driven. My particular model came with Cruise Control, Tilt Wheel, A.C, Leather bucket seats, 4 speed Auto (700-R4), 5.7L V-8, Auto Hubs, 31.0 x 10.50 Tires, Rear Locking Diff, 31 Gal Fuel Tank, AM-FM Cassette, Full set Display guages, Full size spare tire, Power windows, locks, Wall to wall carpet, towing package including upgraded suspension components, Mag wheels, rings and caps, GM H.E.I ignition, two tone paint, removable top, duel front shocks, pin striping, NP 208 Transfer case,Rochester C.C.C fuel system, smoked rear glass, Chrome trim, mirrors, grill, bumpers etc. There isnt anywhere it wont take me, and if it wont there isnt anything else that likely will. This isnt the first 4x4 I have owned, and it takes all the points compared to all the other pick ups and compact sized suv's I have had. The newer trucks and suv's dont compare to the way detroit used to build them. If your looking for a real 4 x 4 dont screw around with little Toyotas, or Wranglers.