More Klassy K5 (Blazer) Episodes
Truck Tech Builds
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Automotive Workwear
The Official Workwear of Truck Tech
The Industrial Depot
INDUSTRIAL DEPOT - FASTENERS, HARDWARE, AND SHOP SUPPLIES
Wooly's Off-Road
Wooly's Off Road Park in Lynnville, TN
Video Transcript
(NARRATOR)>> SHORT WHEEL BASE AND BIG POWER MAKE THE CHEVY KFIVE BLAZER ONE HOT TRUCK. WE'RE GONNA TRY TO TEAR OURS UP BEFORE WE COMPLETELY TEAR IT DOWN. IT'S THE BEGINNING OF PROJECT "KLASSY KFIVE" AND IT STARTS RIGHT NOW.
(JEREMY)>> HEY GUYS, WELCOME TO TRUCK TECH. YOU KNOW EVERY SO OFTEN IT'S NICE TO GET OUT OF THE SHOP AND HAVE A LITTLE FUN OUTDOORS, AND TODAY WE'LL BE BEGINNING A PROJECT THAT WILL ALLOW US TO DO MORE OF THAT ONCE WE'RE FINISHED.
(LT)>> BUT BEFORE WE TEAR INTO OUR '89 CHEVY KFIVE BLAZER WE THOUGHT WE'D REMIND OURSELVES JUST HOW CAPABLE THESE FULL SIZE GM TRUCKS WERE BACK IN THE DAY. SO WE'LL GET IT OFF THE TRAILER AND IN THE WOODS.
(JEREMY)>> IF YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING POWERNATION THROUGH THE YEARS THEN YOU RECOGNIZE THIS PLACE. THIS IS WOOLY'S OFF ROAD PARK LOCATED OFF OF I-65 IN GILES COUNTY TENNESSEE, AND IT'S GROWN CONSIDERABLY SINCE OUR SHOWS FIRST CAME OUT HERE IN THE EARLY 2000'S.
(LT)>> YOU KNOW WHETHER YOU HAVE A BONE STOCK TRUCK, AN ATV, A SIDE BY SIDE, OR A FULL BLOWN OFF ROAD TUBE BUGGY, THERE'S TRAILS THAT'LL FIT EVERYTHING HERE. SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND SOMETHING THAT FITS WITH OUR KFIVE BLAZER.
(JEREMY)>> NOW LT HAS NEVER DONE ANY SOUTHERN WHEELING, RIGHT?
(LT)>> WELL YOU KNOW I LIVED OUT WEST. I'VE SPENT SOME TIME IN THE DUNES AND IN THE DESERT, BUT THIS'LL BE A FIRST FOR ME.
(JEREMY)>> WELL I CAN TELL YOU ONE THING.
(LT)>> WHAT'S THAT?
(JEREMY)>> YOU'RE GONNA GET WET, AND YOU'RE GONNA GET MUDDY, AND THOSE NEW SHINY BOOTS YOU'VE GOT ON PROBABLY AREN'T GONNA MAKE IT.
(LT)>> WELL YOU KNOW WHAT, LET'S BREAK'EM IN.
(JEREMY)>> MAN, A LOT OF TRAILS OUT HERE.
(LT)>> THERE ARE. THAT'S NICE, WE'LL GO DOWN THERE.
(JEREMY)>> LOOKS LIKE FUN.
(LT)>> THIS THING REALLY PROBABLY NEED SOME DIFFERENT GEARS IN IT WHEN WE GET INTO THE AXLE PORTION. YOU KNOW THAT LITTLE 10 BOLT? THAT MAY NOT LIKE THE TIRES THAT WE HAVE IN MIND FOR THIS THING.
(JEREMY)>> WE'RE NOT EVEN DOING ANYTHING CRAZY YET AND YOU CAN TELL IT DEFINITELY NEEDS GEARS.
(LT)>> WOO HOO!
(JEREMY)>> LAY IN IT, GO! [ laughing ]
(JEREMY)>> HEY MAN THAT DID PRETTY GOOD. SPIN IT AROUND. THERE YOU GO! ALL RIGHT, EAT BABY! COME ON TRUCK! THERE IT GOES! THE FIVE POINT SEVEN LITER TBI 350 HASN'T BEEN TOUCHED SINCE IT LEFT FLINT, MICHIGAN, 28 YEARS AGO. THE SOLID AXLES FRONT AND REAR ARE ADEQUATE FOR THE POWER LEVELS IT PUTS OUT, AND THE SHORT WHEEL BASE CAN REALLY GET YOU IN SOME TIGHT TRAILS WITH EASE.
(LT)>> I'LL LET JEREMY TAKE OVER FOR A RUN DOWN THE MOUNTAIN TO ONE OF THE MORE TECHNICAL TRAILS. THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY CALLED ENTRANCE EXAM, WHICH MEANS IF YOU CAN'T GET YOUR TRUCK UP THESE ROCKS... HARD RIGHT! ...YOU MIGHT AS WELL... GO, GO, GO! ...CALL IT A DAY. JUST KEEP COMING UP AND PASSENGER SIDE A LITTLE BIT. SEE IF WE CAN SQUEEZE IN BETWEEN THESE TWO TREES.
GO HIGH, GO HIGH!
WHERE YOU GOING?
(JEREMY)>> IT'S NOT WHERE I'M GOING, IT'S WHERE THE MUD'S TAKING ME.
(LT)>> WHAT'D THAT POOR TREE DO TO YOU? ALL RIGHT, HIT IT AGAIN FROM RIGHT THERE. TRY TO HIT YOUR WHEELS A LITTLE BIT TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE. JUST NAIL IT! [ engine revving ]
(LT)>> YEAH!
(JEREMY)>> AS I WHIPPED AROUND TO TRY A HARDER PART OF THE SAME HILL I LEANED INTO A TREE AND IT TOOK A LITTLE BODY DAMAGE. YOU CAN GUESS WHO'S FIXING THIS.
(LT)>> THAT WAY A LITTLE BIT. HARD LEFT, HARD LEFT, THROTTLE UP!
WHOA! NOW SURELY YOU CAN SEE THAT TREE, RIGHT?
YES SIR!
MAN YOU'RE NOT GONNA LIKE THIS. IT'S A LITTLE BIT TWEAKED.
YOU GOT THAT BUMPER PRETTY GOOD.
(JEREMY)>> I KNOW I HEARD A CRUNCH. SO WE KNOW WE'VE GOT THIS. OH MAN, LOOK AT THE HOOD GAP.
(LT)>> YOU PUSHED THE FRONT END OVER A LITTLE BIT. BUMPER'S TWEAKED, HIT THE FENDER.
(JEREMY)>> SO THE BUMPER WENT INTO THE FENDER AND WE CAVED THE DOOR IN.
(LT)>> YEAH MAN, YOU HIT THE BUMPER AND TWEAKED IT THAT WAY ALONG WITH THE CORE SUPPORT.
(JEREMY)>> DROVE IT RIGHT INTO THE FENDER. LOOK AT THE DOOR. WELL THAT'S WHAT THE CRUNCH WAS. YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT DOESN'T BOTHER ME THAT BAD CAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF FUN TODAY. FOR THIS TO BE A STOCK TRUCK LIKE IT IS AND HANDLE EVERY THING WE THREW AT IT BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A TRIAL RIG. SO FOR IT TO TAKE THAT HILL, THAT'S IMPRESSIVE. SO YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT DOESN'T BOTHER ME THAT BAD.
(LT)>> YOU KNOW WHEN YOU SAY ROCK CRAWLING, THERE WASN'T ANY CRAWLING ABOUT THAT. THAT WAS JUST TO THE FLOOR BOUNCING. [ engine revving ]
(NARRATOR)>> NEXT SHE COMES APART.
(LT)>> WOO HOO!
(JEREMY)>> GET IT OFF MY BOOT.
(JEREMY)>> WE'RE BACK ON TRUCK TECH. AFTER HAVING SOME FUN OUT ON THE TRAIL... MAKE LT DO THE NASTY WORK.
(LT)>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S FIRE IT UP!
(JEREMY)>> ...WE'LL ACCESS THE DAMAGE AND CLEAN UP OUR '89 BLAZER BEFORE WE START TO TEAR HER DOWN.
(LT)>> YOU KNOW YOU'RE THE PAINTER. YOU SHOULD BE DOING THIS.
(JEREMY)>> NOW WHAT MOMMA SAYS IS DON'T PRESSURE WASH NO PAINT, CAUSE IT'S NOT GOOD FOR IT.
(LT)>> YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT CLEANLINESS. THEY'RE NOT KIDDING. THERE'S NOTHING WORSE THAN WORKING ON A DIRTY ENGINE BAY. IT'S JUST THE PRICE OF HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF FUN IS ALL. NOT A BIG DEAL, JUST A LITTLE WATER, LITTLE MUD.
(JEREMY)>> I LOOK FINE.
(LT)>> WE HAD A BLAST WITH OUR KFIVE AND ONLY SUFFERED A LITTLE BIT OF MINOR BODY DAMAGE. WE GOT IT BACK IN THE SHOP AND ALL CLEANED. NOW ONE OF THE MAIN POINTS BEHIND OUR WHEELING EXPEDITION WAS TO FIND ANY WEAK LINKS WITH THIS KFIVE.
(JEREMY)>> AND WHAT WE FOUND IS WE DEFINITELY NEED MORE POWER, MORE GEARING, OBVIOUSLY A BIGGER LIFT, AND MORE AGGRESSIVE TIRES WILL CERTAINLY HELP, AND OF COURSE A WINNING PAINT JOB, AND WE'RE GONNA DO ALL THIS WITHOUT CUTTING OUR KFIVE UP.
(LT)>> THAT'S RIGHT, WE KNOW YOU GUYS WOULD JUST CRUCIFY US IF WE ENDED UP CHOPPING THE FENDERS ON A RIG AS NICE AS THIS. SO WE'RE BASICALLY GONNA TREAT IT TO A FULL BLOWN RESTORATION WITH A COUPLE OF CUSTOM TOUCHES ALONG THE WAY.
(JEREMY)>> THAT'S RIGHT, AND BY THE END OF THE DAY WE'LL HAVE OUR "KLASSY KFIVE" TORE DOWN.
(LT)>> TO THE TOOL BOX.
(JEREMY)>> I'LL WAIT HERE ON YOU.
WE'LL START UP FRONT AND WORK OUR WAY BACK, AND BY THE END OF THE DAY HAVE SEPARATED THE BODY FROM THE FRAME.
(LT)>> THE SQUARE BODY IS ONE OF TODAY'S MOST POPULAR GM TRUCKS TO BUILD. INTRODUCED WITH THE 1973 MODEL YEAR, IT'S THE THIRD GENERATION OF THE "C" AND "K" SERIES TRUCKS, FOLLOWING THE '60 TO '66, AND '67 TO '72. SQUARE BODIES SAW SEVERAL REVISIONS DURING THEIR RUN FROM THE FACTORY. OVER THE YEARS YOU COULD GET MANY DIFFERENT ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION COMBINATIONS, RANGING FROM THE ENTRY LEVEL 250 CUBIC INCH STRAIGHT SIX, TO THE BIG BLOCK 454, AND EVEN A SIX POINT TWO LITER DIESEL. 1987 WAS A SPECIAL YEAR BECAUSE IT WAS THE LAST YEAR OF THE SQUARE BODY PICK UP FOR C-10'S AND K-10'S, BUT THE FIRST YEAR GM OFFERED FUEL INJECTION IN A HALF TON PICK UP, MAKING '87'S A ONE YEAR ONLY TRUCK.
(JEREMY)>> THERE'S A COUPLE OF WAYS YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH THE HARDWARE WHEN DISASSEMBLING A VEHICLE. SINCE WE PLAN TO REUSE THIS FENDER I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND RUN ALL OF THE BOLTS BACK IN. SO THAT WAY I'LL BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THEM, AND WHEN WE SEND THIS THING OFF TO THE BLASTER OUR BOLTS WILL GET CLEANED UP BUT WE WON'T SPEND AN HOUR ON THE WIRE WHEEL.
(LT)>> NOW THIS FENDER ON THE OTHER HAND WE'RE NOT GONNA REUSE. IT'S GOT SOME BODY DAMAGE AND THEY'RE INEXPENSIVE ENOUGH TO REPLACE. SO RATHER THAN GOING AND SCREWING A BUNCH OF BOLTS INTO THIS FENDER AND HAVING IT STORED AROUND THE SHOP FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT MONTHS WHILE WE WAIT TO REASSEMBLE THE TRUCK, I LIKE TO TAKE A PLASTIC BAG AND CLEARLY LABEL IT WITH THE NAME OF THE PROJECT, LOCATION OF THE BOLTS, AND A DESCRIPTION. NOW IT MIGHT SEEM SIMPLE BUT IT'LL SAVE YOU SO MUCH TIME WHEN IT COMES TO REASSEMBLING A PROJECT CAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO PAWING THROUGH A BUCKET OF BOLTS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WENT WHERE. LET'S FACE IT, THERE'S A LOT OF HARDWARE ON A TRUCK LIKE THIS.
(JEREMY)>> THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT FENDER IS IN GREAT SHAPE. SO IT'LL GET REUSED. NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE, SINCE I HAD A MOMENTARY LAPSE OF MY SPOTTER ON THE TRAIL, WE'LL CALL LMC TRUCK TO GET A REPLACEMENT.
(LT)>> THROW THAT ONE IN THE SCRAP, IT'S RUSTY.
(JEREMY)>> A LITTLE MORE CHEVY BLAZER HISTORY. IN 1988 HALF TON TRUCKS WERE UPDATED TO THE GMT 400 PLATFORM BUT THE SQUARE BODY LIVED ON WITH THE KFIVE BLAZER AND JIMMY, SUBURBAN, AND ONE TON PICK UP TRUCKS, WHICH FINALLY GOT KILLED OFF IN 1991, ENDING AN 18 YEAR RUN FOR ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC TRUCKS IN CHEVROLET'S HISTORY. THERE ARE PLANS TO BRING THE BLAZER BACK IN 2018 AS A CROSSOVER BETWEEN THE EQUINOX AND THE TRAVERSE. WE SHALL SEE.
(LT)>> SIMPLE AS THAT.
(NARRATOR)>> NEXT, RUST IN PEACE.
(JEREMY)>> OH I FOUND SOME MORE LT.
(LT)>> SO DID YOU SEE THAT TREE OR DID YOU JUST KIND OF AIM FOR IT?
(JEREMY)>> MY SPOTTER WAS SUPPOSED TO SEE THAT TREE.
(LT)>> WE'RE BACK ON TRUCK TECH IN THE MIDDLE OF TEARING DOWN OUR '89 KFIVE BLAZER IN HOPES OF GETTING THE BODY OFF THE FRAME BY THE END OF THE DAY. WE'VE GOT BIG PLANS FOR THIS TRUCK BUT BECAUSE IT'S IN SUCH GOOD SHAPE WE'LL BE REUSING A LOT OF WHAT WE TAKE OFF.
[ drill spinning ]
(JEREMY)>> I TAKE ONE OF THESE OUT AND IT TAKES ABOUT EVERYTHING I HAVE NOT TO THROW IT ACROSS THE SHOP.
WHEN TEARING DOWN A VEHICLE HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT PARTS YOU WANT TO ORDER NEW OR WHAT YOU WANT TO RESTORE? WELL WHAT I LIKE TO DO IS MAKE A LIST. I'LL WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING I PULL OFF THE VEHICLE OF WHAT WE WANT TO TRY AND GET AND WHAT WE THINK WE CAN RESTORE, LIKE THIS DOOR HANDLE FOR INSTANCE. IT'S PITTED UP. WE COULD TAKE THE TIME TO TEAR IT DOWN, SEND IT TO THE CHROME SHOP, AND PROBABLY COST ANYWHERE FROM $100 TO A COUPLE HUNDRED BUCKS TO RECHROME THEM, WHEN WE CAN BUY ONE FOR A FRACTION OF THAT, LIKE THIS DOOR LATCH. WE COULD CLEAN THAT UP AND REUSE IT, SAME WITH THE LOCKS AND THE REGULATOR. SO THIS'LL LET YOU KNOW UP FRONT HOW MUCH MONEY YOU'RE GONNA SPEND IN PARTS ON A RESTORATION AND NOT ONLY THAT, WHAT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE CAUSE SOME PARTS YOU MAY HAVE TO RESTORE. JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND.
EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING TODAY IS TYPICAL OF A FRAME OFF RESTORATION, AND ONCE WE GET THE CAB BACK FROM THE MEDIA BLASTER IT WILL BE IN BARE METAL. TAKING YOUR TIME IN THE TEARDOWN STAGE WILL MAKE REASSEMBLY GO WAY SMOOTHER. THAT INCLUDES BAGGING AND TAGGING ALL OF THE FASTENERS AND CAREFULLY STORING ALL THE BIGGER STUFF.
(LT)>> NOW THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT CAR GUYS EVERYWHERE FEAR DURING A RESTORATION, ESPECIALLY ON A VEHICLE WITH A REMOVABLE TOP THAT TENDS TO LEAK, LIKE ON THIS KFIVE. NOW AS WE PEEL BACK THE CARPET I SEE A LITTLE BIT OF RUST, AND THIS INSULATION HERE IS DAMP. IT JUST HOLDS THE MOISTURE, BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY PRETTY SOLID. FOR THE MOST PART IT'S JUST SURFACE RUST, BUT WE HAVE A FEELING WE'LL FIND A LOT MORE AS THE PROJECT PROGRESSES. SHOULD WE BE WEARING THOSE HAZMAT SUITS?
(JEREMY)>> PROBABLY!
(LT)>> WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE WHAT'S BACK HERE.
(JEREMY)>> YEAH WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT RUST GOING ON HERE BUT THAT'S NO SURPRISE. WE SAW THAT WHEN WE PICKED THE TRUCK UP, BUT AS NOTORIOUS AS THE KFIVES ARE FOR RUSTING OUT I'D SAY WE'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.
OH I FOUND SOME MORE LT. [ drill spinning ]
(LT)>> WOO HOO! [ drill spinning ]
(JEREMY)>> HOW ARE YOU GONNA STEER THE TRUCK?
(LT)>> FLINTSTONE STYLE BABY!
(JEREMY)>> THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS THROW THESE PARTS IN THE DUMPSTER BECAUSE I PROMISE YOU THROUGH THE REBUILD OF A TRUCK YOU'LL NEED TO REFERENCE THESE PARTS. NOW EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GONNA REPLACE MOST OF THIS WITH NEW STUFF THERE ARE PARTS WE CAN FRESHEN UP AND REUSE, LIKE THIS HOOD HINGE. WE'LL THROW IT IN THE BLASTER, FRESH COAT OF PAINT, AND SAVE A LITTLE DOUGH.
(JEREMY)>> WHEN IT COMES TO BUYING A NEW OR USED CAR OR TRUCK YOU WANT TO BUY SOMETHING THAT'S MECHANICALLY SOUND, BUT JUST AS IMPORTANT TO MOST PEOPLE IS BUYING SOMETHING THAT WILL LOOK GOOD FOR YEARS TO COME, AND THE OLD ADAGE IS TRUE. YOU CAN'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER. SURE, THE BODY PANELS MAY APPEAR FINE ON THE OUTSIDE BUT HOW CAN YOU BE SURE THAT IT HASN'T BEEN WRECKED OR PAINTED? BODY FILLER IS TOTALLY FINE IF IT'S USED PROPERLY, BUT THERE ARE GUYS OUT THERE NOT QUITE AS TRUSTWORTHY AS YOU OR ME WHO WILL ABUSE IT JUST TO MAKE A QUICK SELL. SO INSTEAD OF PROPERLY WORKING THE METAL ON A REPAIR AREA OR CUTTING OUT THE RUST ON AN OLD CLASSIC, THEY'LL JUST MUD IT UP AND FORCE THE NEW OWNER TO DEAL WITH IT. NOW I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT THAT TO BE YOU. SO I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A FEW TIPS ON HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF WHEN IT COMES KNOWING WHAT'S UNDER THAT PAINT JOB. THE FIRST IS VISUAL. TAKE A LOOK DOWN THE LENGTH OF THE TRUCK. IS THE FINISH CONSISTENT AND EVEN? WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO WAVINESS IN THE PANEL. ALSO LOOK FOR SAND SCRATCHES. ANOTHER DEAD GIVEAWAY IS DO THE PANELS MATCH IN COLOR, BUT ANOTHER THING YOU WANT TO BE SURE YOU CHECK OUT ARE THE DOOR GAPS. ARE THEY CONSISTENT AND EVEN? A LOT OF TIMES IF A VEHICLE'S HAD WORK YOU CAN SEE IT. YOU JUST NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS. NOW YOU'LL ALSO SEE A LOT OF OLD TIMERS TAPPING ON THE METAL. NOW THEY'RE LETTING THE PANEL TALK TO THEM. THEY'RE LISTENING FOR FILLER OR RUST. NOW DOWN LOW WHERE WE KNOW WE HAVE RUST YOU CAN HEAR IT SOUNDS DEAD. IT'S NOT REALLY RINGING OUT AT YOU. AS WE COME UP, YOU CAN HEAR HOW SOLID THAT IS WHERE THE METAL IS RINGING OUT. THIS IS HOW WE KNOW WE HAVE GOOD METAL. NOW NOT A VERY SCIENTIFIC WAY TO DO IT BUT IN A PINCH IT WORKS. AN INEXPENSIVE TOOL YOU CAN USE TO CHECK FOR FILLER IS A MAGNET. ON OUR 1930 FORD MODELA PICK UP WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T DO THIS TEST BECAUSE IT'S 80 YEARS OLD AND IT NEEDS A RESTORATION, BUT IT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE. YOU WANT TO TAKE A LIGHT WEIGHT MAGNET AND COVER IT WITH FUZZY VELCRO. THIS IS TO PROTECT THE PAINT SO YOU DON'T SCRATCH IT. IF IT STICKS AND YOU HAVE FILLER THERE YOU KNOW IT'S PROBABLY WITHIN TOLERANCE, BUT IF IT DOESN'T STICK YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF FILLER THERE. NOW THIS TELLS ME THERE'S PROBABLY MORE THAN A QUARTER INCH OF FILLER IN THAT PANEL. NOW ONTO THE REAL TOOLS. THIS IS AN ELECTRONIC THICKNESS GAUGE AND IT MEASURES IN MILLS. A MILL IS ABOUT AS THICK AS A SHEET OF TYPING PAPER, AND AN OEM PAINT JOB MEASURES OUT BETWEEN ABOUT THREE AND FIVE MILLS. SO THIS PANEL'S ACTUALLY IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SPEND $400 BUCKS ON ONE OF THESE YOU CAN SPEND ABOUT $80 ON ONE OF THESE FILLER DETECTIVES. IT MEASURES FROM ZERO ALL THE WAY UP TO A QUARTER OF AN INCH. ALL YOU DO IS PRESS THE BUTTON AND IT'LL TELL YOU EXACTLY HOW MUCH MATERIAL'S ON YOUR PANEL. ALL OF THIS IS JUST SAFE INSURANCE SO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE BUYING. [ beeping ]
(LT)>> WINDSHIELDS IN MODERN VEHICLES ARE ACTUALLY HELD TO THE BODY WITH A URETHANE ADHESIVE, BUT IN THIS STYLE OF PICK UP TRUCK IT'S ACTUALLY HELD IN JUST BY A RUBBER GASKET AND A LOCKING STRIP. NOW WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA TRY TO GET THIS GLASS OUT WITHOUT BREAKING IT. I PUT THE ODDS AT ABOUT 50-50. THE GASKET'S NICE AND SOFT, SO I THINK WE'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
THE TRICK IS YOU JUST WANT TO PUT SLOW, STEADY PRESSURE AS YOU WORK THE RUBBER BACK AND FORTH. ONCE WE GET THESE TOP CORNERS OUT WE'RE GOLDEN. THIS LAMINATED STUFF YOU CAN PUT QUITE A BIT OF PRESSURE ON IT. AH, THERE IT IS!
(JEREMY)>> GOT IT?
(LT)>> YEP!
(JEREMY)>> THAT'S WHY YOU WANT TO PULL OUT A WINDSHIELD WHEN YOU PAINT A VEHICLE BECAUSE IF YOU PAINT IT WHILE IT'S IN, YOU TAPE UP TO IT, YOU CAN SEE THAT PAINT EDGE AND WHERE IT'S ALREADY CHIPPING, THAT'LL EVENTUALLY CHIP AWAY AND HAVE TO REPAINT IT.
(LT)>> BACK UP A LITTLE BIT.
[ drill spinning ]
(JEREMY)>> YOU KNOW LT, THIS FRAME LOOKS REALLY GOOD. I BET THE MOST ABUSE IT'S EVER TAKEN IS WHAT WE GAVE IT, BUT I DON'T SEE ANY SIGNS OF ANY KINKS, NO CRACKS ANYWHERE, AND IT'S EVEN STILL WEARING SOME OF THIS ORIGINAL PAINT. IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD.
(LT)>> YEAH THIS FRAME IS DEFINITELY GOOD, STRONG FOUNDATION FOR WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO START AND YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH YOU HIT THE TREE UP FRONT, THE FRAME LOOKS STRAIGHT. SO I THINK WE'RE GOOD THERE. SO WHAT DID WE LEARN WHEN WE'RE OFF ROAD? WE DEFINITELY NEED TO DO SOME UPGRADES TO THIS DRIVETRAIN.
(JEREMY)>> THAT'S RIGHT, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?
(LT)>> YOU KNOW, AXLES, WE DEFINITELY NEED BETTER GEARS AND STRONGER PARTS. SO PROBABLY LIKE A 14 BOLT OUT BACK, DANA 60 UP FRONT, AND WE DEFINITELY NEED MORE POWER TOO.
(JEREMY)>> YEAH, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I'M THINKING A BIG BLOCK.
(LT)>> DEFINITELY BIG BLOCKS ARE NICE. MAYBE A FOURL-80 TRANS, LIKE A 208 TRANSFER CASE, CROSSOVER STEERING. YOU KNOW, BASICALLY JUST MAKE EVERYTHING BIGGER, STRONGER, AND TOUGHER.
(JEREMY)>> IF WE'D HAVE HAD THAT ON THE TRAIL WE MAY HAVE DONE A LITTLE BETTER. LET'S GET THIS THING OUT OF HERE.
(LT)>> OH YEAH, BIGGER TIRES TOO.
(JEREMY)>> YEAH, DEFINITELY!
(LT)>> MAYBE SOME 44'S?
(JEREMY)>> 44'S!
(LT)>> MAYBE NOT THAT BIG.
(JEREMY)>> THE CAB IS IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE TOO. THE FRONT FLOOR PANS ARE REALLY SOLID. WHAT'S SURPRISING IS THERE'S NO RUST IN THE INNER ROCKER.
(LT)>> YOU KNOW NORMALLY THESE TRUCKS ARE JUST CHEWED UP. THE ROCKERS ARE GONE, AND THIS ONE IS SUPER CLEAN.
(JEREMY)>> BED FLOOR LOOKS REALLY GOOD. WE HAD A COUPLE OF SPOTS RIGHT THERE THAT IT WASN'T A SURPRISE. A COUPLE OF PATCH PANELS TAKE CARE OF THAT.
(LT)>> YOU KNOW WE DID SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT ON THIS PROJECT THAN WE TYPICALLY DO. WE SPENT ABOUT $6,500 BUCKS ON THIS BLAZER, AND YEAH, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY TO SPEND BUT IT PAYS DIVIDENDS IN THE LONG RUN BECAUSE THE $1,000 AND $2,000 DOLLAR TRUCKS THAT YOU START WITH, THEY'RE JUST COMPLETELY TRASHED AND RUSTED OUT. SO IT TAKES SO MUCH MORE TIME AND EFFORT TO MAKE THEM INTO A NICE TRUCK RATHER THAN JUST STARTING WITH SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY CLEAN.
(JEREMY)>> YEAH, AND THE NEXT TIME YOU GUYS SEE THIS TRUCK WE'LL GET IT BACK FROM THE BLASTER. WE'LL DO A LITTLE BIT OF RUST REPAIR, GIVE THIS THING A NICE COATING, AND SHOULD BE BRAND NEW UNDER HERE.
(LT)>> I GET TO PAINT THIS ONE RIGHT?
(JEREMY)>> YEAH, MAYBE BUT GO GET A HAIR CUT FIRST.
Show Full Transcript
(JEREMY)>> HEY GUYS, WELCOME TO TRUCK TECH. YOU KNOW EVERY SO OFTEN IT'S NICE TO GET OUT OF THE SHOP AND HAVE A LITTLE FUN OUTDOORS, AND TODAY WE'LL BE BEGINNING A PROJECT THAT WILL ALLOW US TO DO MORE OF THAT ONCE WE'RE FINISHED.
(LT)>> BUT BEFORE WE TEAR INTO OUR '89 CHEVY KFIVE BLAZER WE THOUGHT WE'D REMIND OURSELVES JUST HOW CAPABLE THESE FULL SIZE GM TRUCKS WERE BACK IN THE DAY. SO WE'LL GET IT OFF THE TRAILER AND IN THE WOODS.
(JEREMY)>> IF YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING POWERNATION THROUGH THE YEARS THEN YOU RECOGNIZE THIS PLACE. THIS IS WOOLY'S OFF ROAD PARK LOCATED OFF OF I-65 IN GILES COUNTY TENNESSEE, AND IT'S GROWN CONSIDERABLY SINCE OUR SHOWS FIRST CAME OUT HERE IN THE EARLY 2000'S.
(LT)>> YOU KNOW WHETHER YOU HAVE A BONE STOCK TRUCK, AN ATV, A SIDE BY SIDE, OR A FULL BLOWN OFF ROAD TUBE BUGGY, THERE'S TRAILS THAT'LL FIT EVERYTHING HERE. SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND SOMETHING THAT FITS WITH OUR KFIVE BLAZER.
(JEREMY)>> NOW LT HAS NEVER DONE ANY SOUTHERN WHEELING, RIGHT?
(LT)>> WELL YOU KNOW I LIVED OUT WEST. I'VE SPENT SOME TIME IN THE DUNES AND IN THE DESERT, BUT THIS'LL BE A FIRST FOR ME.
(JEREMY)>> WELL I CAN TELL YOU ONE THING.
(LT)>> WHAT'S THAT?
(JEREMY)>> YOU'RE GONNA GET WET, AND YOU'RE GONNA GET MUDDY, AND THOSE NEW SHINY BOOTS YOU'VE GOT ON PROBABLY AREN'T GONNA MAKE IT.
(LT)>> WELL YOU KNOW WHAT, LET'S BREAK'EM IN.
(JEREMY)>> MAN, A LOT OF TRAILS OUT HERE.
(LT)>> THERE ARE. THAT'S NICE, WE'LL GO DOWN THERE.
(JEREMY)>> LOOKS LIKE FUN.
(LT)>> THIS THING REALLY PROBABLY NEED SOME DIFFERENT GEARS IN IT WHEN WE GET INTO THE AXLE PORTION. YOU KNOW THAT LITTLE 10 BOLT? THAT MAY NOT LIKE THE TIRES THAT WE HAVE IN MIND FOR THIS THING.
(JEREMY)>> WE'RE NOT EVEN DOING ANYTHING CRAZY YET AND YOU CAN TELL IT DEFINITELY NEEDS GEARS.
(LT)>> WOO HOO!
(JEREMY)>> LAY IN IT, GO! [ laughing ]
(JEREMY)>> HEY MAN THAT DID PRETTY GOOD. SPIN IT AROUND. THERE YOU GO! ALL RIGHT, EAT BABY! COME ON TRUCK! THERE IT GOES! THE FIVE POINT SEVEN LITER TBI 350 HASN'T BEEN TOUCHED SINCE IT LEFT FLINT, MICHIGAN, 28 YEARS AGO. THE SOLID AXLES FRONT AND REAR ARE ADEQUATE FOR THE POWER LEVELS IT PUTS OUT, AND THE SHORT WHEEL BASE CAN REALLY GET YOU IN SOME TIGHT TRAILS WITH EASE.
(LT)>> I'LL LET JEREMY TAKE OVER FOR A RUN DOWN THE MOUNTAIN TO ONE OF THE MORE TECHNICAL TRAILS. THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY CALLED ENTRANCE EXAM, WHICH MEANS IF YOU CAN'T GET YOUR TRUCK UP THESE ROCKS... HARD RIGHT! ...YOU MIGHT AS WELL... GO, GO, GO! ...CALL IT A DAY. JUST KEEP COMING UP AND PASSENGER SIDE A LITTLE BIT. SEE IF WE CAN SQUEEZE IN BETWEEN THESE TWO TREES.
GO HIGH, GO HIGH!
WHERE YOU GOING?
(JEREMY)>> IT'S NOT WHERE I'M GOING, IT'S WHERE THE MUD'S TAKING ME.
(LT)>> WHAT'D THAT POOR TREE DO TO YOU? ALL RIGHT, HIT IT AGAIN FROM RIGHT THERE. TRY TO HIT YOUR WHEELS A LITTLE BIT TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE. JUST NAIL IT! [ engine revving ]
(LT)>> YEAH!
(JEREMY)>> AS I WHIPPED AROUND TO TRY A HARDER PART OF THE SAME HILL I LEANED INTO A TREE AND IT TOOK A LITTLE BODY DAMAGE. YOU CAN GUESS WHO'S FIXING THIS.
(LT)>> THAT WAY A LITTLE BIT. HARD LEFT, HARD LEFT, THROTTLE UP!
WHOA! NOW SURELY YOU CAN SEE THAT TREE, RIGHT?
YES SIR!
MAN YOU'RE NOT GONNA LIKE THIS. IT'S A LITTLE BIT TWEAKED.
YOU GOT THAT BUMPER PRETTY GOOD.
(JEREMY)>> I KNOW I HEARD A CRUNCH. SO WE KNOW WE'VE GOT THIS. OH MAN, LOOK AT THE HOOD GAP.
(LT)>> YOU PUSHED THE FRONT END OVER A LITTLE BIT. BUMPER'S TWEAKED, HIT THE FENDER.
(JEREMY)>> SO THE BUMPER WENT INTO THE FENDER AND WE CAVED THE DOOR IN.
(LT)>> YEAH MAN, YOU HIT THE BUMPER AND TWEAKED IT THAT WAY ALONG WITH THE CORE SUPPORT.
(JEREMY)>> DROVE IT RIGHT INTO THE FENDER. LOOK AT THE DOOR. WELL THAT'S WHAT THE CRUNCH WAS. YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT DOESN'T BOTHER ME THAT BAD CAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF FUN TODAY. FOR THIS TO BE A STOCK TRUCK LIKE IT IS AND HANDLE EVERY THING WE THREW AT IT BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A TRIAL RIG. SO FOR IT TO TAKE THAT HILL, THAT'S IMPRESSIVE. SO YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT DOESN'T BOTHER ME THAT BAD.
(LT)>> YOU KNOW WHEN YOU SAY ROCK CRAWLING, THERE WASN'T ANY CRAWLING ABOUT THAT. THAT WAS JUST TO THE FLOOR BOUNCING. [ engine revving ]
(NARRATOR)>> NEXT SHE COMES APART.
(LT)>> WOO HOO!
(JEREMY)>> GET IT OFF MY BOOT.
(JEREMY)>> WE'RE BACK ON TRUCK TECH. AFTER HAVING SOME FUN OUT ON THE TRAIL... MAKE LT DO THE NASTY WORK.
(LT)>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S FIRE IT UP!
(JEREMY)>> ...WE'LL ACCESS THE DAMAGE AND CLEAN UP OUR '89 BLAZER BEFORE WE START TO TEAR HER DOWN.
(LT)>> YOU KNOW YOU'RE THE PAINTER. YOU SHOULD BE DOING THIS.
(JEREMY)>> NOW WHAT MOMMA SAYS IS DON'T PRESSURE WASH NO PAINT, CAUSE IT'S NOT GOOD FOR IT.
(LT)>> YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT CLEANLINESS. THEY'RE NOT KIDDING. THERE'S NOTHING WORSE THAN WORKING ON A DIRTY ENGINE BAY. IT'S JUST THE PRICE OF HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF FUN IS ALL. NOT A BIG DEAL, JUST A LITTLE WATER, LITTLE MUD.
(JEREMY)>> I LOOK FINE.
(LT)>> WE HAD A BLAST WITH OUR KFIVE AND ONLY SUFFERED A LITTLE BIT OF MINOR BODY DAMAGE. WE GOT IT BACK IN THE SHOP AND ALL CLEANED. NOW ONE OF THE MAIN POINTS BEHIND OUR WHEELING EXPEDITION WAS TO FIND ANY WEAK LINKS WITH THIS KFIVE.
(JEREMY)>> AND WHAT WE FOUND IS WE DEFINITELY NEED MORE POWER, MORE GEARING, OBVIOUSLY A BIGGER LIFT, AND MORE AGGRESSIVE TIRES WILL CERTAINLY HELP, AND OF COURSE A WINNING PAINT JOB, AND WE'RE GONNA DO ALL THIS WITHOUT CUTTING OUR KFIVE UP.
(LT)>> THAT'S RIGHT, WE KNOW YOU GUYS WOULD JUST CRUCIFY US IF WE ENDED UP CHOPPING THE FENDERS ON A RIG AS NICE AS THIS. SO WE'RE BASICALLY GONNA TREAT IT TO A FULL BLOWN RESTORATION WITH A COUPLE OF CUSTOM TOUCHES ALONG THE WAY.
(JEREMY)>> THAT'S RIGHT, AND BY THE END OF THE DAY WE'LL HAVE OUR "KLASSY KFIVE" TORE DOWN.
(LT)>> TO THE TOOL BOX.
(JEREMY)>> I'LL WAIT HERE ON YOU.
WE'LL START UP FRONT AND WORK OUR WAY BACK, AND BY THE END OF THE DAY HAVE SEPARATED THE BODY FROM THE FRAME.
(LT)>> THE SQUARE BODY IS ONE OF TODAY'S MOST POPULAR GM TRUCKS TO BUILD. INTRODUCED WITH THE 1973 MODEL YEAR, IT'S THE THIRD GENERATION OF THE "C" AND "K" SERIES TRUCKS, FOLLOWING THE '60 TO '66, AND '67 TO '72. SQUARE BODIES SAW SEVERAL REVISIONS DURING THEIR RUN FROM THE FACTORY. OVER THE YEARS YOU COULD GET MANY DIFFERENT ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION COMBINATIONS, RANGING FROM THE ENTRY LEVEL 250 CUBIC INCH STRAIGHT SIX, TO THE BIG BLOCK 454, AND EVEN A SIX POINT TWO LITER DIESEL. 1987 WAS A SPECIAL YEAR BECAUSE IT WAS THE LAST YEAR OF THE SQUARE BODY PICK UP FOR C-10'S AND K-10'S, BUT THE FIRST YEAR GM OFFERED FUEL INJECTION IN A HALF TON PICK UP, MAKING '87'S A ONE YEAR ONLY TRUCK.
(JEREMY)>> THERE'S A COUPLE OF WAYS YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH THE HARDWARE WHEN DISASSEMBLING A VEHICLE. SINCE WE PLAN TO REUSE THIS FENDER I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND RUN ALL OF THE BOLTS BACK IN. SO THAT WAY I'LL BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THEM, AND WHEN WE SEND THIS THING OFF TO THE BLASTER OUR BOLTS WILL GET CLEANED UP BUT WE WON'T SPEND AN HOUR ON THE WIRE WHEEL.
(LT)>> NOW THIS FENDER ON THE OTHER HAND WE'RE NOT GONNA REUSE. IT'S GOT SOME BODY DAMAGE AND THEY'RE INEXPENSIVE ENOUGH TO REPLACE. SO RATHER THAN GOING AND SCREWING A BUNCH OF BOLTS INTO THIS FENDER AND HAVING IT STORED AROUND THE SHOP FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT MONTHS WHILE WE WAIT TO REASSEMBLE THE TRUCK, I LIKE TO TAKE A PLASTIC BAG AND CLEARLY LABEL IT WITH THE NAME OF THE PROJECT, LOCATION OF THE BOLTS, AND A DESCRIPTION. NOW IT MIGHT SEEM SIMPLE BUT IT'LL SAVE YOU SO MUCH TIME WHEN IT COMES TO REASSEMBLING A PROJECT CAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO PAWING THROUGH A BUCKET OF BOLTS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WENT WHERE. LET'S FACE IT, THERE'S A LOT OF HARDWARE ON A TRUCK LIKE THIS.
(JEREMY)>> THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT FENDER IS IN GREAT SHAPE. SO IT'LL GET REUSED. NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE, SINCE I HAD A MOMENTARY LAPSE OF MY SPOTTER ON THE TRAIL, WE'LL CALL LMC TRUCK TO GET A REPLACEMENT.
(LT)>> THROW THAT ONE IN THE SCRAP, IT'S RUSTY.
(JEREMY)>> A LITTLE MORE CHEVY BLAZER HISTORY. IN 1988 HALF TON TRUCKS WERE UPDATED TO THE GMT 400 PLATFORM BUT THE SQUARE BODY LIVED ON WITH THE KFIVE BLAZER AND JIMMY, SUBURBAN, AND ONE TON PICK UP TRUCKS, WHICH FINALLY GOT KILLED OFF IN 1991, ENDING AN 18 YEAR RUN FOR ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC TRUCKS IN CHEVROLET'S HISTORY. THERE ARE PLANS TO BRING THE BLAZER BACK IN 2018 AS A CROSSOVER BETWEEN THE EQUINOX AND THE TRAVERSE. WE SHALL SEE.
(LT)>> SIMPLE AS THAT.
(NARRATOR)>> NEXT, RUST IN PEACE.
(JEREMY)>> OH I FOUND SOME MORE LT.
(LT)>> SO DID YOU SEE THAT TREE OR DID YOU JUST KIND OF AIM FOR IT?
(JEREMY)>> MY SPOTTER WAS SUPPOSED TO SEE THAT TREE.
(LT)>> WE'RE BACK ON TRUCK TECH IN THE MIDDLE OF TEARING DOWN OUR '89 KFIVE BLAZER IN HOPES OF GETTING THE BODY OFF THE FRAME BY THE END OF THE DAY. WE'VE GOT BIG PLANS FOR THIS TRUCK BUT BECAUSE IT'S IN SUCH GOOD SHAPE WE'LL BE REUSING A LOT OF WHAT WE TAKE OFF.
[ drill spinning ]
(JEREMY)>> I TAKE ONE OF THESE OUT AND IT TAKES ABOUT EVERYTHING I HAVE NOT TO THROW IT ACROSS THE SHOP.
WHEN TEARING DOWN A VEHICLE HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT PARTS YOU WANT TO ORDER NEW OR WHAT YOU WANT TO RESTORE? WELL WHAT I LIKE TO DO IS MAKE A LIST. I'LL WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING I PULL OFF THE VEHICLE OF WHAT WE WANT TO TRY AND GET AND WHAT WE THINK WE CAN RESTORE, LIKE THIS DOOR HANDLE FOR INSTANCE. IT'S PITTED UP. WE COULD TAKE THE TIME TO TEAR IT DOWN, SEND IT TO THE CHROME SHOP, AND PROBABLY COST ANYWHERE FROM $100 TO A COUPLE HUNDRED BUCKS TO RECHROME THEM, WHEN WE CAN BUY ONE FOR A FRACTION OF THAT, LIKE THIS DOOR LATCH. WE COULD CLEAN THAT UP AND REUSE IT, SAME WITH THE LOCKS AND THE REGULATOR. SO THIS'LL LET YOU KNOW UP FRONT HOW MUCH MONEY YOU'RE GONNA SPEND IN PARTS ON A RESTORATION AND NOT ONLY THAT, WHAT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE CAUSE SOME PARTS YOU MAY HAVE TO RESTORE. JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND.
EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING TODAY IS TYPICAL OF A FRAME OFF RESTORATION, AND ONCE WE GET THE CAB BACK FROM THE MEDIA BLASTER IT WILL BE IN BARE METAL. TAKING YOUR TIME IN THE TEARDOWN STAGE WILL MAKE REASSEMBLY GO WAY SMOOTHER. THAT INCLUDES BAGGING AND TAGGING ALL OF THE FASTENERS AND CAREFULLY STORING ALL THE BIGGER STUFF.
(LT)>> NOW THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT CAR GUYS EVERYWHERE FEAR DURING A RESTORATION, ESPECIALLY ON A VEHICLE WITH A REMOVABLE TOP THAT TENDS TO LEAK, LIKE ON THIS KFIVE. NOW AS WE PEEL BACK THE CARPET I SEE A LITTLE BIT OF RUST, AND THIS INSULATION HERE IS DAMP. IT JUST HOLDS THE MOISTURE, BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY PRETTY SOLID. FOR THE MOST PART IT'S JUST SURFACE RUST, BUT WE HAVE A FEELING WE'LL FIND A LOT MORE AS THE PROJECT PROGRESSES. SHOULD WE BE WEARING THOSE HAZMAT SUITS?
(JEREMY)>> PROBABLY!
(LT)>> WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE WHAT'S BACK HERE.
(JEREMY)>> YEAH WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT RUST GOING ON HERE BUT THAT'S NO SURPRISE. WE SAW THAT WHEN WE PICKED THE TRUCK UP, BUT AS NOTORIOUS AS THE KFIVES ARE FOR RUSTING OUT I'D SAY WE'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.
OH I FOUND SOME MORE LT. [ drill spinning ]
(LT)>> WOO HOO! [ drill spinning ]
(JEREMY)>> HOW ARE YOU GONNA STEER THE TRUCK?
(LT)>> FLINTSTONE STYLE BABY!
(JEREMY)>> THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS THROW THESE PARTS IN THE DUMPSTER BECAUSE I PROMISE YOU THROUGH THE REBUILD OF A TRUCK YOU'LL NEED TO REFERENCE THESE PARTS. NOW EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GONNA REPLACE MOST OF THIS WITH NEW STUFF THERE ARE PARTS WE CAN FRESHEN UP AND REUSE, LIKE THIS HOOD HINGE. WE'LL THROW IT IN THE BLASTER, FRESH COAT OF PAINT, AND SAVE A LITTLE DOUGH.
(JEREMY)>> WHEN IT COMES TO BUYING A NEW OR USED CAR OR TRUCK YOU WANT TO BUY SOMETHING THAT'S MECHANICALLY SOUND, BUT JUST AS IMPORTANT TO MOST PEOPLE IS BUYING SOMETHING THAT WILL LOOK GOOD FOR YEARS TO COME, AND THE OLD ADAGE IS TRUE. YOU CAN'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER. SURE, THE BODY PANELS MAY APPEAR FINE ON THE OUTSIDE BUT HOW CAN YOU BE SURE THAT IT HASN'T BEEN WRECKED OR PAINTED? BODY FILLER IS TOTALLY FINE IF IT'S USED PROPERLY, BUT THERE ARE GUYS OUT THERE NOT QUITE AS TRUSTWORTHY AS YOU OR ME WHO WILL ABUSE IT JUST TO MAKE A QUICK SELL. SO INSTEAD OF PROPERLY WORKING THE METAL ON A REPAIR AREA OR CUTTING OUT THE RUST ON AN OLD CLASSIC, THEY'LL JUST MUD IT UP AND FORCE THE NEW OWNER TO DEAL WITH IT. NOW I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT THAT TO BE YOU. SO I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A FEW TIPS ON HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF WHEN IT COMES KNOWING WHAT'S UNDER THAT PAINT JOB. THE FIRST IS VISUAL. TAKE A LOOK DOWN THE LENGTH OF THE TRUCK. IS THE FINISH CONSISTENT AND EVEN? WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO WAVINESS IN THE PANEL. ALSO LOOK FOR SAND SCRATCHES. ANOTHER DEAD GIVEAWAY IS DO THE PANELS MATCH IN COLOR, BUT ANOTHER THING YOU WANT TO BE SURE YOU CHECK OUT ARE THE DOOR GAPS. ARE THEY CONSISTENT AND EVEN? A LOT OF TIMES IF A VEHICLE'S HAD WORK YOU CAN SEE IT. YOU JUST NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS. NOW YOU'LL ALSO SEE A LOT OF OLD TIMERS TAPPING ON THE METAL. NOW THEY'RE LETTING THE PANEL TALK TO THEM. THEY'RE LISTENING FOR FILLER OR RUST. NOW DOWN LOW WHERE WE KNOW WE HAVE RUST YOU CAN HEAR IT SOUNDS DEAD. IT'S NOT REALLY RINGING OUT AT YOU. AS WE COME UP, YOU CAN HEAR HOW SOLID THAT IS WHERE THE METAL IS RINGING OUT. THIS IS HOW WE KNOW WE HAVE GOOD METAL. NOW NOT A VERY SCIENTIFIC WAY TO DO IT BUT IN A PINCH IT WORKS. AN INEXPENSIVE TOOL YOU CAN USE TO CHECK FOR FILLER IS A MAGNET. ON OUR 1930 FORD MODELA PICK UP WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T DO THIS TEST BECAUSE IT'S 80 YEARS OLD AND IT NEEDS A RESTORATION, BUT IT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE. YOU WANT TO TAKE A LIGHT WEIGHT MAGNET AND COVER IT WITH FUZZY VELCRO. THIS IS TO PROTECT THE PAINT SO YOU DON'T SCRATCH IT. IF IT STICKS AND YOU HAVE FILLER THERE YOU KNOW IT'S PROBABLY WITHIN TOLERANCE, BUT IF IT DOESN'T STICK YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF FILLER THERE. NOW THIS TELLS ME THERE'S PROBABLY MORE THAN A QUARTER INCH OF FILLER IN THAT PANEL. NOW ONTO THE REAL TOOLS. THIS IS AN ELECTRONIC THICKNESS GAUGE AND IT MEASURES IN MILLS. A MILL IS ABOUT AS THICK AS A SHEET OF TYPING PAPER, AND AN OEM PAINT JOB MEASURES OUT BETWEEN ABOUT THREE AND FIVE MILLS. SO THIS PANEL'S ACTUALLY IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SPEND $400 BUCKS ON ONE OF THESE YOU CAN SPEND ABOUT $80 ON ONE OF THESE FILLER DETECTIVES. IT MEASURES FROM ZERO ALL THE WAY UP TO A QUARTER OF AN INCH. ALL YOU DO IS PRESS THE BUTTON AND IT'LL TELL YOU EXACTLY HOW MUCH MATERIAL'S ON YOUR PANEL. ALL OF THIS IS JUST SAFE INSURANCE SO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE BUYING. [ beeping ]
(LT)>> WINDSHIELDS IN MODERN VEHICLES ARE ACTUALLY HELD TO THE BODY WITH A URETHANE ADHESIVE, BUT IN THIS STYLE OF PICK UP TRUCK IT'S ACTUALLY HELD IN JUST BY A RUBBER GASKET AND A LOCKING STRIP. NOW WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA TRY TO GET THIS GLASS OUT WITHOUT BREAKING IT. I PUT THE ODDS AT ABOUT 50-50. THE GASKET'S NICE AND SOFT, SO I THINK WE'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
THE TRICK IS YOU JUST WANT TO PUT SLOW, STEADY PRESSURE AS YOU WORK THE RUBBER BACK AND FORTH. ONCE WE GET THESE TOP CORNERS OUT WE'RE GOLDEN. THIS LAMINATED STUFF YOU CAN PUT QUITE A BIT OF PRESSURE ON IT. AH, THERE IT IS!
(JEREMY)>> GOT IT?
(LT)>> YEP!
(JEREMY)>> THAT'S WHY YOU WANT TO PULL OUT A WINDSHIELD WHEN YOU PAINT A VEHICLE BECAUSE IF YOU PAINT IT WHILE IT'S IN, YOU TAPE UP TO IT, YOU CAN SEE THAT PAINT EDGE AND WHERE IT'S ALREADY CHIPPING, THAT'LL EVENTUALLY CHIP AWAY AND HAVE TO REPAINT IT.
(LT)>> BACK UP A LITTLE BIT.
[ drill spinning ]
(JEREMY)>> YOU KNOW LT, THIS FRAME LOOKS REALLY GOOD. I BET THE MOST ABUSE IT'S EVER TAKEN IS WHAT WE GAVE IT, BUT I DON'T SEE ANY SIGNS OF ANY KINKS, NO CRACKS ANYWHERE, AND IT'S EVEN STILL WEARING SOME OF THIS ORIGINAL PAINT. IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD.
(LT)>> YEAH THIS FRAME IS DEFINITELY GOOD, STRONG FOUNDATION FOR WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO START AND YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH YOU HIT THE TREE UP FRONT, THE FRAME LOOKS STRAIGHT. SO I THINK WE'RE GOOD THERE. SO WHAT DID WE LEARN WHEN WE'RE OFF ROAD? WE DEFINITELY NEED TO DO SOME UPGRADES TO THIS DRIVETRAIN.
(JEREMY)>> THAT'S RIGHT, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?
(LT)>> YOU KNOW, AXLES, WE DEFINITELY NEED BETTER GEARS AND STRONGER PARTS. SO PROBABLY LIKE A 14 BOLT OUT BACK, DANA 60 UP FRONT, AND WE DEFINITELY NEED MORE POWER TOO.
(JEREMY)>> YEAH, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I'M THINKING A BIG BLOCK.
(LT)>> DEFINITELY BIG BLOCKS ARE NICE. MAYBE A FOURL-80 TRANS, LIKE A 208 TRANSFER CASE, CROSSOVER STEERING. YOU KNOW, BASICALLY JUST MAKE EVERYTHING BIGGER, STRONGER, AND TOUGHER.
(JEREMY)>> IF WE'D HAVE HAD THAT ON THE TRAIL WE MAY HAVE DONE A LITTLE BETTER. LET'S GET THIS THING OUT OF HERE.
(LT)>> OH YEAH, BIGGER TIRES TOO.
(JEREMY)>> YEAH, DEFINITELY!
(LT)>> MAYBE SOME 44'S?
(JEREMY)>> 44'S!
(LT)>> MAYBE NOT THAT BIG.
(JEREMY)>> THE CAB IS IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE TOO. THE FRONT FLOOR PANS ARE REALLY SOLID. WHAT'S SURPRISING IS THERE'S NO RUST IN THE INNER ROCKER.
(LT)>> YOU KNOW NORMALLY THESE TRUCKS ARE JUST CHEWED UP. THE ROCKERS ARE GONE, AND THIS ONE IS SUPER CLEAN.
(JEREMY)>> BED FLOOR LOOKS REALLY GOOD. WE HAD A COUPLE OF SPOTS RIGHT THERE THAT IT WASN'T A SURPRISE. A COUPLE OF PATCH PANELS TAKE CARE OF THAT.
(LT)>> YOU KNOW WE DID SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT ON THIS PROJECT THAN WE TYPICALLY DO. WE SPENT ABOUT $6,500 BUCKS ON THIS BLAZER, AND YEAH, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY TO SPEND BUT IT PAYS DIVIDENDS IN THE LONG RUN BECAUSE THE $1,000 AND $2,000 DOLLAR TRUCKS THAT YOU START WITH, THEY'RE JUST COMPLETELY TRASHED AND RUSTED OUT. SO IT TAKES SO MUCH MORE TIME AND EFFORT TO MAKE THEM INTO A NICE TRUCK RATHER THAN JUST STARTING WITH SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY CLEAN.
(JEREMY)>> YEAH, AND THE NEXT TIME YOU GUYS SEE THIS TRUCK WE'LL GET IT BACK FROM THE BLASTER. WE'LL DO A LITTLE BIT OF RUST REPAIR, GIVE THIS THING A NICE COATING, AND SHOULD BE BRAND NEW UNDER HERE.
(LT)>> I GET TO PAINT THIS ONE RIGHT?
(JEREMY)>> YEAH, MAYBE BUT GO GET A HAIR CUT FIRST.
