2020 Rebuild - Super Party Mobile

[srv8800]

It's been a long time since I've regularly updated a build thread. In the Pirate days, that's how a long night in the shop always ended. I'm a lot busier now than I was then but I'm going to try to keep this updated. Hit me up with any questions or comments.
I'm starting this mid-project so I'm going to post a few before pics and a current and get caught up over the next few weeks.

I bought this 1979 K5 Blazer for $600 back in 2007. The first pic is after a year of work and a couple wheelin' trips.

Fast forward ten years to KOH 2018. It's got very few of the same parts on it at this point but still your standard, leaf-sprung Chevy crawler.

The "one last trail" got me in Gilmer November 2019. I straightened out the bedside with a forklift best I could and made it out for a New Years ride.

The sawzall came out a few days later.

This is from a couple weeks ago and is about as it sits now.

 

[srv8800]

I cut about 10" off the back of the frame and built a new sheet metal rear frame crossmember.

Also did some work to the cage. The frame was cracked around both rear cage tubes. I spliced in new tube and hit the rear crossmember.

 

[Blase]

What are the overall plans for it? Just rework what's been used and abused or upgrades(links? , Less sheet metal?)?

 

[jhama78]

Following along for updates

 

[SLOWPOKE693]

I like it!

Noticed the Shrockworks sticker....... You affiliated with them?

 

[srv8800]

What are the overall plans for it? Just rework what's been used and abused or upgrades(links? , Less sheet metal?)?

My original plan was to chop the bed and hang some fresh sheet metal so it didn't look so raggedy. That snowballed a little but the rear was mostly done by last Summer.
Deciding to pull the motor is where things really started to go downhill. The 'rona hit, events were being cancelled and my engine builder was slow. It was a good opportunity for a needed freshen-up. Somehow that turned into chopping the frame behind the firewall..
My goal with the front is a more rigid chassis that allows the axle to tuck up higher and a 4-link suspension that handles well with a lot more travel. The motor is getting spiced up some and dropping a few hundred #s would be the cherry on top!

 

[srv8800]

I like it!

Noticed the Shrockworks sticker....... You affiliated with them?

Thank you! I am. I'm one of the owners.

 

[srv8800]

Fuel cell was next. I built this cradle to sink it down into the frame some. This one will get swapped out for an Aeromotive cell with an in-tank pump before it all goes back together. The dims are the same.
Also mounted a new trans cooler from Derale on the B-pillar. It was the biggest plate style cooler with fan I could find.

 

[Sterlingfire]

The rebuild looks great so far!
The one thing i would reconsider is the trans cooler location. Do you think it will be a bit too warm right next to the passenger?

 

[Blase]

Looking great.

Question: where did those work benches in the back ground come from? I'd like to make a table to go behind my sofa with legs like that!!

 

[srv8800]

The rebuild looks great so far!
The one thing i would reconsider is the trans cooler location. Do you think it will be a bit too warm right next to the passenger?

The fan is a puller so it's drawing air from the cab, through the cooler and out the back. As long as the fan is running, I don't think heat from the cooler will be noticeable in the cab.

 

[srv8800]

Looking great.

Question: where did those work benches in the back ground come from? I'd like to make a table to go behind my sofa with legs like that!!

Thanks! A buddy and I made those tables for a project we were working on.

 

[Mr Stubs]

Full size your pics for the win...

 

[srv8800]

This sub box takes up damn near the whole bed and is wildly inconvenient to build around but I do love loud music! Subs are 15" Rockford P3s.

Sub box is mounted and added a horizontal tube to the cage. Shock mounts are next. This brings us to mid-March.

Around this time, I lucked out and got this junk K5 from a friend of mine for free. Definitely not a clean, one-owner but great for a sheet metal donor.

 

[ConwayMuddy]

Did you slug the new rear tubes, or did you just but them together and weld?

 

[srv8800]

Did you slug the new rear tubes, or did you just but them together and weld?

Yes, they are sleeved and plug welded.

 

[Tmackcj5]

This sub box takes up damn near the whole bed and is wildly inconvenient to build around but I do love loud music! Subs are 15" Rockford P3s.

you weren't kidding! That's a huge bitch!

Now would be the time to downsize....

 

[rattle_snake]

Assuming the sub box and quad 6x9s are the reason behind the rigs name. Good to see you are keeping all that, arguably the most important aspect of the truck

 

[srv8800]

you weren't kidding! That's a huge bitch!

Now would be the time to downsize....

March of last year would have been the time to downsize. Pretty sure that box is permanent now but it's in there!
You have to move a lot of air to make bass carry outside. I built it for Summer afternoons on the river like this.

 

[srv8800]

Assuming the sub box and quad 6x9s are the reason behind the rigs name. Good to see you are keeping all that, arguably the most important aspect of the truck

Yes sir! The goal was as much audio as possible without making it suck offroad. There're probably not too many rides runnin' Hammers trails with 15s in the trunk! I think it's a good balance.
I built that box right before KOH '18 actually. It's got eight 6x9s, four forward and four back. Two amps in the box below with a 4" Spal fan pulling air across and out the bottom. I have a lot of time in that thing..

 

[Tmackcj5]

March of last year would have been the time to downsize. Pretty sure that box is permanent now but it's in there!
You have to move a lot of air to make bass carry outside. I built it for Summer afternoons on the river like this.

Are those pictures from the old Down South Offroad Park?

 

[srv8800]

Are those pictures from the old Down South Offroad Park?

That's right. We've only been back once since it changed hands and reopened but we used to go quite a bit.

 

[Tmackcj5]

That's right. We've only been back once since it changed hands and reopened but we used to go quite a bit.

Same, but I haven't been since it reopened. Do they still have the man made obstacle area by the beach?

 

[srv8800]

Same, but I haven't been since it reopened. Do they still have the man made obstacle area by the beach?

I'm not sure. I'll probably head out there at some point this Summer though. Xtreme is always a mess..

 

[srv8800]

Here it is with shocks mounted. They are 2.5" x 16".

 

[srv8800]

Also added a couple tubes to brace up the shock mounts.

 

[srv8800]

Threw the new bedside on there for a quick test fit.

10" sectioned out.

I tabbed the rear of the bedside off some 1" tube.

 

[srv8800]

I made this bracket to attach the bedside to the B-pillar.

A handful of rivet nuts keep it flush to the cab.

Finished.

 

[ArTi54N]

i clicked the first page thinkin super party mobile would be a minivan or something different.. nice quality pics tho..

 

[Blase]

loos great!!