Looking to buy an 89 K5, have a couple questions
Thread Starter
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Beginning Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 14
Looking to buy an 89 K5, have a couple questions
Hi All,
I'm looking to buy my first K5 Blazer. Here is the one I am considering - 1989 GMC 4x4 Jimmy K5
My main question is: with a 4 inch lift, is it necessary to drop the transfer case and or the transmission?
Anything else I should be wary of, or make sure I inspect?
Thanks for the help!
I'm looking to buy my first K5 Blazer. Here is the one I am considering - 1989 GMC 4x4 Jimmy K5
My main question is: with a 4 inch lift, is it necessary to drop the transfer case and or the transmission?
Anything else I should be wary of, or make sure I inspect?
Thanks for the help!
New Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 59
Nice looking Blazer.
Take a look at my post in this thread and it should give you an idea what to look for. At 4 inches you're at the edge of needing a lengthened drive shaft and pinion angle correction on the rear axle to help with driveline vibrations. Depends, some trucks need it others don't.
Welcome to the K5 world - hopefully.
Take a look at my post in this thread and it should give you an idea what to look for. At 4 inches you're at the edge of needing a lengthened drive shaft and pinion angle correction on the rear axle to help with driveline vibrations. Depends, some trucks need it others don't.
Welcome to the K5 world - hopefully.
Ask him what gears are in the axles. If he doesn't know try to get the RPO code out of the glovebox. There should be at least 4.10s with those 35s. The thread that rampage pointed you to has the codes to look for in it.
Thread Starter
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Beginning Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 14
Just talked to the seller. It has 4.10 gears, Dana 44 front, and 12 bolt rear. Double rancho shocks in the rear. He did in fact drop the transfer case and has had the drivelines replaced.
Engine is stock, and the odometer says 98k, which I'm sure means 198k.
Anyway, it sounded like he knows what he's talking about and has had it well maintained. Only thing I am worried about is 198k on the engine... I would imagine it could crap out at any second. But for only $2,000 you can't expect the world right?
It's 2 hours away, so I can't go look at it too easily, but it sounds like I'll be buying it!
Engine is stock, and the odometer says 98k, which I'm sure means 198k.
Anyway, it sounded like he knows what he's talking about and has had it well maintained. Only thing I am worried about is 198k on the engine... I would imagine it could crap out at any second. But for only $2,000 you can't expect the world right?
It's 2 hours away, so I can't go look at it too easily, but it sounds like I'll be buying it!
Just talked to the seller. It has 4.10 gears, Dana 44 front, and 12 bolt rear. Double rancho shocks in the rear. He did in fact drop the transfer case and has had the drivelines replaced.
Engine is stock, and the odometer says 98k, which I'm sure means 198k.
Anyway, it sounded like he knows what he's talking about and has had it well maintained. Only thing I am worried about is 198k on the engine... I would imagine it could crap out at any second. But for only $2,000 you can't expect the world right?
It's 2 hours away, so I can't go look at it too easily, but it sounds like I'll be buying it!
Engine is stock, and the odometer says 98k, which I'm sure means 198k.
Anyway, it sounded like he knows what he's talking about and has had it well maintained. Only thing I am worried about is 198k on the engine... I would imagine it could crap out at any second. But for only $2,000 you can't expect the world right?
It's 2 hours away, so I can't go look at it too easily, but it sounds like I'll be buying it!
Sweetness!!! Hey a blown engine is the perfect excuse to get a brand new engine... lol.
New Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 59
For $2k it's not a bad deal. The winch alone is probably worth a good chunk of that. You can get a decent new crate engine for $1500 if you need to. After you give it the once over, pull out 1700 cash, he'll probably take it. If you do get it though you gotta promise to pull off those dorky bug-eyed lights and you don't need double Ranchos in the rear (or front), gives it a harsh ride. 
BF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,424
From: munster indiana
check the floors on that thing. and make sure the tailgate will open. ive only owned 1 out of 4 where the hinges werent frozen and that was on a low mileage military blazer. seems like a decent price if everything checks out ok. mileage is kinda exempt on older vehicles. who knows if it was rebuilt or replaced. my 93 s10 has 203,000 on it and its the best running truck i have
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Beginning Member
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Haha, you're right... those lights didn't bother me at first glance, but the more I look at them, they are bug-eyed and dorky for sure 
I think 2k is a good price. The winch and limited slip differentials are nice add ons. I live in California, and in a beach town so the used 4x4 options are not great. There are far more hybrids than rock crawlers around
I've gotta drive 2 hours to Los Angeles just to get this one.
I think 2k is a good price. The winch and limited slip differentials are nice add ons. I live in California, and in a beach town so the used 4x4 options are not great. There are far more hybrids than rock crawlers around
I've gotta drive 2 hours to Los Angeles just to get this one. For $2k it's not a bad deal. The winch alone is probably worth a good chunk of that. You can get a decent new crate engine for $1500 if you need to. After you give it the once over, pull out 1700 cash, he'll probably take it. If you do get it though you gotta promise to pull off those dorky bug-eyed lights and you don't need double Ranchos in the rear (or front), gives it a harsh ride.
New Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 59
I know exactly what you mean, though probably not as bad as you. I'm just a few miles south of SF and there's nothing but a bunch of wannabe mall crawlers around here.