CK5 - The Full-Size GM Off Road Community

I am looking to lighten my truck enough to not have to tow it with a diesel or big block truck.

Ok, let's add up the weight, you guys fill in the blank's.

Original Vehicle Weight = 4,379

Original Equipment:
Blazer Tub = 2000(top, doors, tailgate)
Blazer Frame = 500
350ci = 500
TH700r4 = 100
NP208 = 75
10 bolt front = 300
10 bolt rear = 250
interior = 300
tires = 50 a piece or 250 for all 5
springs = 50 each
4375lbs

Added goodies:
TH400 = 100+/-
NP203 Range Box = 75
Np205 = 150
14 bolt ff = 500
Dana 60 = 600 (with sleeved tie rod, hydro, and crossover stuff)
42x15x15 TSL's on steel wheel's = 150 per corner...750 with spare
High Angle Driveshafts = 90 for both
Cage = ???
future plate crossmember = 100

added weight:
np205 = 150
14 bolt ff = 250
dana 60 = 300
tires & wheel's = 500
driveshafts = 40
plate crossmember = 100
1340lbs

Lost weight so far:
doors = 150 for both
top = 300
tailgate = 125
575lbs

So right now my truck weighs around 5000 & 5500lbs give or take. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Dump the body and I at around 4000lbs...not too bad.

Factory specs, as per G.M. Service manual.

http://community.webshots.com/album/36649130jkcUqN

Better question for ya. Whats the unsprung wieght of the back of a blazer?

6000 lbs in this form. Still without 10000 Warn and something small.

Peter,

Don't get me started!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif


I may have to reveal my secret desire to remold my front fenders and hood in carbon fiber, and the all-titanium multilink suspension. An all-aluminum motor could save a few pounds too..... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif


I'm actually QUITE serious about the carbon fiber stuff. I think the concept of making a fullsize K5 "light" is a hopeless cause, but at least I can have some influence on WHERE the weight is carried (like as LOW as possible)


The part of your plan that I think is going to "get you" is how much it will cost to remove weight. Unless you are willing to simply butcher the whole truck down to Toyota sized proportions....finding lighter parts to replace heavy steel ones will probably cost a LOT more than just buying a decent used tow rig.

If really feels like a "zero sum" game too. You fight for every pound you can lose, but then swap in a heavy roll cage, larger axles, heavy wheels/tires, a 2nd transfer case, etc, etc. It almost seems like a victory just to keep the weight from INCREASING..... /forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif

Greg72, I hear you there. If you can keep your modified offroad blazer with lift, large tires, winch and rollcage to come in at factory weight you are doing pretty darn good in my book. Mine is going to end up a fat pig!!!

Greg, ya forgot the helium filled tires! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[ QUOTE ]
I am looking to lighten my truck enough to not have to tow it with a diesel or big block truck.

Ok, let's add up the weight, you guys fill in the blank's.

Original Vehicle Weight = 4,379

Original Equipment:
Blazer Tub = 2000(top, doors, tailgate)
Blazer Frame = 500
350ci = 500
TH700r4 = 100
NP208 = 75
10 bolt front = 300
10 bolt rear = 250
interior = 300
tires = 50 a piece or 250 for all 5
springs = 50 each
4375lbs

Added goodies:
TH400 = 100+/-
NP203 Range Box = 75
Np205 = 150
14 bolt ff = 500
Dana 60 = 600 (with sleeved tie rod, hydro, and crossover stuff)
42x15x15 TSL's on steel wheel's = 150 per corner...750 with spare
High Angle Driveshafts = 90 for both
Cage = ???
future plate crossmember = 100

added weight:
np205 = 150
14 bolt ff = 250
dana 60 = 300
tires & wheel's = 500
driveshafts = 40
plate crossmember = 100
1340lbs

Lost weight so far:
doors = 150 for both
top = 300
tailgate = 125
575lbs

So right now my truck weighs around 5000 & 5500lbs give or take. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Dump the body and I at around 4000lbs...not too bad.

[/ QUOTE ]

OK, a few numbers look artificially high to me. The hard top i have weighed personally and it comes in at 188 lbs with sldier windows...p[rolly 10 lbs lighter with solid glass.

The Blazer tub itself cannont weigh 2000 lbs.

I swapped the rear half of a Blazer onto my truck (the entire bed portion) and me and another skinny guy had no trouble picking it up and walking it inot a cube van. Weight for the bed portion coudln't be more than 300 lbs.

Someone else posted the half cab portion weighs about 75 lbs. Doors are about 80 lbs each, tailgate about 120.

Now we're left with the front floor and firewall and I don't see that weighing more than 200 lbs.

Front clip:

Hood ~75 lbs
fenders ~ 25 lbs x 2
core support ~ 50 lbs.

My best guess is 1030 lbs for the body itself.

I'm with Greg...just happy if it doesn't get heavier than it already is.

Rene

Actually when I use the term "Blazer Tub", I mean the entire K5 shell with the complete interior.

I think that it is going to be a better idea to just buy a tow rig and heavier trailer.

4000 or 5000 isn't going to be that much difference in towing. Add in 1500 or so for a trailer and gear (if your lucky) and your dealing with 5500 or 6500, not worth the effort as far as towing goes. Either one will be a pig towing without a diesel (or healthy BBC).

Well, the 'guts' aren't going to weigh more than 400 lbs...

I'd love to see Russ scale his truck, with no body to speak of I'd guees it's still a heavy pig.../forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Rene

Yeah, I need to get that done. My guess is your right! /forums/images/graemlins/eek.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Mine runs about 5200# without me in it, with full fuel and minimal gear. It could be built a lot lighter if that was my plan from the first but it wasn't so it's heavy.

My bro's tube chassis comes in around 4000-4200# depending on how you weigh it, with the 350/350/doubler/D60/14B drivetrain. It does have a link and coilover suspension that's heavier than most leaf setups.

I really don't think you can take a full body K5 on the trail with 1-ton drivetrain and big (40"+) tires under about 5500#. If you do you're going to be trading something off, drivetrain strength (your 241 chain isn't bulletproof), chassis strength, body protection, etc.

If you want light, ditch the whole body and build a buggy on the frame, or maybe put a S-truck on it, but those aren't even that light.

[ QUOTE ]
If you want light, ditch the whole body and build a buggy on the frame

[/ QUOTE ]
Just curious, what does Beck's weigh?

about 4300#

This is with the HEAVY steel beadlocks, 42's, Doubler, D60F, etc. I think it was about 3700-3800 with the 208, D44 and 36's.

Any pics of beck's rig?

http://www.planet4x4.net/Moab2003/rusty-nail-044.jpg

[ QUOTE ]
the HEAVY steel beadlocks

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey, easy on the steel beadlock criticisms. /forums/images/graemlins/rotfl.gif They are cheap (thanks to you) and the plates are light enough to check on Northwest. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Just make sure to keep the bolts tight. /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

moved to towing forum, now go tlk about 4 linking your toilet for those violent times during the holidays. /forums/images/graemlins/rotfl.gif

Hey guys, lets keep this on topic. This is not really the place to talk about towing in general, there is a forum for that too. This thread is kinda marginal anyway based on forum guidelines, but I figure modifications to save weight, affecting the CoG, and understanding give and take with weight of specific components makes me think it belongs. At least for now...

Ok, thanks for the input guys, looks like it will be all or nothing with this truck; either remove the whole body or keep the whole body. I should be getting a donor K5 soon, so I might just strip the truck bare, build the buggy cage, and transplant my drivetrain over to the buggy. /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

Supersize,
Not trying to get off topic, but what are you going to do If you roll your rig again and too the point where you can't drive it AND your an hour away and no way to get home.

But I do agree with you, for the cost of a tow rig and trailer you can afford a plethora of replacement parts and tires.

sorry..don't ban me /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I'll try to restrain myself, but I got my GOOD eye on ya and my finger's gettin' itchy... /forums/images/graemlins/rotfl.gif

[ QUOTE ]
I'll try to restrain myself, but I got my GOOD eye on ya and my finger's gettin' itchy... /forums/images/graemlins/rotfl.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Ha Ha Ha! And we should leave it at that. /forums/images/graemlins/rotfl.gif /forums/images/graemlins/rotfl.gif

some one should post a pic....or not /forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif

S-10 Hybrid
468 ci, Locked Dana 60,14 bolt, 4 link front/ rear, 4 king coil overs, 44" boggers, 12,000 lbs warn, full hydraulic steering, th400, divorce t-case, 513's, wheelbase, 120",lexan windshield
total weight with winch- 5400 lbs

http://www.whiteknight.ca/WhiteKnight_at_ExtremeShowdown1234.jpg