Chevrolet K5 Blazer

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See also Chevrolet Blazer (disambiguation)

The K5 Blazer was the smallest full size SUV version of the General Motors C/K Trucks family. Introduced to the Chevrolet line in 1969, the full-size Blazer was replaced in 1995 by the Chevrolet Tahoe. In 1970, GMC introduced its own model of the truck, called the Jimmy, which lasted until the 1992 GMC Yukon. Both were based on the short wheelbase trucks and were available with either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. Its long wheelbase relative (with an integrated rear body) is known as the Chevrolet Suburban.

The K5 Blazer and Jimmy had removable tops for the first few years until 1976 when a half-cab bodystyle was introduced. Smaller models, the S-10 Blazer and S-15 Jimmy, were introduced alongside these trucks in 1983. The original Blazer and Jimmy remained in production until 1991; 1992 saw the introduction of a new K1500 Blazer (and the rebadged GMC Yukon) on the GMT400 platform. After 1994, the Blazer was renamed the Chevrolet Tahoe.

Contents

1 1969
2 1973-1975
3 1992
4 Miscellaneous
5 External links

1969

The original K5 was a short wheelbase truck. It came in both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive models. There were four choices for power plants: the 250 straight-6, the 292 straight-6, the 307 V8, and the 350 V8.

The Blazer was designed and marketed to compete with International Harvester Scout and the Ford Bronco, both of which had been growing in popularity. To the surprise of GM, people instantly fell in love with the Blazer which, for the first time, married the off-road capabilities of the Scout with the "luxury" features like air conditioning and automatic transmissions that people were beginning to expect in trucks. By 1970, the Blazer was already outselling both of it's older rivals.

The two wheel drive version had independent front suspension, and rear trailing arms, both with coil springs. The four wheel drive version had a solid front axle and used leaf springs front and rear. Both versions used drum brakes front and rear until 1971, when the entire GM light truck line got standard front disks, while retaining drums in the rear.

There was also a choice between a three-speed automatic transmission Turbo Hydromatic (TH350), a three-speed manual transmission and a four-speed Saginaw Muncie (SM465) manual transmission. Two transfer cases were offered: the Dana 20, available only with the manual transmission, or the NP-205, available with either transmission.

Engines:

4.1 L (250 in³) 250 I6 (1969-1984)
4.8 L (292 in³) 292 I6 (1970-1971)
5.0 L (307 in³) 307 V8 (1969-1973)
5.7 L (350 in³) 350 V8 (1969-1991)

Transfer cases:

Dana 20 - gear driven part-time four-wheel drive
NP-205 - gear driven part-time four-wheel drive

1973-1975

1974 Chevrolet K5 Blazer

In 1973, GM's line of full-size trucks were redesigned and updated. Although rear-wheel drive Blazers were manufactured until 1982, the majority sold were four-wheel drive.

Until 1976, the K5 had a removable convertible top. After this, a half-cab design was used until 1991.

Although the GMT400 platform was introduced in the spring of 1987 as a 1988 model, the K5 Blazer, Suburban, and crew-cab trucks retained the earlier platform until 1991. In 1989, the front grille was changed to resemble the squared-off ones used on the GMT400 series of pickups.

The K5 Blazer is very popular in the off-roading scene. It is a strong truck with the 350 V8 (which was the optional powerplant), the gear driven NP-205 and ten and twelve bolt axles. It is very easy to upgrade this engine, because there are many companies with performance parts available. Later models produced after 1980 used the chain-driven NP208 transfer case, and the NP241 after 1988.

Since 1981 (in the wake of the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo and the 1979 energy crisis), Chevrolet and GMC used the smaller displacement 305s with a 9.2:1 compression ratio. These engines produced nearly as much torque as the 350, giving a similar driving feel. However, these powerplants were underpowered and susceptible to detonation (engine knocking), especially with the electronic spark control module. To achieve the 9.2:1 compression ratio, the cylinder head chambers were smaller, measuring 54 cc instead of 60 cc. Despite a camshaft swap, some Blazer owners swapped out the 305s in favor of 350s, since the smaller displacement powerplant was used in all Chevrolet/GMC pickups and passenger cars.

1982 saw the Detroit Diesel 6.2 introduced; diesel-powered K5s are sought after (especially for diesel conversions running biodiesel and/or straight vegetable oil).

After 1986, when throttle-body fuel injection was introduced in the truck powerplants, the 350 was made the standard powerplant.

There are also a variety of suspension and body lifts available for the K5 Blazer. It is easy to clear 33 inch (838 mm) tires stock or with a two inch (51 mm) lift or 35 inch (889 mm) tires with a four or six inch (102 or 152 mm) lift.

Engines:

4.1 L (250 in³) 250 I6 (1973-1984)
4.3 L (262 in³) 262 I6 (1985-1986)
5.0 L (305 in³) 305 V8 (1976-1987)
5.0 L (307 in³) 307 V8 (1973)
5.7 L (350 in³) 350 V8 (1973-1991)
6.6 L (400 in³) 400 V8 (1975-1980)
6.2 L (379 in³) diesel V8 (1982-1991)

Transfer cases:

Dana 20 - gear driven part-time four wheel drive (1973)
NP-205 - gear driven part-time four wheel drive (1973-1980)
NP-203 - chain driven full-time four wheel drive (1973-1979)
NP-208 - chain driven part-time four wheel drive (1981-1988)
NP-241 - chain driven part-time four wheel drive (1988-1991)

1992

1995 2-door Chevrolet Tahoe, simply a rebadged Blazer

The full-size Blazer was updated in 1992 on the new GMT400 platform. The Jimmy name was removed from the full-size truck in favor of the Yukon, but the Blazer name lasted for two more years. Since 1994, all full-size Blazers were rebadged as the Chevrolet Tahoe. (Unless built in Mexico, then a full size Blazer was still available for 1995).

Miscellaneous

Around 1981, a prototype K5 Blazer was used as a testbed for a military CUCV vehicle. Between 1983 and 1986, what is known as the M1009 CUCV was the production militarized version of the civilian K5. The only differences are the lack of an air conditioner and an additional leaf spring in the suspension. A majority of them are painted olive drab green (or in the black-brown-green camouflage pattern used by NATO forces if an M1009 was stationed in Western Europe) until its use in Operation Desert Storm where M1009s were painted desert tan. All M1009s, including its derivatives, had 24 volt electrical systems and powered with the 6.2 L Diesel powerplant.

Some decommissioned M1009s end up in law enforcement use (e.g. with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department) or sold through government auctions. Many of these Blazers are obsolete as military vehicles in favour of the Humvee.

External links

Chevrolet - a division of General Motors - road vehicle timeline, North American market, 1990s-present - [ edit]

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