MUST DO upgrades for your classic truck rebuild!
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- Опубликовано: 4 авг 2022
- I have been building these trucks for years and years and like to think
I have made pretty much every mistake out there.
In this weeks video I install crossover steering and a new steering box and knuckle on this beautiful 1978 Blazer. If you have a squarebody or old truck you are looking to restore, I highly suggest you start with the steering. It will make a substantial difference.
Here are all the parts used in the build:
www.offroaddesign.com/merrick...
www.kchilites.com/gravity-led...
www.lmctruck.com
38-8088 DASH BEZEL-W/O AC
36-4041 WIPER ARM-BLACK 2 REQ
36-4054- WIPER MOTOR W/PUMP
30-1160 GROMMET-WIPER MOTOR A/R
36-4078 WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP
36-4091 WINDSHIELD WASHER JAR
36-4095 WASHER JAR CAP
30-1990 FILTER-WIPER WASHER JAR
36-4070 WINDSHIELD WASHER HOSE
30-1365 RETAINER-WASHER HOSE
36-4044 WIPER LINK ASSEMBLY 1 REQ
37-0387 LED TAIL LIGHT SET-W/TRIM
37-4590 CUSTOM PARKLIGHT SET
38-4133 GRILLE-GRAY
40-0408-C SCREW
30-0815 ANCHOR NUT-NYLON
30-1112 SCREW-MOLDING-BLACK
/ merricksgarage
Gear, merch, and parts all over on www.merricksgarage.com
If there is some item or product you saw in this video, it is more than likely to be found in either my Amazon Store or if it is a Milwaukee Tool over on Acme Tools
www.amazon.com/shop/jwmerrick
shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=636038...
Daily updates on the Instagram:
bit.ly/MerricksGarageInstagram
Link to the seat bracket mounts for late model GM third row for your Blazer!
www.merricksgarage.com/new-pr... 
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Merrick, I have a 1978 K10 Scottsdale with a 2 inch lift. I was told by company online that crossover steering wasn't going to be possible on this truck because the lift needed to be 4" or so. Does this jive with what you are seeing? I am trying to follow this exact video plus a few more mods while she's all apart. Thank you!!
Yes. If there isn’t any lift then the factory works best. There isn’t enough clearance between frame and axle without a lift to run a drag link across.
I love videos like this. It gives an honest look at what needs to be done and why. Sometimes that gives me confidence to do it. Sometimes it gives me confidence to find a pro so do it for me. Best to know what you can and can't do
Nice K5. I have had a few of them over the years. Currently have a 88 with crossover and 1 ton axles sitting on 42’s. Nice video
is is a driver drop high pinion?
One of the better videos I've seen explaining the old square bodies
I have a 82 k10 which I have owned since 1998. Finally getting around to upgrading!! Your videos are helping tremendously!! Thank you!!
Great to hear!
Thanks for spelling out High Steer vs Crossover Steer !
I should have left in the edits where I screwed it uplol
Just got my daughter a 77 k20, this will be the first upgrade no doubt. Thank you for the detailed videos!!
This is perfect! The info, the parts list, everything. Great job
Thanks for showing shots of how the new components look after buttoned up. Really helpful to see the new passenger knuckle, arm, drag link and box braces.
I bought my wife a 1990 1500 barn door suburban, she prefers to drive it now over her 2013 LTZ Suburban! We definitely will be doing this conversion over the winter, Thank you for the content!
Love my burb. 1989 GMC drive it daily. My wife leaves her new Colorado behind all the time to steal my burb.
Loads of good info. I ve got a couple of K10 projects going and this is exactly what I need to see.
I have my 1978 Scottsdale 4x4 apart as we speak. all of the great advice you showed here will go into my new build. Outstanding video....thank you! MK
Great video!! Your channel has been a big help keeping my 81 K5 on the road and trails. Thanks!👊🏼
👊🏻right back at you homey! That stoked me out!
Love this upgrade! Just bought an ‘86 square body K-10 long bed . Looking forward to updating this old truck.
Sweet premier dude. Hopefully you can get more viewers into the live chat for some q&a and others input in what they’ve done. Cheers 👍🏼
This Blazer is a bad ass street cruiser, looking forward the video when it premiers!
Dig the rear leds. Stock looks but obvious upgrade once you hit the brake. 👍
Exactly. They look reproduction correct. They do take a little trimming of the inner bucket to fit well.
Great lighting is a must for any rebuild
Right I wish I had found these before buying the project style I have. I guess I'll have to get these anyway
Great video, dude! I did a crossover swap on my 91 K5 when I swapped over to 3/4 axles. Made for a much better handling & safer truck. My frame wasn’t cracked yet, but I reinforced it anyway, at the same time as the axle swap. The ol’ RUclips algorithm just recommended your channel & now, I’m subscribing.👍
Crazy to see that algorithm working for me not against me for once! Thanks for the sub!
Got my 87 n this video is my blue print cause guess what, imma do this now so thank you so much sir n as always you’re bad ass brother
Thanks man!
Very useful video as i just got my first square body to restore. An 88 V20 suburban silverado.
Probably my favorite body style of the squares
100%. thing is so sexy
Love the 559 on the plates! I have an 89 K5 like this. Love the video!
1987 Suburban v20 here.... thanks this is totally going to help
Agree. 89 v2500 burb and super helpful video!
That’s great to hear. I’ll do the same on the rest of the build.
진짜 멋지다!!
한국에서 이런 멋진차를 타는건 꿈같은 얘기같네요…
Thanks! It gets a lot of looks out here too!
고마워! 여기도 많이 보여!
DANG that K5 is BEAUTIFUL 😍 😍😍
Perfect upgrades!!
Great videos dude .I'm working on a 86suburban 4x4 .got it for dirt cheap all original. Blown head gasket . Once I get it running .suspension and wheel will be onthe list .
Right on!
I love your channel man! I hope one day I can get you to upgrade Big Bertha! She’s an 85 GMC K5 4WD. Only use her to go shooting as you can tell from my channel. I need to upgrade her suspension badly but I didn’t know where to go. Was thinking about doing it in my back yard by myself but your channel pointed me in right direction.
Great video! Keep killin' it!
Perfect tutorial. Thank you.😄
Glad it was helpful!
I put those gear box support plates in but left everything stock, i had hair line fractures on the frame but tapped the ends and welded them before i put the plate on. I recommend all k10 drivers inspect this part on their frame because it is a well known problem. I am glad the welds on your plates look the same as mine, i always thought mine were garbage but they have held for years now on plenty of bumpy 4x4 roads.
Awesome video!!
Love the show I’m glad I found your channel
Welcome aboard!
We are doing a partial restoration on an 89 K5 Blazer Silverado edition. Loving the content.
I love my squares. Subscribed.
Good informative video, thank you 👍🏼
Glad you enjoyed it!
New to the channel, and I’ve been looking for an M1009 to start a project on. Thanks for the content
Wow its been awhile since I checked in on your channel. Nice shop and great video content on the old Blazers. Great work!
thanks for coming back!
First thing I recommend it getting a walk-board style step for the short people and working under the hood like seen around the 19:45 part I have one I found scrapping and it's helped me more times then it's been inconvient to have. Now to do the steering on my 85 k10 budget (BROKE budget) build.
this video is awesome!! nice work!
Great vid Merrick Time to open up the old Wallet 😅💸💸💸💸
Great video and lucky you, living in sunny California. I live in Ct where they can't wait to salt the road which you can almost hear the metal rusting. I have a 78 K10 that is my daily driver and have found that boxing in the frame essential. I have a stock ride with 31 s, but plowed all it's life. Now I m down to 4 driveways. I like yourendorsement of LMC. I just found your channel and will be subscribing . Thank you!
Thanks man. Yea the rust is something I can imagine being a pain. I had my suburban in the snow a lot last year in and out of state. Anything that wasn’t painted properly and thoroughly was rusting.
I ran regular crossover for 10 years Wheeling never had a problem it works just as well
Yea me too. I think it’s a great improvement for on and off road
"UseToHaveA" is the most common make of vehicle. I UseToHaveA 1972 K5 that I rebuilt and then drove for 9 years. Mine was a retired K5, so I really made it look nice. Dakota digital, wood bed in the back, etc. I sold it, and now I have a 1974 coming.
Great video
Working on a 78 K10 in South Africa! Would love to chat to you sometime for advice :) Thanks for these great videos
www.merricksgarage.com/build-consulting
Same truck, love it! :)
When I put cross-over on my square body crew cab after getting the alignment spot on the steering wheel was one or two splines off. I just pulled the steering wheel, and rotated to the correct spline so that the steering wheel was centered, and boom everything was great.
That’s ok as long as your sector shaft is aligned correctly and you aren’t masking the real issue.
@@MerricksGarage The lock to lock steering is equal.
Good job
great video! looks like a fun father son project on my kids 74.........only problem is 90% of people don't have the tools, car lifts or space for this kind of stuff.
those are all challenges yes, but not insurmountable. I started my builds in the street! Then a dirt parking spot, then my driveway, then many years later a small shop... you make do with what you have.
Hi guys if your going to stay with the 6 lugs bolt pattern with the peanut 7/16 studs a great upgrade is to swamp in some 1/2 studs on the front and rear axles it makes for a great up grade not to bad if a job to do but disassemble a must on the front rotor & hub
I’m having to do something similar to my ‘94 dodge 2500 🙌🏻🙌🏻
Freaking beautiful k5
I wish your shop was closer to the bay area.
Great work, i just subscribed.
Awesome, thank you!
Your video production has come a long way from solo filming with an iphone. Congrats.
100 percent!
You are the first person I have seen point out that stock tie rod steering has more leverage than high steer tie rod does, but most people that that go with high steer also install hydro-assist steering which makes up for the the loss in leverage.
As someone who has ran every combination you can think of, the ram with high steer and crossover wasn’t quite as strong as you might have thought.
Also the forces were still substantial and the stress on the knuckle and those studs is insane.
LOVE THE VIDEO. Ever do a similiar one on a 69-72 K5? Cant find any love for those as far as "must do's"
everything in this video could be applied to the 69-72. There may be some minor changes in some parts, but the fundamentals apply!
One video you may want to do is on replacing the front leaf spring hangers. These two piece factory front leaf spring hangers are only held together with rivets from the factory. After about 250,000 miles on my front leaf spring hangers the rivets that held them together where so loose that I could take three rivets on both sides, and spin them with my fingers.
4X4DIY has a set of one piece front leaf spring hangers that are bolt on. I cut the rivets off on my old front leaf spring hangers, and bolted the 4X4DIY hangers on to my frame. These front leaf spring frame hangers have several mounting holes to choose from. I have my front 52" length 8" lift front leaf spring eyes mounted to the second hole. This allows my front leaf spring to compress as much as they need to without smacking the frame.
Yea the B52 hangars. I will probably just weld the factory ones on for this truck. If I wanted to go weird with wheelbases and spring lengths then they would be perfect
@@MerricksGarage Yes that will work
Great video. I've had my 88 for a little over 20 years now. That weld in reinforcement should be one of the first mods on any build project. Also a slip yoke eliminator for the rear driveshaft. Excellent video. Crossover steering is a little overrated IMO.
Crossover isn't really necessary until you get a decent lift (3+) inches.
It's at that point that the angles really start to be compromised with the factory dogleg.
The slip yoke eliminator is a major upgrade but not something most people are gonna benefit from. I do agree that it is a crucial upgrade once you start offroading and especially if you upgrade axles.
@@MerricksGarage I can see that. I have 4" lift on mine with 33"s, I changed the steering arm (dogleg), that took care of my issues. It was easier and cheaper than crossover. I'm in the desert and don't rock crawl, I think crossover would be more beneficial for more mountainous regions.
I made my own tools for the toe .out of angle like 2 30 inch peace of oldbed frame offset with a lug hole drilled in and you just bolt them 2 brake rotor
More accurate way to achieve that garage alignment is a tool made by either TMR customs or Bleepinjeep if he still sells them. It is basically a angle iron set that bolts on the hub over the rotor to give a precise dimension front and rear with a true non-assumed same point.
I watch all the commercials and videos. Telling all my friends to subscribe to help you with this awesome channel!!
Dude thanks. If you build it they will come
I picked up a 76 and a 77 K5. Or maybe I should say I pulled them out of the woods down the road from my shop..77 is in driveway...I've cleaned out interior and under hood...pulled the carb...it seems like so much...my only complaint is that I can't work on them all the time... but it's exiting. Just wanna make sure I'm doing what she needs to be a great blazer...also have original 400 but not sure what to do with it.. thanks for all the great vids
Heck yea man. That’s rad. Don’t focus on the end focus on the project at hand. Keep bangin them out and before you realize it the end is in sight!!
2 thumbs up 👍 👌
Thanks for the video! I'm starting a LS swap into my '75, and ill definitely need to do this steering upgrade, then ill need to address the stopping power as well (got any suggestions?) I have a 4in suspension and 3in body lift that i did when i was in high-school anout 20yrs ago.
I'll also be wanting to change the suspension lift, as the old Rancho lift, and read add-a-leafs in back are way too stiff for my liking.
I was already subscribed and went to do it again after you asked....🤦🏾♂️
I heart you
This how you build pavement princesses.
I wish I had your garage....would definitely make my 'Burban projects way easier.
I started on the literal side of the road.
Love the blazer. I own a 78 K10 and did crossover steering as well. I think I may upgrade to the HD tie rod also after seeing this. Would you recommend a steering stabilizer? I noticed you didn't have one
Nah, unless you have larger tires. I kinda view stabilizers as a band aid. If you need one, something is wrong with your alignment or ball joints or…
Awesome information..... I am having issues with hard steer at low RPMs, on my 85 K20. What can be done to make it easier and to relieve the stress off of steer column assembly?
New power steering pump
We’re do u get these plates and will they work on my 85 k10 Scottsdale 4x4 I’m a body man and I will be doing full restoration but trying to get bottom end first thank u for the great videos
Your vids are great classes! Thanks for explaining high steer mods! Would you consider giving us a source and apprx cost on the parts? ✌️
It’s all in the description 👇
www.offroaddesign.com/merrick.html
Hello, awesome video and better yet, great explanation!
Question: for the steering box, since I have a M1009 CUCV 4X4, which pitman arm do I need to order? TIA
Thanks for the great video! I will like and subscribe! I have a question. Where can i get that machined steering arm?
Hey merrick
I have 2 rear doors for a crew cab, power windows and door locks. Just sitting, I’m in southern Cali
If your interested
Hey... Maverick bro! I have a 1977 jimmy and want crossover steering! Let's make a deal! Also have a 1977 cheyenne! You have super cool 😎 4x4 rides!
I do 3/16- 1/4 on a set of 44 " on the inside of the wheel
Great information!! I have a 1973 k5 I would like to do this to it what is cost and parts I need to do my frount end ??
Can you add cross over steering to stock height trucks? Great stuff! 👍
Absolutely.
there's also the fact the tri-ball is welded. regular balls are threaded and have different size shanks. fro. my experience the threads go all the way to the ball so your pulling against the weakest part of the ball.
Hi guys , I'm in France and really fan of squarebodies. I own a 6.2 diesel GMC sierra classic Suburban 2WD wich I saved money for 30 years to get it. It's a real pleasure to drive such a fantastic truck. Unfortunatly some issues are compicated for me now (in august 2022) : motorhead gasket died, and I have an electrical issue . sometimes it won't start if my 2 batteries are not full enough. I think I loose some power even wen I don't drive it . Maybe would need to replace all wiring...
My major problem is part prices in france ... too expensive . and if I by on-line in the US (where it's cheap) , It cost me about twice the part price when I have to add taxes and delivery cost... So it will be out of order for a while .
But I don't want to give up. I love it too much. even if it need plenty time to find the needed money.
I relly love what you're doing in your videos. many great informations for me.
And last , but not least : your english speaking is SO great and understandable for a french guy like me !!!
Thanks a lot @Merricks Garage
Wow, this just made my day. So happy to hear your love of these killer trucks too.
Make sure ALL of your ground cables are tight and secure. And make sure your battery connections are tight. If you need more help shoot me an email james@merricksgarage.com.
@@MerricksGarage 🙏 thanks a lot for answering me .
I already changed the starter, batteries and wirings from batteries to starter, including ground.
It will need time (money 🤣) to continue to work on it ... But I wont forget to mail you if I need more information.
You should order some square body hood reinforcements from Vice Grip Garage. Can you still do one finger steering? Good tips thanks.
I've got a. 1987 GMC v 2500 suburban.. I want to do one ton axles and leafs, I would like to do crossover steering but that's beyond my skill set. And then three or four years from now. I'm thinking about doing a 472 from a 69 Cadillac.
Merrick, getting parts together for crossover steering on 89 with 35's. Why you choose the Redhead steering box vs. Borgeson Box that ORD has recommend to me? What,'s your thoughts? Thx!!!
Hi, enjoying your videos. I’m currently doing cross over steering on my 85 K5. My drag link tubing needs to be cut to size. I see very little of the end link thread showing on the truck. How do I figure out the length? I was thinking of leaving half of the thread travel on either side. Appreciate any advice. Thanks
Half the travel is perfect.
I have a 78 K5,..... i would love to have this upgrade,.....Fact: I am not equipped or capable if this upgrade,...
Sad Fact: there is no one in my area i would trust to do this upgrade,...
You don’t need a lot of tools or experience for this one.
Hello,
I'm starting to restore my 1976 K20, but here in Europe these vehicles are not common and, unfortunately, there isn't anyone to ask some advice.
Since the road regulations do not allow to bypass the OEM specifications of the vehicle, I would like to know which parts to buy for implementing the steering system, following the idea of the K5 of your video.
Hey there. Great video and info. I have a question about ps pump squeal and lift/big tires. Do I need to upgrade the pump, box, links in order to turn while at a stop?
Yes and yes. To do it properly. Also depends on how big you go. I have hydraulic assist on the suburban and my blazer
I have a 74 burb body on a 79 3/4t chassis. New 383/400/203(twin stick with issues) 4" lift (came with) and new grabber a/t 315/75/16. I use it to pull a trailer for getting fire wood and as my winter vehicle.
It's second purpose is a tribute truck to my brother's that didn't make it back. I'm a disabled Marine vet and want to build Franky into a working truck that they, and all vets, would be proud of.
Thanks for the response and for all you do for the squarebody community.
Semper Fi
This video was extremely helpful! Also, did you use a 2wd steering box? Or did you reuse the 4x4 box
He used the 2wd box. The 4wd box isn't splined to allow the pitman to sit at the 6 o'clock position which is needed for crossover steering.
It’s the 2wd box as Kyle S mentioned. PSC has just about doubled their pricing on steering boxes so I went with redheadsteeringgears.com this time
I have a 77 Blazer that is a good start to restoration and am wondering if y'all do project trucks like this for your show?
The crossmember and frame stiffer kit on the L.S CONVERSION where can one buy them??
👏👍👌I have blazer 1991 k5
Did you fix death wobble?? Maybe you could do a video about this?
I'm trying to turn my 1996 subaru legacy into a lifted wagon with better suspension from the forester and a spacer kit then a bit bigger rim and maybe some all terrains.
i just purchased a 2009 ram 2500HD which has the 9 1/4'' front diff and a 10 1/2" rear diff it has the AAM axles had posi trac rear diff but front is open. planning on putting a 2003 cab and making a off road recovery vehicle that will have a small boom in back. have a apex 12,000 winch for the front winch . have the regular badland 12,000 for boom and rear pull. have 2 warn 8274 winches for left and right side pull. my question is do you think that one of the lunchbox locker will work for front axle or would you go another way
lunchbox work great as they are so simple, but they are hard on axles if you are doing a lot of turning. They can be tough on road but they are burly and cheap
What new leaf springs did you throw in her? I’m swapping mine out and do NOT want to get the Rough Country set.
Merrick , I would like to change me headlight, what's the KC model number on those? Thanks you.
👍