The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop K5 frame for a 57 panel

My son and I are starting our 57 panel Project. We bought a 77 K5 Blazer for the frame and drive line. (Yeah its a 350... and I know you don't all approve) I don't have a problem lengthening the wheel base 7-1/2" but the front tread width is about 6" wider on the K5. (The rear should be fine.)

I noticed that the rims on the K5 are very deep... (I don't know how to explain it) the mounting surface is such that the tires are off center to the outside.

Are there any stock rims readily available to change the offset and narrow the tread width?

Also, will it look strange with different rims on the front than the rear?

I tried posting this in the general truck forum but haven't gotten any replies... I really need help figuring this out.

Inky, I can't contribute to this from a technical standpoint, as we've never tried such a swap.

But since nobody else has responded either, I CAN make a social contribution - don't worry about what anybody else thinks of your project. The purists will frown on the 350, the rodders would have done something differently, and the jerk next to you in his chopped street machine at the gas station is going to look down his nose anyway.

Have fun with your project and be proud of it! I have an old '76 K5 with a new 350 that needs a new job, so I'll be keeping an eye on your progress for ideas!
- K

Kimberly,

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm sure I can make it work... Like my tag line says... I was just hoping a fellow bolter could give me the "easy" answer.

You can get wheels with different backset, but if you have disc brakes up front, be careful that your wheels will clear the calipers.

73 and up stock 4x4 wheels are off set a little more than the older wheels to clear the disk brake calipers.they accomplished this by making the center of the wheel (where the lug nuts are ) slightly deeper.