looking to build an off roader

Foster97YukonSLT · October 4, 2006

All right here is the deel. Im in school right now and looking to get a cheap vehicle that i can make into an off roader/rock crawler. I basically want anything but a Ford. I wouldnt mind a Jeep or something of that nature but am very open to anything that i can work on. I have a 327 that i am going to drop into what ever i end up getting, and then i also have access to a tranny but dont know if i am going to go that route or not. So basically what i am getting at is if anyone has or knows of anything that would be good for what im looking to do that would be great.

Thanks in advance.

Travis

Oh i forgot i also have a 37 chevy coupe that my dad and i are building togeather and am looking for ideas of what drive trains and stuff to put in it if anyone has any ideas on that either.

Hecktorx · October 4, 2006

K5 Blazer. They're cheap, parts are cheap, and almost all upgrades are bolt-on.

Foster97YukonSLT · October 5, 2006

K5 huh? what about frame work? my bro has one that he wrecked a few years ago and so it has just sat since then. the front right frame rail is bent and so i dont know if i would want to use that or not. also what about the 327...i have been told that there is two different 327's, one that is capable of alot of torque and one that isnt. is this true and how do i tell wich i have? i am planning on building the engine so i would like to know if that is true or not so i know whether to build that or get and build a 350.

Thanks guys

Travis

Hecktorx · October 5, 2006

It depends on what your going to use it for. If your going to drive it on the road and at hwy speed, I would want to make sure the frame is fixed properly.

Also, the K5 frame has it's weak points. The steering box area of the frame should be strengthened as well as the rear shock mounts.

As far as the 327, I didn't know there was a difference. The only 327s I know are an oversquare bore and stroke which lends itself to high RPM power. Not really torque mosters and wouldn't be my first choice for a 4x4

Foster97YukonSLT · October 6, 2006

yeah i think that the only real on road use it will get is to get from here to were ever the mud or whatnot is. i know that a 327 isnt exacly key for 4x4 but it is what i have avalable to me. im sure that i could find a 350 and build it...infact i belive that there might be a block in my back porch i would just have to get all the internals and get it built. as far as the K5 goes my brother is unwilling to sell cause he has the same idea as me just further down the road (i dont see it happening but if its his dream then thats his deal) and the more i think about it the more im wanting somethin smaller like a S-10 or Jeep or somethin will a real short wheel base. K5's do have short wheel bases but they are just physically bigger then what im looking for. thanks for all your imput and if you have any other ideas that could help me out let me know. i will be looking for help with rear ends and stuff to use once i get what i want.

Travis