I have a 1980 K5 Blazer and I am lost on where to go with it. I have a manual trans in it now, but I want to change it to an automatic w/ a wratchet shifter. Does anyone have any advice? or know what all this will entail? also does anyone have any ideas on what to do about my rear end going out? Thanx, Mego

let me point you in a direction where you will find more help from K5 owners as well as 73-87 chevy truck owners in general..

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/forumdisplay.php3?f=37

even though it says 67-72.. it has message boards for 47-98 chevy trucks/blazers and suburbans... its free to join and there is more info there than you will probably ever need..

sorry but ide never trade a manual for a auto,  and if theres a lot of power there it will be hard on it to shift with it i would think a lot of racers use them with stall speed converters but you have to build your drive train to handle it,  very hard on shafts and joints too....  i have an auto in my bronco and  its goin soon   just cause it was in there when i baught it  im goin steel  no pot metal  much more durable and manual is nice in the mud and snow,  a clutch is nice when your sliddin on ice n snow or need to roll back down a hill  and they dont get near as hot as an auto in the mud.