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71 Blazer Resto

I've already been resisting the "might as well" effect as best I can. I've spent the past week mapping out how I'm going to fit the body and frame into my "two-car" garage. Two mid-80s Honda Civics, maybe. In the process, I've lett my mind wander a bit too much: Well, it's got a 1970's THM400 in it right now, but more gears would be fun if I've got to rebuild the transmission anyways... Well, the 350 in it needs a rebuild anyways... so, what if I could get some off-the-wall engine to swap in (I was always fond of the torque of the 2JZ-GTE and RB26DETT during my sports-car phase). But... you know tuned-port injection could give me some fuel economy... Then again, I could always supercharge it, which would be fun. Four-wheel disk? Well, it'd be "safer".

The episode ended in pricing out used Porsche boxer engines before the ol' lady slapped me and told me to put down the beer. With all of the customization already done to it, it will be a far more realistic goal just to put her back to mostly stock, I think.
 
If this is supposed to be a tribute to your grandfather, then build it back to the way it used to be.... :deal:

You've got SO much work ahead of you (even with just a stock restoration) it's not even funny.

Keep in mind, moving a 5000Lb truck down the road takes a lot of torque.... preferably at low RPMs. The idea of a Supra or Porsche motor in a 1st Gen Blazer is simply awful, and would be a miserable vehicle to drive after all that hard work was completed.

Do you have a budget established for this build? If money is no object and you want more power than stock you could build a small block stroker, or go all out and slip a BBC between the framerails.




-G
 
Money is an object, but damned if I don't like to occasionally entertain pie-in-the-sky ideas as if it weren't. I looked into stroking the 350 out to a 383, but I don't think it's going to be feasible. The drivetrain is all early '70s and with more than one rebuild. I don't know that the block or my wallet could take the machining. This is the third engine, with three rebuilds behind it. My grandfather puts the mileage between 350k and 500k on the truck.

The boxers and the twin-turboed sixes are whimsical, to be certain. They can be built to match or beat the torque of the engine that has been in it for the last 45k miles; for about the same price. That's still a long way, away though. The body's got to come off of the frame and that part of the restoration will undoubtedly swallow the better part of the budget. The engine and gearboxes will only cost parts and machining. I'm much weaker on the "A" than the "P" of "A&P."
 
Do you care if the block is a "numbers matching" deal? If not, buying a remanufactured 350 is about as cheap as it gets... Paint it up to match the original, and swap over the accessories from the original motor. Easy peezy.

Keep in mind, with a 4x4 you are probably dealing with driveline losses of 30%.... A LOT higher than your typical sportscar. A "hot" motor in a sportscar won't get the job done in a big, heavy truck with no aerodynamics and the parasitic losses of both a transmission AND transfer case.

Gearing is another totally different deal too. You've got large, heavy tires adding a lot of inertia to the mix..... Peppy, small-displacement motors are going to suddenly feel awfully sluggish in the context of this truck.

Have you done a compression or leak down test on the current motor? Is it truly bad now, or are you just looking for something brand new to replace it?


-G
 
I did a compression test, and it's pretty decent. However, I don't know the mileage on it or any of the parts. The alternator or water pump may have a few hundred thousand for all that I know. Probably not, but you get the idea. Buying a simple short block is an idea, but I really like powerplant stuff. I am not at all looking forward to the airframe body work, which will remain as stock as possible. The engine is where I get to play. None of the ideas I posted were at all entertained for longer than 12oz.

I'll likely tear down the current engine and rebuild it if it passes NDI. Parts will be upgraded, depending on the cash. In my fantasy land, unlimited cash, I'd like to do something off the wall, but in reality a 350 is going back in it. The output of that 350 is the prevailing question...
 
Winter is over, spring cleaning has been accomplished in the garage, and I've finally set up some of the racks and benches I got for Christmas. Once the temps come up a few more degrees, it'll be time for the tear-down.

Two areas that really concern me are the windshield frame and rocker boxes. Though it has been garaged since I received it, both have deteriorated quite a bit. I've got about two pounds of rust on the floorboards, and about as much beneath the cab. Are there any precautions I ought to take before I start tearing it down? I know about bracing the door frames, and I intend to leave the roll cage in until I shore up the weak areas. Are there any options for the windshield frame?
 
Before you brace the doors, make sure all your door gaps are good next to the rocker panel and rear quarter. If your rocker boxes are rusted out, the body has probably sagged and welding in bracing will just ensure the sag will stay forever. Although if the top is still on and lined up ok, that may have helped prevent much sagging.
 
bp71k5 said:
Before you brace the doors, make sure all your door gaps are good next to the rocker panel and rear quarter. If your rocker boxes are rusted out, the body has probably sagged and welding in bracing will just ensure the sag will stay forever. Although if the top is still on and lined up ok, that may have helped prevent much sagging.
Click to expand...

The gaps are surprisingly good. Both doors open and close easily. The rust from the rocker boxes hasn't spread much to the floor pan. The rear floor is pretty much rust free. Outside of those two areas, the body actually doesn't have much in the way of corrosion that isn't on the surface.
 
Great back story on this. Looking forward to the progress. And in case you haven't heard yet, CK5 likes detailed pics :waytogo:.
 
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