Oh, I appreciate all the advice. It's good to have multiple people thinking about potential problems, just in case I'm doing something stupid.
CK5
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Having any fuse short of a 70+ amp maxi fuse to power the whole truck is a problem waiting to happen. Power for every thing that my truck has goes straight to the battery with a fuse for each individual item. Some of it is key on power, but nothing shares a fused power source. Unless the factory built it that way.
Back to the bike carrier thing. Have you thought about mounting it vertical so it fits next to the tire not behind or in front of it.
Back to the bike carrier thing. Have you thought about mounting it vertical so it fits next to the tire not behind or in front of it.
The fuse box I am using is wired that way, I just used too small of a fuse. Thinking back, I knew that, I just forgot to swap in a bigger fuse when I was getting everything running.
I'm actually working on the bike/tire carrier again after camping over the weekend. I'll have pics to post up soon. For now I'm just mounting the bikes horizontal, but vertical might work, just don't want them hanging too low.
I'm actually working on the bike/tire carrier again after camping over the weekend. I'll have pics to post up soon. For now I'm just mounting the bikes horizontal, but vertical might work, just don't want them hanging too low.
Pretty much got the major work on the swing gate finished.
Major welding on the gate itself done.
Luggage rack in place.
Back side. You can see that the bike rack needs to be modified to clear the tire. I'll add mounts back here for some accessories.
Shows the modified bike rack to get it out beyond the tire.
The idea is for it to be somewhat modular. I can put whatever accessories I want into the top tube, or into the receiver hitch as the need may arise. However, for the most part, the top will typically hold the bike rack and the receiver hitch will hold the luggage rack.
I still have a little bit to do. I have to decide where I want to mount the license plate, and I want to add a high lift jack and star wrench to the back side. Also, I want to add something to the top tube so that I can use a bolt to snug up whatever is inserted.
Major welding on the gate itself done.
Luggage rack in place.
Back side. You can see that the bike rack needs to be modified to clear the tire. I'll add mounts back here for some accessories.
Shows the modified bike rack to get it out beyond the tire.
The idea is for it to be somewhat modular. I can put whatever accessories I want into the top tube, or into the receiver hitch as the need may arise. However, for the most part, the top will typically hold the bike rack and the receiver hitch will hold the luggage rack.
I still have a little bit to do. I have to decide where I want to mount the license plate, and I want to add a high lift jack and star wrench to the back side. Also, I want to add something to the top tube so that I can use a bolt to snug up whatever is inserted.
Nice job!
cool.....
I haven't been working on the blazer much, but I did finish up a couple of things on the swing gate.
I added a license plate spot.
The "accessory hole" was starting to get banged up a bit already so I beefed it up a little. Also added a thumbscrew so that I can take out any slop in the fit. I found some square hole plugs for cheap on amazon so I put a cap on it for when I don't have anything I want up there.
I think that's going to do it for now. I'm still deciding on how I want to mount a star wrench and jack. I've pretty much decided that I don't want a hi-lift style jack. Too unstable. The aluminum floor jack from harbor freight goes on sale the first weekend in July, so I'll probably try to find a good place for that and just carry that with me.
I added a license plate spot.
The "accessory hole" was starting to get banged up a bit already so I beefed it up a little. Also added a thumbscrew so that I can take out any slop in the fit. I found some square hole plugs for cheap on amazon so I put a cap on it for when I don't have anything I want up there.
I think that's going to do it for now. I'm still deciding on how I want to mount a star wrench and jack. I've pretty much decided that I don't want a hi-lift style jack. Too unstable. The aluminum floor jack from harbor freight goes on sale the first weekend in July, so I'll probably try to find a good place for that and just carry that with me.
Knocked another thing off the list this weekend in preparation for BB16, front recovery points.
Not terribly complicated, so not a ton of pics, but here goes:
Rough cut and mocking them up in place.
A better shot showing the pieces sandwitched together.
All done and painted up.
It's hard to see, but The frame had a couple of 5/8" holes already, so I used those to mount it up. I have a body lift so the bumper was already mounted a little higher on the frame so I just had to notch it out a bit to fit the recovery points under it. The D-ring pin itself is 7/8" so should be plenty to pull me up and over whatever I get stuck on in Moab.
poser shot.
Not terribly complicated, so not a ton of pics, but here goes:
Rough cut and mocking them up in place.
A better shot showing the pieces sandwitched together.
All done and painted up.
It's hard to see, but The frame had a couple of 5/8" holes already, so I used those to mount it up. I have a body lift so the bumper was already mounted a little higher on the frame so I just had to notch it out a bit to fit the recovery points under it. The D-ring pin itself is 7/8" so should be plenty to pull me up and over whatever I get stuck on in Moab.
poser shot.
Nice and discreet. 
bp71k5
3/4 ton status
Are those bolts what grade 5 looks like in your area? I almost thought they were metric but then I thought, nah!
Yeah, grade 5. I was looking for grade 8 but they didn't have any in 5/8 and I figured that was overkill anyway.
Remember my buddy Nick at the Blazer Bash in 2013? The Sledgehammer. He busted the grade 8 bolts holding his bumper on when he tried to cross the Golden Crack like a dummy. Still amazes me he did it.
That being said, I wouldn't worry about it. I think his problem was compounded by something else going on. Like maybe even he thought he had grade 8 and didn't.
That being said, I wouldn't worry about it. I think his problem was compounded by something else going on. Like maybe even he thought he had grade 8 and didn't.
Yup, remember that truck. Nick was a fun guy too.
Well, I do have 2 points so I guess I have a backup if I rip one off. Lol
Well, I do have 2 points so I guess I have a backup if I rip one off. Lol
Time for a Blazer Bash 2016 after action report.
I had an absolute blast! Met a lot of good people and the blazer performed great.
This is the first time I've been able to do any "real" wheeling with fuel injection and an automatic and it was so much better that it felt like cheating.
When doing any challenges on previous trips, I not only had to find the right line and work it correctly, but I had to take into account working the clutch (with not low enough gearing) and hoping I could keep the engine running so I wouldn't lose brakes and steering. It took me awhile to get used to knowing I could count on the engine to keep running but once I did I was willing to try a lot more and it made for a great trip.
There was however a bit of carnage:
Things got a little tight in pickle canyon.
lost focus and dropped onto the rocker on cliffhanger. Totally avoidable, just a screwup on my part.
Bent the tierod somewhere on cliffhanger. It's not horrible, so I think I can get the tires straight with tierod end adjustment.
The transfer case is spitting a bit of fluid out the breather. It's been doing that a bit for awhile, but it appears to be worse. I let @Babaganoosh near the blazer so it's probably the tranny leaking into the transfer case.
I managed to bend my exhaust around my rear axle. I got it pulled back out, but got a nice sized kink that I have to fix.
Broke my cb antenna on a low hanging tree.
Time to upgrade to a flexible antenna I guess.
I had a bad ground on the PCM but other than that the engine performed flawlessly. I'd say the LS swap was a huge success. It's reliability just made the entire trip more enjoyable.
I had an absolute blast! Met a lot of good people and the blazer performed great.
This is the first time I've been able to do any "real" wheeling with fuel injection and an automatic and it was so much better that it felt like cheating.
When doing any challenges on previous trips, I not only had to find the right line and work it correctly, but I had to take into account working the clutch (with not low enough gearing) and hoping I could keep the engine running so I wouldn't lose brakes and steering. It took me awhile to get used to knowing I could count on the engine to keep running but once I did I was willing to try a lot more and it made for a great trip.There was however a bit of carnage:
Things got a little tight in pickle canyon.
lost focus and dropped onto the rocker on cliffhanger. Totally avoidable, just a screwup on my part.
Bent the tierod somewhere on cliffhanger. It's not horrible, so I think I can get the tires straight with tierod end adjustment.
The transfer case is spitting a bit of fluid out the breather. It's been doing that a bit for awhile, but it appears to be worse. I let @Babaganoosh near the blazer so it's probably the tranny leaking into the transfer case.
I managed to bend my exhaust around my rear axle. I got it pulled back out, but got a nice sized kink that I have to fix.
Broke my cb antenna on a low hanging tree.
Time to upgrade to a flexible antenna I guess.I had a bad ground on the PCM but other than that the engine performed flawlessly. I'd say the LS swap was a huge success. It's reliability just made the entire trip more enjoyable.
Glad you had fun and thanks for helping us out a bunch.
Dent's don't look all that bad.
Exhaust is a mess
Dent's don't look all that bad.
Exhaust is a mess
I swear I didn't talk dirty or mean to it.
Ash,
Nice job Mang!
Moab is a great place to find any weaknesses in a truck build. Looks like some exhaust work and rock sliders are in order... And maybe a thick-walled tie rod.
Then......head back to Moab and try again. Refine...retest...rebuild.
-G
Nice job Mang!
Moab is a great place to find any weaknesses in a truck build. Looks like some exhaust work and rock sliders are in order... And maybe a thick-walled tie rod.
Then......head back to Moab and try again. Refine...retest...rebuild.
-G
Somebody say bent?Time for a Blazer Bash 2016 after action report.
I had an absolute blast! Met a lot of good people and the blazer performed great.
This is the first time I've been able to do any "real" wheeling with fuel injection and an automatic and it was so much better that it felt like cheating.
There was however a bit of carnage:
Things got a little tight in pickle canyon.
lost focus and dropped onto the rocker on cliffhanger. Totally avoidable, just a screwup on my part.
Bent the tierod somewhere on cliffhanger. It's not horrible, so I think I can get the tires straight with tierod end adjustment.
The transfer case is spitting a bit of fluid out the breather. It's been doing that a bit for awhile, but it appears to be worse. I let @Babaganoosh near the blazer so it's probably the tranny leaking into the transfer case.
I managed to bend my exhaust around my rear axle. I got it pulled back out, but got a nice sized kink that I have to fix.
Broke my cb antenna on a low hanging tree.
I had a bad ground on the PCM but other than that the engine performed flawlessly. I'd say the LS swap was a huge success. It's reliability just made the entire trip more enjoyable.
View attachment 215737
Had a great time wheeling on Cliffhanger. Sorry you scratched up a nice truck, but appreciated you making me feel better about slapping rockers, breaking antennas and stuff!
Yeah, good time. I thought it was funny that you broke your antenna on the same tree I did, just on the way out since yours was mounted on the other side of the truck.
