79 Blazer Smash 2.0

[DrSmash]

Nice progress.

Thanks. What I haven’t documented is all the welding I had to come back too after the fabrication. I still have an estimated 6 hours of sheet metal welding. The rear suspension and bumper needs almost all the welding done. The rear shackle hangars are tack welded and with the added leaf in front need to be cut off and moved 1/8” rearward. That tiny amount will pop the backend up 3/4” or more. Shock mounts on the rear axle don’t exist as do the entire front shock mounts. Then there is the 8 sticks or so of 1080 DOM 1.75 tube to bend up for the cage.

 

[DrSmash]

Just realized I have the whole exhaust as well.

 

[DrSmash]

got the bumper off for final welding. Decided that the exhaust will exit the face of the bumper. All the welding to the end of the frame for bumper mounting is done as well.

 

[DrSmash]

Final welding more of the rear fabrication. The skid plate framing got its 1/16” diamond plate on one side and expanded metal on the other. The side with the expanded metal is where the fuel pump is mounted to the fuel cell. I wanted more airflow and it is also removable independent of the entire skid plate frame.
The shackle mount was moved rearward 1”4” and welded down and the skid plate frame mount was also welded up. I threw in a pic of the 2 crossmembers that support the trans and t-case.

 

[DrSmash]

Considering gusseting this x-member like this.

 

[DrSmash]

Lots of little gussets and finish welding. The big x-member is going to support the traction bar and the skid plate. The plate bolted to the side of it is for a couple of tubes the will go towards the rear and attach mmmmmmsomewhere to keep rocks from getting the muffler.

 

[DrSmash]

Made some specialty fasteners for all the crossmember plates. Easier to get those in between all the trussing and only need 1 wrench. Got the springs back in and the bumper back on. Started the tie-ins cage to frame on the back.

 

[DrSmash]

Finished rear cage tie-in, got the traction bar installed, gusseted the spring perches, fabbed the axle mounts for the sway bar, and built the muffler skid cage.

 

[DrSmash]

Well that was an epic week of welding, painting and final assembly. Wanted to make a big dent in the mountain of fab work I’ve made for myself. Got to let it sit so I can play catch up with other projects.

 

[DrSmash]

Started the exhaust by working backwards.

 

[DrSmash]

Exhaust all fabricated and still needs some final welding. I was going to put an exhaust cutout in but it’s not going to work in the space so it left the chat. I do think that I’m going to put one more v-band clamp in on the passenger 2.5 pipe for disassembly versatility.

 

[DrSmash]

So I put v-bands on both pipes. If I need to access the slave cylinder I just have to take off a short pipe. Moving on to the main skidplate. It’s pretty large at 43 long and 35 wide. The bolts will be on the side of the frame so nothing sticking down. The middle will have rubber bumpstops that will contact the trans and t-case crossmembers so that it won’t dish upwards.

 

[DrSmash]

Moving forward with the skidplate.

 

[DrSmash]

Cut the plate out of 3/16” and gave it a slight belly with the good ole 4 ton Chevy press.

 

[Blue85]

Oh, the 0.75-ton press.

 

[DrSmash]

Oh, the 0.75-ton press.

Actually the burb is converted to 1.0 I say 4 ton press because it tips the dump scale at 8100lbs.

 

[Blue85]

Actually the burb is converted to 1.0 I say 4 ton press because it tips the dump scale at 8100lbs.

I was thinking of the weight on the steel, so maybe 1-ton?

 

[DrSmash]

I was thinking of the weight on the steel, so maybe 1-ton?

Ahhh I get it.

 

[DrSmash]

I have and idea for a pneumatic retractable step.

 

[DrSmash]

Here is my chicken scratch drafting of the under drive cooling set up.