'93 Blazer build thread

[hd44blazer]

so i came home tonight to find some goodies waiting for me...
and a s**t ton of tubing is being delivered tomorrow so ill get a good start on the rear section this weekend
also tomorrow front axle shafts are supposed to come in
1.75" 5.5" radius bending die

Bluetorch Fab DIY diff cover

and a little progress tonight too, mounted the driver's seat to the factory brackets.

i ground off the rivets that held on the old sliders and found that the sliders for these seats had holes that lined up with the old rivet holes on the brackets just had to enlarge them a little with a drill.

also required drilling two holes in the floor to bolt down the right side bracket, but overall was a very easy job for anyone wanting more supportive seats in their truck. the seats are the cheap Summit brand like $300 for the pair.

 

[hd44blazer]

installed the front axle shafts and got the main hoop bent up today but my camera died so no pics yet

the hoop came out decent for my first time making one only a couple minor imperfections but will be hardly noticeable when the bed is all together

 

[TREA18]

Looking good. get that camera charged

 

[hd44blazer]

exhaust, thought this would be a unique exit

the tack welds you can see in the 2nd and 3rd pic are for the pieces that fill in around the tips not for attaching the tips as it may look that way

it'll probably end up about like this

main hoop, it's a little to the left in this pic but not where it will be when all is said and done

and Yukon shafts and u joints

 

[hd44blazer]

and for the decking, i'm leaning towards steel diamond plate but wanted to hear suggestions on recommended thickness

i would think 1/8" thick would adequately do the job, what do you guys think?

 

[hd44blazer]

more tubing pics

both downbars with mock-up side bar

both side bars bent and level

better view of them being symmetrical

 

[TREA18]

Looks like you're doing a good job bending that tube.

 

[hd44blazer]

got some more done today, basically just notched, fitted, and tacked what was in the other pics and also added a spreader behind the cab

and i was experimenting with the weldability of 2x4s in this shot too

and was messing around with ideas for this piece here, also got the passenger seat in

 

[hd44blazer]

few more random pics

interior

shifters

still need to cap the ends, and do the other side

 

[hd44blazer]

more updates 8/25 exhaust finished and more

so got the exhaust all buttoned up, and threw the hood back on, also bolted the winch plate back up so i can throw the bumper back on after i trim the grill for the winch

 

[dhcomp]

Like the creativity of the exhaust placement! But...doesn't running it through that area really kill that potential storage space? I feel like lots of guys either run a spare there, or some sort of recessed tool storage area.

Anyways, just something to think about. Sad to see the blazer body go, but the build is looking great! keep it up!

 

[hd44blazer]

i guess it does eliminate that space for a storage box or spare, but i have a large aluminum bed box that came with the donor truck, im going to throw into the back just behind the cab and its a very large one not the narrowed down short over the side type but the full rectangular "between the bedsides" style.

i may also add some smaller side boxes if they don't look too bad or a rack above the bed box also, but i also have the space behind and under the seats

and im still rolling around ideas for the spare mount but will probably end up with a rear "stinger" type that is attached to bushings on the rear frame box(exhaust exit) so it will pull down and lay on the ground if that makes sense, or i actually just thought of this now,but maybe a mini "tiregate" like they have for regular beds that will swing out

but thanks for all the complements and critiques, always appreciated

the first idea would be similar to this but would pull down to the ground, but would sacrifice my rearview a lot most likely

i think i may do something like this now or the pic below or at a slight angle forward as to match the 15* slope of the rear downbars

 

[hd44blazer]

and finally got the girlfriend over to help out...well kinda
this was the start of the floor framing of the bed, more pics later today

 

[Avery4jc]

So what's the plan to keep those exhaust tips from rattling around in there and driving you crazy?

 

[hd44blazer]

they actually don't rattle like it seems they would, the band clamp i have holding the exhaust away from the gas tank keeps tension on the pipe enough to keep the tips from bouncing around freely but still allows the tubing to move and flex if it needs to

i at least haven't heard or felt any noticeable rattle from driving it around the neighborhood, but we shall see once its all done

 

[hd44blazer]

got the frame piece tacked in

 

[hd44blazer]

got a little more done tonight, just the front supports for the floor piece

and don't worry, i'm going to redo those "awesome" gas tank mounts

i'm going to run a tube from the bar just behind the cab to the flat bar that the gas tank is pressed against and lose the square and channel pieces

 

[hd44blazer]

made some good progress today

and some poser shots

 

[TREA18]

looking good. Are you going to run bars around the top of the door? Either way it's awesome.

 

[hd44blazer]

thanks, and my friend keeps asking the same thing and i'm like no no probably not haha but I've got the bug so it'll probably end up connecting