Bama's 1973 Blazer restoration

[Bama67]

ill get pics of the tool after my family reunion today. Its neat because he can use the innter tailgate holes or use the stake holes on a normal truck bed.

that would be great man, thanks. I am sure it could help others get some ideas too.

A lot of why the bedsides lean out is at the tailpan itself. Put a 4 foot level across the back and see if the tailpan has sagged at all...I'm gonna bet that's where the problem is.

You're in the perfect situation to replace the tailpan, it'll never be easier than it would be right now. Or...you could find a way to pull it back up to straight, which will also pull your bedsides in, and then weld a reinforcing tube in front of and attached to the tailpan. A couple of burly eye bolts through the top of the tailpan at each corner, a chain between the eye bolts and a bottle jack under the center of the chain would probably get most of it...

Normally having the tailgate in place is what helps hold everything together. If you wheel or drive without the tailgate for any length of time the tailpan will sag. If you intend to wheel or drive without a tailgate I'd consider a bolt in brace between the bedsides to help.

Rene

yeah, that sound like a good idea. I will have to do something while the body is off. And I am sure it was cause the old tailgate had been down for years, so the weight of the top just pushed the sides out more and more. Thanks for the tips.

 

[Bama67]

At this point I have only ground the paint off the top of the bed sides and found more rust than I wanted to find on the enire tub. Before I went any further, I drug it outside and took the sander too it, to see what else I was in for.

Man it was a job getting all that old paint off, it was tough.

Imagine that, the upper lips of the wheel wells were Bondoed to hell and back.

More rust behind the door openings. YAY!. Oh and there were dents everywhere.

 

[Bama67]

Satisfied that it wasn't TOO RUSTY, lol, I drug it back in the garage and shot it with some primer. Notice I ignored the area behind the tire, that is all gettin cut out. If you noticed by now, I have a deep hatred for Bondo, and want this truck to be all steel except for smoothing purposes. It sure is going to be alot of work.

It looks halfway decent with primer, huh? Its an illusion, trust me.

Now feeling good since my first patch job, I start on the other areas.

Patches formed and laying in place. I must say these pieces will test your patientce to get correct, especially being as small as they were, they were hard to handle.

Welded in. I am getting better already at this, and enjoy the challenge of it.

Shot with primer, almost invisible with no filler at all.

 

[Bama67]

After I got all the bed rail patches done. I had to head back to work for two weeks. When I got home I had a couple things waiting for me.

I cut out the cancerous pieces behind the rear tires, but as of now I only have the new ones tacked in place.

Good versus evil

 

[Bama67]

That is about all the pics I have thus far. As you can see I got alot done in that first two week span, but since then, I can't seem to find any free time. I keep my little 11 month old girl while my wife works, and then I also guess that is partially my fault, I bought a Polaris Sportsman 850 XP and have been riding the snot out of it in my free time.

On the Blazer I have since installed my 4'' suspension lift, with all new springs, no blocks and new shocks. I also blasted and painted the axles, new brake pads and stuff like that. I have ordered all new body mounts for it and urethane sway bar bushings. I also finally got my tranny and transfer case back.

Thats about it. I still have a week and half to go out here before I get home. I hope this time off to get the bottom of the tub cleaned up and painted, and the firewall done. That way I can get the drivetrain back together and set the body back on. That would bring the body back up to a height much easier to work on. I also have to roll it in and out, in and out of my garage, so this will be easier as well.

Thats if I have time after I get back from our planned ATV riding trip in the TN mountians.

 

[Bama67]

While looking for parts on EvilBay one day I saw this truck on there. It is almost exactly the look I am going for. I am not trying to copy it or anything, just what I had planned all along: stock looking, nice paint ORANGE!, clean tires and wheels with a mild lift. It will be a while and many more man hours before my pile resembles anything like this.

My Bondoed Beauty

What is what it will one day look like. Oh yes my friends, it will look this good one day. I have no idea why someone would sell this truck.

 

[rjpastor]

Nice build. Subscribed

 

[Chevy305]

wow very detailed, I like how you are restoring it with slight mods in mind. I definately like that evilbay truck too

 

[dfl701]

did you buy that 4wheeler new or used? that thing looks pretty sweet!

 

[Bama67]

Nice build. Subscribed

Thanks alot!

wow very detailed, I like how you are restoring it with slight mods in mind. I definately like that evilbay truck too

yeah, as much as I would like to build a more offroad worthy rig, it just wouldn't be used like that. Not to many places to take it offroad around here anyways. And after all the time and money invested I don't think I could allow myself to beat it up. I did that to my last truck and really regretted beating it to hell.

did you buy that 4wheeler new or used? that thing looks pretty sweet!

I bought it new, it is a big step up from my 2000 Big Bear 400. I love it, I forgot how much I used to enjoy riding 4wheelers. Since I sold my motorcycle it is something me and the wife can do together. I also got a smoking deal on it when I got it, no buyers remorse for this thing.

 

[scrappyk5]

nice work so far. Would love to get a full vert at that price in that condition. Oh by the way, your hot wife looks like she is trying out for a game show host displaying your rig in that pose.

 

[mr.smartass]

Nice build, good to see another south east guy on here.

 

[gotblazers]

really clean work. I got a 73 k5 blazer im restoring as well fortunately it was stored inside for most its life or else i'd be in the same boat eek haha.

 

[blazinzuk]

you and I will someday have very similar blazers if you are going to paint yours orange.

My 73 awaits parts (actually its a 90 that awaits parts from the 73) but it will be titled as a 73

It will be a couple years before I get there though.

Looking forward to seeing yours get built though

 

[jt512]

That truck did belong to a CK5er, there are some pics in the "how would my truck look thread", I can't remember but I think his user name was something like "heavychevy" or something along those lines.

Bama67, your rig is looking great, nothing better then a full vert K5 .

 

[Bama67]

nice work so far. Would love to get a full vert at that price in that condition. Oh by the way, your hot wife looks like she is trying out for a game show host displaying your rig in that pose.

It isn't in near as good condition as I thought it was when I bought it. I'm just glad I didn't give much for it. And when I get done cutting all the rust out there won't be a whole lot original metal left.

And thanks for the compliments on the wife, I am a very lucky man indeed. I also got a very good Father's Day gift yesterday, we found out she is pregnant again! I really got to get crackin'; in 9 months I'm going to have even less time on my hands.

Nice build, good to see another south east guy on here.

You too, the Blazers we have around here aren't in Califorina condition, but it sure beats Northern rust! Expect for mine. lol

really clean work. I got a 73 k5 blazer im restoring as well fortunately it was stored inside for most its life or else i'd be in the same boat eek haha.

You suck!

you and I will someday have very similar blazers if you are going to paint yours orange.

My 73 awaits parts (actually its a 90 that awaits parts from the 73) but it will be titled as a 73

It will be a couple years before I get there though.

Looking forward to seeing yours get built though

Thanks, I don't want to look like anyone elses, but I just can't really find any other color I like, like the orange. At least me and you are in no danger of running into each other on our orange 73's. lol

That truck did belong to a CK5er, there are some pics in the "how would my truck look thread", I can't remember but I think his user name was something like "heavychevy" or something along those lines.

Bama67, your rig is looking great, nothing better then a full vert K5 .

yeah, after I saw it on Ebay I saw it had been posted in that thread. That is one sharp blazer, I would love to have that thing. It is going to take alot of Benjamins for mine to look like that. And a whole lot of work by a guy that doesn't really know what he is doing.

And thanks again for all the compliments guys. It will help keep me motivated when I get home (come on July 1!) especially to work in my cramped 110 degree garage.

 

[max 02]

Nice work your doing! Looking forward to seeing more. Off topic but I would like to see a pic of the 67. Have fun!!

 

[chevy wrangler]

any updates?? nice build by the way

 

[BulldogK5]

Nice work with all the documentation. Like Justin said, glad to see another SE truck. I like the Chevelle...needs some pics also.

The rear lower quarters I recently cut off mine looked almost as good as the new ones in this pic...

except for the dents.

 

[gotblazers]

Bama67

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Last Activity: 06-26-2010 08:38 AM

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