Blazer build with pics

[Nazarethk5]

So I bought a blazer the day I got my license, had to sell a beater car and work for a few months, but I got it! Had some 33's and 35's with it and some lift blocks and an unknown brand 4 inch lift kit. Heres what it looked like the day I got it

So I swapped some 35's on it that came with it

Took it offroading a few times

Well it didn't take long before the 700r4 began to grind and churn, on my way back from auto zone it blew up and I drove it home in 2nd gear lol. The guy I bought it off installed the TV cable completely wrong.
So my dad and I removed the trans and bought it a beefy rebuild kit with lots of things that are pretty much unknown waters for me. But we sent it to my uncle's friend who is a 20 year plus auto mechanic with the rebuild kit and he rebuilt it for 300 dollars. Well we pulled the engine aswell

Just your everyday 350 2 BOLT MAIN?! So I guess it WASN'T the original engine lol.

Well while we had all this stuff off we decided to remove the body which was alot of fun http://coloradok5.com/forums/images/smilies/doah.gif

So I decided to run 38's, got a great deal on them for 650 with some nice wheels and great tread and sold my 35's for 500. So I didn't lose a whole lot.

Well we decided to do a 14 bolt d44 swap.

( I cleaned these up nice but I cant find my camera to computer cord so it'll be a bit before I get pics up. )

We ( as in my uncle me my dad and my uncle's buddy ) regeared these things to 4.88's. My uncle would only take 50 bucks, he's been a huge help.

I ripped all the interior out and plan on hercing it

Well we've been going on this build for about 2 months but I procrastinated and just got this thread going so I don't have much to write about our past adventures, we've just entered the rebuilding stage.
Anyways I don't have anymore pics in photobucket but I'll keep you guys updated on my dad and I's adventures. Currently working on axles, replacing balljoints and bearings, and 14 bolt disc kit. Just got shackle flip and braided brake lines in mail from ord. So I'll be installing those. But anyways more to come soon.

 

[Nazarethk5]

So anyway now for the stuff were currently working on

Heres the d44 regeared repainted and with new balljoints.

Thats the big 14 bolt repainted and regeared, still working on it. The boot is for uhh... size comparison.

Heres the backing plates which where the rustiest thing I've ground and repainted so far.

Thats one of the leafs sand blasted and repainted, all of them are done now.

Thats the frame repainted. I'm putting a coat of black over it.

Those are the shackle flips

Heres what where going to tackle tomorrow, all new seals and bearings on the corporate 10 bolt.

 

[lak2004]

Looking good. I am getting re-inspired to get mine running and then tear into it again

 

[Teck]

Looks good so far.
I understand the hard work it takes to rebuild one. I'm almost done with the body and interior, then going to the frame and running gear.

 

[dfl701]

Did you paint your leaf springs red? Looks good so far keep up the work!

 

['86erfixer]

Looks great, congrats on the progress so far. I didn't know much of anything before I started tearing into my K5. I follow the learn as you go mentality. You're clearly more skilled than me. Keep posting pics, I really want to see what that beast looks like when it's all said and done (even tho 'all done' never seems to come).

 

[Back-to-doo]

Nice looking ride!

 

[jt512]

Looking good so far , I just finished reinstalling the frame under mine about 3 weeks ago .

I did notice one thing, whats up with the left rear body mount hole?

 

[Nazarethk5]

Thanks for all the support guys, It's 9:30 am and I'm about to go at it again for the day, finally got some sun here in the northeast so I can finish painting the frame. Yea I painted only the leafs red so far, I mite paint the sway bar red, I'm not sure if it'll look good or bad haha. Yea Teck I've been looking at your build thread for a while, same with you jt512. 86erfixer I wasn't too good at this stuff either before I started tearing it down, my dad helps with all the stuff that requires experience, and I do all the manual labour haha. Oh and I'm not sure what you mean jt by whats up with the rear leaf body mount hole? Oh and a question about the rear leaf, the clamp thing that looks like it's supposed to hold them together is pretty loose as you can see in the pic, is that alright?

 

[jt512]

The hole for the left rear body mount looks "egged" out. They should look the same side to side. One other thing also, those brackets where the old spring hangers were will have to come off for the shackle flip as well.

The clamp being loose should be ok, it is meant to keep the spring pack for twisting but if it were really tight it would not allow the springs to flex and sepate a little when drooped.

 

[Nazarethk5]

Ohh yea, I saw that, I was thinking I'd take some steel that I have and reinforce them. And yea I got those spring hangers off the other day when I tried to attach the shackle flip I realized they where in the way.

 

[jt512]

Good deal, just wanted to make sure you saw them before you painted, it always sucks when you have to break fresh paint because you missed something

 

[Nazarethk5]

hey jt would you recommend doing the bedliner on the underside of the body. Is it worth the extra money or can I just spray paint the bottom, I wouldn't be able to do al's liner I'd just put some herculiner on it. I'm not sure if I even need to do the underside, in some spots it's completely fine and then in other spots its terrible.

 

[jt512]

hey jt would you recommend doing the bedliner on the underside of the body. Is it worth the extra money or can I just spray paint the bottom, I wouldn't be able to do al's liner I'd just put some herculiner on it. I'm not sure if I even need to do the underside, in some spots it's completely fine and then in other spots its terrible.

That's a good question, I am really happy with the way the underside of mine came out, but I was also working with 0 rust anywhere. I'm really not sure how well the liner would adhere to a rusting area, since you could not really prep it properly. Are you planning of doing any metal work underneath (replacing the rusted area's) ?

 

[Nazarethk5]

Yea I'm replacing the rusted areas, I already cut out the floors in a few spots. I have some left over rust bullet I think I'm going to hit the bad areas with that and not really touch the rest.

 

[Nazarethk5]

Alright I'm trying to put the axle shaft back in, and it won't go in any further. When I turn it it spins the gears but it won't go in a little bit more. Any help?

Also it seems odd there'd be no seals or anything on the end of these?

 

[Zeus33rd]

The seals are inside the housing next to the carrier bearings. If you look at the ends of the axle shafts near the splines, you'll see a smooth machined area. That's the seal surface. There's also a grease seal on the end of the spindle. Make sure you check out the bearing inside the spindle too...grease it up or replace if needed.

As for sliding the shafts in, just keep workin at it. Sometimes they'll slide right in first shot, making ya wonder wtf went wrong for it to go so easy, sometimes they'll make ya pull your hair out in frustration. Have you pulled the diff cover and looked inside to see what's goin on?

 

[AZ87K5]

You are probably hitting on the inside seal. It's on the inside of the pumpkin.

 

[Stomis]

I see some d44/10b confusion in this thread. Its either one or the other so which are you putting in? Cause if your making an attempt to put your old 10b shafts in the new d44 theres the mistake.

btw looking good.

 

[Zeus33rd]

You are probably hitting on the inside seal. It's on the inside of the pumpkin.

This is true. If you've banged on it too hard, there's a chance the seal could have been unseated or damaged. Unfortunately, that seal is a pain in the ass to replace. Requires pulling the carrier out of the housing.