Maverick4x4
Registered Member
I'm building a blazer to blow snow at our cabin. I've used a '91 yj to plow the driveway with varying results the last few years with lots of stucks and dig-outs (the jeep has chained 33's and rear locker). Pic attached of part of the driveway. Approx 20' of snow falls per winter. I gave up on the jeep last winter and used a big walk behind snowblower with better results, though it was a workout. Thought about getting one with tracks.
Owners in the area pay in to keep the main road cleared, then the side roads are extra. I decided to spend my money on equipment rather than pay this extra amount year after year. Plus, it can be used to earn money clearing other side roads for the weekenders (we're just not there to plow early in the morning for the 'rounders).
Additional bonus...if done right, the blazer can be a great expy/moab rig, and/or a rig for my 15yo to wheel in over the late spring/summer/fall. We'll see how this whole thing works this winter and what he wants to do when he turns 16 next summer.
Blower: I started with a killer deal on a Hanson blower with Western Ultramount (attached pic), then needed to find something to mount it to. They are heavy and the literature "requires" a 3/4ton truck. However, everyone here knows that the front ends on 1/2ton and 3/4ton chevy's are the same when it comes to the axle housings. The springs are different. I figured a blazer gives better maneuverability and will be easier to fit in the garage with the blower still attached. If it doesn't work, I'll get a 3/4ton or bolt in a 60.
Rig: I found a sweet '90 Coca-cola white and red blazer with mismatched axles (3.42 front and 3.73 rear) and also found set of '90 3/4 axles (10bolt, sf14). I toyed with picking up a FF14 I saw here with 4.56 and Detroit to match my (forsale) D44 w/ 4.56 and lockright. However, I can see the front axle firmly planted with the weight of the blower and snapping the axle shafts/u-joints. The 10bolt/SF14 will be adequate.
The blazer was super clean inside and out, had a new engine and tranny, and tons of power. No wonder it blew the stock 3.42 10bolt. I was also happy to see the blazer already had the 3 leaf front springs. I spent a morning test driving another lifted blazer, then stopped by and picked up the axles and the Coca-cola Blaze and headed back to the office. 32x11.50 on chrome 6 lug deep-dish rims for sale. Make an offer. Oh ya, 10bolt axles too. Cheap.
Blower, check. Rig, check.
Now for the gizmos to turn these doodads into assets.
Mount: The blower side is a Western Ultramount. The truck side will be a universal mount with bolt on pockets that accept the stingers on the blower side. Western #63900. Just missed the truck side mount on ebay. Gotta keep looking. Cool - went to get the pic of the one I missed, and it was listed again. Click!
Wiring and controls: blower controls will come with the blower, need to get Western Ultramount controls. $$
TAD: I was wanting a locker and hoping for a gov-lock. When I was buying the axles we noticed some old pitting/chips on the spider gears, but the ring/pinion looked great. I figured I'd buy a lockright...and ended up as the only bidder on one on ebay. Check.
Tires: Typical plowing wisdom is skinny snow tires do better than flotation. I believe typical plowing wisdom is based on plowing parking lots and paved surfaces. My mountain snow experience up there is that there is no bottom, only gravel then muddy clay. The jeep would get into crusted snow and bury itself in seconds. So skinny or fat, tall is best...but depends on how much lift I can put on the blazer. Opinions?
Lift: It can't be too high for the mount. Measured the truck: 13-15" to where the mount would be. Measured the blower stingers, they could be up to 20" high (super cool adjustable system). So I've got 5-7" to work with. That means 4" of lift and 35-37" tires. Q78-16LT might fit without lift? 315's? I'll be looking for used tires since it will be running chains anyway - but that means no rubbing will be allowed. Looks like up to 4" will work, but stock would work too, if the tires will fit. Rear shackle flip best?
Shocks: who knows...ya, it will need some. Front has double set up...necessary?
U-bolts: ya, I need those too.
U-joints: special adapter ones to fit rear SF14 to stock driveshaft. Unknown - is the SF14 pinion longer, requiring the driveshaft to be shortened? Maybe the lift will help? Does the shackle flip move the axle forward a little vs a block? Seems like a CV shaft might be in order
Stereo: Every rig needs tunes. Thinking ipod based system. An 800w amp like I did in the jeep, a 10" speaker box in the back, speakers in the dash, and 1/8" jack or ipod dock.
Counterweight: Yes, some kind of way to hang a few hundred pounds off the back, or maybe some concrete buckets inside the back.
Chains: The set I had on the plowjeep fit 33's and may have to be modified for 35's or whatever size I end up with.
Tranny cooler and gauge: Scored both, along with some H2 rims today, traded for a D50 with broken spider gears. One man's junk...
Brett
Owners in the area pay in to keep the main road cleared, then the side roads are extra. I decided to spend my money on equipment rather than pay this extra amount year after year. Plus, it can be used to earn money clearing other side roads for the weekenders (we're just not there to plow early in the morning for the 'rounders).
Additional bonus...if done right, the blazer can be a great expy/moab rig, and/or a rig for my 15yo to wheel in over the late spring/summer/fall. We'll see how this whole thing works this winter and what he wants to do when he turns 16 next summer.
Blower: I started with a killer deal on a Hanson blower with Western Ultramount (attached pic), then needed to find something to mount it to. They are heavy and the literature "requires" a 3/4ton truck. However, everyone here knows that the front ends on 1/2ton and 3/4ton chevy's are the same when it comes to the axle housings. The springs are different. I figured a blazer gives better maneuverability and will be easier to fit in the garage with the blower still attached. If it doesn't work, I'll get a 3/4ton or bolt in a 60.
Rig: I found a sweet '90 Coca-cola white and red blazer with mismatched axles (3.42 front and 3.73 rear) and also found set of '90 3/4 axles (10bolt, sf14). I toyed with picking up a FF14 I saw here with 4.56 and Detroit to match my (forsale) D44 w/ 4.56 and lockright. However, I can see the front axle firmly planted with the weight of the blower and snapping the axle shafts/u-joints. The 10bolt/SF14 will be adequate.
The blazer was super clean inside and out, had a new engine and tranny, and tons of power. No wonder it blew the stock 3.42 10bolt. I was also happy to see the blazer already had the 3 leaf front springs. I spent a morning test driving another lifted blazer, then stopped by and picked up the axles and the Coca-cola Blaze and headed back to the office. 32x11.50 on chrome 6 lug deep-dish rims for sale. Make an offer. Oh ya, 10bolt axles too. Cheap.
Blower, check. Rig, check.
Now for the gizmos to turn these doodads into assets.
Mount: The blower side is a Western Ultramount. The truck side will be a universal mount with bolt on pockets that accept the stingers on the blower side. Western #63900. Just missed the truck side mount on ebay. Gotta keep looking. Cool - went to get the pic of the one I missed, and it was listed again. Click!
Wiring and controls: blower controls will come with the blower, need to get Western Ultramount controls. $$
TAD: I was wanting a locker and hoping for a gov-lock. When I was buying the axles we noticed some old pitting/chips on the spider gears, but the ring/pinion looked great. I figured I'd buy a lockright...and ended up as the only bidder on one on ebay. Check.
Tires: Typical plowing wisdom is skinny snow tires do better than flotation. I believe typical plowing wisdom is based on plowing parking lots and paved surfaces. My mountain snow experience up there is that there is no bottom, only gravel then muddy clay. The jeep would get into crusted snow and bury itself in seconds. So skinny or fat, tall is best...but depends on how much lift I can put on the blazer. Opinions?
Lift: It can't be too high for the mount. Measured the truck: 13-15" to where the mount would be. Measured the blower stingers, they could be up to 20" high (super cool adjustable system). So I've got 5-7" to work with. That means 4" of lift and 35-37" tires. Q78-16LT might fit without lift? 315's? I'll be looking for used tires since it will be running chains anyway - but that means no rubbing will be allowed. Looks like up to 4" will work, but stock would work too, if the tires will fit. Rear shackle flip best?
Shocks: who knows...ya, it will need some. Front has double set up...necessary?
U-bolts: ya, I need those too.
U-joints: special adapter ones to fit rear SF14 to stock driveshaft. Unknown - is the SF14 pinion longer, requiring the driveshaft to be shortened? Maybe the lift will help? Does the shackle flip move the axle forward a little vs a block? Seems like a CV shaft might be in order
Stereo: Every rig needs tunes. Thinking ipod based system. An 800w amp like I did in the jeep, a 10" speaker box in the back, speakers in the dash, and 1/8" jack or ipod dock.
Counterweight: Yes, some kind of way to hang a few hundred pounds off the back, or maybe some concrete buckets inside the back.
Chains: The set I had on the plowjeep fit 33's and may have to be modified for 35's or whatever size I end up with.
Tranny cooler and gauge: Scored both, along with some H2 rims today, traded for a D50 with broken spider gears. One man's junk...
Brett
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Gonna be an interesting build in spite of the lack of forced air! 
