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colbystephens' '73 blazer build!

what gauge steel did you use for that rocker box ???
who are you asking? on mine, i simply cut out the existing rocker box. on rdn2blazer, his is just the stock box with an access hole cut in the back. if you're referring to the 2x4 tube i used, it's 1/8 thick.
 
stupid question but the box under the floor on rdn2blazer is not stock rite that was made for rigidity. correct ???
nope, that's stock. i cut all of that off of my truck. he just cleaned his up and painted it. the hole in the back is what he cut out to access the mounting point for his cage. otherwise, it's exactly as it came from the factory there.
 
Because the '73-'75 k5s are topless they need something to make up for the support a roof provides. So basically they just stiffen the tub to prevent it from flexing all over the place. The reason they are not in the '76 and up Blazers is the 1/2 cab adds enough support
 
Someone on here told me once that their '76 had rocker boxes as well. Must have been made from leftover parts from '75 because I know that's not the norm. Either that or the guy didn't know what he was looking at...
 
This is also probably why I've never seen an original 73-75 K5 here in Michigan...looks like a giant moisture trap...
 
For now, all I have cut is a window in the front of the rear wheel well. here is a couple of pics. Colby wanted to know how/where I mounted the B pillar behind the driver/pass seats, in front of the wheel wells.

The previous pics on page 15 are of the mount point looking straight up thru the opening in the rocker box. The last two previous pics are the camera held inside the opening, and pics were took capturing the two bolts you cant see from the straight up shots. Hope this makes sence.

I also sanded the inside of the rocker box and painted inside with rust inhibitor paint as you can see. I had to cut access to get the cage mount bolted down.

still gotta clean mine up - going to do some more grinding to make things a bit cleaner, then go after it with the flap disc and hit it with herc. ;) whole underside is going herc'd. :D the 2x4 tube made it plenty rigid to do without the rocker box. additionally, i'm going to hard mount the cage, so i shouldn't have much of an issue with lacking rigidity due to having cut the boxes out...
Thanks for the pic's guys. Keep up the good work!
 
This is also probably why I've never seen an original 73-75 K5 here in Michigan...looks like a giant moisture trap...




Yeah, it is. That why Im very happy my K5 has VERY little rust inside my rocker box. I almost dont want to cut them out, I really dig the extra storage possibility, but I really want the extra body clearence that tube rocker replacement and or boat siding offers. You can't reall do a good rock slider on a 73' thru 75' without cutting into them or removing them all together.
 
well, progress on the cage is slow, but it's progress! i've only been able to work on it in the evenings this week - so i've got 3 tubes bent up so far! :D good stuff...

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:D :D :D
 
more progress! i'm really pleased with how it's turning out. tomorrow afternoon i'm going to spend with my lady tho - so i likely won't get anything accomplished tomorrow, but saturday is MINE!!

crummy photos, but you get the idea. :wink1:

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shows bends in sides:

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