Pretty sure my wife would kill me if I went all pre-runner on her volkswagen! 
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
colbystephens' '73 blazer build!
- Thread starter colbystephens
- Start date
You never know 'till you try 
...said the single guy.You never know 'till you try
true... but I can do whatever I want whenever I want... there are pros and cons to both sides
Can you have a woman who lives at your house have sex with you and do your bidding whenever you want?true... but I can do whatever I want whenever I want... there are pros and cons to both sides
Me neither.
Was gonna say...who's Craig kidding?
chevy wrangler
1/2 ton status
hey Colby what size of tube did you use for the rock sliders??
that's 2x4x.120wall. 
chevy wrangler
1/2 ton status
awesome
thank you
thank you
It's been a while! I've recently moved to Southern Oregon and going to school has slowed down my progress significantly....
Current plans for the truck are as follows:
1. I'm going to re-do my current cage to frame mount system and give myself an inch body lift or so in the process. The cage/body is hard mounted to the frame, so I'm going to put a spacer between the body and the frame and then reweld the cage/frame mounts. I'm going to add a few more mounting points as well.
Included in this will be extending the sliders over the wheel wells w/ some round tubing and connecting to bumpers. The over-the-wheel-well tubes will have some tubes going to the frame. This should give me a good place to build shock hoop mounts in the future...
2. I have been mulling over fuel tank options. I think what I've decided on is to cut the floor out of the rear of the blazer, raise the existing fuel tank up until it's at least flush with the frame rails and then built a removable tunnel over the top of the tank so that the cargo space can continue to be functional. Thoughts? Ideas? I've seen them in the bed or under the bed, but not so many pics of part way thru it like I'm imagining. Anyone have pics of something like this?
3. I am going to replace all of my guages as well, and build a new guage pod. What types of considerations should I take when looking at guages? What makes one brand better than another? I'll be doing a mechanical oil and a mechanical temp. guage...
4. I have a York and a tank, so that'll be getting put on in the near future for OBA as well. I think I'll mount the tank under the rear seat like in the tech article. I'd like to put a pressure guage in the cab of the truck, tho, instead of in the engine compartment like in the tech article.
Ofcourse, this all takes time and money... so lots of time! Hopefully I can get most of it done by summer so that I can hit McGrew Trail and the Rubicon this summer!
Current plans for the truck are as follows:
1. I'm going to re-do my current cage to frame mount system and give myself an inch body lift or so in the process. The cage/body is hard mounted to the frame, so I'm going to put a spacer between the body and the frame and then reweld the cage/frame mounts. I'm going to add a few more mounting points as well.
Included in this will be extending the sliders over the wheel wells w/ some round tubing and connecting to bumpers. The over-the-wheel-well tubes will have some tubes going to the frame. This should give me a good place to build shock hoop mounts in the future...
2. I have been mulling over fuel tank options. I think what I've decided on is to cut the floor out of the rear of the blazer, raise the existing fuel tank up until it's at least flush with the frame rails and then built a removable tunnel over the top of the tank so that the cargo space can continue to be functional. Thoughts? Ideas? I've seen them in the bed or under the bed, but not so many pics of part way thru it like I'm imagining. Anyone have pics of something like this?
3. I am going to replace all of my guages as well, and build a new guage pod. What types of considerations should I take when looking at guages? What makes one brand better than another? I'll be doing a mechanical oil and a mechanical temp. guage...
4. I have a York and a tank, so that'll be getting put on in the near future for OBA as well. I think I'll mount the tank under the rear seat like in the tech article. I'd like to put a pressure guage in the cab of the truck, tho, instead of in the engine compartment like in the tech article.
Ofcourse, this all takes time and money... so lots of time! Hopefully I can get most of it done by summer so that I can hit McGrew Trail and the Rubicon this summer!
Ok. So I think I'm going to scrap the body lift idea. I just don't like them - and I don't need one. I've got plenty of up travel in the suspension - but I could use a ton more down travel. I am fairly certain that my shocks are SIGNIFICANTLY hindering my down travel. They're just the Rancho5000 for a 4" lift. So I think shocks are going to get moved up on the priority list....
In any case, I did some quick measuring this morning. Looks like I'll need the fuel tank hump/tunnel to be about 6" tall. I'm going to try to cut it so that I can use the ribbed bed piece for the top of the hump. I'll brace it with some angle iron and some regular steel for the sides - it will be super rigid when I'm done.. The top will bolt down to the sides.
Any thoughts on what guage steel to use for the sides of the hump?
I'm thinking I'll run the fuel filler tube up along side the roll cage in the back. Any thoughts about this?
I'm hoping to get started on this on Friday!
In any case, I did some quick measuring this morning. Looks like I'll need the fuel tank hump/tunnel to be about 6" tall. I'm going to try to cut it so that I can use the ribbed bed piece for the top of the hump. I'll brace it with some angle iron and some regular steel for the sides - it will be super rigid when I'm done.. The top will bolt down to the sides.
Any thoughts on what guage steel to use for the sides of the hump?
I'm thinking I'll run the fuel filler tube up along side the roll cage in the back. Any thoughts about this?
I'm hoping to get started on this on Friday!
StevoandaRedK5
1/2 ton status
The filler neck should be alright in that spot, just make sure it's well protected and watch for fumes it might release since it's now in the interior.
Ok, tomorrow the grinder and cut off wheels come out... and the rear floor tunnel project begins! I'm stoked!!
I'm stoked!!
Papi Grande
1/2 ton status
everytime you post a new comment I have to look thru the whole thing...it's like a good porno mag...I know I've seen it a hundred times...but it's just as good everytime!!!....good build man.
Well, I didn't get to dig into doing the fuel tank hump today. Yesterday, the VW generator gave out, and since I don't have the $$$ for a new generator, the truck has to stay operable for nite driving... we can take the bug during the day, as we charge the battery, but at nite with headlights - that's a no go.
so, i worked on building a center console. still got some work to do, but it's mostly done. i'm going to skip school tomorrow to finish it.
here was the original height of the ammo boxes. too high, had to be cut down and resized to fit 2 between the seats. i wanted one box for the console, so i hacked them up and fit them together:
measured out to cut off 3 inches:
checking the new height - mocked up:
I've got a complete box at this point. Still need to finish up welding, repair some holes in the lid from the previous lives of these boxes, add cup holders, drill mounting holes, install locking mechanism, attach mounting tabs to cage, paint and install...
so, i worked on building a center console. still got some work to do, but it's mostly done. i'm going to skip school tomorrow to finish it.
here was the original height of the ammo boxes. too high, had to be cut down and resized to fit 2 between the seats. i wanted one box for the console, so i hacked them up and fit them together:
measured out to cut off 3 inches:
checking the new height - mocked up:
I've got a complete box at this point. Still need to finish up welding, repair some holes in the lid from the previous lives of these boxes, add cup holders, drill mounting holes, install locking mechanism, attach mounting tabs to cage, paint and install...
I've been thinking of going with a pair of ammo boxes for a console too. More pics when you get 'em done. 
i'll have pics from lots of different angles tomorrow. i figure at some point i might mount a CB radio in there with a little opening for the face to stick out of... that's a bit down the road tho. hopefully not too long tho - i'm sick of being the only one unable to communicate on the trail!
original balzer
1/2 ton status
Isnt today yesterdays tomorrow?
Come on Colby we need pics.
Come on Colby we need pics.
sorry. pics on their way. i'm not real happy with how it turned out. I might fix it, or I might build another one. I've got some ideas on doing something a bit different. For now, this will work great, and it will lock which is super nice because having a full-vert doesn't allow for much security of things in the vehicle!
