Continuing 72 Blazer build

[IRIECHEFDEEZY]

Here are some pics of the old girl. She's been a work in progress since we got her back in 01. First thing to come were 37" boggers and a Skyjacker spring lift. With a little cutting everything fit "comfortably" Eventually the running of such aggressive tires took it's toll on the drivetrain. The trans went first, after a performance rebuild to get her running again the 12 Bolt was the next victim.

About this time she went into storage for a couple years while I was traveling for school and work. She would still roll on the 12 bolt rear but not without a lot of grinding.

A after a couple years in storage, I was finally at a point in life I was able to start the teardown to build this into my dream truck. I guess we all cross the line where she goes up on jack stands and won't be coming down for a while.

We started on the toasted 12 bolt first. Out she came and in goes a 14bff. While we were stripping the rear of the truck we did a diy4x shackle flip, and ditched the scaly factory fuel tank.

 

[Deuling]

Subscribed! Good lookin rig!

 

[IRIECHEFDEEZY]

more pics of the old girl

Mud still splattered on the dash. We built her to run hard and she'll definitely do that. You can see the hurst ratchet shifter and a little of the 8 point cage.

The bondo on the passenger door. We probably should have left it but we really had no idea it was as bad is it is. I hope re skinning the door isn't too hard

 

[IRIECHEFDEEZY]

More unbuild/build pics. I moved to a better house about 1/2 into the drivetrain teardown. Detached garage, Sweet!

So the 14 bolt had to go in to get her moved to he new place before it was completely finished. We still need to swap to 456 gears, find some calipers(caddy hopefully), and upgrade to the 1410 yoke.

Found a smokin deal on a d60 so we've been rebuilding that while we wait on some more parts.

 

[IRIECHEFDEEZY]

Here are a few more pics.

This is the d44 coming out right after I got moved into the new place. Ended up selling it to a guy restoring a first gen so I felt pretty good about that.

The motor has been overhauled and is very strong. Made just a few changes including the Jacobs ignition, headman headers, Holley 4160, k&n, etc. just tuned her up and she's stron as ever. The th350 trans already had one rebuild on it since we've had it so it may get upgraded eventually. The 205 t case leaks a tad. Needs a new output seal. It's on the list to do

Here is the d60 just after we finished stripping and painting. This was a great find for $500 even though it was drw. It's in great shape and came with 456 gears and brakes/calipers

 

[IRIECHEFDEEZY]

Thanx Deuling. Been waiting a long time to work on it and have been sourcing parts and money for parts the last year or so.

 

[ashman]

looks like you're starting from a pretty good place. Looking forward to watching your progress.

 

[bigjbear]

Looks like a great project. Hell, we may end up with a decent group in the area again.

 

[IRIECHEFDEEZY]

Thanks Bigjbear. Whats in the area for K5 blazer groups? have heard of a classic Chevy meet at the Starlight 6 Drive in but nothing for Blazers and Trucks exclusively.

 

[IRIECHEFDEEZY]

some of the rust i will be dealing with

These are a few pick of the rust i will deal with after the drivetrain is back under it.

 

[IRIECHEFDEEZY]

Rust pics

 

[IRIECHEFDEEZY]

These are our main areas of concern.

Door skins. The passenger door has 20lbs of bondo on it no joke. When you see the black blob on the passenger door that was all bondo we removed. It was 1/2" thick in some places. After a while we decided to cut our losses on the door. Gator wheels are great but expensive. It will need to be reskinned at minimum.

This is the only bad visible spot on the windshield frame. Don't know if we can save it or not.

And or course the ubiquitous floors and rockers.

This truck was actually missing the rocker boxes. As best we can figure it was in an accident at some point before we got it. Between the damage to the passenger door the frame horns and the inner fender(it's really close to the frame on the pass. side) it's safe to say it was probably t boned and fixed.

I know it's going to be fun getting it back together straight but this is not going to be a show truck. She is built for offroad.

 

[RANDAL]

Good luck with the rust repair.

 

[bigjbear]

Thanks Bigjbear. Whats in the area for K5 blazer groups? have heard of a classic Chevy meet at the Starlight 6 Drive in but nothing for Blazers and Trucks exclusively.

Nothing at the present that I know of. A few years back there were several of us that wheeled regularly, but not so much anymore. What part of town are you in?

 

[IRIECHEFDEEZY]

I live in Decatur, my friend that's helping me lives in Marietta. So I spend some time all over north and east ATL.

 

[IRIECHEFDEEZY]

Thanks, Randal. It's looming like I'm gonna need it.

 

[RANDAL]

Yes you will but everyone is awesome over here and will help you through anything you may need help with.

 

[IRIECHEFDEEZY]

That's the feeling I get reading some of the posts. If only some of the body guys or painters can come to my garage to do first hand help.

 

[Z71paramedic]

Welcome to the forum dude. Best of luck with the rust repair. I don't miss those days, but it wasn't so bad looking back on it.

 

[IRIECHEFDEEZY]

Thanks z71medic. I can't wait for that day.

I love reading all these build threads and am hoping to reach retarded levels of awesome myself!