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first gen differences...??

shady

shady

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what are the real differences in 69-71 and 72 blazers. I noticed while ordering parts that many things (part numbers) are different between 69-71 and 72's . like inner door latch mechanisms, and the body mount kits. stuff like that. I thought they were the same. now I hope I bought the right stuff because I dont know if the PO had a donor body or not :dunno: im sure it can all be made to work but it got me wondering
 
I know the frame is different, and the axles have different spacing for the spring pads. Some parts will work ok, others will require modification, some won't work at all. Despite the model year difference there really aren't huge changes between the trucks from a mechanical sense, although most body parts and hardware won't be directly compatible. That's not saying you couldn't make it work, but if they aren't the right parts just exchange them.
 
frame being different is a big issue...... I'm about to by a frame from a guy that has a 4x4 parts yard. i need the right one for sure
 
great info:waytogo:

the bad is that it appears we have the earlier style doors at least... if not the whole body:confused: which means i ordered the wrong chit for in the doors. looking through lmc at door panels and armrests is how I came to that conclusion
 
Yeah, the 72 has an extra screw by the wing window, the crank and armrest are different too, IIRC.
 
my kids k5 is NOT a 72 from what ive read:doah: the doors are wrong and now the frame is wrong too. its cut off at the back and bumper is held entirely by brackets
 
Eh, these old rigs are so mismatched throughout the years, it's tough to tell.

Just go by the SPID or Vin..
 
dont have a real vin :dunno: state issued number. its like 6 numbers with IA at the beginning.
 
we just replaced the window regulators but I didnt see a difference there:dunno:
 
shady said:
the frame is wrong too. its cut off at the back and bumper is held entirely by brackets
Click to expand...
My '72 frame is the same, cut off at the back.

I recall hearing somewhere (take that for what it's worth) that the blazers were cut at the back and the trucks had frame horns. :dunno: Maybe the truck and blazer frames are the same, but just cut down for the blazers. :confused:
 
There are small differences all over the 69/71 and 72. Hood and fenders are slightly different. Placement of the bowtie is on hood on earlier and later had it on the grill insert. Grills and inserts interchange I believe. Interior door panels and handles all different. Wing windows and main glass same I believe. I'm pretty sure frame was the same until 73. You are going to have to try to measure to make sure. It sucks you don't know the original vin to know for sure. I think also the gauge cluster was slightly different in 72 as well. I've got two and they are from different years. The wiring hooks up the same but goes to different meters. Steering column wiring uses a different harness as well. Early ones will have drum front brakes until 71. Can't remember anything else off the top of my head.
Ashman still has the best avatar I've ever Seen
 
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Shady,

The reason you see different parts for the 72 doors is because the door panel is different (thicker) around the door handles and window cranks. What you'll see is that the splined part that extends through the panel will be abnormally long if you bought 72 parts for a 71 (or earlier) door.

Now you know... :waytogo:


-G
 
Yep mine has plastic panels where earlier were metal I think. Armrest bolt in is different also isn't it.
 
chulisohombre said:
Yep mine has plastic panels where earlier were metal I think. Armrest bolt in is different also isn't it.
Click to expand...

On the 72, the armrest is partially molded into the door panel which makes the panel thicker, and the escuteons around the window crank and door handle are raised also. On the earlier models, the door panels are a simple, perfectly flat panel and the armrest is more like a big blocky wart that just bolts straight to it.

I find that the LMC catalog is a very good resource for learning about obscure changes across the 4 model years... By looking at which parts have year-specific part numbers (and studying the exploded pictures) you can usually figure out the differences


-G
 
yeah we have the blocky armrests of the earlier years. I bought new internal mech.s for the doors and they are a different part number also. i guess ill send them back if they dont work. i'll know what year the frame is if i can find the partial vin on it.... im told its near the steering box on first gens
 
I've never looked for my frame vin. Probably would be good to know if it is stock or not. I've heard it was by the steering gearbox or under the driver seat area on the frame.
 
one of the other threads on here i think said firstgen was by steering box and 73or 74 on up was under the drivers seat
 
IIRC they are under the drivers seat. There is a nice pic in Greg's thread where he was sandblasting his frame in preps for the double samich. It should be in the begining just before he welded the two halves together.
 
The doors are interchangeable so they could have been swapped in. I'll have to look through your thread and see what the front end looks like. But a lot of the stuff from 67-72 interchange if you use the complete piece with all the trim attached.
 
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