AddictedOffroad
1/2 ton status
I just took delivery of this 72' 1st gen yesterday. It was given to me as a trade for labor on a full turn-key 86' 4runner crawler.
I come from the Jeep/Early Bronco/Toyota world. I previously had an extremely clean V2500 burb though too.
But, I specialize in building turn-key Toyota rockcrawlers these days. Thus, the reason for the trade.
Anyway, here are some specs on my new rig:
72' Blazer, 10K on a crate GM Goodwrench 290hp 350, TH350, NP205. Front D44, Tru-trac 4.56s, Rear 12 bolt & 4.56s. Poison Spyder highsteer, Vintage Air A/C, new 37" MTRs, new driveshafts, STC soft top, new carpet kit, one very UGLY front bumper, and a few more little items like some trim pieces and some solid black interior door panels. It did go through a frame off resto three years ago as well. He just never finished it and lost interest. Its a major rattle trap.
The interior was fairly gutted except for some Lizard Skin bedliner in the tub. It has two quality newer style buckets. No clue who makes them. And its got a Tuffy center console. That is pretty much it. Didn't even have seat belts.
Anyway, considering that its pretty well done for the most part, my plan is to finish off the rest of what is needed to make it a little more pleasurable to drive. So, I hit the pic-n-pull today. The rig needs weatherstripping really bad. There is ZERO weatherstripping. So, I grabbed some door seals off of a mid 90s 3/4 ton Chevy 2door. They fit like a glove. With that squared away I was able to grab some seat belts from a 3rd row custom Van.
Then I was looking everywhere for a rear seat to work into it. I ended up grabbing a 3rd row seat out of a Ford Aerostar of all things. What I liked is that the thing folded flat like a bed. So, when I'm camping by myself, I should be able to just fold the seat into a bed. I know that its not exactly kosher to put Ford Stuff in a Chevy, but I looked in everything in the yard and nothing was clean, or available to be honest. Although I almost pulled the trigger on some 2nd row Chevy Lumina Minivan seats. They are the three piece bucket style.
So, I will fab some mounts for the seat to work with some quick release hinges to pull it out if needed.
Next thing will be a full family cage. I'm no stranger to custom fabbed cages, and this thing needs one badly given the amount of body flex that wreaks havoc on the tub.
I will also need a single wall top in the future too. I will run the soft top a lot, but since I am located on the Front Range of the Rockies, I need something that keeps out weather and little better.
Rear tire carrier too.
Now, I know the 37s will destroy the axles eventually and running a c-clip 12B with 37s is just asking for trouble, but I don't plan on doing anything other than family camping and mild trail rides with this Blazer. If I get to a point where it could be an issue, I have a couple D60 fronts and 14B rears waiting for it. After all, I have a built 4runner for the hard core stuff anyway. Hell, I may turn the Blazer into the tow rig.
I come from the Jeep/Early Bronco/Toyota world. I previously had an extremely clean V2500 burb though too.
But, I specialize in building turn-key Toyota rockcrawlers these days. Thus, the reason for the trade.
Anyway, here are some specs on my new rig:
72' Blazer, 10K on a crate GM Goodwrench 290hp 350, TH350, NP205. Front D44, Tru-trac 4.56s, Rear 12 bolt & 4.56s. Poison Spyder highsteer, Vintage Air A/C, new 37" MTRs, new driveshafts, STC soft top, new carpet kit, one very UGLY front bumper, and a few more little items like some trim pieces and some solid black interior door panels. It did go through a frame off resto three years ago as well. He just never finished it and lost interest. Its a major rattle trap.
The interior was fairly gutted except for some Lizard Skin bedliner in the tub. It has two quality newer style buckets. No clue who makes them. And its got a Tuffy center console. That is pretty much it. Didn't even have seat belts.
Anyway, considering that its pretty well done for the most part, my plan is to finish off the rest of what is needed to make it a little more pleasurable to drive. So, I hit the pic-n-pull today. The rig needs weatherstripping really bad. There is ZERO weatherstripping. So, I grabbed some door seals off of a mid 90s 3/4 ton Chevy 2door. They fit like a glove. With that squared away I was able to grab some seat belts from a 3rd row custom Van.
Then I was looking everywhere for a rear seat to work into it. I ended up grabbing a 3rd row seat out of a Ford Aerostar of all things. What I liked is that the thing folded flat like a bed. So, when I'm camping by myself, I should be able to just fold the seat into a bed. I know that its not exactly kosher to put Ford Stuff in a Chevy, but I looked in everything in the yard and nothing was clean, or available to be honest. Although I almost pulled the trigger on some 2nd row Chevy Lumina Minivan seats. They are the three piece bucket style.
So, I will fab some mounts for the seat to work with some quick release hinges to pull it out if needed.
Next thing will be a full family cage. I'm no stranger to custom fabbed cages, and this thing needs one badly given the amount of body flex that wreaks havoc on the tub.
I will also need a single wall top in the future too. I will run the soft top a lot, but since I am located on the Front Range of the Rockies, I need something that keeps out weather and little better.
Rear tire carrier too.
Now, I know the 37s will destroy the axles eventually and running a c-clip 12B with 37s is just asking for trouble, but I don't plan on doing anything other than family camping and mild trail rides with this Blazer. If I get to a point where it could be an issue, I have a couple D60 fronts and 14B rears waiting for it. After all, I have a built 4runner for the hard core stuff anyway. Hell, I may turn the Blazer into the tow rig.
Last edited:
