Im not sure how I got this far

[73K5BlazerSS]

I pulled the engine, trans, fuel tank, as well as brake and fuel lines this weekend. I got my new to me LS engine and trans. My next step is cleaning and painting the frame and firewall so I can start putting stuff back together.
Now that I've gone this far it looks like only 6 bolts are keeping me from pulling the tub off the frame. Obviously I can sand and paint the whole frame if I go this route. I assume installing the brake / fuel lines, engine, and trans would be easier too. Is it a pain to get the body back on straight? What nightmares can I expect if I go this far? Or should I just sand and paint what I can with the body on frame? I have a bad habit of doing this, and not knowing when to stop. Any advice from someone who has gone down this road would be appreciated.

 

[scouthead]

I bet that garage was huge and had all kinds of space to walk around and work on things before this started??

 

[Fastereddie]

I pulled the engine, trans, fuel tank, as well as brake and fuel lines this weekend. I got my new to me LS engine and trans. My next step is cleaning and painting the frame and firewall so I can start putting stuff back together.
Now that I've gone this far it looks like only 6 bolts are keeping me from pulling the tub off the frame. Obviously I can sand and paint the whole frame if I go this route. I assume installing the brake / fuel lines, engine, and trans would be easier too. Is it a pain to get the body back on straight? What nightmares can I expect if I go this far? Or should I just sand and paint what I can with the body on frame? I have a bad habit of doing this, and not knowing when to stop. Any advice from someone who has gone down this road would be appreciated.

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The bolts you mentioned, plus the steering shaft, fuel filler stuff, tail light harness, axle vent hose are some more I can think of. By the way, that’s not an LS you have there. That’s an LT.
Personally, I would get in there and replace the body mount bolts and bushings while your that far into it. Then you won’t wish you had later.

 

[73K5BlazerSS]

I bet that garage was huge and had all kinds of space to walk around and work on things before this started??

Haha it was huge with lots of space before I crammed in all my work stuff and never organized it. Then when the Blazer went in there it got even smaller. Hopefully in a few years my kids will be big enough to clean it out for some allowance $.

 

[73K5BlazerSS]

The bolts you mentioned, plus the steering shaft, fuel filler stuff, tail light harness, axle vent hose are some more I can think of. By the way, that’s not an LS you have there. That’s an LT.
Personally, I would get in there and replace the body mount bolts and bushings while your that far into it. Then you won’t wish you had later.

Yes I've disconnected the fuel filler. The wiring is all hacked up with splices and connectors so I'm gonna rip that out and fix it. You're right... good eye! I keep calling it an LS because when I mention an LT1 my friends think I'm putting in a 350 from the 70s. I will definitely do new body bushings as well. Is there much play when bolting the body back to the frame or do the bolts and bolt holes basically set the body right where it needs to be?

 

[mrk5]

I'm probably a bad person to ask this kind of question. I'd rather be driving and enjoying my rigs. If it was me, I probably wouldn't have bothered painting anything first. I'd just jam the motor in there and go have fun.

 

[Fastereddie]

Yes I've disconnected the fuel filler. The wiring is all hacked up with splices and connectors so I'm gonna rip that out and fix it. You're right... good eye! I keep calling it an LS because when I mention an LT1 my friends think I'm putting in a 350 from the 70s. I will definitely do new body bushings as well. Is there much play when bolting the body back to the frame or do the bolts and bolt holes basically set the body right where it needs to be?

There’s a little wiggle room to play with, but not much.

 

[73K5BlazerSS]

I'm probably a bad person to ask this kind of question. I'd rather be driving and enjoying my rigs. If it was me, I probably wouldn't have bothered painting anything first. I'd just jam the motor in there and go have fun.

I'm willing to bet by next summer it will still be in the garage and I'll wish I just dropped the motor in.
I'm weird about certain things, it would probably keep me up at night if the frame wasn't painted. I wish I wasn't this way.

 

[ryoken]

I pulled the engine, trans, fuel tank, as well as brake and fuel lines this weekend. I got my new to me LS engine and trans. My next step is cleaning and painting the frame and firewall so I can start putting stuff back together.
Now that I've gone this far it looks like only 6 bolts are keeping me from pulling the tub off the frame. Obviously I can sand and paint the whole frame if I go this route. I assume installing the brake / fuel lines, engine, and trans would be easier too. Is it a pain to get the body back on straight? What nightmares can I expect if I go this far? Or should I just sand and paint what I can with the body on frame? I have a bad habit of doing this, and not knowing when to stop. Any advice from someone who has gone down this road would be appreciated.

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that could turn out super clean without going any further.... I don't see like any rust... go off on the interior with some burly 60 on a DA, wire wheel what's needed, follow up with some 150 on the sander.. prime. paint.. whatever..

frame and firewall I'd give it a serious soapy, scuffpad, toothbrush clean with hot water... just try to get everything clean, and dull/scuffed... you could sand the big flat of the firewall, and even the big frame areas with some 150... sand/wheel the heck out the booster too... spot prime where needed... and douche it in some satin.... obviously some time masking, maybe removing that wiring, etc.... but that firewall, etc could look real good.. just need a few processes done to it.......

unless, of course, the cranium is poking you in your sleep to completely disassemble the rig..

you HAVE options!

 

[skunked]

I just went down that rabbit hole last year so here's my $0.02
If you pull the body you're going to find yourself stripping the whole frame, axles, and suspension parts for paint. You'll need all new hardware, u bolts, bushings, brake lines etc. because anything old will look like $hit against the new stuff. Good time to add the weld in steering box plate while it's stripped.

 

[scouthead]

Yes I've disconnected the fuel filler. The wiring is all hacked up with splices and connectors so I'm gonna rip that out and fix it. You're right... good eye! I keep calling it an LS because when I mention an LT1 my friends think I'm putting in a 350 from the 70s. I will definitely do new body bushings as well. Is there much play when bolting the body back to the frame or do the bolts and bolt holes basically set the body right where it needs to be?

well, since im LS-iterate, would somebody mind explaining all this? I hear LT1 and i think optispark, lots of compression, and reverse flow cooling...

top of something in the first photo is definitely not LT1. whats the "T" for? truck? this a different style intake or completely different motor? and what gives it away?

 

[Fastereddie]

well, since im LS-iterate, would somebody mind explaining all this? I hear LT1 and i think optispark, lots of compression, and reverse flow cooling...

top of something in the first photo is definitely not LT1. whats the "T" for? truck? this a different style intake or completely different motor? and what gives it away?

The new “LT” is the next generation. It is a direct injected engine. There are many versions like the lt1, and supercharged lt4. The truck versions are called L83 and L86.
5.3 and 6.2 respectively. I notice them right away because I have installed a few in my buddies rides and my neighbor owns a swap shop that does them.

Everything You Want To Know About The GM Gen V / LT Engine

General Motors's Gen V LT-series direct-injected engines, the LT1, LT4, LT5 and more are worthy successors to the loved LS engines and the iconic small-block Chevrolet. Here is everything you need to know about GM's latest and greatest.

www.holley.com

 

[scouthead]

ah ha. didnt realize the new direct injection motors were common in the LS type engines already. I heard (year or two back) about one of the engines going into new camaro or new corvette being branded LT1 again? or did i dream that?

 

[ktmoutfront]

LT1 L86 FTW. I have one going in my 48.

 

[centexk5]

The l86 is a bad mofo.

 

[6872xtc]

I'm willing to bet by next summer it will still be in the garage and I'll wish I just dropped the motor in.
I'm weird about certain things, it would probably keep me up at night if the frame wasn't painted. I wish I wasn't this way.

You are not the only one around here that wants things to be "just right ". Whatever your level of right happens to be.

As @ryoken said, you have options.

 

[73K5BlazerSS]

Options are good. Taking it off the frame sounds expensive, but it would look nice in the end. If I go that far I'll need some advice on how to tell my wife where all the money is going.

The firewall and underside would have been painted the same as the exterior right? So tangier orange in my case. If so I guess someone has sprayed over that in black at some point. Should I get down to factory paint again ? Does it matter in the end ?

 

[6872xtc]

Tell the wife that preservation of the investment requires more money.

 

[73K5BlazerSS]

My frame had a crack that was repaired by a previous owner by welding splater over the crack. They did this around the steering box also, although the frame near the steering box is not cracked from what I can tell. The other repairs are at the hole in the frame where the brake line runs through. The shock mount is free of cracks also. Is the area near the brake line susceptible to cracks as well? It doesn't seem like that would be a major stress point. Maybe it is due to the cross member holding the engine along with 2 larger holes drilled at that location?

I grinded the splatter down flat and you can see the crack along with a stop hole, and what looks like a burn hole from welding. Should I make a fish plate to repair this from the inside? Or will welding the frame to install a fish plate weaken it further?

Also should I get a steering box brace or plate kit?

 

[ktmoutfront]

Looks like a crack in the second picture near the bottom.

Yes to the steering box brace. Even mall crawlers have the frame crack there eventually.