my 72 gmc duner\trail rig

[rancid]

well i sold my yfz450, so i could build something to put the family in at the dunes and on trails. im starting out with a 72 gmc long bed 2wd and converting it into a short bed wheelbase non opening door blazer with a 67 chevy front clip 4wd. i got a gm dana 60 front and a dodge dana 60 rear, as well as a 205 t-case. i have a feshly built 468 bb ready for propane and a turbo. still need a th400 trans, but i got a ggod start. i have cut the roof off the cab and the back wall is also gone, i trimmed 1 inch of the leading edge of the bedside to weld to the cab and cutaway all the innerwalls. the doors will also become just outer skins and welded to the cab. there will be cut in openings for entering the rig. it will have a peice of sheet metal cut to run form the tailgate to the dash, just to give it a clean finish. i would like to run 42-44 inch swampers, but with only 6 inches of lift but move the wheel arch up about 4-5 inches and widen it 5-6 inches.
anyway i got a start but i got a ton of work ahead of me, heres some starter pics and a photoshop of my idea, this project is to replace the yamaha rhino i was supposed to buy. just couldnt see spending 10 grand on that when i could just build somehting like this. was gong to be lowered and prostreeted, but i need a family fun getter now, i guess.

 

[rancid]

 

[Jimmy4matt]

That looks cool. It also looks like it would be a full time job worth of time for a few months. Maybe I'm just slow getting things done. It's taken me several months of weekends to replace my floor, body bushings, and rebuild my front axle and swap 14 bolt. My wife hates the time it consumes.

 

[Greg72]

That's pretty wild looking.....more pics!

 

[rancid]

any ideas if 60 can be built up enough to handle 47 ltb tires, its going to be used as a duner and a trail rig. but will be running a 500 h.p. 468 behind a th400.

 

[vtblazer]

was gong to be lowered and prostreeted, but i need a family fun getter now, i guess.

More fun building what you've decided to build IMO.

Sounds like it's gonna be a beast in the sand.

 

[Yukon Jack]

Sounds like you have this planned out really well. I like your idea alot and will really enjoy watching this one progress!

 

[rancid]

i got an 80 to put in the rear instead of the 60 and i think i might find a 70 rear and convert my 60 front to a 70 front. and mabey the 47,s will hold up ok with a turbo 468 on propane, to use as a mild wheeler.

 

[big94gmc]

i got an 80 to put in the rear instead of the 60 and i think i might find a 70 rear and convert my 60 front to a 70 front. and mabey the 47,s will hold up ok with a turbo 468 on propane, to use as a mild wheeler.

Oooohhh!!!! I like this idea. Now hurry up and do it - I wanna see!

 

[rancid]

well since i have decided on 47 or 49 inch swampers, im getting rid of the 70 hd rear and 60 front to get some rockwells. its taking to long just to round up parts for this build.

 

[bigblock72]

Rockwells on a duner.

Some 35-40 inch tires will work so much better on the sand. Keep it light, keep it low to the ground and with enough power fun will surely follow.

I spend quite a lot time on the sand with mine and it's too tall and too heavy as it stands, can't imagine adding another foot of tire and another 2,500 lbs.

If you really are going to spend a lot of time on the sand you may want to rethink your combination.


Can't wait to see it come together, your concept pictures look way cool.

 

[rancid]

i have read up on pirate alot and it sounds like after shaving all the drums and going disks on a rockwell its not much heavier. this blazer will have no doors or top or heat/ac, so im getting rid of alot of crap. and it will have a 468 bbc with turbo and propane. so power shouldnt be a big deal, and im not building it to compete with built sand rails or banshees. just a allaround rig i can take out to the dunes, tails a little rocks. but it wont be a crawler. and do plan on keeping it low, like 6-8 inches and 47,s with some alot of metal trimming.

 

[bigblock72]

Cool, can't wait to see it done. Hopefully even see it out on Sand Mountain, or better yet at Dumont.