Hey all! I just wanted to say "Howdy" and introduce myself ("Lee"). I'm excited to be here! I am addicted to Corvettes, and know the value of forums in this hobby/sickness, as I've been a Corvette Forum member since 2005. I am already finding great gems of K-5 knowledge from my recent visits here.
So here's my "new" project (see pics): a '72 I've been driving past (and trying to buy) for 20+ years. It's been in my neighbors yard "not for sale" with NO ROOF since ~ 2002. I offered to cover it for her for years, but she said her "grandson would do it!" lol Only the death of my dear old neighbor prompted the sale. I picked it up cheap, but it's gonna need a lot of $ to even get it running....
The bad:
Wheels have been buried for decades and are rusted inside. I literally had to take a grinder to knock the "proud" rust down inside the bead to get them to hold air. I destroyed two tires winching it out of its hole in the earth. A buddy lent me two very old 33's to use until I need new legal tires.
Wiring is a mess. Multiple exposed hot splices from countless radios/speakers, cb's, horn buttons, fog lights, cooling fans, elect chokes, etc.
Seat frames are almost dust. The rotten covers and foam must have held the rain water and ruined them. I now realize they're unobtanium, so I will get my welder, some angle iron and fiberglass (I'm a vette guy, remember?) and see if I can salvage them. Door bottoms are rough. Windshield is bad.
During the 20+ years, a tree grew up in front of the Blazer and totally filled the cowl with leaves, which in turn rusted the floor of the inner cowl panel enough to allow rain to drizzle down across the fuse block/box/bulkhead. Once I cleared the wiring mess, I installed a battery and could only find 12v at the bulkhead red wire.... The whole fuse box is ruined by rust (see pics) all other circuits were dead, even with new ign switch.
And of course, Bubba cut the radio panel....aarrgghh!
The Good:
The PO (Bubba) had a spray liner applied to the floor and bed, saving it somewhat. The floor is very solid in the bed and most of the cab floor is good. (I wish he'd sprayed it on the seats!!!) The rockers are good, but both rocker boxes need reinforcement (rust) or replacement. RF inner fender is rotten under battery box. Small amt of rot on rad support under battery. Surprisingly, the dash top is not rusted, pad tho is hard.
The frame is "perfect" except for the front cross member (chain damage)... I have a "new" one. The Blazer has a cheesy 3-4" body lift which will soon be gone. The motor (NOM 72 SBC 400) has less than 5k miles, and a rebuild by a local (very good) machine shop. Tranny, difs, and X-fer/case are ??? I did soak the cylinders with Mystery oil and a few days later spun the crank by hand (breaker bar). Feels perfect.
I've installed a new ign switch, and will have a new Painless 28 circuit harness here tomorrow to start the rewire.....
After that, maybe I can see if the dang thing will even start! lol
These pics were taken before I cleaned it up/out and started minor disassembly. If you'd like to see more as I "progress," I'd be happy to share...
All advice (regardless how trivial) is GREATLY appreciated!
Thanks again for having me here! I promise to be polite (most of the time)
-Lee
So here's my "new" project (see pics): a '72 I've been driving past (and trying to buy) for 20+ years. It's been in my neighbors yard "not for sale" with NO ROOF since ~ 2002. I offered to cover it for her for years, but she said her "grandson would do it!" lol Only the death of my dear old neighbor prompted the sale. I picked it up cheap, but it's gonna need a lot of $ to even get it running....
The bad:
Wheels have been buried for decades and are rusted inside. I literally had to take a grinder to knock the "proud" rust down inside the bead to get them to hold air. I destroyed two tires winching it out of its hole in the earth. A buddy lent me two very old 33's to use until I need new legal tires.
Wiring is a mess. Multiple exposed hot splices from countless radios/speakers, cb's, horn buttons, fog lights, cooling fans, elect chokes, etc.
Seat frames are almost dust. The rotten covers and foam must have held the rain water and ruined them. I now realize they're unobtanium, so I will get my welder, some angle iron and fiberglass (I'm a vette guy, remember?) and see if I can salvage them. Door bottoms are rough. Windshield is bad.
During the 20+ years, a tree grew up in front of the Blazer and totally filled the cowl with leaves, which in turn rusted the floor of the inner cowl panel enough to allow rain to drizzle down across the fuse block/box/bulkhead. Once I cleared the wiring mess, I installed a battery and could only find 12v at the bulkhead red wire.... The whole fuse box is ruined by rust (see pics) all other circuits were dead, even with new ign switch.
And of course, Bubba cut the radio panel....aarrgghh!
The Good:
The PO (Bubba) had a spray liner applied to the floor and bed, saving it somewhat. The floor is very solid in the bed and most of the cab floor is good. (I wish he'd sprayed it on the seats!!!) The rockers are good, but both rocker boxes need reinforcement (rust) or replacement. RF inner fender is rotten under battery box. Small amt of rot on rad support under battery. Surprisingly, the dash top is not rusted, pad tho is hard.
The frame is "perfect" except for the front cross member (chain damage)... I have a "new" one. The Blazer has a cheesy 3-4" body lift which will soon be gone. The motor (NOM 72 SBC 400) has less than 5k miles, and a rebuild by a local (very good) machine shop. Tranny, difs, and X-fer/case are ??? I did soak the cylinders with Mystery oil and a few days later spun the crank by hand (breaker bar). Feels perfect.
I've installed a new ign switch, and will have a new Painless 28 circuit harness here tomorrow to start the rewire.....
After that, maybe I can see if the dang thing will even start! lol
These pics were taken before I cleaned it up/out and started minor disassembly. If you'd like to see more as I "progress," I'd be happy to share...
All advice (regardless how trivial) is GREATLY appreciated!
Thanks again for having me here! I promise to be polite (most of the time)
-Lee
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