Real Daily Driver / Weekend Warrior - Engine Mount Questions

[Lost in Texas]

I have loved watching for years as others built just the things I have dreamed of. I have recently cleared out several older projects so that I have the room and funds for a daily driver Blazer. Until a few months ago I have worked for GM and they recently helped me find my new calling and a new job (after 16 years). So now I have the time and because I no longer travel 3500 miles per month, I can ditch the Impala for a more MANLY daily driver. Here are my goals.

1. Daily drivable in all weather (Lubbock has ice storms and 110 degree days)
2. Reliable and affordable to drive daily (fair mileage, good manners)
3. Long haul ready (we live in the middle of nowhere so to go on a weekend trip we will always have a roadtrip)
4. Totally reliable (I love the princess I married but getting stuck or breaking down would be a deal breaker for her)
5. Fun for my family

I found a Blazer online that had lots of YouTube videos and pictures, we made a deal over the phone and I traveled to Midland to pick it up. He specifically said it was his daily driver and I would have no problem getting home. Well I left the Walmart parking lot and got to the edge of town before it caught fire! Fortunately I killed the key and the guy behind me had a fire exstinguisher. I would have been screwed, cause I had not insured it yet.

I had hitched a ride with an old co-worker so I had no ride home except this . I tried to reach the PO by phone and guess what? No answer. After about an hour and several "unhappy" voicemails, I decided, I better fingure it out and called a tow truck. $440 and I was home. I didn't dare call my wife, I would have never heard the end.

 

[Lost in Texas]

After assessing the damage I decided to go on with the plans. I pressure washed off most of the fire exstinguisher powder and looked over the damage. It was an old TPI swap. I was planning on taking it out and at least do a freshen up and reseal everything. I decided to go a bit further and just fix all the messed up stuff, since I couldn't sell it for what I had in it. (I have seen this trend before, but it usually took years not hours!!)

Decided to pull the engine.

 

[scottishdave]

****ty deal.

So what are your plans for it?

 

[63chevyll]

what a Dick,

Karma will get him.
You keeping TBI or switching over to an LS?

 

[RollinKaos]

That totally blows about the deal. At least you made it home and have something to work with. Do you know what started the fire? I love the old TPI motors. Not the latest and greatest thing now but they were cool back then.

 

[Lost in Texas]

Spent the last few weeknights pressure washing the underhood. Found a few items that will need attention.

The frame crossover that attaches to the motor mounts is busted.


I went ahead and bought one from ORD and dropped it off at the powder coater.

The parts started coming back from the machine shop. Wasted manifold:


I knew the heater core was leaking but the outer evaporator box was also trash:


I sanded down and cleaned the inner fenders and firewall to repaint:


Shot some red from my HVLP for the first time. I made some big mistakes!


I thought it would look good to give it a textured finish since I really couldn't repair all the holes/ dents. So I shot it with etching primer, then textured undercoat, then primer, then red. The finish looks .

Well I'm not pulling it off.

 

[63chevyll]

wow man you dont mess around

 

[Lost in Texas]

I planned on keeping the Tuned Port. They always looked so cool to me and though I would love a LS engine, that takes this project to a level I can't afford. I was hoping to have it ready to drive daily in a few weeks now it looks like a few months!

The TPI is a 305. I know I know. Everyone knows they suck and for a few more dollars I could have a 350. It was supposed to be a 350 but as soon as I saw it at Walmart I knew it was a 305. I got him to reduce his price $500 but I don't know what I am going to do. The budget won't allow a new motor too. So I may freshen up the 305 and save some funds.

 

[Lost in Texas]

Do you know what started the fire?

The PO had run the fuel lines up the drivers side,behind the power steering pump. The belt rubbed a hole and it was dripping on the exhaust. Not a major leak I guess or I think I would have seen it. I did hot rod it a bit when I left and have since found two totally worn out motor mounts so I may have pushed it over the edge.

 

[63chevyll]

HA, the day i bought my 85 burban the Fuel return was laying on the exhaust manifold and leaking fuel, its amazing it didnt catch fire. he drove it to me about 20 miles from his house...EEEK

 

[Burbdood 74]

Shot some red from my HVLP for the first time. I made some big mistakes!
View attachment 126179

I thought it would look good to give it a textured finish since I really couldn't repair all the holes/ dents. So I shot it with etching primer, then textured undercoat, then primer, then red. The finish looks .

Well I'm not pulling it off.

Like I've told others, if anyone points out the flaws in the paint, ask them to look closer and when they get right up on it, bash their heads into the firewall 4 or 5 times and tell them if they don't like it, repaint it themselves. Problem solved!

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

wow man you dont mess around

^This.

 

[dhcomp]

Like I've told others, if anyone points out the flaws in the paint, ask them to look closer and when they get right up on it, bash their heads into the firewall 4 or 5 times and tell them if they don't like it, repaint it themselves. Problem solved!

One of the guys around here has "F off" etched into the number plate on his motor, for anyone trying to determine if his car is "numbers matching"

 

[Lost in Texas]

Do you think a redundant battery is necessary? We do some remote camping from time to time and I always thought about a second battery with an isolator to make sure nothing "suprising" happens away from civilization. I know the truck doesn't require it since I have no monster lights or winch. I am trying to make sure my funds are spent where really necessary.

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

For how cheap it is + The assurance it gives you.... I would.

 

[jeff in co]

Fast moving and that totally sucks about the fire. I've been thinking about fires lately myself so I have since, put a fire extinguisher in my truck.....just in case.

 

[Fixer]

The idea is to have one battery thats sole purpose in life is to start the truck and the other to run everything else on the system (Radio, all lights etc) so that any power draw is done against the "spare". It's some of the best insurance you can buy.

A quick search came up with this, pretty useful:

http://www.junkyardgenius.com/charging/dual01.html

Whereabout in Texas are ya? Nice looking truck so far.

 

[dhcomp]

The idea is to have one battery thats sole purpose in life is to start the truck and the other to run everything else on the system (Radio, all lights etc) so that any power draw is done against the "spare".

This is one way to do it. I've got mine wired up with 12voltguy's setup, and i have EVERYTHING run off the primary battery, with the second as an emergency start.

Mine is combined when key is on, so it gets charged.

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

That's EXACTLY what mine is designed to do...

I have ALL my accessory relays, wired through a West Marine circuit breaker.
The breaker will be powered off my 2nd battery.
The main battery is just for starting.

The panel on the right, is the breaker.
The left are the accessory activation switches.

If I flip a breaker switch off, it cuts the hot lead to the relay.

Full control!

 

[Fixer]

This is one way to do it. I've got mine wired up with 12voltguy's setup, and i have EVERYTHING run off the primary battery, with the second as an emergency start.

Mine is combined when key is on, so it gets charged.

Yeah that is what I meant by one battery that is only used for starting I just said it wrong.

Nice setup Beast!