The Original Jaws Blazer Build

[ryoken]

it's been on encore like a 1/2 dozen times in the last couple weeks..

I owe ya a beer Craig, or vice versa, I was thinking the same thing about this build last week watching the movie for a bit...

 

[496truck]

My newest problem is the power steering after the weather cooled down...it is choppy and the steering wheel vibrating like crazy...I think I have a bad power steering pump, but I am not sure yet.

Just offhand, it sounds like the p/s belt is slipping. Try retightening the belt and checking the fluid level before replacing the pump.

The wheels look great.

 

[Chief Brody]

It will never be "complete" until it is as close as I can reasonably get it...The color is actually the biggest piece of the puzzle...most people (almost all) wouldn't even have a clue what the inside of the Jaws blazer looked like...but the color is the most notorious part of it.

Honestly I wish I could just take it somewhere and say paint it inside and out and I'll be back to pick it up when it is dry....

I have a severe rotator cuff/tendonitis problem that is shutting down my right arm...especially after I tore out the whole dash last week, cleaned it up and put it back together.

The biggest thing besides paint is the windows...I need to redo the doors and tailgate windows and mechanism really bad. The glass is off track and rattling around inside.

If I had the windows and rubber seals fixed I bet it would be real quiet...the driveshaft fixed about 80% of the noise and the windows are the rest....

 

[Chief Brody]

Just offhand, it sounds like the p/s belt is slipping. Try retightening the belt and checking the fluid level before replacing the pump.

I will try that...that power steering pump is the wackiest thing I have ever delt with...it doesn't loosen or tighten properly...mine has only two bolts that I can find...one stationary and one on the swivel...when it swivels it doesn't really loosen or tighten...it just kind of goes up and down.

I like to never got the new belt on there because I couldn't get it to swivel enough to loosen...you can go the full length of the "arc" on the swiveling side and the whole pulley wheel doesn't move more than a quarter of an inch.

 

[Chief Brody]

If it were me, and this is just me, I would stick with the blue and white paint scheme, get you that roll bar with the flashing lights up top, get some stock hubcaps/wheelcovers, paint "AMITY POLICE DEPT." on the doors, and call it a day.

If I remember correctly, the Blazer that Chief Brody used in "Jaws 2" (1978) was blue with a white center, just like yours is now. Your K5 can be kind of a cross between the two until you collect all the parts to make it the "Jaws 1" Blazer (which could take forever and a day).

That's easy for you to say...by the way I do have the roll bar and the hubcaps already...and though it may take forever and a day, I have only had it for 2 months....seems like forever already. It has consumed every spare moment of my time...looking back through this thread reminds me of what I have done in that time...almost nothing has been done to change the appearance ...

 

[Craig Artzner]

That's easy for you to say...

It can be just as easy for you to say too! And almost as easy for you to do. You pretty much have everything you need to make a pretty darn awesome "Jaws" rig. But I was just sharing my take on what I would do. You certainly don't have to give up your dream of the original Jaws Blazer, just throw the light bar on and put the police decals on the doors and have some fun with it.

I know how hard these parts are to find, as the years go by they certainly don't become easier to find, especially the saddle interior stuff you need.

 

[Chief Brody]

After much fanfare...here is the first piece of metal on the Blazer to become Sunset Gold....

 

[KansasTwister]

step 1 of the process, under the column? haha. Good luck. Your wheels look great, i am currently painting my rallies but pissing me off so bad i just want to go powdercoat.

 

[Chief Brody]

step 1 of the process, under the column? haha.

It was as much a test as anything...I got the color mixed at a professional auto paint shop and they put it in a can for me. I wanted to spray something and see if that was the right color...it is. It turned out so good that I am thinking about doing the dash parts that you can see myself. That about as far as I am willing to go...but if it works, that's that much less to pay for the pro painter to do.

 

[y5mgisi]

SWEET!!!!!!! They were able to put it in aerosol form?

 

[y5mgisi]

Any idea when you will have the whole thing painted?

 

[Chief Brody]

SWEET!!!!!!! They were able to put it in aerosol form?

Yeah...I was amazed...it isn't cheap, but it may be just what the doctor ordered for small stuff on the interior.

 

[y5mgisi]

Awesome!

 

[max 02]

I painted the back half of my old landcruiser with spray cans matched to the factory paint, it was almost a perfect match on the color, and turnd out real nice! NOT TRYING TO BE FUNNY! Not that I would try to paint a blazer that nice with spray cans, but inside parts... go for it.

 

[COCHEV]

Well...I got them powder coated...dude gave me a sweetheart deal...I will still be drinking water and eating peanut butter sandwiches for two weeks...

Those are sweet! Which reminds me, I need to get my steelies powder coated one of these days too...

 

[Chief Brody]

Any idea when you will have the whole thing painted?

I am shooting for spring-summer next year. I always used to hear that you never paint a car when it is cold...don't know if there is any truth to it...but it will be the single biggest expense and I don't see that happening until next year.

I hope to be able to get the dash done and the doorjams and the door panels before it gets winter here. The windshield frame looks like it might be a little tricky.

 

[Teck]

Nice work so far.
As for the interior It may not be as impossible as you think. I have some info on the stuff I used to do my interoir in my build. I think the only hard part should be the rear bed side panel.

SMS fabric should have the material for your seats.
SEM interior paint to change the color of the plastic parts.
ACC will have the carpet if you are going back with carpet.

You just have to take your time and do it the way you want it to be.
Don't get in a hurry, do it right the first time, it is cheaper and easier in the long run.

 

[76zimmer]

I am shooting for spring-summer next year. I always used to hear that you never paint a car when it is cold...don't know if there is any truth to it...but it will be the single biggest expense and I don't see that happening until next year.

I hope to be able to get the dash done and the doorjams and the door panels before it gets winter here. The windshield frame looks like it might be a little tricky.

Aren't you still in the 70's for temps? Thats plenty good enough to paint in, as long as humidity is less than 50%

 

[Chief Brody]

Aren't you still in the 70's for temps? Thats plenty good enough to paint in, as long as humidity is less than 50%

We are right now, but I don't have the money for the whole paint yet...that's probably going to cost $2000 to $3000 ???

We are actually still in the upper 70's in the day and mid 40's at night...that can change quickly though...since it is getting darker earlier I don't have time to paint when I get home from work so that only leaves the weekend.

I got the glove box lid painted today and I have to get a new insert or repair mine with a piano hinge. Slow progress...I ended up priming and sanding multiple times on the lid because it had scars.

 

[76zimmer]

We are right now, but I don't have the money for the whole paint yet...that's probably going to cost $2000 to $3000 ???

We are actually still in the upper 70's in the day and mid 40's at night...that can change quickly though...since it is getting darker earlier I don't have time to paint when I get home from work so that only leaves the weekend.

I got the glove box lid painted today and I have to get a new insert or repair mine with a piano hinge. Slow progress...I ended up priming and sanding multiple times on the lid because it had scars.

Nice job Brody.