yee ha!! Blazer is drivable again, sort of.

[tacoma]

Woo hooo!!! after a good month of just looking at my truck, sadly, I finally got some shocks and someone to weld new mounts on.

Truck got 1-tons, rear discs, shackle flip, Tuff Country 4" fronts (used)... my 12bolt H1's and matching 37" milspec Wrangler MT's are going to wait on.. being torn down and repainted, and the 2.5" spacers I still need.

The shockless test ride was pretty sweet! Not too bouncy or spooky, drove straight, etc. Since I'm missing a hub until tomorrow (thanks Tiny2085 for the loaner!!!), my suspension test was in 2wd... and I had forgotten I had a Detroit in the back hahahaha until I started cribbing downhill.... Detroits rock!!! Mine is very very quiet, like silent, actually-- no banging or anything.... I've had limited slips before, and a set of lock-rights in my old M725 (which banged like crazy), but this is new to me-- just sweet traction. Tires squeal satisfyingly in full turns, but otherwise just kind of sandpaper-shush along.

Nothing hit, rubbed, leaked, or otherwise gave me complaints. New shock mounts will be welded tomorrow evening, along with getting another hub mounted for now... (Summit Machine flanges to come ASAP).
The rear driveshaft is unhappy due to the shackle flip-- joint at the case has the usual angle, but at the pinion it's only about 2*, so I'll be reattaching the t-case brace I took off for the tranny swap, as well as carrying a spare set of joints just in case.
Steering is ok but crossover is the very next thing I'm going to do to it... the draglink is very unhappy at full pass. stuff.... but it'll work for now.
Also forgot that there was no gear oil in the front diff about halfway on my trip to the other side of town... But I had packed all the bearings full of grease on reassembly, so I think it'll be alright. Brakes are being ghetto-bled w/ a crowbar against the seat tonight... pedal was still kinda spongy.

I'm stoked! Sits just about perfect (1" lower up front, but I don't have the front shackles in yet), not too stiff, a LOT more stable than it was before(even w/no shocks), and the gearing and locker are AWESOME. Says I'm doing 55 down Main though, so I need some speedo gear adjustment hahahahha


anyway. Pics tomorrow night.

 

[Copasetic]

It sure is a sweet feeling ain't it? I just got mine back onthe road last week as well. It sat for about 6 weeks or so because of destroyed rear shims and a recently found sheared front shackle bolt. Hurry up and gets those pics up!

 

[lectric80]

Hey if you need a brake bleeder kit let me know. I have a one man setup that I used to bleed mine out last weekend, and you are welcome to use it. Worked well for me.

 

[tacoma]

I almost stopped by and asked about 6pm... but didn't. Brakes are bled, all is well.

Tomorrow I'll be fully operational, and Wednesday or Thursday I'm taking it on a test ride at 5mp I think... need gas money first.

 

[lectric80]

I got mine back out on the road, although the Astro's trans gave out so it was a must. At least the brakes work on mine, now I just gotta get the front bumper installed.

Glad you got it going.

 

[sixb]

Now that your almost done with yours you can help with mine Can't wait to see some pics.

 

[Chaddy]

When do you wanna go run the constrictor? I think Im goin out there this weekend.

 

[tacoma]

I think I'm going to try and head out Wednesday or Thursday.... HOPEFULLY I can go to work Thursday or Friday, it's ridiculous waiting for them.

Today I'll try and calibrate my speedometer... you know, tape on the lens w/correct numbers LOL

 

[mrdrinksalil]

Congrats dude.

 

[tacoma]

I see that I forgot to post pics of the current state of the Blazer.

Ahh, Utah sunshine. Despite appearances, it was about 35* today, and this was shot inbetween dust storms.




Two shots dropping off a small ledge at the trailhead. I need crossover.



The springs are working well... I barely even felt the truck cross up here.

 

[tacoma]

This doesn't look like much, but the photographer was looking at me downhill. This is fairly off-camber to start out, and you get a lot more so going up it.



"The axles went all crazy!"




The steps on Rattlesnake. Usually I have to go to the right (as you look the pic, driver side in other words), but this time I got to go right up the middle, with no drama whatsoever. The Blazer is much better than the Burb, and much better than its former, stock self. Last time I was here on those tires, I was on stock springs and I nearly knocked myself out when I bounced off the steps. The step that my passenger tire is on is about 33" high. Saaawweeeet.

 

[GsxrMike]

Man thats freaking sweet! The only rocks I have in Kansas are used to make gravel roads.

 

[tacoma]

That's about 25min away... pretty short trail, but it ends at the beginning of another one that is a bit harder. Without a winch in your party, there is no getting past a 6' ledge in the middle of it... and I'm not sure I can fit through the tight snake run at the end of it either... but the first trail, I can do.

There's a dry waterfall at the end that I need some rocker protection to try.. .but it's got a bypass.

 

[lectric80]

Damn, wish I would of known you were going out, I would of joined to try and break the Blazer. That would give me an excuse to get the swap done.

 

[tacoma]

Augh! if I'd have known you were available, I'd have made you go.

EDIT: oh yeah, get off your ass, you're doing an easy swap. Straight across!

 

[lectric80]

Yeah, but there is some work that needs to be done to them before I am ready. And I still need new wheels and tires to go along with that lift.

 

[tacoma]

The tires/rims in the pic will be available as soon as I get my spacers.

 

[lectric80]

I don't know, I am thinking I need to sneak over and grab that soft top.

 

[tacoma]

Better grab it with someone else's hands, because they're going to get chopped off.

That was an awesome find. Someone else got it before me, but they sold it to me untouched, 6mo later. RME man, RME.

 

[lectric80]

K, I will send my wife over to grab it.

I am keeping my eyes open, and I may just have one made here in the city. Would be nice to have during the spring/summer months.