Re: 70 Blazer Frame Off
 

"Always one step forward and two steps back it seems. Very little goes on that doesn't come back off...once...or twice...or more."

I can relate very much to this.. I just realized I installed the return fuel line thinking it was the fuel line that goes connects to fuel pump line.. Why I even had a fuel return line beats me. I ordered it thinking i needed it and got the two mixed up.. Have no idea what it does or where goes. I do now, in the dumpster 20 feet from my garage. So I'll be routing my lines again for the 3rd time.

You're making great progress so keep it up.. I've been spending a lot of time at the body shop and I asked the guys if they run into the same stuff we do and indeed they do too and they work on old cars everyday for a living so don't get down on yourself.

Re: 70 Blazer Frame Off
 

Thanks Mike...and back atcha. The more obstacles we mount, I do feel better...mainly because of the things I'm worried about decrease...how far will the rust go? Will the frame be straight? Will this finally be the grille that fits? Will the window glass ever touch the top weatherstrip?....Right now I'm just sweating getting it started uneventfully...then a handful more things after that. It is to the point now (as the third master cylinder gets installed), that I fully expect a minor or major issue that has to be resolved at each step. But so far so good. I certainly don't like her less because she's been a pain. Heck, my affection might be stronger.

...but I wouldn't complain if she eased up a bit.

Re: 70 Blazer Frame Off
 

Oh man, now you got me thinking about these things. Just focus on one task at a time. That's what I've been doing and it helps. Just block out the rest of the stuff until you're onto the next task.

I'm going to take a day off this weekend and go see the Good Guys car show in Pleasonton this Saturday.. Hopefully, I leave motivated to get back at it. Any specific parts you need? I'll keep my eye out for anything I come across.

Re: 70 Blazer Frame Off
 

Yeah...I need the long tire tools holding spring (mine has a kink). I also need a correct original lug wrench. Have fun and thanks for looking.

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Will do..Could you email me a pic so I have an idea of what it looks like?

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[QUOTE=IronCanine;7109100]Yeah...I need the long tire tools holding spring /QUOTE]

Pic??

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Or length? Got one hanging on my wall

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[quote=Tom Vogel;7109453]Dwayne (1Rippen) pulled one out of a 1ton that's about 1/2in shorter than his Blazer spring. I was going to use that unless you've got a really nice Blazer one that you'd be willing to part with...I don't know the exact length, but I could find out tomorrow.

Re: 70 Blazer Frame Off
 

WOW! Great build! I have a question does anyone know where to get a body dolly for a Blazer?

Re: 70 Blazer Frame Off
 

Front fenders back on...hopefully for good. She's fully plumbed and oil's in. Headed home for Easter. We'll cross our fingers and turn the key when we get back.

Re: 70 Blazer Frame Off
 

Looks amazing.


All these silver k5's around here are growing on me.:lol:

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Thanks...I know, I feel like I'm totally on trend. GM was painting everything else they made silver during that period...shoulda been painting the trucks silver too IMHO.

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[quote=IronCanine;7110223]Ok, I ll check, I can part with mine.... can you pm me a shipping add?

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[quote=jaros44sr;7117693]PM sent.

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Thanks....as far as the dolly goes, there are much more qualified voices to answer, but I've seen a lot of guys on here make their own. And a simple Google search yielded a lot of manufactured choices for me.

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No pics...but a significant update. Fired her up tonight. We had a fuel leak last night that stymied us and delayed the big moment. But after regrouping and going through our preflight checklist ;) tonight, she basically started on the first turn. A little fine tuning will of course be in order, but we didn't let her go long because the oil pressure never came up....which at this point I'm convinced is a problem in my gauge/line. But we're taking no chances. I totally should have put an electric gauge in there and I know it, but I'm going to swap out the oil line tomorrow. I was so zealous in not having a leak in that copper line, I'm thinking I might have overtightened the compression fittings. Please feel free to comment on my stupidity.

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Having a celebratory beer - congrats! Fire it up w the line open at the gauge end to bleed and document flow?

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Milestone! It feels so good hearing it run for the first time, congrats!

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Thanks Pete...I wanted more than a beer on Monday night. Considered just running the line into a cup...but I think I'm going to throw a nylon line in there with new fittings first. Maybe I'll see a little oil in the copper one coming off. I'm probably too worried about goofing up finishes or making a mess. The worst part of the fuel leak was that it was at the carb and did some bad things to the paint on the intake just below. So for every action there is a disproportionately horrible corresponding additional action that must occur....so we started the engine and we get to re-plumb a gauge and re-paint the intake...and I pray that's all.

Thanks, it did sound great...especially through the 20 odd feet of dryer vent serving as our one off custom exhaust.

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Good news-got plenty of oil pressure.
Bad news-cluster has to come out...gauge is bad.

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Jim...spring got here today. It's a perfect example and will clean up great...can't thank you enough.

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No stupidity"............stuff happens........ask me how I know!

Congrats on getting it fired up........give me a couple weeks to get past the spring rush at work and I want to come see it.....

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Thanks...I guess April is tough for you and accountants;)

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Brad your welcome, glad I could help a little. Congrats on firing up the engine. Wish I was doing that, but I m working on brakes

Hope things continue to work out on your build, great build

Lock Doc is selling oil lines in the classifieds, you might have a hard time finding those ferrules

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Here is a little of us two steppin' backwards today. Everything came off so we could fix the paint issues associated with our fuel line leak. Then all back together with a little Loctite thread sealer version 565 for fuel lines. Fingers crossed we've got it licked.

Took out the oil pressure gauge, couldn't see an obvious problem. Luckily they're just going to warranty that...for a minute they wanted me to take out and return the entire cluster.

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As an aside...I started taking apart the bucket seats that I got from another board member today for clean up. Here's the manufacturer date on the back...since I've been so consumed with build date stuff and looking for other build date clues under the dash, behind the cluster, on the rear axle and the transfer case...If my truck had it's original seats, this would have been another date to add to the stack.

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Making progress, I see! Great job..

What plate is this on your T-case?

Attachment 1389391

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Thanks...
...It's the build tag from New Process. Here's the only close up shot I've got of it. It came back from the transmission shop in full primer. We had to go back and detail it.

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The old girl got quarantined off so the hood, tailgate, and a bunch of other odds and ends could get worked and painted....

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Black on the hood ended up being a little flatter than we were going for, but it looks too good to change. Color on the inside of tailgate and other small bits. Painted an OE set of vents as well as the repro ones that came with the VA set up...since the repro ones fit kind of like repro ones do.

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Vents in and hood back on. A little bit of gapping and a lot of prepping for final paint this week.
...it's definitely time to trade in the old iPhone. My photo quality seems to have really degraded over the course of this build. Surely it's not me.

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Beautiful restoration, congrats:metal:

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Thanks...we're getting there.

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Looks Great!

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Subscribed. Very nice work you are doing there. I have a 70 K20 and I am looking at the detail of your engine compartment. I love it when people pay attention to the details such as tower clamps. When I see a worm clamp on these trucks the first thought is O Reilly's. Great work.

Your comment on an electric oil pressure gauge is prompting me to se if there is any market for a conversion. I did the volt gauge conversions for our trucks and they sell rather well. I am not sure if there would be a market for the oil pressure conversion to electric. I have some ideas. The hardest part would be modifying the stock gauge tin to accept the new style gauge. My idea would give you a electronic gauge that looks stock in the dash.

If you need a factory oil pressure gauge let me know. I have them in 60 and 80 lb

Keep up the good work,
Tom

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Thanks.

Thanks Tom. I had always worried about having oil in the cab. I had seen Pete's (DeadHeadNM) conversion to electric in his K20 Super and thought that was smart. I have regretted not going through you for my cluster for a while...but it was one of the first things I purchased, before I knew any better...and I think it was before you went full on with both feet into gauge resto. Luckily the supplier sent me a new OP gauge. I put it in last night, but haven't started the truck to see if it's a go. I was amazed that I had an OP gauge problem to begin with...just doesn't seem like a lot that could go wrong with such a simple gauge.

Edit: To be clear, I think there would be a great market for electric oil pressure conversions. It just seems to make sense to me.

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This thing is looking fantastic.

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Thanks Jarrod...I appreciate that.

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Grille went back on for hood fitment...even if it's just temporary, couldn't help but take another pic.

...more wet sanding. Getting closer to spraying color.

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Brad, your work is impeccable....grille looks sweet on there, always enjoy reading your updates