Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

That's what I have been trying to figure out. It supposedly came out of a BBC car and the bellhousing is definitely a SBC/BBC bellhousing. According to the numbers on the tag, it is not the GM version that was offered back then. I'm sure I could make it work, but do I really want to go through that much trouble to save a buck?

There really isn't much info on the 3550's on the interwebs anymore, so it is hard to research all of this.

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Measure the input shaft, sure way to tell. GM 10-spline is 1 1/8” diameter, F*rd is 1 1/16”. Also, pilot snout diameters differ, but I don’t remember measurements off the top. Either way, it probably has a 28-spline (ferd) output, so no help there.

If it’s a F*ord unit, you’ll spend more time and money adapting it than it would cost just to get a new TKO.

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Yeah, I found out that I can get the GM TKO-500 input shaft and bearing retainer in the 3550. But by the time I change everything, i might as well spend a little extra to get way more torque capacity and a warranty...

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Well, I have 31 days until we leave for HRPT. I finally got off of my butt to install the Vintage Air. My buddy Kevin came over for the weekend to help and keep me motivated. We stripped the interior and the dash so that we wouldn't get metal shavings in everything, then removed all of the factory heater components. After mocking up the evaporator unit, I came to the conclusion that routing the lines out of the inside cowl vent wasn't going to work very easily due to how close the blower was to the vent. I thought about using the bulkhead that I bought, but in the interest of simplicity and the fact that I want to test out the A/C on a trip to North LA on the 17th, we decided to transfer the VA plate holes onto my pretty blue panel. If I want to hide the lines better later on, I'll just have to get another plate and have Kevin paint it to match. We tried both polished and painted allen head bolts to hold the plate to the firewall, but decided on the painted. I still need to install the condenser and make up some lines next weekend, then I can get it charged and finally have A/C in the Blazer.
Here's a few shots of the progress this weekend.

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

We also cut the dash for the stock A/C vents, which took a little bit of nerve to cut an unmolested dash, but I think the end result is soooo worth it! Unfortunately, all of the PO's warning labels had to come off of the dash since the 3 vents were going to partially cover them, but I did take pics to preserve the memory of them!

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Good progress. That’ll be nice for the summer.

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Lookin’ good! Hate to see the decals go, but it’s for a good cause

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Wow, I haven't posted here for a while. I have an excuse though, I've been busy causing my self more work and prepping for HRPT.

While installing the VA condenser, I was trying to hurry and ended up putting a drill bit into my aluminum radiator. I immediately ordered another one and got it powder coated the day it came in. Lesson learned, spend 15 minutes to pull the radiator to avoid spending another $400.:dohh:

I got the A/C all buttoned up and got it charged last night. It blows 35° air out of the vents with it just sitting in the shop idling. :metal: The lines didn't turn out exactly as I imagined, but they do hide that big ugly heater valve pretty well, if I do say so myself.

I also added an electric pusher fan to the front of the condenser to assist the engine driven clutch fan. I added the Dakota Digital PAC-2750 fan controller also. It's a pretty neat unit that can turn on/off 1 or 2 fans at different temperature set points, and with it connected to the DD Retrotech gauges it uses the same sending unit and can turn off the fans above a set vehicle speed. Of course, it also kicks the fan on with the A/C regardless of whether it has reached the temp set point. That should help with all the idling while waiting to get into the venues on HRPT.

While the grille was off for the condenser install, I also swapped out the sealed beam headlights with the Jeep Wrangler JK headlights, so I can be more like my hero Gringoloco! :lol: They give the front end a cleaner look and will hopefully provide better, brighter, more focused lighting.

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Looking good!

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Wait, a radio AND air-conditioning? Might as well be driving a new Challenger... :lol:

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Who said anything about a working radio? I will have a bluetooth speaker on the dash though!:metal:

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Final step of the A/C install is done, the shallow glove box is in. I'm loving the new look of the dash with the factory A/C vents installed. I installed new spacers for my wheel tubs, I went from 1/2" to 1-1/8" so hopefully my rubbing is finally gone. If I make it through HRPT without rubbing, I will stretch my factory tubs to get rid of the spacers. Just need to change the oil and recalibrate the governor in the 700-R4, and of course load up clothes, ice chest, chairs, canopy, tools, spare parts, etc. I am leaving Wednesday night to spend the night at a buddy's house in Natchitoches, then Thursday morning we head out to NC to start the long haul on HRPT!!!

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Still better than meow-mix!

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Anything is better than that! :lol:

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Now that I am back from HRPT and a week in TX working in the heat and moving into an apartment at night, and another week back at the house getting caught up on everything else, I can finally explain why the Blazer didn't make it to HRPT.

I had everything done in time (for once) and was loading the blazer up for a week and a half of HRPT bliss in a torrential downpour at my house. I know the Blazer leaks in the rain and it doesn't bother me a whole lot because the floorboards are already coated and it has a rubber mat instead of carpet, but when I realized that the windshield weatherstripping was leaking and it was dripping on the electronics for my new A/C and gauges, I looked at the dismal forecast for HRPT and made the decision to leave it at home. I did attempt to buy a universal car cover at Wal-Mart around 1AM before I had to leave to try and give me at least a little protection while it was parked... That didn't work out so well.

I ended up riding with my buddy Kevin in his sweet 68 C10. There were a couple of days that ended up being nice, but the rain on all the other days made me glad I left it home.

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

I've done a bunch of research about my 700-R4 woes, and I believe I may have found a kit from Pro Built Automatics that may solve all of my issues. I'll probably be ordering that soon as a last ditch effort to save the automatic.

I had sold the Holley Sniper that I had to a buddy a few months ago since I had decided that I wanted the 4 injector Super Sniper for the additional analog inputs that it offers. I went ahead and ordered that plus the full Hyperspark setup that they didn't even offer when I purchased the first Sniper.

Hopefully, I'll have time to get all of that installed before C10's in the Park at the end of September. I got my registration stickers in the mail today, I can't wait.

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

I used a precision seal on mine and a professional install. So far so good. Sucks yours has a issue and couldn’t take it. But with new electronics I’d not want to leave it up to chance it would get ruined either.

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

I'm about to order a Precision seal. The seal that is in there was there when I bought the Blazer 5 years ago, so who knows how old it is. I'm a little afraid of what I might find under that seal since that is the only area on the Blazer that I have not seen with my own eyes, plus it is leaking. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

I have a new spare Precision windshield gasket - send me your address and I will ship it to you.

It is for no-trim.

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

I appreciate the offer, but I can't take your spare from you. Don't you have a 72 that will need one hopefully soon?

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Not soon enough on the 72. I can just order another one when I get that far.
Happy to pay it forward for all the help this board has given me over the years. PM me your info and I can get it out to you.

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Bowtie Overdrives makes a great kit for TV control with the Sniper, check them out. We use their stuff with the FiTech on Connor's truck.

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Yeah Mine was good underneath fortunately. Hope yours is as well. Mine got hit by a falling tree though. I thought it was possible it took out the frame as well but I got lucky with a hole in the top and a dented a pillar. Plus the broke windshield. Rust was my other worry but it was ok. Two years later it still no leaks. Had mine professionally dine so it was warranted if it did leak because of a installation issue. But all good.

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

My transmission originally came from BTO, so I've used their TV kits on every engine that it has been behind. I have their kit on the Quadrajet currently, but I'm still having issues. I believe it is all in the valve body, and the kit that I ordered today should fix what I believe is happening as well as upgrade a couple of common issues.

Once I have a chance to install the kit and prove to myself that the transmission can act right again, then I will order the TV-Made-EZ for the Sniper, and finally install the fuel injection.

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

I think the problem stems from the fact that your transmission has a torque converter instead of a clutch... :lol:

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Yeah, you are right. But, after numerous talks with my wife, she would like the Blazer to remain an auto, if at all possible, so she will still be able to drive it with her neck problems. Plus it will make it quicker to finish messing with the Blazer so that I can finally get back on my truck, which will definitely NOT be a cruiser. That one is slated to be more performance oriented instead of comfort, she won't want to drive that one, so it will definitely get a stick.

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Sounds like a plan!

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Kevin (65streetcruiser) came down for the weekend to check out a friend's new rides and make a Cruise-In on Saturday. We checked out Chris' rides Friday night, but the rain kept us from making the Cruise-In on Saturday. So before Kevin left today, we decided to go burn some petrol! We stopped to take a couple of pictures...

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Nice photos Steven!

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Very nice pics. I like the retro garage background.

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

It looks like God has the same feelings as you...

Yesterday I was going to a breakfast meet in Baton Rouge, I didn't even make it 5 miles once I got on the Interstate, before the MF-ing 700-R4 quit pulling in gear, any gear. My wife came with a tow strap and pulled me to the next exit. Then I went home and got everything to hook up the tow bar so that I could safely pull it home. After cleaning up the shop so that I could get the Blazer back in there, and figuring out that backing a vehicle on a tow bar is a horrible idea, I finally got it locked up in the shop.

Now I have a month before C10's in the Park and a bad trans. It looks like the SM465 is going back in with Chris' Bonneville gear set for a 8.5" 10-bolt... 2.56's baby! Wish me luck that I can get it done in time.

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

That sucks but I enjoy my gearbox much more. Hope you get er done.

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Well, I've gotten a lot of advice from many people and the general consensus was to rebuild one of my 700-R4's so that it could be a quick and easy swap, instead of re-inventing the wheel in about a month before C10's in the Park. So I did what any good sensible gearhead would do... I just went ahead and ordered my new TKO 600!

I figured that if I'm going to spend more money on a transmission, it might as well be what I really want. Hopefully the transmission and all associated parts will be here by Friday, which will give me 4 working weekends to get it installed, driveshaft measured and shortened/built, and build an exhaust for my new headers that have yet to be installed. If I'm running short on time, I can throw the manifolds and glasspack exhaust that was on the Blazer when I bought it to get me on the road. Here goes nothing!

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

...And so it begins! No more torque converter problems for me!:D

This is my Transmission.
There are many like it, but this one is mine.
My transmission is my best friend. It is my life.
I must master it as I must master my life.
My transmission, without me, is useless.
Without my transmission, I am useless.
I must shift my transmission true.
I must shift faster than my enemy who is trying to race me.
I must out-shift him before he out-shifts me.
I will...
Borrowed from "Rifleman's Creed" USMC

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Nice!!

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Enjoy that sucker. Looks like a go fast trans. Loved the riflemans to transmission reference.

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

Alright!

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

I hit a bit of a snag this weekend that completely stopped my progress of getting the TKO in the Blazer. If you look at the picture of the old bellhousing with the new one, the clutch fork hole doesn't give enough room for the truck style clutch fork to properly articulate when pushing the clutch in, due to it being straight instead of curved like a car version. Of course, my original bellhousing has a center hole that is 5-1/8" diameter instead of the 4-5/8" that the transmission requires to properly center the transmission on the crankshaft of the engine. I tried to locate a truck bellhousing that had the 4-5/8" hole, but couldn't find one to get me going.

I called Silver Sport this morning and explained my issues, and they are going to send me an indexing ring that should be a light press fit into my original bellhousing hole and will properly locate the transmission. I'm a little leary of that ring possibly falling into the pressure plate and wreaking havoc on everything, so they are sending a "machined surface sealant" which is kind of like thread locker, but for machined surfaces, and I will probably "stake" the bellhousing into the ring with a center punch just for good measure. The good news is that I can go ahead and index my current bellhousing with the larger hole to center it up on the crankshaft before the ring even makes it to me, so at least that can be out of the way.

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

man, it is always something, when you're on a time crunch

Re: Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

I guess I will catch up a little here, it's been a long weekend. The indexing ring came in from Silver Sport, but I wasn't happy with the fit, so I began searching for an apparently hard to find bellhousing for the truck clutch fork with the small hole for a car style transmission. Friday afternoon/night I drove 3-1/2 hours each way to pick up a bellhousing that fit the bill. I chased all the threaded holes and cleaned it up so that I could paint it Chevy orange to match my engine. I had acquired a NOS clutch fork pivot ball and mostly NOS stuff to rebuild the Z-bar. Once I had it all redone with new boot and all, I almost didn't want to put it under the truck since it looked so good.

My Dad showed up unannounced this morning and we worked until almost 9 PM getting the transmission in. I thought I would be able to do it all by myself, but it turns out having an extra set of hands really helped a lot. I still have to modify my trans crossmember to fit the TKO, swap out the yoke and rebuild the Z-bar, plus I found that the Z-bar is hitting the pretty brake lines that I bent up, so I'll have to re-do those now.

I may have to actually bring the Blazer to a muffler shop to have an exhaust system built since they will be able to do it much faster than I can and I'm running out of time.

I need to set the driver's seat and console back in place to figure out if the shifter position is going to work before I start cutting on my high hump again, but so far I think I'm liking how it is going together.