|
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Thanks for the compliment lks dcvn! The inner panel went on almost too easily, yet the outer panel wanted to settle in high and a little forward. What we ended up doing was tach welding the top in and then using a rubber hammer and a body hammer to massage the panel into the right position. The only part that didn't go in exactly like it came out was the very bottom rear corner, it ended up bieng about 3/8 of an inch high and about the same forward.
I wish I lived closer to other blazer addicts as well! I would definately help you with your project if I did. Hopefully the weather will cooperate for you so you can make some more progress. |
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Well, I got some more work done to the blazer last week and this week. Since I got the drivers side cowls solid I figured the next logical step would be to get the passenger side solid again.
Unlike the drivers side the passenger side cowl was actually in very good shape. The only issue I could see was down where the fresh air vent was there was a rusty area. This is what the cowl looked like before work started. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3205.jpg Of course there was the typical layer of leaves inside once it was opened up. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3206.jpg This was the problem area. The metal around the fresh air vent flap was heavily rusted on the top and the bottom on the piece on the front. Besides that and part of the inner cowl to outer cowl support panel everything was solid beneath the outer cowl panel. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3210.jpg Here is what the area looked like after all of the rotten metal was taken out. Alot less metal missing here than there was at this point on the drivers side. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3214.jpg A comparison of the rotten panel bieng replaced to that of the donor panel that was pulled off of my 72 parts suburban body. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3215.jpg |
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
It didn't take very long to put all of the clean metal back in.
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3230.jpg After the fresh metal was put back in the area was primed and painted flat black. Not sure how well the paint will hold up over time, but I figured it would ad a little extra rust protection. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3228.jpg Before I was able to put the outer cowl panel back on I needed to do a little repairing. The first thing that needed repairing was welding up the flap that someone had made so they could do metal repair by covering up rust with fiberglass. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3222.jpg I also noticed it had a few pinholes poking out behind where the A/C box normally resides. When I looked at the underside of the cowl I noticed that those pinholes were just the tip of the rusty iceburg. There was a whole area that was very pitted and weak.So I marked the area out and cut it out with the plasma cutter. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3216.jpg I used the cut out piece as a template and made a new piece out of flat steel. After a few welds the outer cowl was ready to be put back on. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3218.jpg |
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Good progress! :metal:
|
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Shot of the repaired original outer cowl welded back onto the blazer.
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3238.jpg After finishing the outer cowl I did notice some thin metal on the inner cowl right where the weatherstripping goes. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3233.jpg The rust didn't seem anywhere near severe enough the require tearing out the whole panel, so I simply cut out the section that was rusty. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3234.jpg Replaced the rusty metal with a small patch from what else but the trusty old parts suburban. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3236.jpg |
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Got home from working on the blazer that day and my wife told me that there was a big box on the front porch!
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3191.jpg Loaded inside was my order of reproduction patch panels. Outer floor sections, rocker panels, bed patches, lower cowl patches, and door pillar patches. I still have to get the rocker box for the drivers side, but I think everything else I will need I will be able to pull of of parts vehicles. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3192.jpg Then what would you know, the next day I come home from working on the blazer and I have two large boxes sitting up against the garage door. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3239.jpg Inside of them was my well worn and mismatched; but affordable and complete set of factory 69-72 blazer bucket seats with all brackets and hardware that I got from fellow board member Toomuchstuff. Even though the one has non factory upholstery, both seats have decent repairable factory foams. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3241.jpg When I went back out to my dad's this today I took the seats and mocked them up in the blazer. I can't wait to see them when they are back in with new upholstery. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3248.jpg |
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
After playing around with the seats I got started on doing some actual work. Since all of the cowl patching was done it was time to put the dash back in. I put my guide pins (drill bits) into place, and the side bolts to get it lined back into place. All of the bolt holes and drilled out spot welds fit back up beautifully. Here is a shot of it clamped down ready to be welded in.
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3251.jpg About an hour later everything was back into place exactly as it had been before. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3254.jpg Another shot of the welded in dash. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3253.jpg After wrapping up on the firewall area I debated whether or not the next area I needed to work on; the upper windshield area or the floor. Since I didn't want to take the top off I decide to start working on the floor section. The majority of the floor is riddled with small rust spots or gouges and dents. I am not sure what someone did to beat the floor up so bad but it is rough. I don't know if I should repair the floor as a whole unit or in sections since the middle section is still in good shape. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3258.jpg The rust issues facing the passenger side rocker panel area. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...IMG_3184-1.jpg Just like the cowl panels, the rocker area on the drivers side is in much worse shape than the passenger side. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...IMG_3183-1.jpg |
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Fortunately my dad is going to let me use a junk cab he had laying around. The cab is very rust free, unfortunately someone cut up and beat up the interior of the cab beyond repair. However the floor and roof are both in still good shape for patches.
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3255.jpg Whoever owned this cab before my dad must have been related to the guy that used to own my blazer. The outer edges of the floor and the rocker panels were covered in a layer of fiberglass in an attempt to do rust repair. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3256.jpg A view of the underside of the donor cab. My plan is to take the entire floor panel out of the donor cab as one piece. From there I will determine whether or not I wan't to insert it into the blazer as one piece, or just use it in the areas that are rusty or damaged. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3257.jpg I worked on getting the donor floor out for about an hour before I had to leave today. In that amount of time I was able to remove the drivers side firewall and floor braces. I already know this is going to be a slow process to get this floor out as one piece but it sure is alot cheaper than buying a complete repro floor panel. :smoke: |
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Critter, Thanks! I wanted to let you know that the parts cab most likely has solid inner cowls so when I get done cutting it up I will get with you on what you need.
Alright I have a question for all of the blazer experts out there. For some reason I always thought that the lower chrome on the blazers were with the black inserts only, and not the woodgrain. Then when I got this blazer it had the woodgrain inserts on the lower chrome. I didn't think much of it and assumed that someone added it. Then I have seen some suppossedly "unrestored original" blazers on the internet with the woodgrain inserts as well. So my question is did the blazers come with black inserts only, or black and woodgrain inserts from the factory? Below is a picture of some of my blazers chrome. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...IMG_3189-1.jpg |
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Really nice work.
|
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
looking really good. I wish i would have known you were in town... I live 3 streets over from Chad (14u2nv) always nice to meet board members.
keep up the great work. |
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Great progress on the project!
|
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
progress is progress - I got some welding done on mine, but trying to rebuild that outer floor area where the step up is located is taking me forever - :(
Nice Work! |
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Quote:
|
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Quote:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1195853508 |
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Quote:
It's possible,,,,it's all reproduced if you don't mind caughing up close to $800 for the whole kit. |
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
[QUOTE=Critter;3758427]THANKS! I would love to have it if possible. As far as the woodgrain goes, I agree with 1sik52. My blazer came factory with the wood grain (99% positive). You can see my spid on the lower left says "custom trim combina", I guess one of these denotes wood grain on a Blazer
My woodgrain came on a '72 GMC Custom, but my guess is that the SPID lists it as "Com'bina", it is a rare and exotic wood only found in the darkest jungles of South Central Brazil, dunno just a guess! Nice work on saving this ol' 2 WD, some of you guys have really stepped it up. Nice to see someone doing quality work to bring it back from dead Always enjoy reading your progress, keep it up with the nice pics. as well! If you need any wood trim LMK, as I'm not using it |
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
1 Attachment(s)
mine has the wood grain and I know that its original. how much is a full set from a blazer worth?
|
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Quote:
Did you say you could get patch panels for the rocker areas? I might need a set of those! Its great looking at your pictures, it gives you an idea of what it looks like under the metal! Thank you! |
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Jtrux, 72BlckButy, and lks dcvn, Thanks for the compliments and words of encouragement. They really help to keep me motivated!
my67chevytruck, It's a shame I missed you. I didn't even know you two lived so close together. Maybe I will run into you at Pate this spring. 1sik52, Critter, Jaros44sr, and Clifblazer, Thanks for the valuable information. I am not sure why I thought they didn't have it, other than I just never saw it on any original sales literature. Thanks! Firebirdjones, I wish one of the previous owners of my truck wouldn't have put screw holes into all of my trim. I think most of it would have been able to be restored. Oh well looks like I need to shell out the $800 or so it will take for repro trim. 72DIRTY RAT, Yes; most aftermarket companies here in the states sell reproduction rocker panels, rocker boxes, and inner floor sections that have the back part of the rocker panels as well. |
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
2 Attachment(s)
Blazer is looking good.When you use that truck floor don't forget your bucket seat bracket supports.I did and it was a pain to go back and redo.Don't give up it will be worth it.
|
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Nobby, Thanks for pointing that out. How hard of a job was it to replace the entire floor section?
|
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
It wasn't that bad.The yellow part was cut out of a parts cab and the floor pans are new.I drilled out the spot welds holding the floor to the braces on the truck and they lined up good on the blazer braces.I'm glad I did it because I was able to sand blast inside the rocker boxes and under the floor,and that will make me feel better in the long run:metal:
|
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
That's good to hear that it wasn't a really hard task. So far my biggest problem is seeing where al the spot welds were on the floor of the donor cab. Theres nothing I hate more than drilling holes where you think there is a spot weld only to find you drilled a hole over nothing!
|
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
nice work man thank you for saving this gem, og 2wd cst man ur lucky!!!!!!!
|
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Notice how Nobby put supports in the cab to help keep things lined up. Minor movements can be problems for fit later on.
:devil: |
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Arizonak5, Thanks!
Muleman100, Braces will be put into place before the floor is removed. Below is a picture of my SPID for the blazer. I was wondering if anyone could tell me what the California Assembly and California Processing options meant. I assume it has something to do with emissions, but was wondering if anyone knew exactly what it meant. Thanks! http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/DSC_0018.jpg |
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Here's the latest progress report on the blazer. I went out to my dad's on monday and worked on getting the floor out of the donor cab. That job pretty much took the whole day to acomplish. Here is a picture of the donor cab once the floor had been removed.
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3294.jpg A picture of the donor floor once it was removed from the cab. It is by no means in great shape, but the majority of the back half is in ALOT better shape than the blazers floor. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3299.jpg Before I removed any of the flooring on the blazer I braced the front cab area up with square tubing. I figured that since the floor is in poor contition along with one rocker box bieng almost completely gone it was cheap insurance. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3296.jpg The next day I went back out and was finally ready to start replacing some rusty metal. I decided that instead of replacing the entire floor section like I had originally planned to do I really just needed to replace the rear section. I came to this conclusion because the front half of the floorboard was in really good shape. Instead of replacing the rear floor as one piece I replaced it in two pieces. I primarily did this to reduce the amount of good original sheetmetal from bieng replaced. Below is a picture of the tape outlining the rusty area that is to be removed. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3301.jpg The taped of section of donor flooring before cutting it out as a patch panel. (Sorry for the poor quality. The camera got put onto a different setting and I didn't notice it until later) http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3300.jpg |
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
great progress....
|
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
After a little bit of cutting, grinding, and air chiseling I got the bad panel out.
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3303.jpg It took alot of lining up and minor trimming, but I got the donor floor tacked into place. I will be going back later and welding it completely in. I also had to drill holes in the donor panel for the blazer bucket seat bolt brackets (Since there are more brackets than with a truck; and since they are in a different location). Fortunately the front inner seat bolt bracket is attatched to the cab floor support, so that gave me a reference point to base everything else off of. I had to take the drivers side bucket seat in and out of the blazer about 6 or 8 times in order to get all of the seat bolt brackets lined up exactly. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3304.jpg After finishing up on the drivers side I started up fresh today on the passenger side floor board. This side was a little bit more stubborn than the drivers side; of course this side was in better shape and it had more supports attatched underneath. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3306.jpg The bolts that hold the passenger seat rear hold down bracket were both broken off in the floor bolt brackets. I soaked the bolts with penetrating oil for a couple of hours and used vice grips on them, but was unsuccessful in removing them. Since I didn't have time to keep playing around with them I simply drilled them out. I will try to re thread them at a later date. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3307.jpg I am not sure why but this patch panel went in much smoother and tighter than the drivers side patch. Once again it was just tacked in and will be completely welded in before bieng called done. I guess I just had better measurements this time around. As you can see I got all of the passenger seat brackets attatched and in place. This was not an easy task; not sure how Nobby was able to do it after the fact because even with bieng able to remove the floor during this job it was a PAIN. I put the passenger side seat in and fortunately the seat brackets and the floor brackets line up as they should. The seat locks down in the back very easily and releases easily. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3312.jpg |
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Heres a shot of what was left of the donor floor after I removed the patches that I used. Of course this shows a reference of how much original blazer floor was still good and saved.
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3314.jpg Tuesday when I got home from working on the blazer I had a package waiting on me. As you can see below it was my tilt auto column that I got off of the parts board. I don't think I am going to load the blazer up with options that it didn't originally come with, but I thought for comforts sake a tilt column would be nice. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3310.jpg I know it doesn't look like it in the pictures but that was three solid days worth of work. Next I will be starting on restoring the rocker areas. This will primarily be done with reproduction sheetmetal. Unfortunately since my dads shop is stuffed with other parts and projects we pushed the blazer back out into the freezing, pouring rain when we got thru today. Hopefully I will have more updates soon. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3315.jpg |
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
my67chevytruck, Thanks! I know it doesn't look like much but this week was alot of work!
|
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Yall are doing a great job on the blazer. I would be scared to death replacing what you have done.
|
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Having spent numerous hours in the cold garage working on my stuff - I can see that there is a LOT of time there...it isn't until you do one yourself do you have an appreciation for the amount of time that goes into this stuff.
I was out there last night just trimming a floor patch and that took me more time than I thought it would... Keep up the good work! |
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Quote:
Quote:
|
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Great progress!
|
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
blazers looking good
|
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Thanks for all the comments everyone!
|
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
Last week I started tearing into the drivers side rocker area. ALOT of rot; at least the blazer is giving me alot of metal working experience before starting on my 56' Cameo project or 55' Bel Air project!
Here is a picture of the rocker area after cutting the rotten outer rocker and outer floor section off. I used what was left of the rocker box to help me line up the outer floor section when I tacked it on. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3317.jpg The rotten front door pillar prior to the rotten area bieng cut off. This is the part of the rocker area that I am using as a reference point to line everything up from. I made sure to get everything (door pillar panel, outer floor panel, and hatch channel) lined up perfectly right here. Anything from this spot should either fit into place or be modified to fit into place according to the placement of these three "foundation" panels. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3316.jpg The base of my foundation started from where the hole for the front fender was sitting. I used this point since it remained unmoved in its original location. As you can see the first panel that needed patching was the hat channel. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3318.jpg I know that repop hat channels are only about $10 but I like to patch with original GM metal whenever given the opportunity. So I took a section of hat channel from my donor floor panel and welded it into place. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3321.jpg |
Re: Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build
After getting the hat channel into place I went ahead and got the outer floor section tacked into place. With this in place I now have something to line all of the outer rocker panels and kick panels to.
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3324.jpg Out of fear that I am going to put all of my patch panels into place only to find out that they won't allow a door to shut over them I bolted the rusted out original drivers door back on. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3322.jpg The next step was to put the door pillar patch back on but unfortunately I ran out of time. The next time I get out to work on it I will do that, put the kick panel patch into place, and start working on the rear rocker area. Here is a shot of what that looks like as of now. http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_3319.jpg I didn't get to work on the blazer this week because I had alot of family time going on. Next week I am hoping to knock out another couple of days of work on it. |
| All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:19 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com