Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Well, I got the driver's side suspension on, and the new steering pieces/parts installed too. I got the stock proportioning valve removed, gutted, and put back in place and put the new Brake Booster installed, but ran into an issue with the new M/C. The new corvette style CPP M/C & P/V are super cool, but the M/C uses a longer push rod than the stock one, and it didn't come with the longer style...Kinda disappointing, but I can hopefully find the longer style next week. If I had the longer push rod, I would have been able to finalize the new steering, suspension, rearend, and brake upgrades, but to no avail. I will have to wait a bit longer :(.

I did a quick tape measure toe adjustment and snugged everything up and put it on the ground. Whatcha guys think about the new stance? Looks a bit different than it did when I first got him, huh? :lol:

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Looking good! Now just clean off the hand prints.......

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

^^^ :lol: , I know, but I have to get the brakes working so I can get it to a better location for washing.

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

looking good so far!

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Looks great man! Stance is perfect! Hope you get the brake issue worked out.

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Lookin good!! Cool project!

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Love IT!!

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Just got off the phone with Jeff at CPP, and he is sending out the correct pushrod to remedy the brake issue. Woo Hoo!!!

Mad Props to Jeff & CPP!!!

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

:metal: looks sweet buddy!

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Very nice!

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Thanks Travis!

Well, I finally got the little piece to facilitate the corvette style m/c with the stock brake booster. I bled the m/c and put it on the Blazer, installed the p/v and verified that it had fluid on the out let side and built the new hard lines to the gutted factory p/v (which is just a junction block now, really). I gravity bled the system, but the pedal sucked, so I got my fiance to come play pedal pusher, but still the pedal isn't very good. So, I busted out the ole Mac Tool pressure bleeder I had from when I worked at an automotive shop many moons ago....and now it seems to have a pretty good pedal. I have to get the wheels back on it and put it on the ground, but it is now 102 degrees here...and that doesn't take into consideration the humidity...so it feels like 116 :devil:. So I'm gonna wait until this evening to button it up.

Here's a pic of the bleeder set up, just for kicks & giggles.

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

All righty!!!

I got the brakes bled, confirmed that all the nuts & bolts on the frontend and rearend were tight, put the wheels back on it and ran it down the road. The brake pedal still leaves a lot to be wanted, but it does stop. I think I am going to have to bleed everything one more time...I may even have a small fluid leak under there somewhere...but I'll wait to check that when I can get it up on an actual lift and stand under it, rather than continue to roll around in the gravel.

I drove it a couple of miles and it feels 10 million times smoother than it did with the freight train springs and coil over shocks before. It's very tight and handles pretty decent considering that it still doesn't have a front sway bar (I'm on the look out for one as there wasn't one on it before due to the 4wd look I suppose). The left front seems to be sitting a bit higher than the rest of the truck, so I guess I need to pull the suspension apart and confirm that the coil is sitting in the seat properly.

Otherwise I am really happy with the look for now. Once I get the new building done, it will be pulled down to the frame and the 6.0L/4L80e swap will be going in and all of the body work and paint will happen as well.

It made me smile to snap some pics of it this time :). Sorry, but it got a little dark on me before I could get the pics. I'll wash it better tomorrow and snap a few more.

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Couple more :metal: Think I'm happy to have finally driven it again? :)

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Man that trucks come a long way, looks great! Does it have rear speakers bolted in the top?

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Looks great!

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Dang!!!!

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

No, no speakers bolted in the top. It must be an illusion from a shadow or something. It does have Triumph motorcycle stickers on the windows though. Maybe they are casting some sort of image that you're seeing. :mm:

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

After some more lookin', I decided the rearend was too far back in the wheel well. So, I had to pull the driveshaft and am having it shortened by 2.5" and flipping the bracket around to move the axle back forward. The new Tahoe leaf springs and the driveshaft that was in it (I guess because of the mucho 6" lift in the rear) made me have to put the rearend back an additional 2" to even get the driveshaft back in it, and it put the axle tubes in contact with the tailpipes. It looked too bizarre, so I'm fixin' it. Hopin' to have it back by tomorrow evening, so I will give it another test run :metal:

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Well, I finally had some time to fool with the Bull. I got the driveshaft shortened and put back under the truck, but moving the rearend forward actually lowered the rear even more. So, I finally got the rear leaf spring issue resolved. I ended up using a taller set of leaf springs that I had made up at a shop in Birmingham. They are the same length from spring eye to spring eye, but have 2" more arch in them. They are PERFECT!!! The front and back are sitting the same!!!

I also replaced all of the factory steel brake lines with S/S ones, and got the McGaughy 13" front and rear brake kits working like a champ. It will, literally, throw you out of the seat if the brakes are applied hard. And it takes some hardcore pedal pressure to lock up the front brakes, and I haven't actually gotten the rear ones to lock up, which is great!!!

I'm almost done with the suspension part of this beast. I just need to put a front swaybar on it (it didn't have one on it when I got it), and get the front end aligned properly (I lined it up with a tape measure and an angle finder :lol:). It drives down the road straight, and doesn't pull even a little under very hard braking. Woo Hoo.

I'll add some pictures when this d@mn rain stops ;).

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Not the best picture. It's from my cell phone, but it's the only chance I've had to take a shot. Like it?

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Nah, it sucks...please deliver it to me for proper disposal!

:metal::metal::metal::metal:;)

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

I dig it bro!

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Looks good!

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Looks like it was done by a proffesional! JK. Very sweet truck :metal:

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

:metal: looks sweet!!!!

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Here's some better pictures.

I'm really pleased with the way it sits and how it rides, but I need to find a front swaybar...It didn't have one on it when I got it. I'd like to take the tugboat out of the front end. Don't get me wrong, it handles 10x better than before!

And, I finally got the brakes all dialed in, and put the parking brake cables in. The brakes will literally throw you out of the seat!!! :metal:

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Now it's time to start on the body work :(.

I'm thinkin' this color blue where it's doo doo brown at now, and silver where the tan is, and do away with the factory molding and do a small dark grey stripe in it's place to tie in the wheels.

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Looks sweet, nice work!

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Wish you were closer
I got a HD sway bar just taking up space in my garage....

You got a thread on your 'burb?

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Hey Joe, I'd love to have that swaybar :(. I'm going to go salvage yard divin' this week and see if I can find a 3/4 or 1 ton that still has it's in place.

I haven't even touched the burb, except to take the 22" wire wheels off to return them to the PO and snatched the rearend out from under it to use as the donor for the Blazer. I'm going to put all the stock parts that came off the Blazer back on the Burb so I can move it around and then decide what to do with it.

Here's a pic. It looks like I'm some sorta Hillbilly from out in the middle of nowhere Alabama...wait...I live in the middle of Alabama...Maybe I'm a Hillbilly and didn't know it. :haha:

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

:lol:

cool

If I hear of anyone headed east I'll send it with them ;)
I dunno what shipping would cost, it is a bit heavy.

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

I'm sure! And it's a bit irregularly shaped :)

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

yep

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

nice blazer,

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

^^^Thanks Man!

I took a look at your truck too. You are doing a heck of a job, especially since you're doing it in the parking lot of an Apartment building.

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

We need to meet up sometime. I love what you're doing with your Blazer.

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

^^^Hey John, that would be cool! We'll have to figure out a good place and/or event to meet up at.

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Oh, and I got the Suburban back together so I could move it around. The transmission is toast, the motor knocks a bit, and the suspension is in sorry shape. I can't figure out what I am going to do with it... yet :lol:

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

Sounds good.:burnout:

Re: My "New" '76 2wd TOY...currently un-named
 

I played around with the Suburban some more this weekend, and the trans converter is the knocking noise that I thought was the engine...:metal: !!! I figured that out and then it quit starting. It cranks, it has fire, it sprays fuel, but no Vvvrooommm! I don't even know what to look at next?

Oh well! On to the Blazer!