Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Send unit.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Pete your attention to detail and commitment to NOS parts is inspiring. For sure another "Truck of the Month" in the making and possibly another Truck of the Year " and it couldn't happen to a nicer guy !!!

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

L-L-L-Love it. Definite leader in the clubhouse for TOTY. So psyched for this Sunday treat.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Astounding!

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

I really appreciate you all following along. I'd narrate more but my time for this build has been constrained and I'm trying to hustle: we have a now 9 month old daughter and she gets priority. Never enough time in life for everything is there?

Since she is napping and I happen to have a spare moment I thought I'd add some more documentation pics that I've not yet been able to post both to jog my memory and to help others on future builds. It'll be a motley assortment but hopefully useful for folks down the road.

Parking brake cables and components. Take a look at the stamped date on the parking brake: 1-25-72, a non invasive way of narrowing the date(s) of the build month for a truck (this k5 was assembled in February 1972). That little clip is same for the brake line along the booster bracket.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Brake cables...

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

More...BTW - my K1500 GMC has two springs that secure the rear drum cables near the rear leaf springs to the under surface of the tub. I'll try to add pics of these springs at a later date as I believe them to be OEM but were missing from the blazer.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

more cable pics.

One pic shows the rear fender supports that are located at the anterior wheel opening: note the inferior (exposed) bolts are carriage bolts and these were painted with the body so in my case the heads were blue. Bolts are same carriage bolts used to assemble the bed.

Another pic shows the components of the rear fender splash shield. NOT shown is the two-piece clamp used to secure the gas filler hose and the vent hose both coming from the fuel neck to the gas tank on the LH side. The upper, inner bolt of the bracket for the splash shield holds the hose clamp pieces in place.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Misc interior pics...the washer fluid hoses were secured with a factory zip tie as shown. Last pic is of the steering column and shows the stainless Philips head screws that secure the column "plate" to the fire wall.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Here's the ebrake cable attachment inside the cab....note location of the clip for the sending unit wire

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Brake booster mounts and brake line routing...

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

more brake...pics taken AFTER the frame clips had been removed

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Misc steering column related...

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Here's a couple more chassis pics. The gold color of the GM Pleasurizer shocks looks cool and matches the cadmium of the front axle dust shields nicely.

Steve and the guys at South Coors Truck Salvage did a great job rebuilding the axles, transmission, and transfer case. They rebuilt the axles and t-case for my K20 also. Steve has been a 67-72 Chevy truck fan forever and still has the 69 Chevy his dad purchased brand new from Ed Black's Chevrolet.

The frame was sprayed in chassis black as were the skid plates. Eric and the guys at Mild to Wild sprayed black bed liner as the undercoating to the floor pan and inside of the inner fenders and rear wheel wells.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

You mention a "sending unit wire clip" a few posts back, did the Blazers have a parking brake sensor, or is that clip for the hydraulic brake light switch wiring? Great build, thanks for documenting so thoroughly!

Andrew

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

I'm going off my rusty memory at the moment and will double check but seem to recall the clip served the wire for the brake dummy light running to the prop/metering valve at the MC.

You bet!

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

YES!

Bring her back!

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Love the detailed pics. Thanks for taking the time to post. Being as detailed as you are, I know that takes a lot time and effort.

This is going to be a great build and reference! Keep it up!

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Thanks guys! I enjoy documenting the little details - wish I could do more.

Tub is back on the frame. I'll get some pics up soon of that. Struggling with configuration of the OEM gas tank neck on the repro tank. I regret using a repro tank. The repro tank had a neck that was welded not soldered in place and therefore couldn't be sweated off like OEM for a direct neck swap. So it's solder, test, solder test.

Meanwhile I soaked my parking brake control in Evaporust - I like the result! I'll repaint and apply Boeing T9 spray. Thanks John!

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

After....

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

I bought a repo tank from Brothers and swapped the neck from an original. Took it to a radiator shop to do the neck swap and configuration seems to be spot on like the original. fits nicely over the frame.

I couldn't tell you if the repo tanks neck I bought was welded or soldered.

What's the issue with the configuration?

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

I did the same - both tanks to a radiator shop. Have returned twice since. The gal that does the work is really nice but I think her patience is wearing thin. It's been the height of the neck: too low x2 now too high. It'll work its way out.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Maybe you need to babysit ��

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Pete, nice work. Where can you get the Boeing T9 spray? I'm guessing no where but then maybe my search missed it. :lol:

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

The product name is Boeshield T-9. You can order it on Amazon and lots of other places. Woodworking shops usually have it in stock as well. Works well to prevent rust on cast iron machine surfaces. https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...SAAEgIpGPD_BwE

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Thanks. I saw that on my search but wasn't sure if that was the same stuff.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Thanks the evaporust worked well. Seems like other members have had good success with vinegar baths as well. Yep, Boeshield.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

This NOS power brake booster set up fell into my lap. Initially I intended to do a 3/4t booster swap. Oh well, on it goes.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Wowzers...what a score. I thought I was jealous before. That is incredible.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Pete, Finally subscribed. Got tired of searches each time for updates. Cant wait to see this finished !

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Thanks guys! I'm chipping away in the garage today. Momma at work so doing what I can w baby. We are almost done rebuilding the fender to cab dust shields. I was surprised to see part #s on the small pieces. My staple gun wouldn't power the staples through the metal brace but these were easily placed through the existing holes. One down one to go.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

...

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

One more ...

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

In working with the baby in the garage I was reminded of the safety film we watched in middle school shop class "Shake Hands With Danger". So, I thought I'd try a you tube search and low and behold there it was. Never mind it was produced by Caterpillar tractor. At time 2:17 there's a vignette with what looks to be a 67 3/4T Chevy Custom Camper. Keep it safe!

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Pete...that song is legit. I'm putting that thing on the office mix first thing Monday morning.

PS...it's been my experience that a baby that smells like PB Blaster was smarter and way more loved than your run of the mill Johnson & Johnson brat. Strong parenting.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Not much new to report. I opted to have my power steering pump rebuilt. Number checks out as correct for original application. Marty at powersteering.com did a good job. We'll see if it functions as good as it looks.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

...

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Looking great Pete. Wish I knew about these guys before I traded mine in for a refurbished one at the local auto store. I did manage to get the same style pump that I traded in for which has the slim neck like you have there.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Nice work Pete! I remember my dust shields were all tore up and it took me a bit to get the pieces laid out before I wanted to staple them. Haha

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Thanks Mike and Ryan. I was afraid I'd have a hard time locating a rebuilt pump locally and spend a lot of time trying so thought I'd try a rebuild. Soon I plan to ship the AC compressor for a rebuild.

Anyone know what the current scoop is on reproduction power steering pressure hoses for 4wd? Frank Hamm isn't producing these. I'm tempted to have the rubber replaced on the pressure line but not sure if there's a local company doing this work here anymore.

I spent part of today sorting the engine brackets for the alternator, AC compressor, power steering pump, and the AIR pump and matching up the respective replated hardware. I'll bolt these onto the motor later in the week. I found a NOS example of the 72-only alternator bracket.