70 Blazer Frame Off
 

I was reticent to start a build thread because I didn't want to jinx the project...and I've seen too many awesome trucks on here stalled or sold...but we're kind of rolling now and I really appreciate the resource that this board is. I've bought a lot of parts from you guys and learned more, so I think it's only fair to post some pictures. That's all I ever want from you all...more pics.

Let's look at some before(s):

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It's a 1970 with 72 pieces...single wall top, obviously the incorrect front bumper, and a 72 front axle.

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I spent a long time looking for this Blazer. I think for a while I felt like I knew where every one was that was for sale in the continental US. I became a quasi Craigslist ninja. It is not meant to be searched nationally...and ya'll they really should call it CrazyList...some of these guys...

73 and up seats (front and back) replaced the original utilities and factory back seat at some point.

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I knew what I wanted to build...a loaded CST or clone to be my daily driver. I wanted to take it to the highest level I could afford and still not be scared to put 6000 miles a year on it (I live close to work). So I reverse engineered my purchase budget and looked for low rust examples in that price range. I found this one in Pete's (DeadheadNM) neck of the woods (Kalispell, MT) after about a year of active searching....it was not an easy transaction, and it was not (as they say) 99% rust free.

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But she was honest (in the sense that if you look, you can see everything that was wrong). Terrible gaps, poor collision repair, poor rust repair and bondo. But she started strong and tracked straight and felt very tight.

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There was some aggressive shimming that I don't necessarily think was factory, a failing cut down truck door....and general signs of hard core trauma. There was zero gap on the front or back of the passenger door. A ton of bondo on the front left fender (back quarters were generally a mess too) and the upper left seam on the windshield had been bent/broken and repaired poorly...but she looked good in that Craigslist ad, the price was right and even though I had much greater expectations...was glad she was mine when she rolled off the carrier at the beginning of this year.

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So I started bird dogging the parts board, loitering on the message boards...reading and re-reading and subscribing. Trying to be the first one in on carpet strips, or CST trim or leveling mats or all the hard to find stuff. I got lucky and found some great sheet metal (basically a whole front clip) at a local swap meet...got some terrible doors there too...but they were $60 for the pair, kinda had to....and, wouldn't you know it, we ended up using one (parts of it anyway). I was in the stock piling phase for about eight months.

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I was lucky enough to have a great shop just down the road from my house: one guy, one bay, one car at a time. I was in line for Eric to start on the tear down in February, then March, then April...well you get the idea. I was behind a Nova convertible that just wouldn't end. I can't tell you how happy I was when I received the pic below (in August) by text:

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At the end of the Nova build, waiting on parts had been the hold up. So I think to placate me more than anything else, Eric picked up the door we were going to use and started rebuilding it.

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Finally in the shop and coming apart.

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More door work.

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Looking good! When is he hoping to roll yours out of the shop?

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Thanks. We're moving along. Most of the heavy lifting is done on the sheet metal. I'm gonna post more pics and try to get this thread up to present day when the server is not so congested. I'd like to think the end of the year, but that might be too optimistic. As long as it keeps moving forward, I'm happy.

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As you know the further you go, the worse it can get...and such was the case. The obligatory inner and outer rockers became both floor boards, rocker boxes, lower left A pillar, both front cab supports, rear deck, tailgate and yes bed sides.

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That big black spot over the left rear tire was an inch thick slab of bondo that we chipped off.

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The shavings under the cheese grater.

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Looking great!!!!!

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OEM front, factory middle, repro rear.

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Gaps improving.

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More.

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Funny how when new body mounts were installed and old repairs were cut out, things started to fit better...especially with the GM fabbed sheet metal. I don't have a great shot of it, but before disassembly, the hood to grill gap was like 7/8". (an almost pristine set of "new" original hood hinges didn't hurt though).

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She's coming along beautifully, subscribed!

What are you thinking for color scheme/radio and speakers?

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Very nice work, thanks for the pics.....i ll watch

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Subscribed. I'll have to do this/have it all done someday.......not soon though.

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Thanks. I'm thinking about Cortez Silver. Not a factory option for trucks in 1970, but it was a GM color on Corvettes and Camaros (among others). I got an AM/FM reproduction radio from Antique Automobile Radio and I found a Blazer under dash speaker in Canada. I'll obviously have to replace the speaker to handle the new radio, but it'll look stock. I might put some of those flat under-seat deals in there too....but definitely no holes in doors, kick panels, or rear trim panels.

Thanks.

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I looked at that K5!! Didn't realize you were searching or would have been more than happy to assist. Glad it found a good new home. Excellent work and good luck. Pete

Edit: Just curious, was shipping a real hassle?

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Thanks...There could have been no one better to counsel me on it...It was a bad time of year to be shipping it from Montana (late October). I ended up using a local Kalispell shipper. It had to sit in the yard for a good bit of time, so it took a while to get here...but all in all the shipper was great. And they were honest and upfront. The driver even went out of his way to deliver it to Athens so I didn't have to meet him in Atlanta...which was no small courtesy.

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Thanks.

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Do you know which patch panel was used for the floor in this pic? This is about how much of the floor I need to replace on the floor of mine but the only thing I can find for the Blazer is the rear 15" or the complete floor.

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It's not a Blazer specific piece, so it requires appropriate modifications...but the whole floor wasn't available (that I'm aware of) when we got to that point. A lot of Blazer specific stuff has popped up all of a sudden now that we're through sheet metal. I tried really hard to get a patch panel off another Blazer before I caved and bought that piece.

Here's a link:

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cb/full.aspx?Page=24

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Looking bad!

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Thanks...I think.

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Very nice truck.

You are making great progress.

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Thanks.

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Outer rockers on. Seats and console mocked in.

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Top back on for the first time in a while. Rocker boxes on.

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A little bit of anxiety when putting the top back on after so much metal work/replacement. It was a good feeling when things cinched up as they were supposed to.

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A couple more. Not long before the body comes off and we get to start on the guts.

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A driver's side view.

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That looks great! I gotta do the same to mine. Although complete floors.