Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint
 

I have been wanting a 1st Gen. 2wd Blazer since before I got my license. At the time I had my Grandpa's 68 C-10 and figured I would never sell it though. I did sell it while I was in the Army, so after I came back home I decided to start looking for a Blazer. Trucks are way easier to find around here so I picked up a 1970 C-10 and started doing the usual stuff. I did end up buying a 1970 2wd Blazer body with a title, but that project hasn't ever seemed to get off of the ground. Then the C-10 build got serious and I tore it apart to start building my ultimate vision of a truck. It was 5 years ago that I was able to drive it last.

Hanging out with all of my Louisiana Classic Truck Club buddies, I really started missing having something classic to drive. While driving to work in Texas one day I spotted a 72 4x4 Blazer for sale on the side of the road, so I stopped in to take a look and post it up to see if anyone else was interested in it. My loving wife, who knew how much I've always wanted a Blazer, told me that she wanted it for herself, knowing that she just convinced me to spend the money and not talk myself out of it.

I brought the 72 home and devised a plan to convert it to a 2wd using a SWB truck frame, so I began collecting parts. Now that I have just about everything that I need, we make a trip to the Pate Swap Meet this past week and as I rounded the corner, I saw it. An original paint, unmolested 1970 2wd Blazer 350/4-speed with what looks like only 73,000 miles! I couldn't believe that it hadn't sold by then, but later realized that the guy had just gotten it out of an enclosed trailer, I may have been the first person to see it. I asked him what he wanted for it and was amazed that it was affordable, I immediately called the wife and told her to run to the spot that I was at, I also called a painter buddy and had him meet me there also. Within minutes, I was handing over a 20% deposit to hold it for me until I could get more cash out of the bank. I had no intentions of buying a vehicle there, so only brought enough money for parts shopping.

The next morning, I thought I had dreamed that I found the Blazer, so I asked one of my friends if it was real. He replied that he heard it run, so unless we had the same dream it was definitely real.

After spending 5 times what I had planned to spend that weekend, I promised my wife that I wouldn't buy anything else for the remaining days that we would be there, although she bought the Blazer a nice cup-holder console that it needed. I love that woman!

We were camping at the swap meet and I had pulled our 5th wheel over there not intending to have to trailer anything back, so I had to lean on a couple of friends to get the Blazer back home. One of them brought it to his house (a little more than half-way to my house), and another one is picking up the Blazer right after lunch today to bring it the rest of the way home. I can't thank Barry & Chris enough for helping me out.

In the little bit of time that I have had with the Blazer before it left Pate, we found a few things that need to be fixed fairly soon, like body mounts to get the doors lining up correctly again, and a vent hose on the fuel tank. It had some old fuel in it that we believe is causing it to mis-fire while under a load so I need to drain the tank, start with fresh fuel, and go from there. I didn't even remember to take a bunch of pictures before it left.

The plans for this one is to keep it as simple as possible so that it doesn't become a huge project like my truck and end up spending too much time just sitting. I will drop it using an Early Classic 4-6 drop and put on the 17" Ansen slots that I ordered for the other Blazer. I have a set of front buckets that have new foam and seat covers for them that are going in here as well as a rear seat that needs to be recovered. Other than that I will DRIVE it, like what is supposed to happen! :lol: It won't be a big build but I hope you enjoy it anyway... I sure will!

BTW, Ratchet is my English Bulldog mix, as you can tell from the last picture he has made the Blazer his. :lol:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...4_17_25_36.jpg

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...4_17_25_51.jpg

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/..._13_07_28.jpeg

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

Nice!!! I'm in the same boat , regret tearing my 70 apart but don't want to rush it so.... I bought a 71 2 wd to get back cruising. Enjoy!!

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

nice find man that blazer is clean! cant wait to see more pics!!

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

Got to love it!!

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

Just a fun pic I took yesterday evening while I still have 2 Blazers on the driveway. A friend is coming to get the Medium Blue 72 4x4 on Sunday. The scooter is something that my wife picked up at the Pate Swap Meet because she thought it was cute. Who am I to argue?

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...17_54_02-3.jpg

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

I wonder what friend that is?

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

You wouldn't know him, he is in my truck club, but he is truckless right now. :lol:

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

Oh, ok.

Lol!

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

Yep, Pate is where dreams come true:lol: I love that place..Nice find man..So the 72 already sold?

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

It did Kevin, its in my shop now! Lol

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

Wow Ok..Wanna sell it?? LOL

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

Not at the moment, Lol.

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

I have a question for any Blazer guru's out there. My (Jeremy's now :lol:) 72 4x4 had the rear brackets for the top that extend into the bed area and bolt to the stake pocket box near the tailgate like shown.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...4_07_23_42.jpg

I already had a double wall top that I am using for the 70 2wd, but it didn't have those brackets. When I looked inside the bed area of the 70 it doesn't have a threaded hole for those brackets. Did the double wall tops not use those brackets from the factory? Should I add them?

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...4_08_05_29.jpg

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...4_07_24_01.jpg

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

Wow, that is a great question. My 72 has the threaded hole on the right side and NO hole on the left. BTW it's a double wall top.

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

69 and 70 dont use those brackets

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

Thanks, never knew that before.

Got a top on it now...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...4_11_47_47.jpg

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

Very jealous, can't wait to watch this progress.

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

I took some time to strip most of the caulking out of the drip rail above the windshield. It looks like I will have to repair a little bit of the windshield frame, but I do have another one that has been sitting in my closet since 2005 so it shouldn't be a problem. I have already talked to Kevin (painter extraordinaire who painted Bowtie468's truck) and we have a game plan for hiding the minor rust repairs. Basically, I will fix all of the problems, then I will spray LizardSkin throughout the interior except for the dash and door surfaces that will be seen, then we will re-spray the interior on top of the LizardSkin in the factory Dark Blue. The bed area will be left with paint showing, and the front will get a rubber floor covering which is what it has now. The seats, console, door panels, and dash pad will be parchment while leaving the sun visors blue (since they stick up above the windshield when the top is off). I will replace all of the weatherstripping on the double wall top, and will use parts of my other double wall top to ensure that the white soft top that I get for it will not have to have holes drilled in my windshield frame.

I did find out that I have the wide 70 rear axle, according to my measurements. That means the 73+ rear axles that I have should work for converting to 5-lug as well as the backspacing that was ordered on my wheels. Also, it looks like the Blazer body that I have had in my backyard has the required pieces to add the bracing for the rear seat and passenger seat since apparently my Blazer was bought new with only one utility bucket in the front.

I find that this Blazer has a really odd combination of options from the factory. It came from the factory with only a driver's seat, posi-trac rear axle, 350, 4-speed, soft-ray tinted glass, power steering, non-powered brakes, and it was a radio delete truck. It's just weird, but I still LOVE it. Every time I see it sitting in my driveway, it makes me smile. :D

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

[



I find that this Blazer has a really odd combination of options from the factory. It came from the factory with only a driver's seat, posi-trac rear axle, 350, 4-speed, soft-ray tinted glass, power steering, non-powered brakes, and it was a radio delete truck. It's just weird, but I still LOVE it. Every time I see it sitting in my driveway, it makes me smile. :D[/QUOTE]

Many of these trucks were custom ordered. Mine was. Im old enough to remember. You sat down with the salesman and checked off a white order form to be sent to the factory. Those were the days when you could get it the way you wanted it.

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

:cong::phat:

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

It's so cool, I can't wait to see it Cruisin!

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

It won't be too long Keith, Brandi is making me wait a little bit before I order the drop for it... We kind of need to let the bank account recover after a large unplanned expense. :lol: I have been working a lot since I got it so it should be within a month, hopefully. I did find out that it runs real good once it gets good and hot, so I have a direction to work in once I have some time to devote to it.

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

Looks great man.Let me know when you ready to sell those rims an tires..I need them for my 4x4:metal:

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

Jeremy already snagged those for the 4x4 that he bought from me. He already paid for them too. You would have to take that up with him. :lol:

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

Looks like a solid score, the rear dif from 73 up is leaf sprung though....

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

Yep, just using the axle shafts and brakes from that rear end.

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

I have ordered the ECE 4.5/6" drop for it as well as tires for my 17" slots and a drill guide so that I can re-drill my axles, drums, and front rotors to a 5x4.75 bolt pattern. If I actually get some time off of work once everything comes in, it will look quite a bit different.

And pics of the wheels that are going on it.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...4_18_10_28.jpg

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...4_18_12_37.jpg

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

Nice!

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

My buddy Chris got his new lift installed, so I took advantage of it. He tested the lift with his wife's little Toyota Venza, then Ratchet's Blazer went on there 2 nights in a row. He hasn't put his sweet 68 truck or Maggie on there yet. :lol:

The first night I drove the Blazer there and we finally got the filler vent line replaced and set the timing. It ended up taking me 2 hours to get from his house to mine (normally 40 minutes), because it ended up running worse after we "fixed" it.

The next night, I towed it over there (lesson learned from previous night :lol:) so that we could drop the tank and have a look-see. The tank was completely covered in rust with crap floating around in the gas. Luckily, I had bought a Blazer gas tank for Oscar's truck a couple of years ago at CTC. A quick call to my wife Brandi and it was delivered to Chris' shop in less than an hour. Now that is service. :lol: After getting the new tank installed, which required a few modifications to the filler inlet on the tank, we ran it, checked the timing again, etc. Then it just died. Looking at the inline fuel filter before the carb, it was empty. We pondered what could of happened and came to the conclusion that we must have not put enough gas in it. After going to the station to get more gas, I opened the gas cap and it had so much pressure in there it literally covered me in gas. After relieving the pressure, it cranked right up and filled the filter again. We threw ideas at each other for probably more than an hour trying to explain this phenomenon, and the best we can come up with is that some rust or other trash is messing with the check valves in the fuel pump causing it to stop flowing to the carb and end up pressurizing the tank. I have another fuel pump... somewhere. When I find it I will install it and we'll see what happens, hopefully we are right because I am out of ideas after that.

Here's a few pics from last night's thrashing.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...2_16_46_12.jpg

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...2_16_46_25.jpg

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...2_18_10_13.jpg

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...2_18_10_19.jpg

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

Wow that tank was nasty, wasn't it! Were y'all able to flush the fuel lines out? Could the pressure be related to the cap not venting?

Chris's lift looks great!

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

Yeah, the cap wasn't venting. Notice that I used a past tense there. :lol: But it still shouldn't have been building THAT much pressure. We did blow out the fuel lines, they weren't as bad as the tank.

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

I did get the fuel pump replaced and got it running pretty good. It's not perfect but at least I can really drive it again. I think I need to rebuild the ole trusty Quadrajet after all of the junk flowing into it.

The Blazer goes under the knife this weekend. I've got the ECE 4.5/6" drop with disc brake conversion, all new balljoints, tie-rod ends, control arm shafts, pitman arm, idler arm, trailing arm bushings, rear drums, shoes, wheel cylinders, axles, etc. Basically after this weekend it will have all new suspension, brakes, and steering. Hopefully I can get it done and y'all will get a real update by Sunday night, because I have to go back out of town on Tuesday. I've been prepping for this weekend, and finally got the tires mounted on the wheels, so I'll throw in a pic of that to keep y'all happy. :)

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...4_13_08_06.jpg

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

I have the same wheels on my gmc! Awesome choice:metal:

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

Your truck and a green suburban on here were the only 2 trucks of this body style that I could find with these wheels before I bought them. So basically, your truck influenced my decision.:metal: Thanks!

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

I learned the same lesson on the tank when I spit out at me! I took out the charcoal canister and added a vent cap to the nipple and have had zero issues with tank pressure/venting.

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

I ran into a SNAFU, so the lowering is going to have to wait until I come home again. The drill guide isn't going to work as planned, plus the rear end that I was going to rob the 5-lug axles out of is completely welded inside. The spider gears, c-clips, axle shafts, and cross-pin are all welded together.:crazy: Also, the rotors that came with the ECE kit have bosses on the back side right where I need to drill the smaller 5x4.75 bolt pattern.

I have ordered rotors from Boris (way2lo2) that are 1.25" thick and made for our trucks with the 5x4.75 bolt pattern already drilled. I am going to call Moser on Monday to get some replacement axles with the smaller bolt pattern as well.

Since I couldn't get it done this weekend, I figured I would do it digitally instead, because I can't wait to see it hunkered down with those wheels on it. I rolled some wheels in front of the existing wheels and did some digital magic to bring it down. I know my shading under the body is off on the color a little bit, and it is lower than the 4.5/6" drop will put it, but MAN it looks cool. I guess AFTER Cruisin' the Coast in October, I will do what I need to bring it down further while still keeping it a static drop.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...-Photoshop.jpg

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

I love it!

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

+1

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

Man that looks sharp!!! But I do have a question? Why did u go with the 5-4.75 bolt pattern and not the 5-5? Either way it looks bad a$$!

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

I like making everything harder than it needs to be! :lol: No, really, my other truck is full of Camaro, Firebird, and Corvette suspension and brakes, so it is 5x4.75 all around. I want to be able to swap wheels and tires between them if I feel like it, so it made sense to make this one the same bolt pattern. It wasn't supposed to be this difficult though. I guess I should have gotten the extra rotors and axles before I tried to do this. Oh well, just a few more weeks of waiting.