Project Fat Amy
 

So this project is a 72 blazer i picked up for $400 with a title and no front clip or drivetrain. It looked like this:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...psc3508b5b.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps88bbbeb6.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...psc17f41a8.jpg

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

The body is a little rough and so is the frame so i'll be doing a lot of patching and rust repair. I have big plans for this thing that i haven't seen done before. I've decided on a 67 front clip, and the drivetrain will be 8.1 vortec, gear splitter made to go in front of an sm465 but adapted to the front of an NV4500, np205(twin sticked), dana 60 front, 14 bolt rear with disc brakes. 52" springs up front and 56" out back. cross over steering(hi steering though).

I want it to look purdy on the street and with decent gas mileage and be a beast off road.

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

Looks like you got a big project!!

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

I still have the option of running the gear splitter/sm465/np205 if i want it:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps04fb31ef.jpg

I completely rebuilt the axles and set 5.13 gears in both. also there's the 37" rubber you see attached to them.:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...psf162f00f.jpg

I got the frame out from under it and it needs all new mounting bolts and bushings(go figure):
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps04a68ac3.jpg

and here is the frame mostly stripped:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...psb9713b95.jpg

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

plans for the frame are:
strip it
remove all the random little brackets i don't need
remove the engine crossmember and replace it with the DIY4x piece
remove the front and rear spring mounts/perches and replace with DIY4x stuff
cut off the front frame horns and replace with a pair that are in better shape
send it off to get sand blasted and primed
box the frame
then mock up the drivetrain and make a crossmember for the transmission

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

this truck is my inspiration(minus the decals on the side):
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...pse34c4c3f.jpg

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

My wife's name is Amy...haha! Subscribed, looks like it's gonna be a fun build!

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

Hahaha well my wife named it after a character from the movie Pitch Perfect.....she calls herself "fat amy"
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Re: Project Fat Amy
 

got a little work done this weekend. I got the firewall stripped and painted using the KBS coatings system:

first I wire wheeled the whole thing and some of the rust I couldn't get out(PITA)
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps84c48326.jpg

then I sprayed on the Rust Blast stuff which worked okay but not great. I seemed like it lifted the rust a bit so I could hit it with the wire wheel and get more rust out. It really isn't anything magical by itself at removing rust but it helped the process.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps61818a39.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...psafcf08e4.jpg

this is what it looked like after rinsing off the rust blast. it left a nice coat of zinc
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps0b609b8b.jpg

then I used the Rust Seal to paint over it
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...psb94ff04b.jpg

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

I'll be installing a vintage air system later so i'm not worried about patching the rust holes by the heater box yet.


......and I got the frame mostly stripped too, I just have one more cross member left to remove and to unbolt the transmission crossmember so I can send it off to get blasted. then it will be ready for me to box it and put it stronger and better placed crossmembers:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps6e077b8c.jpg

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

got the last crossmember out and tacked on a few pieces just to hold it all together. it goes to the sand blaster tomorrow:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps18e28cc8.jpg

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

I got in a nice package from DIY4x with the rear shackle flip and engine crossmember with all greasable bolts for every pivot point. Also i got the frame back from being blasted, now i can start boxing it and putting on the new brackets and crossmembers:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...pse9764f51.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...psc2036f8c.jpg

.....So i mentioned on another thread that i wanted to graft a shortbed onto the blazer so i could get an extra 6"ish of wheelbase, so i started the chop.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...psd91b795c.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps51115d2c.jpg

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

subscribed and watching here now...

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

Am as well. Interested in seeing the end result for sure.

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

yeppers

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

anyone know where i can find a nice shape shortbed around tennessee/kentucky?

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

Seen one on craigslist in Cincinnati, Ohio no pic though for 800. Unless thats too far for ya
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Re: Project Fat Amy
 

Its a little far.I'm in clarksville TN. Pretty much right on the border of Kentucky and Tennessee
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Re: Project Fat Amy
 

I think i might just buy new bedsides and bed floorpan. Itll save me the hassle of finding a decent bed, then doing rust removal and extra body work. Like not having to shave the side marker lights and cutting holes for the fuel filler, and of course smoothing everything out. Im going have a hidden fuel filler behind the license plate.
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Re: Project Fat Amy
 

When you buy new bedsides do they come with the inner bedside attache or is it just the skin?
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Re: Project Fat Amy
 

They come as a complete bedside with any and out metal.
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Re: Project Fat Amy
 

?
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Re: Project Fat Amy
 

I think he meant inner and outer metal....:uhmk::cool:...

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

Yes, little too early and didn't retread before submit. Meant to put inner and outer. Lol
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Re: Project Fat Amy
 

I can confirm that as I have one sitting in my garage at the moment.

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

Interesting project. Going to be alot of shifters in there!

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

okay, cool. having complete bedsides makes life a LOT easier.

and to MalibuSSwagon, haha yep! one shifter for the trans and the rest be shifted through a triple stick cable set up. I bought a bench seat with a notch in the middle just so i can make sure i have the space to mount the shifters.

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

Well i just bought me a turbo setup, minus turbo. So the big block idea is out the window. Ill either pick up a 5.3 or a 4.8....leaning towards a 4.8
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Re: Project Fat Amy
 

Started reading your new build.
Scrolled down to see the back half loped off.
Gotta see how this thing ends.
Great project in the making.
Sub'd

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

so i got some turbo parts in the mail yesterday. i need to clean up the welds, but the bulk of the fabrication is done on it already. this is the hot and cold side piping plus wastegate and BOV and intercooler:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps1aea2e4f.jpg

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

not much to update other than I got the last of the brackets I needed from DIY4x(52" front spring kit) to complete the frame. Boxing will start next week along with stretching the frame 6" between the rear spring hangars. I'll be running 63" springs in the rear. This thing is going to ride like a caddy.

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

Nice build brother. I have a complete 71 front clip sitting in my shop that will be sold dirt cheap if you're interested.. Also a lot of us Nashville area guys get together once a month and work on each others projects it would be awesome if you joined us! Maybe we could come help you on your project some!

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

Thanks for the compliment Rus, and i appreciate the offer on the front clip, but i'm dead set on a 67 front end to match the 67 shortbed that i'll be putting on.

It would definitely be cool to atleast check out y'alls blazers and maybe turn a wrench or two. i don't think anyone would want to drive an hour out to clarksville to help me with my project though. Is there a club or something?

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

well after some measuring, i realized that the overdrive unit adapted in front of the nv4500 would make the shifter come up through the middle of the bench seat....so i'm tossing the idea and selling the overdrive unit. It's designed to bolt in front of the sm 465 or sm 420 if anyone is interested.

the new plan is the run a ZF6 transmission instead, with a twin sticked NP 205 behind it.

here are some pics of the overdrive unit though:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...psba632807.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...psa0c6af0f.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps6cb8e59e.jpg

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

Got the front frame horns replaced and its a good thing that it happened because the frame was way out of spec.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps806b5cbd.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps5980cb5c.jpg

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

fixed the links to pics...

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

Looking good sir!

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

So....i'm ashamed to admit that i'm not the one doing the work on the frame, or really the one building this thing at all anymore. I just don't have the time. This is why progress has been slow. It always seems that the problem with projects is that you either have the time to build it or the money to build it, but never both at the same time. So right now i have the money to build it, so i'm having my buddy Dusty, of Dusty's Welding and Fabrication in Clarksville TN, build it for me. And he is doing a great job and his prices are VERY reasonable. The last thing that i personally did was chop off the back half....which was pretty fun.

As for progress, here it goes:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps8c3117ff.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps507f7de2.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps2f7a367d.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...psdf5d2a85.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps46823792.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps1d0b68fb.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps178c3dd4.jpg

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

All of the crossmembers are 1/4" wall 2x4(yes, i know, a little overkill), and fully welded to the inside of the frame rails. All the brackets are from DIY4x and made of 1/4" stuff too. We used 1/4" plate for boxing in the center of the frame, and 3/16" plate for boxing everywhere else. This frame will not flex at ALL when it's done.

My plan is to build a torque monster out of the 8.1 vortec motor, so i want the frame to be able to handle the stress of it wanting to twist. oh yeah, i guess i forgot to mention that i tossed the idea of a turbo LS motor. I sold the turbo set up.

Re: Project Fat Amy
 

Progress is looking great.
That frame is SOLID