How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

So I am new to the C10 Blazer world. This website, people and information has been invaluable to me in helping build trucks that were made before I was born. The amount of time and help people on here have dedicated to sharing is truly amazing. So I decided I would try to give back and start a build. I will try to be brief but I have to start from the beginning. November 2018 I finished up a couple car builds and decided I wanted a truck. My wife didn’t want me to do anymore projects so she suggested I get something finished. I started looking and couldn’t believe the prices for completed trucks that weren’t to my taste or satisfaction of quality. So I ended up bringing home a 1972 short bed C10 project that I picked up for $800. She passed me and the trailer on the way to the shop. Immediately the phone rang and she wasn’t happy...

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

Here is the 1972 I had for 24 hours. I had to keep the peace. Lol

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

I couldn’t get the truck out of my head so I continued to look that week and found a 1968 C10 roller in slightly better condition. So I picked that up and brought it home. Mama wasn’t mad at this one.

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

Issue was that when I was getting the 68 there was something that caught my eye...

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

So naturally I talked to the misses about it and she wasn’t elated like I was. She said I had one that I needed to finish already. So you know what happens next...

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

Well the guy I got these c10s from had a quart of paint for the red one at his buddies house that I needed to pick up to do some touch up work. Since I was in the area picking up a engine for the white 63 and was close I stopped and grabbed it. That’s when it happened. Low and behold I saw something I wanted in the future. I’m pretty sure you guys can tell by now that I am compulsive and addicted.

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

The 1972 Original owner Survivor Blazer with 30 something thousand miles pictured could he bought at just over a dollar a mile. I can’t afford that so I said to myself someday I will have a nice K5 Blazer and left it at that. Except I found myself looking at google image pictures of them and my mind wandering into exactly how I would want it. That led to searching craigslist and Facebook marketplace daily waiting for something affordable. Months go by of this and the red 68 C10 is nearing completion and white 63 is almost finish mock up.
Sorry for some of the pictures being sideways I am really new to this posting stuff.

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

Well, Paul Harvey what's the rest of the story ? Did the Blazer come home ?

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

It is now January, Happy New Year, I am working diligently on the C10s but still doing my daily search. Low and behold I stumble across a affordable Arizona 1972 Blazer roller for sale. It’s 3ish hours north and believe it or not the same town the C10s came from. Is this destiny? The wife thinks not but what is it going to hurt to go look? It is everything the seller says. It needs a lot. The rear end cover looks like it has been off since 1974 exposed to the elements. The front leaf spring is broken so you can’t steer it. Driveshafts are missing, every panel is beat to death, one truck door, somebody welded a hitch to the frame, etc. It has a lot of good going for it though. Windshield frame looks solid, rocker boxes are intact, floors are good. It’s a decent find. So what happens next? I set the price that I would be willing to pay and won’t budge. The gentleman selling it comes very close to my bottom dollar but we can’t make a deal. I show self control and I walk away empty handed except that I made a new friend. He shows me his 65 C10 he has been working on and we vow to keep in touch. It’s unfortunate and just too much of a project and is missing too many things for me at this point in my life to tackle. The Misses can’t believe the trailer comes back empty. I get to sleep in my own bed that night.

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

Hahahahaha Mike. I’m typing away. I’m slow and my internet is slower than me.

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

It is now February 11th and getting very close to Valentines Day... On my daily search a 72 Blazer pops up in Miami a couple hours south for $1500 with the most god awful pictures ever. Whaaaaaattt? I call the guy and he says it’s rough but was running a couple years ago. His grand kids showed him how to use craigslist and loaded the photos for him. I ask him to text me better pictures. He attempts but it’s a epic fail. I tell him I’ll be there in the morning to take a look. I show up optimistic, Mama might get a early Valentines gift? It’s bad, real bad. Think Titanic at the bottom of the sea bad. Tag sticker says 2015 and his story is that Miami started putting up red light cameras then and he couldn’t stop on the 38s so he decided to park it. I have heard some funny explanations of why things have sat and this is one of my favorites. I knew there had to be more to the story but at this point, eh who cares it’s cheap. The bad, every panel. The hood skin has rusted off the inner frame. Torsion boxes completed rotted away, doors are truck doors and junk. Windshield frame is completely rotted through. Firewall is rotted badly. It has been crashed, high hit above the frame. Horrible Harry Homeowner 3” body lift. Has Dodge Ram front seats. The good. It has a title, it’s a CST, has the correct rear seat, it’s complete and can be bought for a $1000. Let’s load it up.

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

So logically I didn’t need anymore projects but the CST, as we will refer to it, was cheap. I have a idea of how to make this work. I’ll head north 3 hours the next day and pay my new friend the $2800 he wanted for the Arizona Blazer. Only problem is the shop is full, these are gonna have to come home and get worked on. My beautiful wife gets two Valentines gifts! Who says chivalry is dead?

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

I jumped ahead a bit. Before I can get Arizona Blazer I have to get the CST off the trailer. I have the CST up and running after 30 minutes. I can’t believe it. Whoaaaa no brakes, I back it off the trailer into a spot at the shop to go get Arizona. I drop Arizona off at the house and come back for CST. She fires right up and wouldn’t you believe it? No forward gears. I have reverse but no forward. So you stopped driving it because of red light cameras? It was backed up under a tree, in a peculiar hard to get to place when I found it in Miami. Sure looked like it would be a lot easier to have driven it into such a tight place forwards. Must be a coincidence? Oh well, had planned on going through the trans anyways. Just makes it a pain to deal with at the moment. Plan is to tear both down to the frame and make one good Blazer out of the two. Will buy all new sheetmetal for Arizona and use every piece I can off of CST. I’ll have the Blazer I want fairly cheap as long as you don’t factor in the blood, sweat and beers. I like to save them so I like the direction we are headed.

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

Ohhh on the way home from getting Arizona the air lift bags blow out on my lowered Ram. Yes I’m a guy that can’t leave anything stock. So for the next 100 miles the trailer jack is less than a inch from the ground. 35 mph max, that 3 hour trip turned into over 6. A picture of my uncle visiting, looking in amazement at the trailer and that I was able to make it home is priceless to me. Lol Well that was just the beginning of issues. Getting Arizona in the garage was quite a chore. She won’t roll because the rims are wrong and hitting the calipers. I jack it up and take calipers off. She rolls but won’t steer because of the broken leaf spring. After a hour or so of jockeying with a jack I get it inside and on a lift success!

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

It is now Valentines Day and I take the night off from playing with trucks and Blazers to spend with the wife. I even splurged and left some flowers on her desk at work when she wasn’t looking.

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

So I am staying busy a couple hours a night, tearing into the Blazers side by side to see where we are at and to get a game plan. I take the day off for my birthday and spend time with the family. Next night, February 24th, I get a text from my friend that I bought the C10s from. He’s checking up on progress as usual and casually tells me he has another 72 roller for sale. Ehh I don’t need that right now. Gets me thinking how is the sheetmetal? He tells me it has new doors, fenders, radiator support, inner fenders and hood. Only issue it has surface rust from sitting outside. Comes with a extra cab. Well considering I can get it for less than the new sheetmetal will cost me shipped it’s worth taking a look at right? It’s only a 3 hour drive one way. I’m pretty sure by now you can only guess what happens next.

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

So things have changed quite a bit since my original vision. This is the plan. Arizona is going to be a semi stock K5 Blazer. It has now become a frame off adventure. 350, turbo 350 lifted 4” on 33” wheels with all newish sheetmetal. Waiting on skyjacker lift kit. CST is going to be resurrected as a 67 front roadster. I will only be able to save the frame, one bed side and the cargo floor. That’s it. Nothing else. I will use one bedside from Arizona that can be saved. I will use the firewall from one of the truck cabs and all new sheetmetal. It’s going to be a bagged 2wd utilizing the 72 roller suspension and Dead end garage 2wd conversion that I am waiting on. Unsure of drivetrain right now. I will upload pictures tommorow of the tear down of both. So we started out with one truck project, owned for 24 hours, I couldn’t have to now 5 trucks. You can only imagine how my home life is lol. Actually she is so used to it, doesn’t phase her anymore.

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

Awesome trucks with a little history on each one. Keep posting your progress and we can help along the way.

You are off to a great start!

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

Thanks Paul, You must type like me !

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

I don't know squat about Blazers, but you turned that Blazer down at 2800.00 the first time around? From what Ive read, that seems to be a steal of a price.

Ive promised myself Im not dragging anything else home, and have been slowly getting rid of all my stuff, but if I found a Blazer like that I would probably buy it. BTW my honey would probably kill me lol.

Cool thread you have going, a fun read!

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

Thanks you have already been extremely helpful and I thank you for that

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

Yeah I might be on the younger side but technology isn’t my thing unless it comes to cars. I generally have to have my kids help me but I figured this forum out on my own.

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

Yeah I didn’t know a whole lot about Blazers either. Originally from Philly and have seen my fair share of rust but being in Florida I have become spoiled with clean cars. When I looked at the Blazer it was 4K and he came down to 2800. I thought it was awful rusty for that at the time. Wow was I wrong after seeing others. I wanted to pay 2500 and dug my heels in the sand. The guy didn’t need to sell it and I actually talked him out of selling it before I left. He took down the ad and everything. He was very surprised when I called and wanted to buy it later. I had just cleaned house myself of quite a few things and said I wouldn’t do this again... lol

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

Here is some of the bad on Arizona. At the time I thought this was really bad and didn’t realize that they had come out with all the replacement panels.

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

Here is some more of the bad on Arizona. The transfer case was ratchet strapped In and half hanging out. It was obviously full of dirt and a old random baby shoe? It had trash and debris all in it. My biggest concern was that I couldn’t get the passenger door open and had no idea what I would find lurking behind it. Front seats were gone with a bench in place was another bummer.

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

Arizona tear down begins. I was super worried about what might be lurking behind what I believe was the original windshield. I was pleasantly surprised.

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

I had a crazy thought. My beautiful bride is always amazed at the transformations from as she sees it junk to something gorgeous, maybe if I get her involved she will understand why I do these things? I hadn’t done any builds at the house and I ask if she is willing to help? She actually comes out for a couple hours and helps remove the trash, seats and scrapes the floor. She is such a great wife. Not only goes along with my crazy plans but is now helping!

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

Floors look pretty good. Not rotted through anywhere. I don’t believe they are clean enough to just paint them. This was going to be a just a driver so I might bed liner them? Funny thing is that I see two random holes in passenger floor board. After looking at them I’m pretty sure I figured out what happened. I think it went something like this... Its 1979, Hank Jr on the radio, a couple guys riding down the road to go hunting and singing in the Ole Blazer. Passenger has a Schlitz in hand and a rifle in the other. Driver runs a little off the road singing at the top of his lungs family tradition. You know the part Why do you drink? Hank why do you roll smoke? The passenger panics and a double tap happens and blows out the RF tire? I know I sing that song that way, do others? Lol
So if I’m wrong on the sequence of events give me your rendition of what happened. Haha

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

Started going ham on it. Started pulling everything. At this point in my mind I’m thinking is this really going to be just a driver? I was going to leave the body on the frame but man we are just the body mount bolts from having it out and I need to replace the mounts...

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

Here is torsion boxes and more of the floor

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

So I always strap or chain down long term projects to the lift. People have laughed at me for being too cautious. Well they have also laughed from some of the sketchy things I have done too. I guess people just laugh at me in general? Maybe it’s the way I look? Anyways this is the first time it has become apparent why I do. I have now removed doors, tailgate, entire suspension, gas tank, bumpers, hood, fenders and I go to take off the radiator support. I have to cut one bolt that I can’t get free. This is the first bolt in the entire project that I have to cut and I’m irritated. I get it cut and the other loose. This is a special Saturday. One of my teenage sons is actually at home and is helping me thank god. We have the truck low to the ground and as we lift the radiator support off the entire truck tips to the rear. We look wide eyed at each other without saying anything and slowly set it back down which sets the truck right back down on the lift arms. Whewww disaster averted. We then stack weight on the front to try and balance it. So I make the decision that’s how she is gonna sit until the lift kit comes in and I can put axle back under it to roll it around safely. I need to roll it out to pressure wash anyways. I’ll do minor stuff in the mean time while waiting and tear into the CST.

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

So I start on CST or what the guys at work call the Rolling Tetanus shot. You know how I said earlier I have been spoiled by Florida and lack of rust and how I was irritated about the radiator support bolt I had to cut? Yeah I didn’t realize how good I had it. Roughly 83% of bolts on this one have to be cut.

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

The rot is so bad as I uncover it. The previous owner loved fiberglass...
In the last picture I haven’t seen a dash rot like that in a long time.

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

Just about everything is junk on this.

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

This roof is broken is cracked and pieces missing in multiple spots. The previous owner sanded through the gel coat into the fiberglass, tried his own hand at repairs, a/c taped the inside seams and painted it white? Guys, is this roof even worth saving or should I pull all the hardware and windows, cut it up and throw it out?

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

How about raising the bumper for a body lift like this? Some of my favorite work ever. I can’t believe he cut another frame to stack those pieces on top to raise the rear bumper. At least the pieces are still there in the front where I can repair the frame horns. And here my wife didn’t want another project. As this is unfolding I am thinking she was right. Shhhhh don’t ever tell her though.

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

That is custom spelled with a K
#Kustum
Looks like something Rufus would do...

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

Is it junk guys?
I’m waiting on someone to tell me to cut it up since I don’t really have room for it. But in my defense I have a whole lot of hoarder in my DNA and I can find a spot for it if you think it’s worth saving.

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

More bad of Tetanus...
Well it’s not all bad the Right bedside is save able.

Re: How a C10 purchase turned into insanity and Blazer builds
 

Okay got the top off Arizona. Now it’s balanced enough to take off the radiator support. It never ceases to amaze me what people do or think. I really want to take people’s tools away daily. Am I the only one that feels this way? I’m not trying to be cocky and I have definitely learned from trial and error but wtf? Just because you can weld or you can cut some wires doesn’t mean you should. I’m thinking this is the frame to turn into 2wd since it has been butchered badly. Didn’t think it could be worse than tetanus’s frame and the homemade body lift but I was wrong.