'72 Blazer build
 

Hi everyone, im kinda new to the blazer thing. I have had a few trucks this body style, but have wanted a Blazer since I was a little kid. Well, I finally got one.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0439.jpg
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0440.jpg
Its a 1972 blazer with a 1967 truck front clip and doors. Its a pretty solid start compared to some of the rust buckets I have seen. It has no motor, a 400 trans and a np208 transfer case. Front axle is a dana 44 with all new brakes and 4.88 gears. Rear axle is a 12 bolt with 4.88s and a ARB air locker. The entire body hase spray on bedliner shot on it. It will do for now, but I will strip it off once the the frame and under side of body is rebuilt and painted.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0459.jpg
The dash was complete but everything was beat up and pretty ruff. I stripped it down to see what I was working with.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0481.jpg
I have a parts truck that will give the Blazer all new dash parts. It looks like someone had a pile of junk parts to put in the Blazer to get it driving. Her is my parts truck.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0466.jpg
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0480.jpg

Re: '72 Blazer build
 

The parts truck is completly stripped and all good parts are in a pile to go in the blazer. Th dash needs to come apart again, but I put all the good parts in so they wont get lost or broke.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0500.jpg
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0501.jpg
The truck had a perfect tilt colum and nice gauges that I took out. I put in the AM radio too. The blazer had a radio delete plate when I got it.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0504.jpg
Someone has done the outer rockers from what I can tell, but there are a few rust holes they didnt fix. I will be taking them back off and fixing everything they forgot or were too lazy to fix.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0502.jpg
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0503.jpg
They are small rust holes, but I want it to be perfect.

Re: '72 Blazer build
 

So now I am just collecting parts.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0505.jpg
There is a perfect 67 radiator support with a 4 core radiator in there. I was going to install the A/C in the blazer, but since the top will never be on in the summer id rather sell the complete system at a swap meet and put that money towards the build.
Here she is now.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0516.jpg
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0515.jpg
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0517.jpg
My plans are to lift the body off the frame and stip off the crud. Im ditching the 12 bolt and putting in a full float 14 bolt. Putting 8 lug outers on the front 44. Rear springs are going to be newer chevy 3/4 ton springs. I have a 350 in my Camaro that will live in the Blazer until I find a 6.0 and a 4L80. I will probably have lots of questions for you guys. Dont worry, im a picture taking fool

Re: '72 Blazer build
 

welcome aboard, great looking start! glad you like to take pics, because they are almost required on the blazer/jimmy forum:lol:

enjoyed your start of a build and '67 nose looks perfect on there

im subscribed

Re: '72 Blazer build
 

Got a little work done today. I pulled off the front clip and took out the trans and transfer case.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0524.jpg
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0526.jpg
Turns out I dont have a NP 208 T-case. Its a NP 241 C. It will be swapped out with something stronger. I can see myself breaking the aluminum case. I knew someone had done some work to the fire wall before, but with the front end off, I figured out what they did. Look at the parts truck in the middle, almost where the air cleaner is near the fire wall....
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0528.jpg
It looks like they fixed rust in the cowl and didnt put the hump in the fire wall back in.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0529.jpg
under the fiberglass and bondo I found this...
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0530.jpg
While im filling unused holes in the fire wall, I guess I will fix it the right way.
Now I can strip the rust and paint off the fire wall and make it look good before I lift the body off.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0532.jpg
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0533.jpg
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0534.jpg
Im glad to see not to much rust. Just need to fix the previous owners bad work

Re: '72 Blazer build
 

Ive been messing with the Blazer a little. My main goal right now is to fix the fire wall and get the front sheet metal back on. I wire wheeled the frame bare from the firewall forward and painted it. The frame is in great shape. No pitting. Surface rust came right off
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0557.jpg
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0558.jpg
Im slowly collecting little pieces that the Blazer is missing. My gas tank filler was destroyed by someone before me.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0634.jpg
I got a really nice one from a member here!
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0635.jpg
I sold the shaved tailgate and my friend gave me this nice Blazer gate. It has some holes to fill, but it is straight and opens really nice.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0639.jpg
I also found the pieces that the hatch latches to. My hatch stays closed now!! I still need the two pieces that attach the top to the body in the rear.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0640.jpg
My doors are off a 67 CST truck, so I took off the 67 Custom emblems and put on my CST emblems that came with the blazer.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0627.jpg
Yesterday I went to Pick n Pull and got a new rear axle!!
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0630.jpg
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0633.jpg
Its a 14 bolt out of a 81 4x4 camper special Chevy. Now the cute little 12 bolt with the ARB will go in my Toyota. Now to find a front 60.....

Re: '72 Blazer build
 

Lookin good Blazed! Did you get this off of CL with a title "Hot Rod"? Just curious because I used to see a flat black 67 nosed on CL all the time but haven't in a while. I'm glad you're taking the time to go through everything the right way too! Should be killer once done.

Re: '72 Blazer build
 

That is the same one. It belonged to a guy I 4wheel with. I traded my smashed up, rolled Toyota/buggy for the Blazer. I knew the Blazer needed work, but I cant own a truck without taking it apart. Toyotas are dime a dozen. When the guy said he wanted to trade after I folded the cab and roll cage flat, I jumped all over it.

Re: '72 Blazer build
 

Nice! I hope one day to have those skills...I need to buy a welder and start practicing. You look like you make good progress real fast...do you have a time frame of when it should be up and running?

Re: '72 Blazer build
 

Well, I would like to have it together and driving by summer. We will see if time and money lets me. It doesnt help that I have another big project going right now too. Since I got rid of my rock crawler to get the blazer, I am building another. I spend my summer time doing this....
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...049568_n-1.jpg
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...%20Yota/cy.jpg
I need to get my other Toyota built or I will be tempted to take the Blazer to the Rubicon. The Blazer should be driving and looking good in a few month. I need to go get about $600 worth of Ruff Stuff Specialties brackets and suspention stuff. Cant wait to get that tax refund!!!!

Re: '72 Blazer build
 

Wow! Can't believe you even attempted that hill!
You say "tempted"...would the Blazer not be a good candidate for a Rubicon trip? My family used to go 4 wheeling (Old Land Cruisers), but got out of it when I got old enough and switched to hot rods. Too bad...looks like fun!

Re: '72 Blazer build
 

That hill is winch hill 1 at Fordyce. There was a point where both tires came off the ground. The Blazer would do the Rubicon no problem. I would cry if I bounced the 67 front clip off a rock. Also the rockers are perfect. I would have to baby her into camp. Smashing sheetmetal is best left for the Toyotas. Im looking at a pretty beat up 72 blazer right now. Its $1000, so if I can get it I am going to build that into a rock crawler. I want one to wheel and one to cruise!

Re: '72 Blazer build
 

Ahh! I get it! Sad to put this info about me up on the web, but the closest I get to 4x4 is Xtreme 4x4 on the power block...lol I really enjoy watching the fab work on that show though.

What's the wheel/tire combo gonna be for this "cruiser"?

Re: '72 Blazer build
 

The host of that show is a tard. I have met him. The things I could do with his tools though!!! It has 35's with 15x10 now, but those will go on the Toyota with the 6 lug axles from the Blazer. I have some nice aluminum 16.5x10 8 lug rims. Not sure what tires yet. Something in the 36"-37" range

Re: '72 Blazer build
 

I went ahead and stripped out the rest of the interior and windshield to get started on the fire wall repair. I was expecting to see rust under the rubber seal, but there was none.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0660.jpg
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0659.jpg
I noticed I need to take off the new outer rockers that someone put on. The inners are dust. I cant wait to see what else is rotted out in there.

I scored some parts off craigslist yesterday. All I needed was the gravel pan for my 67 front end. All the ones I find at the wrecking yards are beat up or rusted. I got it for $10. I couldnt resist bringing home some other 67 parts.
Sandblasted hood, $40
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0668.jpg

Cowl panel with no antena hole, $10 Parking lights, $10
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0667.jpg

67 radiator support with no rust, $20 Gravel pan-the last part I needed for my front end, $10
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0669.jpg

Re: '72 Blazer build
 

Picked up another pile of parts.
I now have a front Dana 60. Its from a dually truck, so I will have to swap out the hubs for single wheel.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0736.jpg

Also got some rear springs from a '88 3/4 ton truck.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...SAM_0735-1.jpg

I have front and rear seats that need recovered.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0741.jpg
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0742.jpg
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0743.jpg

I bought a pretty rough parts blazer that I got almost all the blazer stuff I was missing. Stuff like doors, top parts, hatch parts, filler neck cover, shims in door jam. I am using the dash out of it and using the firewall to patch mine.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0744.jpg
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0745.jpg
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0746.jpg

Re: '72 Blazer build
 

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/SAM_0747.jpg
Here she is today. I put an extra 72 clip on just to make it look more complete. The 67 clip is safe in my barn for now.
I will continue to collect parts. I will be taking a break from the blazer to put the 1/2 ton Blazer axles under my toyota and then sell the toyota. That will fund the motor, rims & tires and get the one tons under the blazer. I will check back in when I get more parts.

Re: '72 Blazer build
 

nice project it should be bullet proof