olds rocket powered blazer
 

ive wanted to go big block in my blazer for a while.. but i also wanted to be different from every other truck with a small block chev, big block chev, or ls, nothing against them! i just want to be the odd ball... so i found a guy who sold me a 455 with a th400 tranny running for 600.

http://rs1240.pbsrc.com/albums/gg482...4c.jpg~320x480
http://rs1240.pbsrc.com/albums/gg482...1a.jpg~320x480
http://rs1240.pbsrc.com/albums/gg482...ff.jpg~320x480

this is the truck, and the small block i will be replacing, its a 350 with 10.25:1 comp., vortec heads, performer rpm air gap manifold, headman headers, cam.. alot! it chugs along pretty good! but there's no replacement for displacement :metal:


http://rs1240.pbsrc.com/albums/gg482...rr.jpg~320x480
heres the beast! out of an 76 delta 88, smogger year but should be alright.

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

Sounds good...good luck with it !

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

thanks alot! so i got the engine on a stand tonight and started by pulling the intake and valve covers.

http://rs1240.pbsrc.com/albums/gg482...qp.jpg~320x480

quite a build up of sludge in the lifter bank, and rocker arms..

http://rs1240.pbsrc.com/albums/gg482...2l.jpg~320x480

i dont think it too much though... im gonna say that anyway ;)

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

Damn, those are dirty. So what are the build plans for the 455?

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

I'm not going to do to much, rings and bearings, oil pump, a more aggressive cam, timing chain, replace the smogger "j" heads with better flowing pre 71 heads, aluminum intake, carb... Nothing to crazy, just a budget big block.

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

That will be cool. I've always been a fan of big block grunt.

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

kool

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

:waah: after pulling the exhaust manifolds i noticed that they were both cracked!

http://rs1240.pbsrc.com/albums/gg482...dz.jpg~320x480
http://rs1240.pbsrc.com/albums/gg482...y7.jpg~320x480

which usually wouldn't be a huge deal, just buy a new set, or find a uncracketed set from the wrecker.... well the cheapest i could find a new set was 300 off ebay, and i looked at three cars at the wrecker, and all three had a cracked left manifold in the same place mine did! so i can get a right one, but not a left!
so im either going to braze the set i have, i know its not the greatest, but it'll work!!... or instead of spending the 300 on new manifolds, ill spend about the same money on a set of headers for a A body car, like a cutlass or 442 and do some modifying.

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

if you want it run like a 70 you will a higher comp ratio. idk on olds but im sure its the same on a stage 1 you can either change to 70 pistons or shave the heads some. do you have an od in the blazer or th350?

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

68-70 455 were more powerful engines, they all had around 10:1 comp, and better heads... i knoe mines a real smogger, ideally i would like to freshen up a pre 71.. but theyre not around as much anymore... and i converted my truck to a 700r4 from the stock 400, haha and now im going back to the 400.

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

subbed, im hopping to do a quick 454 freshen up myself.

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

Thanks! Good luck with your build :metal:

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

so i pulled the heads today, all the cylinders don't seem to be damaged or scored.

http://rs1240.pbsrc.com/albums/gg482...jx.jpg~320x480

http://rs1240.pbsrc.com/albums/gg482...rq.jpg~320x480

alot of carbon build up, and the water jackets are a little rusty. overall its not to bad though

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

so i pulled the heads today, all the cylinders don't seem to be damaged or scored.

http://rs1240.pbsrc.com/albums/gg482...jx.jpg~320x480

http://rs1240.pbsrc.com/albums/gg482...rq.jpg~320x480

alot of carbon build up, and the water jackets are a little rusty. overall its not to bad though

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

Good looking blazer, bet its going to be a fun truck

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

merry Christmas!! my dad was kind enough to get me rings, bearings, oil pump, timing chain and a gasket set. should have a good start to my build now!

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

picked up some seats at the junk yard today, theyre out of 2005ish mazda 3, i like the look of them.
http://rs124.pbsrc.com/albums/p10/ty...sg.jpg~320x480
http://rs124.pbsrc.com/albums/p10/ty...ea.jpg~320x480

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

on the cluster in my truck, the speedo and fuel gauge where always the only two that worked, my temp.,oil pressure, and amp, never worked since ive had the truck, eventually i want to go all aftermarket gauges. for now im just doing the three.
this is what i started with:

http://rs124.pbsrc.com/albums/p10/ty...ac.jpg~320x480

from there i cut out a piece of tin to cover where the factory gauges go:

http://rs124.pbsrc.com/albums/p10/ty...qa.jpg~320x480

http://rs124.pbsrc.com/albums/p10/ty...kz.jpg~320x480

then with some measurements to line up with the original holes, then i used a holesaw in the drill press to cut out the three holes:

http://rs124.pbsrc.com/albums/p10/ty...zx.jpg~320x480

http://rs124.pbsrc.com/albums/p10/ty...vs.jpg~320x480

then i had to cut out the original guage holes to make room for the new ones and bolted/glued my tin overlay:

http://rs124.pbsrc.com/albums/p10/ty...u9.jpg~320x480

and this is what i came up with:

http://rs124.pbsrc.com/albums/p10/ty...xs.jpg~320x480

its not completely done yet, im going to fiberglass the back to add some reinforcement and a couple other little things.

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

picked up a few things over this week,
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...psvloftrur.jpg
i picked up a set of boss 338 20" wheels for my blazer
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...pst8fmyw5g.jpg
also i got pretty lucky and found a 1980 chevy half ton with a olds 350 Diesel at the auto wrecker, my 455 should just drop in there now

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

also, its hard to see in the picture, but the rubber mounts are brand new

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

Any updates?

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

well i picked up some good used tires from my manager, who has a 68 swb, and the weathers looking good for the weekend, so i should be pulling it out of storage and stating to put it together.

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

had a little fitment issue with the boss 338s. had to take a little off my hubs, they work great now tho!
http://rs124.pbsrc.com/albums/p10/ty...os.jpg~320x480
http://rs124.pbsrc.com/albums/p10/ty...pr.jpg~320x480
http://rs124.pbsrc.com/albums/p10/ty...uj.jpg~320x480
i was told boss fixed this problem... but guess not for me!
i also started on putting in the seats from the mazda 3, i think they look sharp!
http://rs124.pbsrc.com/albums/p10/ty...ne.jpg~320x480
http://rs124.pbsrc.com/albums/p10/ty...5f.jpg~320x480

they should look alot better than the ripped/brown plad ones, with sun faded walmart covers!

http://rs124.pbsrc.com/albums/p10/ty...3o.jpg~320x480

next up i want to throw in a set of 2" drop springs, and 2" shackles, to turn my 3-5 drop, to a 5-7

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

this weekend i was pretty busy, cut a coil from my front springs, with mt 3" spindles giving me a total of 5" of drop in the front:
http://rs124.pbsrc.com/albums/p10/ty...k9.jpg~320x480
http://rs124.pbsrc.com/albums/p10/ty...ed.jpg~320x480
http://rs124.pbsrc.com/albums/p10/ty...0y.jpg~320x480

to lower the back im going to remove the over load, and one leaf, the thickness of them alone is 3/4". so i should be at least get 2" out of them.

http://rs124.pbsrc.com/albums/p10/ty...ec.jpg~320x480
http://rs124.pbsrc.com/albums/p10/ty...xj.jpg~320x480

i ended up tourching the rusty- crusty u bolts...

other than that i took all the leafs apart and painted them. im going to see if i can buy new u bolts tomorrow and put it all back together for my 5-7 drop.

Re: olds rocket powered blazer
 

http://rs124.pbsrc.com/albums/p10/ty...3x.jpg~320x480

also picked up some fancy lug nuts for the 338s