The Good, The Bad, The Ugly. Interior rebuild

[blazerparts]

Well got the blazer all gutted. No real surprises as far as floorbord rust goes looks pretty good. A previous owner was pretty liberal with tarpaper prior to carpet installation so as big of a pain that is to remove, it appears to have kept the floor from rusting. The tailgate is the most rusted part, will have to look at replacing that someday. The lower brackets for the rear side panels are pretty much rusted away, so I'll replace those. The drivers bed side has been replaced (must have been off a forest service rig because of the green color). The roll bar strut that attaches to the wheel well wasn't drilled or bolted so when I put it back in I'll drill and bolt that. The drivers seat was fitted with brackets to allow for about an additional 4" of legroom. Don't know if I'll keep those in use or just stock mount seat when I put it back together.

Started the body mount replacement yesterday, been talking with Vincey and comparing notes with him as he is replacing his too. Looks like I'll have to remove the radiator to replace those.

Still waiting for fatmat.......... ordered over 2 weeks ago.

I'll post pics after body mounts are done.

[Yukon Jack]

Glad no major surprises - so often we find bad news under the carpet it seems.

[redz 1970 K5]

Glad to see my next Blazer's current owner is getting everything done for me!

I replaced body mounts on my K5. Rad doesn't have to come out... I think I had to unbolt it and move it out of the way, and I was able to reach the bolts with a long extension no problem.

My front clip flexed like CRAZY when I jacked it up after removing the body bolts even with the top secured. I am not sure how to combat that issue. I would try and distribute the load with a couple of jacks, one under the front clip, one under the cab, and jack evenly to prevent the front clip from flexing.

Do yourself a favor and disconnect the steering box from the shaft at the rag joint. From experience, last time I jacked the body off of the frame to replace the mounts, I heard a loud pop, and the upper shaft joint gave out. Granted I was putting a 3" body lift on, but it wasn't up very high when that happened.

Keep us posted... I am always lurking and reading! Good luck!

[Blue4x4]

Sounds like you are in full throttle there. I will be getting my rebuilt transmission and transfer case back today. Tonight I will start to reassemble the engine. Looks like I will be busy this 4 day weekend.

[blazerparts]

Good to see you're still lurking, redz. I'm sure you'll get another blazer or truck someday. Thanks for the heads up on the radiator support mounts.

[LUV2XCLR8]

Originally Posted by blazerparts

I'll post pics after body mounts are done.

Well it's been almost 7 hours, are you done w/ body mounts yet?

Congrats on the under carpet no find, I wish my 2wd had 0 rust

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Gotta watch the fule filler hoses too those came loose on mine when I replaced the body mounts...

[blazerparts]

Originally Posted by FRENCHBLUE72

Gotta watch the fule filler hoses too those came loose on mine when I replaced the body mounts...

Had to be careful of those. The bolts of the two mounts over the rear rear springs were bent so I had to cut those off with a sawzall. Had to be careful not to nick the filler tube with the saw.

Well, they are all replaced except for the two under the radiator support. The two at the very back by the tailgate were the hardest to replace. I have a 40 gallon fuel tank and there isn't much room to work. Finding a jacking point was a journey too. Oh well, that part is done.

I have to keep the blazer in close to operating condition in case it snows. The truck is worthless in the snow.

[crzngmychvy]

Originally Posted by blazerparts

Still waiting for fatmat.......... ordered over 2 weeks ago..

Me too, I ordered it almost 3 WEEKS AGO! I had to call to find out what was up, and the girl gave me a ship date and tracking #. I suggest you call too. I hope the stuff is as good as Jakeslim says, then it will be worth it. I just feel badly looking at my blazer all gutted waiting for some attention. I post how the install goes.

[blazerparts]

Originally Posted by crzngmychvy

Me too, I ordered it almost 3 WEEKS AGO! I had to call to find out what was up, and the girl gave me a ship date and tracking #. I suggest you call too. I hope the stuff is as good as Jakeslim says, then it will be worth it. I just feel badly looking at my blazer all gutted waiting for some attention. I post how the install goes.

are you going to do double layer? Hope you get yours soon so I can avoid any mistakes you make, heh. Just ordered the Por-15. Thought I could get it locally but all the paint stores haven't heard of the stuff.

[jakeslim]

Originally Posted by blazerparts

are you going to do double layer? Hope you get yours soon so I can avoid any mistakes you make, heh. Just ordered the Por-15. Thought I could get it locally but all the paint stores haven't heard of the stuff.

two worked very well for me. Got plenty and its thin enough to lay two layers

[crzngmychvy]

Originally Posted by blazerparts

are you going to do double layer? Hope you get yours soon so I can avoid any mistakes you make, heh. Just ordered the Por-15. Thought I could get it locally but all the paint stores haven't heard of the stuff.

I plan on 2 layers, if it ever gets here. UPS tracking says Monday. I'll keep you all posted.

[wingman]

Hey quick question are you using polyurethane or rubber mounts to replace the old ones? I will probably be replacing mine soon.

[blazerparts]

Originally Posted by wingman

Hey quick question are you using polyurethane or rubber mounts to replace the old ones? I will probably be replacing mine soon.

I used poly as I hope the stiffer the mounts, the less flexing/squeeking I'll get from the top. I got the kit from Summit, Prothane. Worked well.

All the mounts have been replaced. I put the drivers seat and seatbelts in to drive it around a bit and will retorque the mount bolts.

I removed all the accumulated adhesive for the original soundproofing / carpeting, and that used when it had been re-carpeted in the past. What ever the factory used (white stuff) must be the same stuff they glue the space shuttle tiles on with.......very competent stuff.

Also been chasing origins of rattles. Found on the original bedside (passenger) was set up for a single wall top, ie had threaded recepticles for bolts from the top. These slid and rattled so I secured them.

Still no major rust issues observed in floorpans or kick panels, although looks like the junction of them could be thinking of starting. The rocker panels are rusting pretty good, I'll replace those with bodywork next fall.

Started fabrication of rear side panels. Using 1/4" oak plywood which I'll stain and finish.

Just waiting for Por-15 and fatmat.............

[blazerparts]

Fatmat is here, waiting on Por-15 now. Got rear side panels cut, roll bar painted,and back seat brackets painted. Was grinding tack weld of a bodymount bolt sans safety glasses and got a piece of metal in my eye. Two visits to eye doctor to have it dug out later, top o' my game again. *NOTE TO READERS........WEAR YOUR SAFETY GLASSES!*

Once the Por-15 gets here things should move pretty quick. I'll post some pics then.

Update on the rattle hunting too. I had a front end rattle I just couldn't find. It seemed to come from the suspension when I hit sharp bumps like RR tracks, etc. Had to remove the radiator to get at the bodymount bolts and low and behold sitting on the radiator support was a rusted crescent wrench and screw driver.

[VinceY]

Hey blazerparts,

Did you have some torque specs for tightening the body mounts.
I finished mine and winged it for tightness last week.
I have my re-inspection booked for the middle of next week so I can drive it legally.

[blazerparts]

Originally Posted by VinceY

Hey blazerparts,

Did you have some torque specs for tightening the body mounts.
I finished mine and winged it for tightness last week.
I have my re-inspection booked for the middle of next week so I can drive it legally.

I just tightened mine until the bottom piece started to deflect ( like I could get my torque wrench into those areas anyway). I used lock washers, guess I'll just check them periodically to see if they loosen.

[blazerparts]

Body mounts have been replaced. Upholstery has been repaired. Roll bar and seat metal parts have been painted. The horizontal portions of the cab and bed have been painted with Por-15. Fatmat is now being installed. Once the fatmat is complete, all interior painted surfaces will be cleaned and waxed. Rubber components will be saturated with armor all. Once everything is cleaned, waxed , and treated, carpet will be installed. Then seats, rear interior panels, roll bar, etc will be reinstalled. Here are the pics:

[blazerparts]

Here are the new interior rear panels, painted parts, and interior after being por'd. One interior panel is rough cut out wood, the other has been carpeted. The upper cut-outs in interior panels are for access to bolts that secure top, I didn't want to have to remove panels to remove top. These cut-outs will be covered later.

[blazerparts]

Take 6 on the interior panels

[71jimmy]

Seems like a good idea to put those access holes in the side panels. Curious how you cover them tho. Nice work.

[krue]

Looking good!

[Blue4x4]

hey Blazerparts; Do you havesome templates I could borrow for the side inside panels?

[blazerparts]

Originally Posted by Blue4x4

hey Blazerparts; Do you havesome templates I could borrow for the side inside panels?

I'll draw one out for you, Scott.

[blazerparts]

Fatmat is in..........talk about your quilting process. This project has overrun my estimate, three weeks already working on it evenings and weekends as time allows. Should have it finished up by the end of the weekend.