1972 2wd Blazer; 6-lug or 8-lug susp components??

[70rs/ss]

Like the title says which one? The story is that my 72 2wd Blazer came home without a rear, I have a Dana 60 8-lug trailing arm rear, as well as a 6-lug 3:73 trailing arm rear. Now here is the part I need an opinion on, I have the 8-lug front suspension as well with "BIG" discs, complete. I want to use this stuff as it would be the fastest and most $$$ effective way to get the Blazer on the road before my surgery. If I go with the 6-lug rear, I could use the lower 3/4 ton arms and build a 6-lug disc front end set-up with the late model (88-99) spindle with the heavy half 6-lug rotor, but that would cost a little more, and take some time. Time is tight as I go under the knife for a fusion of my L-4-5, S-1 and the removal of one disc (impinging the spinal cord). So if you had what I have what would you do?? I have a nice set of 16" steel wheels that would look cool with caps and lower profile 16" street rubber, or any of a million aftermarket 18, 20, 22, 24, 26" 8-lug wheels later on??? I want a set of Vectors??? (I can't remember if that is the right name, but the wheels on the General Lee!!) my only concern with the old school 8-lug aluminums is that most are 16.5" and that tire is quickly dieing out and really the only tires left in that size are truck type and my intentions are to lower it using a more performance type rubber.

In the end it'll have a 4-6" static drop, a 250 L6 and a NV3500 5-speed for now. I want to have it together and running/driving before June 10, because after that it'll be 2 months before I can pick up a piece of paper, let alone slinging car parts!! What do you think??

[lks dcvn]

Since several have read and not made comments...I have a few thoughts...

if you want to have it up and running - go with the 8 lug stuff...if you want to have some resale value in the long run - move forward with the 6 lug stuff.

If you want to just drive the thing - use what you have sitting around and bolt it up and go. It would get quite a bit of second looks being a 2WD with 3/4 ton stuff though...maybe that is what you are going for.

Best of luck with your upcoming surgery - hopefully it gets you where you need to be to be comfortable again. Take it easy. Rest up - we will all be pulling for you -

[LUV2XCLR8]

Only comment that I would add is 8 lug wheel choices are limited

[nightmare]

i would say the most cost effective way to do it would be the 8-lug stuff. wouldn't that make it the first 3/4 ton 2wd blazer? just a thought.

[70rs/ss]

I was thinking the 8-lug stuff would be kinda cool, but if I put caps on the steelies I have, no one would know. In the aftermarket realm, 8-lugs are more common than the 5-lug stuff as most truck makers have all gone to 6-lug variants. I was leaning to 8-lug as I have it all and $$$ does come into play slightly. As for resale, if I do sell it the 8-lug stuff is a bolt on and off deal, no mods, just a matter of unbolting and putting 5-lug or 6-lug pieces back on it. I'll snap some picts tonight for a reference.

[lks dcvn]

Sounds like a plan---

If I was closer - I would come over to help - just to learn more about these trucks-

I don't think anybody is close enough (10-15 mins away) for me to come help them (or more like for them to help me - ).

You could always use the H2 rims if you are looking for a cheap 8 lug option - they look good painted up to match the body color...(can't find pic right now or I would post it)

[70rs/ss]

BINGO!! Those might work, any idea of the size? I'd like a mellow 16-18" wheel diameter, cause I am going with a static drop and want some perf type rubber, 16 and even more so 17's, 18's have a pretty good selection of perf rubber. I am off to scope ebay for some!

[lks dcvn]

17 x 8.5 is the size...you can use chevy dually caps to avoid the Hummer center caps -

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Set-4...spagenameZWDVW

[DANTES JIMMY]

well here is my 2 cents
the only time resale matters is if your gonna sell it
so if your not gonna sell it then who cares it is yours do what you want
it sounds like even if you hurry you arent going to have much time to enjoy it
unless you can drive during the recovery process
as far as the 16.5 tire thing throw that out the last time i looked for them it was cheaper for me to sell (or give away) my weld wheels and buy new 16" wheels and tires
and that was a few years ago im sure it hasnt got any better
at one point in time you could get a steel 8 lug 15"wheel from national wheel and tire out of Wheeling WV but they were usually wide wheels for big 4x4's
i had a set of 15x14"x 8 lug wheels for a set of 40" mud tires
all you had to do was give the calipers a little love with a grinder to make them fit
so with that said i would just go with the 8 lug stuff just to get her going
especially if you can drive during the recovery
you may not be able to wrench on her but you could drive it
plus an 8lug 2x would be cool
and like you said if after you healed up if you dont like it hell unbolt it and do it different
just my opinion that and about 5 bucks would buy you a cup of coffee
i hope all goes well in your surgery good luck with everything get better and ride on

[70rs/ss]

Originally Posted by DANTES JIMMY

well here is my 2 cents
the only time resale matters is if your gonna sell it
so if your not gonna sell it then who cares it is yours do what you want
it sounds like even if you hurry you arent going to have much time to enjoy it
unless you can drive during the recovery process
as far as the 16.5 tire thing throw that out the last time i looked for them it was cheaper for me to sell (or give away) my weld wheels and buy new 16" wheels and tires
and that was a few years ago im sure it hasnt got any better
at one point in time you could get a steel 8 lug 15"wheel from national wheel and tire out of Wheeling WV but they were usually wide wheels for big 4x4's
i had a set of 15x14"x 8 lug wheels for a set of 40" mud tires
all you had to do was give the calipers a little love with a grinder to make them fit
so with that said i would just go with the 8 lug stuff just to get her going
especially if you can drive during the recovery
you may not be able to wrench on her but you could drive it
plus an 8lug 2x would be cool
and like you said if after you healed up if you dont like it hell unbolt it and do it different
just my opinion that and about 5 bucks would buy you a cup of coffee
i hope all goes well in your surgery good luck with everything get better and ride on

Thanks, with the idea from above, I headed to the bay and found some killer deals on 17X8.5 hummer wheels, so it looks like I'll be rolling on a lowered 8-lugger with 17's!

[lks dcvn]

Here what I was going to do with my H2 rims (matching to body color) - finally found the pic I was looking for - it was on my home PC...

I got it from this forum - just couldn't think of where it was - but I saved it on my home PC as a reference.

I think it looks pretty good. Still a stock rim - but with a custom touch.

[70rs/ss]

Booyah!! $300 a set 17X8.5 and 5.5" of BS, those'll look sweet in black powdercoat!! I have a couple of Q's in then buy it now! I think those are pretty cool, and under $100 per wheel, not bad! Thanks for the idea!

[nightmare]

lks dcvn, that looks cool. I think it would look good with the body matched paint.

[LUV2XCLR8]

And it would stand out for sure

[70rs/ss]

I have begun the build (gathering stage!) I'll get the front susp on it then trailer it home and put the engine and trans in it in the garage, then the race to get it running and driving before June 10. I just paid the machine shop for my Vortec 383, and would like to use it, but engine assembly and all the little things would probably keep me from getting it "done" before the surgery. So for now, I am calling Rock Auto for all of the front end parts then we'll get some picts next weekend as the work begins!!

[lks dcvn]

If you are rebuilding the front end (ball joints, etc.) - can you PM me with the parts list since I will have to do the same.

Thx.

[70rs/ss]

I have a parts list, I am doing the 3/4 ton 2wd susp, is this what you will be doing? BTW I picked up a sweet set of those Hummer 17" wheels for $200!! I found out that the 2wd Calipers are the same for 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton, and this is kinda important as there didn't seem to be anyone who had the 3/4 ton hoses, so a 1/2 ton caliper on there will allow me to use the 1/2 ton 72 hoses and calipers. Rock Auto had some incredibly cheap prices on the parts but I needed to pieces now, so I took my parts list into NAPA and had them price match to Rock Auto's prices (not to the dime, but it saved me some $$$). I just need a ball joint clamp to uninstall and reinstall the lowers, everything else is ready to go together, picts to come!!

[70rs/ss]

I started this frankenstien of a build, I used the 3/4 ton A arms as they were loose and cleaned them up and shot em with some Black paint, as well as the spindles. Put 3/4 ton upper and lower ball joints in them and the lower control arm bushings are the same 1/2 ton to 3/4 ton so those are new the uppers are different so I am using 1/2 tons there. I have one side almost done, the 17" are paid for so waiting for the FEDEX guy to stop by!! I am running into some trouble with my surgery so I may have to postpone!! I am not happy as I had myself prepared for it now it is going to be another month out IF I GET THIS MESS fixed! So allas I get more time to finish this thing up, good news and bad, but I soldier on! I'll finish up the suspension work, then trailer it home and into the garage for the L6/5-speed (possibly 700r4, as I have both) and the 700r4 will be easier to do, because I won't have to jack with the hydraulic clutch stuff. Anyways, once it is home I'll be able to work on concrete in the shade with a little conditioned air, instead of outside in direct sunlight and getting roasted!! More updates to come!!

[nightmare]

Originally Posted by 70rs/ss

... I am running into some trouble with my surgery so I may have to postpone!! I am not happy as I had myself prepared for it now it is going to be another month out IF I GET THIS MESS fixed! So allas I get more time to finish this thing up, good news and bad, but I soldier on! ...

Sorry to hear about this. I hope it doesn't cause you more pain to wait.

Anyhow, I can't wait to see the pics of this. I think it will look so cool to have those Hummer rims on there.

I would go with the 700r4 though. JMHO.

[70rs/ss]

Originally Posted by nightmare

Sorry to hear about this. I hope it doesn't cause you more pain to wait.

Anyhow, I can't wait to see the pics of this. I think it will look so cool to have those Hummer rims on there.

I would go with the 700r4 though. JMHO.

I am about 5 days out from surgery and still not sure I am going to be able to get it done, hopefully!! I was into the 5-speed thing, but for ease of installation the 700r4 will fall in and I already have a factory auto colum shifted colum, so it would be easier, but the 5-speed would be more fun in the long run?? Decisions decisions!! I'll keep you guys updated, if the surgery is on then I'll be away for about a 2-3 weeks then I'll be away from the wrenches for at least 8 weeks so the progress will be slower than I would have liked. I wanted it rolling and in the garage before the surgery but, Oh Well!