Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build

[lks dcvn]

It's time to start a build thread for my new project - a 1972 2wd factory Blazer.

It's been in my garage since Memorial Day and have been working on it (not as much as I would like) over the past few weeks.

Specs:
1972 Factory 2wd Blazer - CC VIN
Original Color - 524 - Red/Orange - exterior was painted black at some point
Black Seats - both covers in poor shape
Black Rubber Floor - ripped and gone in most spots
No Rear Seat Option - seems rare to me
Stock AM/FM Radio option on SPID - long gone
No Motor/Trans - was a 307/SM 465 truck
Lots of rust in the doors, bed and floors
Hood was beat up a bit and fenders needed some work
Tailgate was sticking and had rust on outside and inside
Doors were in bad shape as well - Driver side was rusted at the hinges and Passenger side wouldn't open when I got it
Black Single Wall top/hatch was in great shape - just needs minor tweaking and cleaned up. Hatch lift sticks on one side.
Chassis was clean with only surface rust and no surprises
More mud dauber wasp nests than I had ever seen on one vehicle

These were the pictures used to decide if I was a buyer or not...

[lks dcvn]

A few more from before it got to me...

It came with the trans hump, and the stock driveshaft as well.

[lks dcvn]

I spent over a week just cleaning it up a bit once it arrived. I took a quick inventory of the work ahead and started to reverse the years of neglect on this Blazer.

Here are a few pix of the clean up...

[lks dcvn]

Cleaning up/Checking it out continued...

[lks dcvn]

Continued...

Now this is where it got interesting. I was trying to figure out what was in the back of this Blazer since it arrive and it took me almost the whole day to clear out the stuff to get to floor in the back since it was covered in parts and other junk from over the years.

I noticed the speaker brackets on the wall just behind the B pillar and a speaker cable that ran under the floor to the rear corner near the gas filler where it looks like they would attach an external speaker so they could hear the music outside the truck.

Needless to say - it was all coming out.

[lks dcvn]

And first wash of the exterior other than rain in likely a decade.

[71meangreenc10]

I have nothing to complain about with my rust repairs.......

Smitty

[DeadheadNM]

Great to see that blazer resurrected. I'm on board for the build.

[gringoloco]

Watching this one. Great work so far. I think it rotted more since the last time I saw it.

Mike just left here and told me he's headed for the tub starting tomorrow morning.

Edit: Are there brackets on the rear floor for a seat?

[lks dcvn]

There are no rear seat brackets - nor evidence that they were ever installed. Looks like a rare no rear seat truck.

[jjzepplin]

In to see this one thru.

[notsolo]

Glad to see your saving this 1, What are your plans for this, New tub has mounts for rear seat are you going Deluxe or plan Jane? Post some photo's of the OEM parking brake set up on the frame please. 44 yr old sound deadening floor mat, Yikes!

[lks dcvn]

Thanks all - lots of work to do on this one.

Not sure if I will ever use a rear seat on this truck. I may add nylon bolt inserts to the holes to keep the threads intact, clean up bed and just enjoy it for the short term.

Plans are as follows:

Locate clean 67/68 front clip, doors, tailgate - pending
Clean up chassis - removing rust scale, undercoating
Rebuild suspension - not sure if staying stock height or not yet - swaying toward 2.5/4 drop at this time
Install 5 lug rallys with 275/60 tires - have wheels, need tires
Locate LS motor/updated trans (still need an automatic crossmember)
Get it running/stopping by the end of the year (I hope)

I'd like to get it safe before I get it pretty.

I did take a few pix of the ebrake stuff in this thread.

[ochre 72]

Looking forward to following the progress!

[lks dcvn]

Not too much progress - acquiring parts along the way.

Spent some time mocking up the front clip though - so there was some work done this weekend.

I also started taking a closer look at the spare tub I bought from MT.

[rayray767]

Glad to see this rig getting some attention... Seeing it finished driving down the road in my city priceless !
Hope we can catch up sometime 😉

[tommys72]

Ill watch this one!

[invicta455]

Looking good

[tommys72]

That blue one was sick! The door handles and front turn signals looked good!! Bumper looks good sucked in too

[invicta455]

I would like to know the brand of the head lights also

[lks dcvn]

Spent some time removing the stock fuel tank, body wiring harness, extra wiring on the firewall and some other stuff from the interior on Sunday.

Still picking up parts...

• Aux battery tray to move the battery to the driver side for when the LS motor is installed
• 07-16 Jeep Wrangler headlights and pigtails to wire them directly to the factory harness
• New power washer to clean up the crud on the front suspension, frame and under the body so I can stop getting a face full of rust every time I crawl under it

[lks dcvn]

Quick update pix...

Loosely installed the ECE LS motor mounts - did not drill the cross member yet as I want to clean it up a bit more still.

Also got the tires (275/60/15) mounted on the 15x8 rally wheels and had some time to install them today. Trim rings and center caps need some minor work prior to final install.

Waiting on drop spindles and then will dig into the front end rebuild and cleaning up the rest of the front suspension.

[jjzepplin]

I think you've done your good deed for the day! Looking real nice!

[mcmlxix]

Originally Posted by invicta455

I would like to know the brand of the head lights also

http://www.quadratec.com/products/97009_8100.htm

[lks dcvn]

That looks really good. Are you putting carpet over that Beau2a or leaving it just like that?