Crossbreed

[stangtjk]

Picked this up around March 2016. I've made a few posts in the "what did you do to you blazer today" thread and decided to start a build thread to share all the progress.

Let's start with the purchase. I found it on Craigslist within an hour drive from me. Guy was moving and getting rid of some of his projects. This was listed as a package deal. Two 4x4 blazers and a 2wd C10 long bed for $6500. I wish i could have taken them all but I don't have the space for two extra junkers (they were both really rough). Ended up walking away with this 72 blazer for $5500 which was fair but damn I wish I the space for all three.

I've wanted a convertible 4x4 for a while and when I found this in my price range I jumped on it.

A year worth of progress will follow shortly. Looking back through my photos I didn't do a great job documenting up to this point but there's still lots more to come. Below is how it looked right after I bought it.

7" lift (4" suspension 3" body), worn out Mickey Thompson 36x14.50s on 16.5" rims, supposed fresh rebuilt 350 with 400HP (yeah right) and 3/4 ton axles (14 bolt rear and 8 lug 10 bolt up front)

[stangtjk]

So the intention when I purchased this was to build a cheap truck for a 4x4 challenge between a few of my friends...

When I bought the truck the guy fired it right up but after I had it towed home I tried to get it started several times over the course of three days and just​ couldn't​ make it happen. I guess he knew the trick..

I pulled the carb and rebuilt it. First time rebuilding a carb so I was a bit apprehensive at first but it's really not that complicated so away I went. Got it all cleaned up and put back together. Popped it back on and....... Woohoo success.. fired right up...

At this point I'm thinking hell yeah, I'll be driving this around in no time (hah).... That thought was quickly remedied just minutes later when I started seeing oil dripping under the truck. It was running down the transmission. Let it run for a bit while I figured out where it was coming from and finally tracked it down. Oil was just pumping out between the intake and block in the valley behind the distributor.

So now I'm pulling the intake... Turns out whoever installed it didn't use enough rtv across the valley and there was a spot where the intake never made contact.

[stangtjk]

Well hell you pulled the intake... why not pull the whole motor and pretty it up real quick? Ok we'll do that. And in the process found some stripped threads in the intake so replace it and the water pump just because it's cheap and I had it off anyway. Frame off restoration still isn't on my mind... Just want to get it driving.

[stangtjk]

Next up... transmission and transfer case we're a bit leaky so rebuilt those too... another first for me. They have yet to make it back in.

If you're like me you scrolled to see the photos before reading. If you noticed the bell housing change between pictures 3 and 4 congrats, you spotted my first f*** up. Had the trans all back together after the rebuild and rolled it off my work bench. Landed right on the peak of the bell housing and cracked it. So had to choose on replacing the trans or cut off the bell housing and install one of the bolt on bell housings... Obviously I chose the latter.

[stangtjk]

Well that's all the drivetrain work... We'll talk about rust next.... Still not planning a frame off resto. (Spoiler frame is off)

[hemi43]

I didn't even know they sold a bellhousing like that ! How was the old one machined off? How is the new one mounted?
Goof-off by the gallon ? HAHA, all I've ever seen here in Canada is those tiny little metal cans. Something else we can't get north of the border.

[stangtjk]

The old bell housing was cut off with a sawzall and cleaned up with a grinder. The new one bolts on over top of the pump using the same bolt holes. These bell housings are made for drag racing and what not to act as a scatter shield in case your fly wheel flies apart. These are thick enough to a stop it unlike the paper thin stock bell housing.

[stangtjk]

So about that rust.... Rocker boxes were practically falling out but the truck did come with a new set. Floor needed the outers patched which became obvious after removing the nice new rockers someone slapped on to cover it up. Here is some of the carnage.

[stangtjk]

And repairs... Welded the floor patch right below the first bend and after grinding the weld you can barely tell it's a patch.

[jaros44sr]

very nice work, you're right, can't see the seam. the only thing that might cause you problems is the worm drive clamp on the fuel filter, being plastic you might collapse the inlet, they were designed for a spring clamp

Keep up the good work!!!!

Are your tetanus shots up to date?

[raggedjim]

Nice work on the blazer, you're doing some good work. I need to start a build thread, but I work so slow it would drag on for years, and I hate to rush!

As far as the tool box, things like that happen. I was using the grinder with a cutoff wheel and set it down on my drop light cord before it stopped... threw a few sparks and kicked the breaker.

Keep it up, Rg

[DeadheadNM]

Strong work. I'm on board.

[Tom Vogel]

Re tool box. Man, I thought that stuff only happened to me.

[stangtjk]

Almost caught up with the present.. body did finally come off the frame. Built a wood jig to tip it on its side.

Underside was blasted, epoxy primed and coated with raptor liner. Still need to put the rocker boxes back on, probably get to that this weekend.

Inside floor has also been blasted and primed with epoxy.

[stangtjk]

Frame also got some love. Was tough dragging it from the driveway out back onto the deck but managed to get it up there on my own. Didn't want to get liner overspray on the neighbors vehicles.

Blasted, epoxy primer and raptor liner just like the body but I shot the raptor with an hvlp gun instead of the shutz gun supplied with the kit. Really like the way the texture turned out.

[stangtjk]

Currently working on converting the 14 bolt over to disc brakes. Grinded down the OD of the stock hubs to allow rotors to slide on rather than be staked to the back like most conversion kits. Did this so I could use stock rear brakes from a late model gm. Had to use rotors from a dually to get the backing plate to set far enough inboard to land on the axle tube.

I need to have some flanges made so I can weld them on and get everything bolted up. Anyone know a friendly machinist willing to do such a small job without charging a fortune? Tried several of those eBay machine shops that say no job is too small and can't even get a response for a so I assume it's not worth their time. I could probably get by with just a 1/2" plate plasma cut and not have the raised part.

[stangtjk]

Almost forgot about these pieces... Bent up using a vise, hammer, dolly and whatever was laying around I could pound on.

[tomtuna1978]

I'm hooked ... I need to do the same thing... I like the way you write ... I totally scrolled down and looked at that bell housing photo ... lol

[stangtjk]

Thanks for the compliments.

I set out to paint and rebuild the drive/axle shafts. Got everything apart blasted and primed. Just orders all new u joints to put them back together.

I got the u joint out of one of the front axle shafts using a hammer and socket... Set out to do the other side and couldn't get it to budge. Starting hitting harder and harder and I finally missed and caught my finger. After that I bought one of those tiger tools u joint presses. Should have bought it before I started.

[stangtjk]

Making a little more progress. Took the front axle apart and stripped and painted it. Same for the springs and shackles and I replaced the bushings with some red poly ones from
prothane. I also started mocking up the rear axle. Almost have a rolling chassis again.

[stangtjk]

Finished putting the front axle back together. Had a rolling chassis for one day before getting impatient and putting the tub back on. Probably have quite a few things left to do that would be easier with the body off but the ole lady and neighbors will be happy its not all torn apart in the driveway anymore.

[guynamedloren]

Originally Posted by stangtjk

Making a little more progress. Took the front axle apart and stripped and painted it. Same for the springs and shackles and I replaced the bushings with some red poly ones from
prothane. I also started mocking up the rear axle. Almost have a rolling chassis again.

What kind of paint did you use on the front axle, shafts, etc? Looks great and nice build.

[stangtjk]

The axles and shafts never actually got "paint". I liked the flat black look of the epoxy primer so I stopped right there.

[NorCal]

Looking good!

[stangtjk]

I call this shot the "illusion of progress" because it will all come back apart. Just needed to mock up the doors and fenders so I could line up and weld the rocker panels on.

Pay no attention to the door being tucked in too far, no latch or striker plate to hold it out at the moment. I will have to put shims under the hinges, both doors lack about 1/16" from lining up with the fenders.

I'm also contemplating re skinning the doors. I fixed the rust in the corners but lost a little bit of that subtle contour below the lower body line. I got some warpage when I welded the patches so i hit it with a shrinking disc to straighten it out... Got it a bit too straight as it appears I took out some of the curve. Wouldn't​ take that much filler to get it right so I'm undecided. The advantage to putting a new skin on is I'd be able to spray the inside of the door. There's also a few dents in the middle of the door that a new skin would eliminate.