New Blazer - New Member - New Questions

[DreamBlaze]

Hello all, I finally bought my dream truck...a 1972 blazer 350 auto 4x4. Price $1000. It was running in about 5 hours.

Non stock items:
1. 4" lift
2. 33" Dunlop "Dry rots"
3. custom steel 40 gallon fuel tank


What I know it needs:

1. Rocker Boxes
2. Rocker Box caps
3. Inner rockers
4. Outer rockers
5. tailgate sheet metal
6. lower A pillar work
7. outer floor board driver and passenger
8. Passenger door lower inner and outer skin
9. new exhaust
10. Air injection tubes on Passenger side

I will post some pictures later, but I am wondering what you all do if the rear sides of the blazer bow out just enough to where the tailgate won't latch? I am trying to figure out what structural components of the tub are supposed to reinforce this area.

I also want to take the top off, but I am not sure if the dash and windshield will sag back. What I am planning on doing since it has a roll bar is to run two tubes from the top bar on the roll cage to the two attachment points on the top of the windshield frame where the hard top bolts on.

How heavy is the hard top? is it a two/three person job?

Does anyone ride with the doors off?

I am not planning on building a monster truck, just a nice blazer that can take most of what the offroad can throw at it.

My vision is a pastel light green with a white top, 33" tires, rhino lined interior, and my hot girlfriend in a bikini.

Here are some pictures of the blazer the day I brought it home...
http://picasaweb.google.com/mcsartin...wOld1972Blazer