72 2wd Blazer: Project "Break Me"

[AZ68SUB]

Congrats on the baby boy. I have a 21 month old and another coming any day now. They are a blast.

[jkade]

Update with no pics Got me a cab and cut the roof off for the traizer conversion thanks to Uncle. ART 4 link is in the mail, and got a set of pacesetter long tubes for a f-body so I can get to work on motor mounts, trans mount, etc. I have to help put down about 1500 sq ft of hardwood and I am starting back on it.

Biggest thing that has slowed progress is that the company that I have worked for for over 8 years is closing and today was my last day. I have been scared to spend any money since I did not know if I could find a job. I am starting my new job Monday for a logistics company and I should end up making 3 times what I do now in a year to 2 years and I didn't have to take a cut in pay to start there. I am hoping to be done by 2010 and make it to the Nashville Goodguys for its shakedown run. I guess we will just have to see how things go but going there over the weekend give my wife the fever to get it done so we will have something to cruise in.

[jkade]

Originally Posted by AZ68SUB

Congrats on the baby boy. I have a 21 month old and another coming any day now. They are a blast.

We had a 4d done the other day and it was amazing seeing him in there already sucking on his thumb. Looks like he is going to be a week or 2 early since he is a lb and 2 ounces ahead of what he should be. Looks like he will be here at the end of August or the first of Sept.

[jkade]

So this will be the tire that I am going to have to run since I am going to need 12" wheels. THat is a 335/30/20 and they aren't smoker friendly with their price tag.

[babyblueoval]

You gotta admit that tire is gonna look sweet on there!

I love the seats but I also love the console in the green truck. It's so simple and sleek. That helps me a little with ideas for mine.

[jkade]

Originally Posted by babyblueoval

You gotta admit that tire is gonna look sweet on there!

I love the seats but I also love the console in the green truck. It's so simple and sleek. That helps me a little with ideas for mine.

The tires are going to look sick but say bye bye to the factory tubs for sure I took the rear end this morning and he said he has never seen a 8.8 with the center offset like that so I am not sure what it came from. He also said the factory locker should hold up well and no big need to spend money on upgrading to a different brand so that is going to save $400 or so. He is going to have to build a new axle and I told him to put new bearings and seals and the total was only $250 for everything.

The old boy that had the green truck with the seats said he used the stock mounts on them and they were easy to make work. I think they are some of the better looking seats I have seen used in this era truck. I do like the console but I am going to have a gear poker in that area and I am going to build something similat to that for mine.

Did you ever get your front suspension? What all have you got done to that thing?

[babyblueoval]

Ahhh, the front suspension...............

Uhhh, yes I got the front suspension BUT not from the guy I had already paid for it.
I found a smokin' deal on ebay for a set of uppers WITH hubs. ($100 less than the cheapest place I had found for just uppers)One of my hubs had a stud sheared off so it killed 2 birds with 1 stone except I had already paid someone else for them.
Live and learn to never deal with Brian Houston at Vettesource in Houston. But I'm not bitter.
So now I have all the parts I need to get started but off course it didn't happen until summer so I have the kids and summer activities to deal with. Once school starts I should be able to get started on it and the pics should start coming steadily. Thanks for asking.
I have decided I'm gonna paint it two-tone like a stock '67-'68 in my baby blue and white scheme. The last issue of Truck Builder with the anniversary addition gold and white swb on the cover sold me on the style. I actually considered switching to gold and having an anniv addition "67 or "68 Blazer.
It's still rattling around in my head but I'm sure I'll stick with the blue.

[jkade]

Originally Posted by babyblueoval

Ahhh, the front suspension...............

Uhhh, yes I got the front suspension BUT not from the guy I had already paid for it.
I found a smokin' deal on ebay for a set of uppers WITH hubs. ($100 less than the cheapest place I had found for just uppers)One of my hubs had a stud sheared off so it killed 2 birds with 1 stone except I had already paid someone else for them.
Live and learn to never deal with Brian Houston at Vettesource in Houston. But I'm not bitter.
So now I have all the parts I need to get started but off course it didn't happen until summer so I have the kids and summer activities to deal with. Once school starts I should be able to get started on it and the pics should start coming steadily. Thanks for asking.
I have decided I'm gonna paint it two-tone like a stock '67-'68 in my baby blue and white scheme. The last issue of Truck Builder with the anniversary addition gold and white swb on the cover sold me on the style. I actually considered switching to gold and having an anniv addition "67 or "68 Blazer.
It's still rattling around in my head but I'm sure I'll stick with the blue.

I hate to hear your bad luck on the suspension and I have heard of them before so I am glad I didn't mess with them. I got lucky and found a 94 vette and the junk yard a few miles from my house and picked up everything I needed for $450 which I thought was a good deal. And as for the paint scheme I have thought about the same for mine, those year truck look dang good the way gm painted them. Good luck and you will probably will finish yours before mine

[turbojunker]

Originally Posted by jkade

I took the rear end this morning and he said he has never seen a 8.8 with the center offset like that so I am not sure what it came from.

Those offset 8.8's are from Rangers and Exploders.

[jkade]

Originally Posted by turbojunker

Those offset 8.8's are from Rangers and Exploders.

That is what I thought but the the shop owner said he had never seen one offset like that.

[gringoloco]

The 4wd frames work a lot better for a 4-link. Sounds like you got it fingered-out though. Lookin' good

[jkade]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

The 4wd frames work a lot better for a 4-link. Sounds like you got it fingered-out though. Lookin' good

I don't know if I have it figured out but I have a idea

[r1lorenzini]

Man just caught up to date. sick build . congrats on the baby. you will definitely enjoy it. get as much done on the blazer now though@@@@

[jkade]

Originally Posted by r1lorenzini

Man just caught up to date. sick build . congrats on the baby. you will definitely enjoy it. get as much done on the blazer now though@@@@

Thanx, I am trying to get it a rolling chassis before he gets here so we will see.

[jkade]

I got the lower front bar brackets made and welded in, have to go back and make some gussets for them and I will be done with the lower part. Got my upper crossmember welded together and still have to make tabs for the links to attach to it and make some feet for the crossmember so I can weld it to the frame. I am going to come in from the frame to the 180 with some dom to brace it and make some braces for the backside of it also. Maybe I will get a little done this weekend and you will see what I am talking about. The uppers are just tacked there in the pics but that is the general area they are going to be in and the crossmember is just stuck in there.

[68 short step]

it looks good

[pcorriveau951]

jkade, dont know if you already are planning this, but you may want to add some gussets on top of your lower front link mounts to keep tham from bending upwards.

nice job on the four link.

[jkade]

Originally Posted by pcorriveau951

jkade, dont know if you already are planning this, but you may want to add some gussets on top of your lower front link mounts to keep tham from bending upwards.

nice job on the four link.

Yes, I have a bunch of gussets to build.. Thanks

[killer71]

Nice job!!!

[babyblueoval]

Congrats!

[68 short step]

congrates, thats the most expenxive part in these builds too

[abadsvt]

Congrats! thats a big boy!

Josh

[MisterE72]

Congratulations. He looks like a big healthy boy. We need to start a new club on the board called the "Insomnia Club". Those of us with newborns are shoe-ins. Congratulations.

[jkade]

Thanks guys, I feel like we a very blessed to have a healthy son. I never knew I could love something so much so quick. Me and him are going to have some serious fun in the coming years if Momma will let us

[676871Chevy]

Congratulations !!! I know you are your wife are happy to have a "Big" Healty boy !!!!