Some guys have skills and some have bills

[Burt4x4]

Skills...the hard way..doing it wrong..breaking it...doing it right..finding the next weak link....etcc......17yrs later ^^^^^

[swyfor5]

Burt, give him a shot of the BNB sticker on your bumper!

[Burt4x4]

Originally Posted by swyfor5

Burt, give him a shot of the BNB sticker on your bumper!

HA! Yaa Buddy ! Built Not Bought! Led Zeppelin style font...




It's kinda fadded...old sticker

[1949gmc]

Burt... Your truck is bad ass. Do you have any pics of it when you first got it?? It'd be fun to see the progression of it.

[Burt4x4]

Thanks it's been fun changing it over the years..
Hollister Hills 2001 on 33" Dunlop MudRovers


I forgot I put the BNB sticker on the windshield back then..

Mine is on the far left and that boy sitting on the cage is my son that now weighs 220lbs time goes by fast...

[swyfor5]

Man, that last pic is awesome!

[1972CST]

Use your Blazer as a platform to get those skills.... not to increase your bills! All things mechanical, electrical and hydralic operate on basic FUNDAMENTALS. Once you have a concept of principles and operation you can apply these to maaaaannnyy things throughout your life! Its very satisfying to understand how something works, diagnose your problem and repair it yourself or with a little help. Its ok to ask questions.... thats how you learn. There are many many great sources of info out there and this forum has "the cream of the crop"! If you dont have to rely on your Blazer for dedicated daily driving then use it for an opportunity to learn. Dont worry if it takes you a while to complete repairs. The more you understand the more confident you will be. I am semi-skilled I guess... and too tight to pay anyone to do anything for me. Live,learn and have fun! Keep us posted on your progress... We all love seeing pics!

[NEVERENOUGH]

I am a pretty handy guy and can do most things. I enjoy time in the garage but I also think I am always learning something new. Keep at buy a good manual and you will be fine. Another great things about forums is people are willing to help other members out. If you know you have to do something post up maybe some people close to you are willing to help. Still might cost you a bbq lunch but hey if you can learn some stuff it might be worth it. A lot of community collages have basic auto classes also. Good luck and keep with it.

[Erik V]

The circle of car enthusiasts I typically run in has both types of people. We call them "gear heads" vs "checkbook mechanics".

These old trucks are fundamentally simple, you just have to figure out how to deal with obstacles. My newer cars are much more complicated, and I figured them out fairly easily with the help of online communities like this one.

Bottom line, if you can afford to pay someone to fix stuff that you dont want to fix yourself, then go that route-I will never be a body/paint man. So when the time comes for that, I'll pay someone else to do it. I just have no desire to deal with it on my own. Mechanically I'll deal with all the greasy metalic heavy jobs myself though.

Erik

[71veronica]

Bull72 I love your blazer.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Bull72]

Originally Posted by Old Money

i paid for paint and fine sanding and carb rebuild. rough sanding and grinding and mechanical and interior i did. buy a 72 10-30 truck series overhaul manual and a decent set of wrenches and sockets, hand cleaner, paper towels,safety glasses, and dont be afraid of asking alot of questions. this place has the answers. if it jams force it, if it breaks its defective. murphys law old money.

Old Money thanks for the suggestion, I just received my 72 Chevrolet 10-30 Series Truck Service Manual in the main. Very detailed and I'm going through it now.

Originally Posted by 71veronica

Bull72 I love your blazer.
Posted via Mobile Device

Thanks 71 Veronica! I'm loving my cruise.

[Bull72]

Just bought a new Edelbrock Performer EPS intake and Carb in endurashine =) I also bought some aluminum heads I have at a buddy's shop. Going to get some new headers in a few weeks and "wake up" the old 350. My buddy is helping me with my Upgrade =) my time to learn... awww yeyah!

[1972CST]

[BLUE THUNDER]

The weather is getting nice 'round these parts. You ready to go for a drive? Let's see how many more folks in S.A. want to go for a cruise.

[Bull72]

Originally Posted by BLUE THUNDER

The weather is getting nice 'round these parts. You ready to go for a drive? Let's see how many more folks in S.A. want to go for a cruise.

I have been cruising the past few weeks convertible and it is really perfect weather lately. Unfortunately my rear diff just decided to break down on me yesterday. Took it to auto shop to get a diagnosis and they told me 3 U joints were barely hanging on as well as my rear diff is taking a dive. After next week or so I should be ready to go. So after my buddy takes a closer look I will be ordering the master install kit, ring and pinion, bearings, whatever else I need to. He is going to help me next weekend.

[Kevin McPherson]

The only things that I pay for ( when the need arises ) Electrical wiring, internal transmission,and front end allignment.My father taught me how to mechanic as a young boy,I am now 41 yrs old,and learning autobody/painting, I could re cover seats but I dont have the sewing maching for stitching. Live and learn young grasshopper,Its FUN!!!!

[mustardjimmy71]

Originally Posted by Bull72

I have been cruising the past few weeks convertible and it is really perfect weather lately.

I hate u guys!!!!! It was snowing here last night. I'm hoping it melts by this afternoon so i can change the oil in my f-150. The roads get salted here so the jimmy sits in the winter

[BLUE THUNDER]

Dude, sorry to hear about the rear end. I had A+ transmission on 90 and 410 build mine. New reing and pinion, rebuilt posi with stiffer springs, clutches and steels bearings etc. They did a grear job. If you give them a call ask for Ron and tell him I sent you. @ Mustard, sorry to hear about the snow. Winter is probably over for us down here. I nn to get the body mounts so I can take off the top. Hopefully soon.

[BLUE THUNDER]

Hey Bull, lets see if Carlisle will give us a discount for two a/c jobs.

[Bull72]

Originally Posted by BLUE THUNDER

Hey Bull, lets see if Carlisle will give us a discount for two a/c jobs.

My blazer is at my buddies right now and he was going to give it a look tomorrow or the next day. His thoughts were trying pick n pull for a rear end and just swap the whole thing out... might be less expensive.

As for the AC, I was sincerely thinking about it but I got a price from Vintage Air for the parts and a rough estimate on labor from someone that vintage air recommended.... dang another $2500. Roughly... they said $1300 for the Vintage Air System, then they recommended a heavy duty electric fan $200, a trinary switch ( few bucks ) and the labor was $1000 give or take a hundred depending on what they had to remove.

I didn't ask Carlisle yet, it has to be seriously cheaper than $2500, because if not then I am close to buying a small pickup (ranger for the same price) with AC for the summer with gas prices going the way their going as my daily driver. Also, If I had another "daily driver" I can get the blazer insured with Haggerty for classic car insurance. Their stipulations say that every driver in the household has to have a designated "daily driver" other than the blazer to qualify for their insurance. Right now my insurance says if I had a total loss (totaled or stolen) they would only cover me up to $5 or $6k tops. With haggerty you can tell them the amount you want to be insured at and pay $20-30/month... weighing that all out for AC.

[Bull72]

Blazer is back on the road

So here was the problem... every time I hit the gas I didn't have any problems but when I let off the gas there was vibration and a grinding noise in the rear end. The auto shop said I needed to replace the whole rear diff, but after my buddy looked at it all it needed was to replace the Ujoints.

He said that the Ujoints had some slop in them and the vibrations caused the bolt for the pinion yoke to loosen up. So when I hit the gas the force would tighten up so there was no vibration/grinding noise, but when I let off the gas it would loosen up and grinding noise.

All fixed now =) and ready for the cruise. Let me know when we are going for that cruise!

[Deep C 915]

Do worry about how it gets fixed.. its fixed. I won't be doing any of my body work or painting b/c I want it done right & I don't have those kind of skills so I will also have bills.... Remember some guys have different skills like making more money than some guys with other "skills" so they don't have to sweat paying bills. Still a real nice looking ride. I was looking at A little lighter grey paint with blue real flames on front. IDK everyone I ask says go back with the original orange ?? Tough decision

[BLUE THUNDER]

Dude, that's great. I'll def let you know.

[Bull72]

Since I bought it in November I had the plugs, wires, distributor, water pump, distributor and radiator replaced. Last month I got my edelbrock carb/manifold (pics above). The parts are adding up!!! Today I got my hooker headers in! It's like Christmas around the Pacheco household! This thread is slowly turning into "my build" page!!!

Next thing I am going to get is an Xtreme Energy Comp CAM! After that I need to get my head gaskets, steel header gaskets, and then another month my buddy is going to help me put everything on. By July/August I hope to have an aluminum radiator and electric fans to keep it cool. Way long term (maybe next year) I plan to do the 700r4 transmission.

I will post more pics once everything is on!

[99-LS1-SS]

Originally Posted by FoxHound

I've got skills AND bills haha. Blazer parts aren't cheap, even if you got the skills to put 'em in on your own!

I probably fall into this category to some degree.

I'm getting to a point in my life where I "can" do stuff but sometimes it's easier to have someone else do it.

With that said, I plan on doing a LOT of the work myself but given my limited garage space and real tools I'll have to farm out most of the hard core body work.