71 AZ Rust Free CST Blazer Frame Off

[JackB]

Working on small stuff this week. Rebuilt the brake pedal assembly and working on the parking brake. Tried rust removal by electrolysis for the first time, worked like a champ.

[IronCanine]

You know I like that. Well done.

[JackB]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

You know I like that. Well done.

Thanks..Coming from you it means a lot. I refer to your build thread often. You set the bar high with your build. I've never done a complete frame off nut and bolt restoration before and its taken me a while to grasp the idea that its a marathon and not a sprint. I find it helps to take on small projects like the brake pedal assembly so it feels like something is finished.

[Greenlee]

Originally Posted by JackB

Thanks..Coming from you it means a lot. I refer to your build thread often. You set the bar high with your build. I've never done a complete frame off nut and bolt restoration before and its taken me a while to grasp the idea that its a marathon and not a sprint. I find it helps to take on small projects like the brake pedal assembly so it feels like something is finished.

Nice work! There is truth in that statement. Small projects add up and if you keep the momentum going you will be done before you know it!

[JackB]

Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'

[JackB]

So I haven't posted for awhile, mainly because I haven't accomplished much the last few weeks. I was hoping by now to have the body back on the frame but removing the factory undercoat and painting the underside of the Blazer is turning into much more of a project than I had anticipated. The undercoat is tough stuff, I'm finding the most effective way to remove it is by first heating it with a torch and scrapping of as much as I can then following up with a wire wheel. Its a slow messy job and I'm only getting small sections done at a time. I'm all ears if someone knows a more effective way to remove this stuff.

[JackB]

The Eagle has landed...Finally got all the old undercoating removed and got the body back on the frame. I've have a few more things I want to do and then its off to paint jail..

[JackB]

Body came back from paint yesterday so Ill be back at it soon. I ended up taking the body back off the frame and put it back on the body cart at the painters request. If anyone has a need for a slightly used Blazer body cart hit me up. Im keeping the wheels but the rest I'll let go for free.

[JackB]

Body back on the frame for good today.

[JackB]

So the doors are back together but of course it had be two steps forward and one step back. What I'm learning is no matter how many pictures you take during disassembly its not going to be enough and its a really good idea to reference them before you start putting things back together. Case in point, when I took the doors apart I identified a potential issue and documented it. There is a uclip that must be put on the door before the rest gets put together. Seeing it could be an issue I labeled and photographed it when I took the doors apart. (1st pic) Well I didnt reference the photo before I assembled the door and I paid the price. Ended up having to take the vent wings back out again to install the clip (2nd pic) In the end I got it all back together and it all works great. Shout out to board member RogerKoop for the rebuilt vent wings.

[JackB]

Wow..Is there ever a lot of stuff up under the dash. I'm really hoping I dont have to go back in there again.

[DeadheadNM]

It's a nightmare trying to access anything up in there. Take your time so you don't have to go back in.

[JackB]

Moving forward slowly. Want to take a minute to recognize the stellar work of several board members KEVSCLASSICS for rebuilding my tilt steering column, F.A.A.BENNY for the AC/heater parts and TBONE for the gauge cluster

[Woodsloafer]

Nice, I am envious!

[DeadheadNM]

Those look great!

Do you have the spring for the cowl flapper?

[JackB]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Those look great!

Do you have the spring for the cowl flapper?

I do and for the spring credit goes to board member BGRDMOOSE

[DeadheadNM]

Perfect! Wouldn't want to see you assemble the cowl without one. I need to add one to my k20

[JackB]

Not much new to report..Top is on and got the brakes plumbed and bled. I used later model dust shields on the front axle.

[DeadheadNM]

That's quick progress. How did top fitment go? We tugged my top into place - I don't want to remove it until next summer so the seals have time to settle. Also, did you texture the top and if so so using what product?

Looks awesome!

[JackB]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

That's quick progress. How did top fitment go? We tugged my top into place - I don't want to remove it until next summer so the seals have time to settle. Also, did you texture the top and if so so using what product?

Looks awesome!

My top fought hard as well, I doubt it ever comes off again. I dont know if it matters but its actually the top that was originally on my "Feathers" Blazer that I sold with a soft top only. The top that came with this Blazer had a bunch of extra holes from a roof rack so I sold it off. I wanted to get it on now so I can get a final alignment on the doors. The top is still sporting the original factory texture. Also had a bit of a struggle with the brakes. Passenger caliper fit nicely but I had to massage the drivers side backing plate a little to get the caliper to mount. I feel lucky in that I had no leaks in any of the brake lines. Now that it stops next up is seeing if it will run and move on its own power.

[DeadheadNM]

We aligned my doors with the top on less the weatherstripping. Bad idea. With the weatherstrip in place it really changed alignment to the point where the body needed a reshim so the doors would open and close. Lesson learned.

[JackB]

Well it runs. Somewhere I read to be sure that when you start the engine for the first time you should do it outside. I figured Id be OK because I had a couple of big ass fans. I was wrong.

[IronCanine]

Congrats on the huge milestone! Won't be long now.

[DeadheadNM]

Good deal. Any leaks?

[JackB]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Good deal. Any leaks?

Well of course..First was the thermostat housing, fixed that befores startup and then it was the fuel hard line where it enters the carb. So just like Iron Canine and his build today I'll be repainting the intake. I pm'd Brad last night and he walked me through how he was able to get his to finally seal. I have some locktite 565 sealant on the way and I have a spare inlet housing I can swap into the quadrajet so I m hoping with those I can get it to seal up. Anyone else have any tips on getting that fitting to seal, I wasnt expecting it to be a problem but clearly I'm not the first to have problems with it.