Project Family Truckster: 2wd Conversion Turbo LSx Blazer Build

[Wasted Income]

Got the C-notch done. Was hoping to get away without having to cut the frame, but it was necessary. Measure 54233 times, cut once.






Before I did the notch, I got the frame on jackstands, and shimmed so it's level in all directions.
Next task, while it's level, will be some additional frame bracing and boxing to beef this ***** up a little.

[Wasted Income]

Made room for my upper shock mount crossember.



Fabbed up some lower shock mounts.



This layout should work a lot better for handling purposes. Got the coilovers at a 15* tilt in.





The top all burned in





Also started working on wiring up the megasquirt. This is going to be an incredibly clean and small harness compared to the stock LS style harness.

[gringoloco]

Nice! Coilover mounts look good-plenty of room to run exhaust now.

[duallyjams]

I really like the built in storage tray on the frame

[72Blazing]

Will that angle on the shocks limit your wheel backspace choices?
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[Wasted Income]

Originally Posted by 72Blazing

Will that angle on the shocks limit your wheel backspace choices?
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I already have the wheel and tire combo that I'm planning to run, and they fit fine. I'll get some pics one of these days. I don't want to disturb the chassis until the rest of the bracing/stiffening is done on the chassis, since it's all level and square right now.

[Wasted Income]

Took some much needed time off over the past week, and was able to let my motivation recharge.

Make the plates to box in the frame. Got everything prepped and tacked in place.







My driveshaft also showed up. It's a 4" aluminum unit with Spicer 1350 joints, rated at 1500 hp from Dynotech Engineering.

[jbclassix]

I need to get over to the blazer side more often!

[Wasted Income]

Chipping away at the work that needs to be done to the chassis.





All the factory crossmembers except for the one back behind the fuel tank, which I'm leaving in place, have been cut out. Still need to make boxing plates and a crossmember for the very front yet.

[87Jimmy4JP]

wowzers! that is some great frame work

really coming along

JP

[gringoloco]

Looks great. Do mine next
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[Hertzdaddy]

Wow, I bet that frame is nice and stiff now. What is your plan for exhaust routing?

[Wasted Income]

Thanks guys. It actually is noticably stiffer just sitting on jackstands. Hopefully that will = a better handling and "tighter" truck.

I'm not done with the tube work yet. Might re-do/modify a couple things to be more structurally sound.

Exhaust will be either a 4" or 3" downpipe. I will worry about routing it when the time comes, but I can say it will not exit out the back of the truck. Probably out the side in front of the rear wheel. Might even get stoopid and do a fender dump

[Slinger60]

Really nice work on the frame. Looks like a lot of hours laying that out and welding it all in.

[Luba]

Nice!

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by Wasted Income

...Might even get stoopid and do a fender dump

Yes! Make sure and dump it out the pass side so you don't have to hear it
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[Wasted Income]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Yes! Make sure and dump it out the pass side so you don't have to hear it
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On the latest setup, I had it dumped in the inner fenderwell on my C-10 with an electric cutout. Sounded ok, but the e-cutout burnt up, lol.

Here's a vid I put together 3 years ago after the very first turbo build on my C-10. It was with the 5.3, and the downpipe was 5" dia, and about 5" long, lol. Dumped right before the firewall under the hood. It was loud, but not too bad. The open dump wastegate was WAYYY louder and more obnoxious than the DP.

Turbo Bomb Vid - YouTube

Back to the build at hand.

Decided to modify my bracing a bit. Planning to tie the trailing arm x-member into the frame up near the engine as well, but ran out of DOM tube.


Now I have to put the cab back on the chassis to make sure everything will clear the floor before I burn it all in.

I'm ready to move on to something else. The chassis work has me wore out.

[Hertzdaddy]

Great sound in the cab!

Originally Posted by Wasted Income

The open dump wastegate was WAYYY louder and more obnoxious than the DP.

"Doze whistle tips, day go WOOO WOOOOO!"

[Splash4195]

Wow nice build!

[Wasted Income]

For the guys that were asking, there appears to be plenty of tire clearance with the current coilover mounting location


LS3 top end goodies. Think I'm ready to start working on the engine and put the chassis on hold for a bit.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Wasted Income

Decided to modify my bracing a bit. Planning to tie the trailing arm x-member into the frame up near the engine as well, but ran out of DOM tube.


Now I have to put the cab back on the chassis to make sure everything will clear the floor before I burn it all in.

I'm ready to move on to something else. The chassis work has me wore out.

An X in that section would be stronger and take out more chassis twist if it would fit and not create driveline fitment issues.

[Wasted Income]

Originally Posted by floyd

An X in that section would be stronger and take out more chassis twist if it would fit and not create driveline fitment issues.

Thanks. I realize that, but I can't do an X with the driveshaft in place. There's not room.

[gringoloco]

Looks good! Lots o' work in that frame so far. It will be worth all your hard work and planning in the end.

[RocketChevy56]

Subscribed!!!

Love the build!! Never had an urge to get a K5 really, but just the idea on how this is going to turn out is giving me the itch to find one. Great work, if I can lend a hand from Tx, let me know haha.

Chris's Monte Carlo is a hell of a machine also. I'm guessing you had a hand in that as well? lol

[Wasted Income]

Originally Posted by RocketChevy56

Chris's Monte Carlo is a hell of a machine also. I'm guessing you had a hand in that as well? lol

Thanks Kris.

Yeah, I built and tuned the whole car in my shop in IL. My brother Dan did quite a bit on it as well. I know Chris would have been balls deep in the project had he been living closer, but he did help me build the motor.