tjs 72 Blazer Build

[tjsblazer]

I am going to use an AAW update W/H kit. The kit uses the '68+ style junction block and since this is a '67 designed truck the junction area needs opened up about 1/4" both ways.

I'm going to run all electric gauges so I don't need all of the holes on that side of the firewall.

Also I need to mount a Master cylinder for the Hydraulic clutch for the 5 spd transmission. Modded the firewall area slightly to create a pad for it.

Here is the before and after pictures of the rough metal work in that area.

[tjsblazer]

Truck is now sitting in primer and they were blocking it last week ... Boring !!

So to liven things up a bit I thought I'd post a couple of items sitting waiting for a Painted body so they can be installed.

A nice Floor shift Tilt column that Les rebuilt for me. I sent him a core that had a few issues. We were able to find what was needed (actual found a NOS lower tilt bowl right down the highway from me for a great price !!) and Les worked his usual magic. Check out the crate he ships it in !

Below that is the gauge set I just picked up. At a quick glance it kind of looks close to stock but all new electric gauges from Classic Instruments.

[hemi43]

Nice !! Am I the only one in the world that doesn't find blocking boring?
I'd be interested in seeing it in primer.

[IronCanine]

Nice and clean and thoughtful...as always.

[tjsblazer]

Originally Posted by hemi43

Nice !! Am I the only one in the world that doesn't find blocking boring?
I'd be interested in seeing it in primer.

Dan, I didn't take any pictures of it when I was there at that stage. The body guy has been taking some pictures for me at various stages and putting them on a flash drive for me. I'll have to see what is on it. I won't be back for about a week to check on progress.

[tjsblazer]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

Nice and clean and thoughtful...as always.

Thanks Brad. Getting there, albeit slowly ...

[Beau2a]

Nice build. Looks great.
Good choice going with Stans. They do superb work. Gonna have them do exhaust on my '72 GMC/Blazer.

[tjsblazer]

Ok by popular request (actually just one person :-) . That seemed funny in my head Dan.

Here is a couple of pictures after it was blocked and before it went for second prime.
This is all I could find right now. I didn't take any of the doors or hood. Kind of look the same. Grey primer with a bunch of sanding and some fine fill in the odd spot.

[tjsblazer]

Here is a picture of the finished firewall in primer with the slight mods to the drivers side for the larger fuse block and the clutch master. A few shaved holes I won't be using.

[tjsblazer]

I've got some stuff waiting for me to pick up at the shipping depot that I'm really excited about but I can't get time to cross the border till next week.
Looking forward to posting some pictures when I get it.

[hemi43]

Thanks for the updated pictures !! Once she's painted, you'll have it on the road in no time.

[tjsblazer]

This is going to be a long post.

Colour choice (color for my American friends ;-) on this truck has been a great debate in my home.

I have always had mid-year Vettes previous; hence my avatar picture but I have 3 kids aged 13 and down and it is a royal PITA going to any cruise night or car show or auto event. It could never really be a family affair with only 2 seats and no storage. That is what led me to the Blazer in the first place. 5 seating positions and where I live in Canada they are actually pretty rare. I think most of them rusted to dust years ago.

When I first got this truck, the Ochre paint was the one thing I couldn't stand. It reminded me of changing one of my 3 kids diapers when they were younger.

From the onset I wanted to paint it similar to "Copperhead" and run factory Rally wheels. As I started to do the restoration that changed. My vettes were always nut and bolt, numbers correct. I think that fueled a need to keep it close to what the General intended from the factory but I wanted to add some small updates along the way. Therefore, I wanted it to look factory from 20 ft. Along that theme I was back to factory white steelies and dog dish hubcaps for wheels and needed a factory or at least period correct paint colour.

Since this was always about making a family fun vehicle, early on I agreed the kids could pick the paint colour or at least have a lot of input.

My painter painted me another 4 large samples of factory paint colours. Ochre was actually one of the samples. It had grown on me over the years and it certainly looks a lot better fresh and in a 2 stage with some more depth. I got these samples about a year ago and so began the 12 months of weekly family debates.

In the end, my 3 kids were unanimous in what they wanted so we went with their choice ...

524

[turp mcspray]

Can't go wrong with 524. It's going to look great!!

[tjsblazer]

Originally Posted by turp mcspray

Can't go wrong with 524. It's going to look great!!

I hope so. It is a popular choice. I think the white wheels and top look good on it. Thanks.

[tjsblazer]

Some final prep on the underside before painting. Removing factory undercoat that the soda blast didn't originally handle. Seam sealing, sanding, etc.

This is the redneck style rotisserie. 7 guys rotate it upside down on long set of forktruck forks.

[tjsblazer]

I was looking for some YOM plates for the truck. I found some 1972 Ontario plates that started with "4x4" .

I thought that was a perfect fit

I confirmed with the Ministry of Transport here that they are clean, never registered so they are going on the rig whenever I manage to get it done.

[grillzy]

Originally Posted by tjsblazer

I was looking for some YOM plates for the truck. I found some 1972 Ontario plates that started with "4x4" .

I thought that was a perfect fit

I confirmed with the Ministry of Transport here that they are clean, never registered so they are going on the rig whenever I manage to get it done.

Love this touch!

[DeadheadNM]

Wow! Great add for the build.

[tjsblazer]

Finally seeing some colour! Got the floor shot on Friday. We decided to put a mild chip guard under the paint on the underside. Similar to some current day OE models on the rockers. I'll get some close up pictures of it next time I drop by.

Seems like a milestone. Kids were sure excited to see it.

[jlsanborn]

Nice! That is a milestone man.

[tjsblazer]

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Nice! That is a milestone man.

Thanks. I got your PM. Give me a day to think on it. Jeff.

[tjsblazer]

I stopped in yesterday and got a couple of closer pictures of the bottom of the tub. Shows the rocker guard under the paint on the underside. Unfortunately the lighting in the pictures isn't that good. The light coming in the window in the background overpowered my cell phone camera.

It is getting masked up now for painting the interior. It will be painted Friday end of day and then sit in the booth over the weekend. So it should be over 1/2 of it in colour by the weekend.

[tjsblazer]

I had forum member 'FAABenny' refurbish my outer Heater box for me. What a time saver which is what I need right now trying to get the truck on the road this year. I sent him some 44 year old parts and he sent it back looking like this.
Great work !

[tjsblazer]

Last year I managed to piece together a bunch of the rare 6 lug 16x5 factory steelies with the 4 nubs for dogdish hubcaps. Not many out there with that skinny pizza cutter look with the old tube tires. It took a lot of looking and some forum member assistance.
I drilled the rivets out of the centres and pressed them out of those skinny hoops. They looked like this originally.

[tjsblazer]

I sent out the centres as cores and look what came back. Some nice new 8" wide hoops on them.
Very excited

I will get these cleaned and prepped and then some fresh white powder on them. So many more tire size choices these days in 16".

These are probably the single item I have gotten the most excited about so far on this adventure. 16 x 8 steelies with factory 4 nub centers for my dog dish hubcaps !!