Project Anna (71 2wd Blazer)

[blazerboy72]

I guess it is time to start my own project thread. My current project is a 71 2wd Blazer named Anna. I bought her off of here about 5 years ago with a plan to have her finished in 2 years. Well that obviously that didn't happen. While working on her the engine in my daily driver blew up resulting in an unplanned project that took almost a year:




After completing that project I decided it I need somewhere to work on Anna so the search for a house began. I also got married in there somewhere. Now that all of that is out of the way it is time to get back to Anna, only problem is I spent all of my money. The original plan was for her to be bagged with a twin turbo 5.3, th400 and to look basically stock from the exterior and interior. Since my financial situation has changed she will now just have a cammed 5.3/4l80e, airbags and a few other minor upgrades.


This is the day she was delivered:

A little rust:



Passenger side looked good though:


The first project was to get the front frame rails cleaned up. Working outdoors wasn't a bit fun:


Then I picked up an engine, a 01 5.3 with 20k miles:




got the engine installed:

[blazerboy72]

I picked up a lincoln mig and got started the body work:



Picked up a hood and fenders at a car show:


Also got the bags installed. I have since sectioned a crossmember to go in it but have yet to install it:


Thats pretty much how she has sat for the last 2 years while I have gathered parts. I have gathered a complete set of nos trim minus 1 piece, new gauge cluster with all autometer gauges, a 4l80e, a set of ceramic ls1 headers, all of the sheetmetal to repair the rust, new bumpers, just about everything I need to assemble her. She should be delivered to my new house with a basement, I can work in, within the next week so I can finally make some progress!!!

[1sik52]

subscribed

[VA72C10]

sounds sweet.....I'll be watching.

[nuke1]

NICE!!! progress soon.

[Twisted78SS]

subscribed..

[PHAT TONY]

AWSOME!!! Can't wait to watch this evolve.

[EA69TRK]

subscribed

[OARNGESI]

Nice project is the rear going to go lower

[blazerboy72]

Yes the front and rear are going lower.

[lks dcvn]

Looks like a good project. Keep the pix and the progress coming!

[GREASEMONKEY72]

looks really good, cant wait to see whats next

[blazerboy72]

Looks like plans are changing yet again. After getting the front crossmember sectioned, I decided it would be fun to build one similar to a dropmember without narrowing it quite as much (1.5" instead of 4"). I have all the plans drawn just have to buy the metal and get it made. I should still be able to lay just as low but may need more fender modifications.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

in

[72BlckButy]

Nice fab skills!

[georgiachevydriver]

looks good. where u at in georgia?

[blazerboy72]

A little north of I-20 near the alabama line.

[Palf70Step]

This will be a good one to watch!

[lolife99]

Subscribing!

[blazerboy72]

I hope to have her at my house this week so the progress can begin. I would love to have her at least driveable by summer. My 4wd needs a tranny so she has to be ready by then.

[blazerboy72]

first prototype of my new crossmember failed. It looks like I will have to use flat plate to build it instead of the 3x8 I had planned on. I should still be able to get it built for a reasonable price I just have to decide if it is worth all the trouble over the sectioned one I already have.

[blazerboy72]

I'm not sure if you call this progress or not but here are some pictures of what I have been working on.

Here is the sectioned crossmember that I probably will not be using:



Here is my first attempt at my own crossmember. Somewhere I got my measurements mixed up and it ended up 3 inches too tall. I'm not sure how long the materials will hold up but they are light weight:




And my latest attempt. Still light weight version maybe I can get the metal ordered in the next few days, I just want to get my truck here to make sure everything is going to lign up right before i spend the money on the steel:

[blazerboy72]

Some other parts I have gathered over the pastfew years.

4l80e:

Ceramic hooker headers:

2 sets of electric fans, i'm not sure yet if they will fit or not but they were free, and a tailgate:

Various sheetmetal parts:

a/c dash:

[OARNGESI]

Looking good any reason to not use the sectioned cross member im thinking about doing one was it hard to get all to line up did you use the captkaos write up

[blazerboy72]

No NO reason not to use it, I just wanted to use a rack and pinion and it seemed like the easiest route. I havent seen the right up. I just cut the crossmember and then cut 1.5" off it leaves some gaps since the angles are exactly the same but shouldn't be any problem to weld up i just ran out of gas when i got that far.