tjs 72 Blazer Build

[tjsblazer]

Finally after 4 years of owning my Blazer I'm getting around to work on it. It is in pretty great shape to start but I've been wanting to do a full frame off to get everything done at one time the way I want it. I brought this 2 owner up to Canada from Arizona and it is desert dry.
She doesn't have a lot of options but is a super solid truck and still has some of the factory goodies like leveling mats and carpet strips all in very good shape. Besides the full rebuild I am making a few mods to suit me.
Plans are:
Stroke the motor
Change to a NV4500 5 spd manual tranny
Drop it down to a 2" lift with 33" tires
Upgrade the brakes

Here is what it looks like to start

[tjsblazer]

Is that number on the front cross member a factory mark?


It has the transfer and tank skids

[tjsblazer]

Last time I drove her before she headed under the knife for tear down.



I think it will be quite a while before it looks all together like this again.

[tjsblazer]

Started to soda blast to see if it really is as solid as I think


An old fender bender here but no rust


Good and solid underneath

[tjsblazer]

Finished soda blasting. Very happy that there wasn't really any surprises.

[tjsblazer]

Lots of little dents and bumps to work but overall metal work required is fairly minimal. These items I already knew about.

Had an external spare tire carrier at one time. The holes weren't repaired very well so these certainly need redone on both sides.


The passenger side has a couple of small holes. I figure it was from water sitting from a leaky roof. Fortunate these will be small patches. Everything around it is still solid.

[tjsblazer]

The rolling chassis. Going to get working on this once the new springs arrive which is going to be a few weeks. I want to fit up everything with the new springs and new transmission (nv4500). Set the tub on and make sure everything will work ok. Then I will strip bare and get it powder coated.

[notsolo]

Sweet Blazer, ...That is a nice original survivor you have. Clean tub no options is better than the other way around. What are your plans for the interior?

[straps57]

Doesn't get much nicer than that!!

[tjsblazer]

Originally Posted by notsolo

Sweet Blazer, ...That is a nice original survivor you have. Clean tub no options is better than the other way around. What are your plans for the interior?

Interior. I may boxliner the inside or not, haven't decided. Seats need redone. The rear cover for sure, not sure about the foam yet. Fronts will do new foam and replace those LMC covers the PO put on with a set from Truckseats forum member. Radio and speaker back to stock (thankfully the dash isn't cut). I haven't decided 100% on the gauges yet whether to restore or use some updated package. Had vintage air at one time over the years so I have to weld and shave the dash where the vents were. Same with the speaker holes in the doors. Most of the body work is filling screw holes, etc. For the most part it should just be refurbish what I have.

Originally Posted by straps57

Doesn't get much nicer than that!!

Thanks I had always thought it was very solid but sometimes you never know 100% for sure till you get that paint off. The only thing I didn't know about was the rh rear box side repair but I've since got the mud out and it was just a dent. There isn't any rust. Looks like it was done many years ago. The guy I bought it from only had the truck for 3 years and bought it from the estate of the original owner. I don't think he know about it either. All the other issues he pointed out to me when I first looked at it. I'll get it pulled and smoothed a lot better now.

[notsolo]

I have not heard of box liner, is that a spray in bed liner like Rhino liner or U-Pol Raptor? I used tint-able U-Pol Raptor as undercoat on mine.( turned out nice)..

[tjsblazer]

Originally Posted by notsolo

I have not heard of box liner, is that a spray in bed liner like Rhino liner or U-Pol Raptor? I used tint-able U-Pol Raptor as undercoat on mine.( turned out nice)..

I just rolled all the brand names in to one category and called them box liner but yes some sort of spray in. Most popular ones in my area are either Linex or Rhino but the are many out there. The underside is so clean I may just paint it with a high wear 2 part paint like an Imron and then only spray the underside of front and rear Inner Fenders with something like Rhino. Undecided about the inside floor of the tub yet.

[jimbug]

Wow Greta find! I'm looking for another blazer too. Lucky for me I won't have to worry too much about shipping costs. Lol.
Look ink forward to more updates!

[jimbug]

Subscribed

[AsianBlazer]

Subscribed! Just finishing up my 71, it will be interesting to watch your process/progress. Good Luck!

[thelonerife]

That is a super nice starting point. I wish I could find something like that.

[DeadheadNM]

Late to the party but subscribed! Any updates?

[tjsblazer]

Everyone, sorry no updated pictures posted lately. Body is being worked on as far as all the little bumps and dents but it has been a slow process. Body work is not my thing so I am getting it done at a shop and of course like all projects it takes 4x longer than originally planned. I ordered a set of custom 2" lift Alcan springs and they had a 7 week lead time because of how backed up they were so that put a hold on the Chassis work. I finally got them this week so hope to fit up the modified driveline and set the tub on to confirm measurements over the next 2 weeks. I'll get some more pictures posted up real soon. Thanks for checking in. Jeff.

[tjsblazer]

So got a few things done over the past week. Bolted up the NV4500 tranny and round pattern NP205 to the stock engine so I could do a fit up and check it with the tub set on for any clearance issues. In the end I am keeping the stock tranny/transfer position and it pushes the engine x-member ahead 1-7/8". Gave me great clearance everywhere. Going to drill the new Engine x-member holes now and weld in the originals 4wd location ones. Also fab a custom tranny mount to fit the higher mounting point on the NV4500. At final build up, I have a no hole tranny cover out of a BB 2wd truck that I will cut a new Shifter hole for and custom bend a shifter as a last item.
Next major steps are a complete strip down of the frame for powder coating as well as full rebuild / refurbish on the Tranny, Transfer and Axles.
A few fitting pictures of the driveline. Maybe boring but some necessary steps.

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[tjsblazer]

A few more Tranny fit pictures.

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[Tom Vogel]

That truck sure didnt spend its life in Canada, did it.?

[jaros44sr]

That thing sure looked nice before you even did anything, cant imagine whatl'll it look like when your done.

As always, good luck with your build, ill watch

[tjsblazer]

A little engine block prep yesterday and a lot of shopping. On top of the parts in the picture also have the crank, rods and pistons. Block is off to the machine shop now.
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[tjsblazer]

Originally Posted by Tom Vogel

That truck sure didnt spend its life in Canada, did it.?

Not at all. These trucks are pretty rare up here unless they have been brought up over the past decade or so like this one. They were treated like a truck when they were bought back in the day so the rust has long eaten them away.
Most people that have them now in this area only use them in the summer months to keep the salt off them.

[DeadheadNM]

Just a heads-up - you may know this but if the block is decked at the machine shop you'll loose the engine code, which is nice to keep if the block is OEM.