Finally got one!

[mtully79]

I've loved 72 blazers since I was a teenager and finally got one to call my own. I am currently in the middle of a budget build, relying on friends and offering free beer for their services and learning from them as I go. Having a ton of fun working on this thing!
I have run into my first snag, the rocker boxes are completely rusted out. I am searching parts through LMC and wondering if I need the rocker boxes or if it's possible to run it without them? I plan on going topless and wonder if anyone has any other options?

[BOHICA]

No pictures?

You'll definitely need the rocker boxes. They're there to strengthen the body and help maintain some semblance of rigidity. I know it sucks buying them, but yeah, you need them. Blazers are actually the only vehicle I've ever heard them referred to as rocker boxes. On everything else they're called torque boxes. There's a reason for that.

[SeventyOne]

Yea you need the rocker boxes (you are talking about the huge ~3'x~1' boxes under the truck and not the small curved panel below the door, right?) if you ever plan to go topless.

Good thing is they reproduce them. Post pics of how bad yours are...

I'll PM you my address to mail my free beer to.....

[AJs72K5]

Pics need to be posted. Otherwise said Blazer is just a figment of your imagination.

As far as the rocker boxes, they're actually called torsion boxes, SeventyOne is correct. Your K5 will fold up like a taco without them if you go topless.

[mtully79]

Still figuring this out, think I got some pics up. PO had removed everything on the passenger side, driver's side had near nothing left.

[mtully79]

Rocker panel in on passenger side by PO, I'm working on fitting driver's side now. Is it easier to install torsion box first or does it matter? Problem is I'm at the mercy of a buddy who has a welder so I'm on his time.

[mtully79]

What's the reason?

[mtully79]

Once this baby is up and running I'll run a case of cold ones over!

[71swb4x4]

With the torsion boxes completely gone, and no bracing, I would put the top and doors on before putting the boxes and rockers on just to make sure you have everything lined up correctly. I see in some of your last pictures you do have a door on, so maybe you already thought of that.

[SeventyOne]

Dang your driver side is missing a whole hell of a lot of stuff! I would get the top and doors on pronto. Especially since you have no tub bracing...

[mtully79]

Throwing the top back on this weekend. Gonna have to pull from the seat budget to get a couple of torsion boxes and end caps. Should the rocker panel be fitted and tacked in first or would you recommend fitting the boxes first?

[SeventyOne]

Never had to dig in that far before. But I would think once you get the doors and top on and all seems to align the way it should - this brings me to another thing you need to check how good your body mounts are. You may want to replace those now before you get into the metal work to ensure the tub sits the way it should.

Then I would tack in the torsion boxes, if you tack the in to where they look good check to make sure you can get the rocker panel in the way it should be before burning in the torsion boxes. Try to limit the heat from welding so as not to warp anything.

Once again I have never gotten into a Blazer that far but that's how I would tackle it...

[mtully79]

Back on track, went through a move and the truck is being worked on by a buddy who knows welding a heckuva lot more than I do. Since the seat budget was used for the torsion boxes I bought a set of cheapies off craigslist but need brackets for them. I'll post pics of the progress this week.

[mtully79]

Getting truck back from the shop this weekend(fingers crossed). Just ordered a wiring harness from american autowire that should be here in a week so I don't catch on fire down the road. Pics coming...I promise!

[mtully79]

Been working on 'ginger' most of the winter. Got the wiring harness in, primed and painted the dash, had a shop put in the torsion boxes, end caps, and rocker panels as well as a new windshield from a donor. New brakes, lines, fuel pump, alternator, hoses, belts, HEI distributor...the list goes on. Once the transmission gets installed all the mechanicals with this baby are done and I can move on to the cosmetics. I'll put some more pictures up once I figure out how to get them out of my old phone.

[99-LS1-SS]

Looks good!

[GhostTown]

Very cool, congrats!