Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build

[lks dcvn]

It's time to start a build thread for my new project - a 1972 2wd factory Blazer.

It's been in my garage since Memorial Day and have been working on it (not as much as I would like) over the past few weeks.

Specs:
1972 Factory 2wd Blazer - CC VIN
Original Color - 524 - Red/Orange - exterior was painted black at some point
Black Seats - both covers in poor shape
Black Rubber Floor - ripped and gone in most spots
No Rear Seat Option - seems rare to me
Stock AM/FM Radio option on SPID - long gone
No Motor/Trans - was a 307/SM 465 truck
Lots of rust in the doors, bed and floors
Hood was beat up a bit and fenders needed some work
Tailgate was sticking and had rust on outside and inside
Doors were in bad shape as well - Driver side was rusted at the hinges and Passenger side wouldn't open when I got it
Black Single Wall top/hatch was in great shape - just needs minor tweaking and cleaned up. Hatch lift sticks on one side.
Chassis was clean with only surface rust and no surprises
More mud dauber wasp nests than I had ever seen on one vehicle

These were the pictures used to decide if I was a buyer or not...

[lks dcvn]

A few more from before it got to me...

It came with the trans hump, and the stock driveshaft as well.

[lks dcvn]

I spent over a week just cleaning it up a bit once it arrived. I took a quick inventory of the work ahead and started to reverse the years of neglect on this Blazer.

Here are a few pix of the clean up...

[lks dcvn]

Cleaning up/Checking it out continued...

[lks dcvn]

Continued...

Now this is where it got interesting. I was trying to figure out what was in the back of this Blazer since it arrive and it took me almost the whole day to clear out the stuff to get to floor in the back since it was covered in parts and other junk from over the years.

I noticed the speaker brackets on the wall just behind the B pillar and a speaker cable that ran under the floor to the rear corner near the gas filler where it looks like they would attach an external speaker so they could hear the music outside the truck.

Needless to say - it was all coming out.

[lks dcvn]

And first wash of the exterior other than rain in likely a decade.

[lks dcvn]

Plenty of 'Before' pictures-

Items of note-
passenger floor where seat connection is = rusted out
windshield is bad
radio hole area - not cut (thankfully)

[lks dcvn]

More before starting pictures-

Factory firewall markings
Driver Side Floor = gone
B pillar rusted out a bit
All body mount rubber was gone
Torsion boxes = very weak

[lks dcvn]

More body mount carnage
Rear Bed floor = rusted out in both corners likely from leaking hatch
Clean slate for the motor/trans
Passenger side Door bottom = gone

[lks dcvn]

Mud Dauber nests - all over the truck - now long gone
Passenger side B pillar - rusted a bit
Passenger side floor - gone

[lks dcvn]

Glove box area - I removed it
Passenger side lower door
Windshield Frame = solid in the middle - some rust on passenger side corner
Cleaned up the radio area to see the actual color of the truck - it's growing on me
Now let's see what's actually in the back of this truck...

[lks dcvn]

It just keeps getting more interesting...yes that is insulation under the wood.

[lks dcvn]

Making some more progress...semi-solid sheet metal under there.

[lks dcvn]

Cleaning out the cowl...removed both seats and door panels and now checking out the floors.

[lks dcvn]

This blazer hadn't even hit my driveway and I purchased a replacement tub from MT from another board member...making for an easy swap candidate.

It will need a media blast on the undercarriage and some A pillar work on the driver side.

[lks dcvn]

A few more pictures of the future body for this project...small rust spot in the bed area will need attention as well.

[lks dcvn]

Well...for me to swap I tub I needed a few things first.

- prep the current body for removal
- remove/replace the body mounts/bolts - so I can remove the tub (PITA!). If you haven't had to do this on an East coast truck - it might be a rite of passage as they rust to the body and to the chassis so getting them out is a real chore. I have done this exercise more times than I want to admit and it still isn't fun.

[lks dcvn]

This was the remains of the bolts after getting a few out...notice no bolt is still in one piece. One twist of the wrench = snap. Thankfully the heads were all rusted and welded to the tub so I got to drill/grind them out.

It doesn't look like much was accomplished in these pictures. For those who have done it on a rusty truck - you know the experience.

[lks dcvn]

To make the tub swap easier and to make future work on this truck a bit easier as well - I picked up a MaxJax 2 post lift for my 3rd bay garage. The lift uses epoxy and anchors drilled into my garage floor and can be moved to multiple locations if needed. I installed a second set of anchors in my other larger garage so I can move the lift between those spaces depending on what work I am doing.

[71meangreenc10]

I have nothing to complain about with my rust repairs.......

Smitty

[DeadheadNM]

Great to see that blazer resurrected. I'm on board for the build.

[gringoloco]

Watching this one. Great work so far. I think it rotted more since the last time I saw it.

Mike just left here and told me he's headed for the tub starting tomorrow morning.

Edit: Are there brackets on the rear floor for a seat?

[lks dcvn]

There are no rear seat brackets - nor evidence that they were ever installed. Looks like a rare no rear seat truck.

[jjzepplin]

In to see this one thru.

[notsolo]

Glad to see your saving this 1, What are your plans for this, New tub has mounts for rear seat are you going Deluxe or plan Jane? Post some photo's of the OEM parking brake set up on the frame please. 44 yr old sound deadening floor mat, Yikes!