1972 Blazer - 'Bullet' Project

[BLUE THUNDER]

Missed you buddy. I'm glad to see you on the board again. I'm really glad to hear that life is getting better for you. You have any plans to come out this way? Let me know. Take care. Mario.

[lks dcvn]

No work has been done on this thing in some time. Oh well...

I am moving some trucks to my winter storage this week and am making some room in the garage to do some winter tinkering.

I would like to take the top off and start doing some work on the bed and the body when it gets colder out. Why do I always wait to do this crap when it is cold outside?

Quick and Easy List:

Brakes - I need to get these dialed in - I might just take it down the street
Exhaust - Needs to be installed - I bought this kit - Exhaust Kit
Rims/Tire Swap - I have options - just not sure what I want to do yet
Install Bucket Seats - have them in Black, but will swap to Blue [trades anyone?]
Swap Tailgate for better one - I have a few to pick from in my stash
Seam Sealer in the normal spots

The part that will take forever: Bodywork - needs finished and painted

Things I need still: Blue Carpet

On a complete side note - the nomorerust stuff has been tested for the past year on the hood that I painted in this build thread. I left the hood outside for the past year and a half in every possible weather condition and it left a bit of surface rust on the spot where I put it on too thin.

I think it held up pretty well for it being brushed on. I plan on sanding it down, doing the body work and then spraying a final coat on before moving to paint.

My friend is restoring a 79 F250 and he sprayed the entire cab with this stuff.

I need to get updated pix of the truck for you all, but it doesn't look much different than the last pic in this post.

[Chevyman63]

Good to hear your back at it Tom.

[1956cameo]

It will be good to see more progress on this project! How is it you took a year long haitus from this project and you are still ahead of me? Oh well time for us to both get back to work!

[BLUE THUNDER]

Hey Dude, glad to see things are better. I hopr to see some progress pics soon. Take care.

[lks dcvn]

Thanks guys.

I am trying to get my other stuff into storage for the winter (or sell them) so I can have some room to work.

[jaros44sr]

Hey Deceivin' did you ever try to top coat that rust proof ing?

[lks dcvn]

Not yet...it has been sitting since last year. I am curious to know how it turns out though...

I have a buddy who did his whole cab (77 f250) on a truck he is restoring. He won't get to paint until (at least) next year.

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by lks dcvn

Not yet...it has been sitting since last year. I am curious to know how it turns out though...

I have a buddy who did his whole cab (77 f250) on a truck he is restoring. He won't get to paint until (at least) next year.

Ok, thanks......

Im looking to coat my front inner fenders with something durable, i was thinking, either rust bullet or lizard skin. Does the rust bullet stink, smell is one of my concerns, since i have to do it in my house

[VA72C10]

Awesome gate!!!

[qtnfireman]

dcvn, I feel like our blazers could be twins. Your thread has been a huge help to me. Keep doing what you are doing. I was frustrated with it all, and after reading and looking at your build, I have found new inspiration. Most of my parts around the door pillars and rockers where completely gone so I had nothing to reference to. Your pictures have answered a lot of unanswered questions. Keep up the good work.

[lks dcvn]

Thanks for the kind words.

Glad to hear that my build thread has been helpful to you and anybody else along the way. I have learned quite a bit from this site over the past few years - some of the best guys I have met (and most that I have only chatted with online).

Without build threads and plenty of pictures of how these trucks were built, rebuilt and fixed - I would have never had the information either.

It is all fixable...

[lks dcvn]

Ok - I am cleaning out the stash of stuff and looking to get back to this project again (I keep saying that).

Looking to get the top off of this thing in the next few weeks and take it for a spin with the top off - that might get me motivated again.

I haven't had the top off since I bought it - it has been in the garage being worked on or out to turn around in the driveway - hasn't seen the road since the PO drove it to my house. This thing deserves some road time when it is up to snuff.

I sold off some of my extra parts since I got tired of them collecting dust and not being used.

I did just sell my Yukon GT and soon I will be selling my 1970 C10 that I use to haul stuff around - so that will free up another spot in the garage to work on this thing.

My buddy has offered to wire up the 220 in my garage so I can get that 60 gallon air compressor working and allow me to spray in my garage or use the air tools that I have acquired here and there.

I still can't get my door gaps dialed in on the blazer...what a pain. I took off both front fenders to get them right - no luck yet.

[fxdxharley]

Originally Posted by lks dcvn

It is all fixable...

smartest thing i have read all day!

[lks dcvn]

I have some updates on this thing...finally.

I bought a new Interstate battery for it
Swapped the rear two wheels and tires since the one kept going flat
I finished tightening down all the bolts for the rocker box end caps
Got it running pretty smooth now

This coming weekend I will be doing the brakes, the power steering pump swap and the exhaust - so this thing will be a driver finally.

I will get some pix up tonight.

[lks dcvn]

Pix - a day late...

Drums looked pretty crusty when I swapped over the rims/tires.

Yes - I know I don't have the last lug nut on...before anybody points that out.

And a few more pix of where I am now so I can get moving on this thing over the summer and get updated pix along the way.

[TonyJohnson]

Hydroboost sounds like the way to go. Will give you some more room in the engine bay, as well.

[lks dcvn]

Pricing out the hydroboost setup - anybody have a link to a parts list for this?

[jaros44sr]

Subscribed, would like to do that swap in the near future....so give us all the info. you can gather less work for me! Might even lookcool with stainless braided

[68 TT]

From what I understand the best source is a complete setup off a diesel truck or SUV. Not sure what years are the best. 88-93 NBS uses one design and 83-87(91) square bodies use another. I would go with the one that has the same accessory drive system you want to run, V-belt or serpentine and grab that whole setup to match.

An Astro van with the optional hydraboost is a second choice but may need a different master cylinder to work on a truck The one I was looking at a couple days ago was angled downward pretty heavily. It would cause fluid level issues in the brakes if mounted level. The hoses are bound to be all different too so that is more added cost.

I believe a keyed firewall plate will be needed to keep things from rotating. You can make your own, cut the piece from the donor or buy a prefabricated part from one of the vendors out there.

You need the power steering pump from the donor as well since it is an integral part of the hydraboost system. I would assume the power steering brackets are unique to the hydraboost power steering pump so make sure you get those as well.

[docstheman]

Thanks for the thread. This is really helpful to me seeing what all you had to do in rust repair since I am just starting my project. Great work!

[mcmlxix]

CaptainFab (board vendor) make a great bracket but you cant use the auto column shift.... the linkage has an interference issue...

I used his bracket with a 2005 GMC hydroboost and MC... It's not installed yet, just bolted together.

*** Edit - I think the linkage hit the brake booster, SOOOO it may be ok for hydroboost... CaptainFab's bracket is also set up to use later model (80s/90s) vacuum booster...+

CLICK HERE for Captain Fab brackets w/ pics and info

[fxdxharley]

http://www.truckandcarshop.com
page 113 of the 60-72 catalog. kinda pricey at $500 for the complete kit but its got everything you need and hey brakes are worth the money!

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by mcmlxix

CaptainFab (board vendor) make a great bracket but you cant use the auto column shift.... the linkage has an interference issue...

I used his bracket with a 2005 GMC hydroboost and MC... It's not installed yet, just bolted together.

Good to know. I thought John made some but couldn't remember and he doesn't have them in his sig so I thought it might have been somebody else.

[mcmlxix]

HERE is a link to a cost breakdown. He estimated $350 when done...