1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto

[3757chevy]

.......looking goooooood.

[MikeCofield]

Pete did you find new webbing for the seat belts or were these nice originals

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by 3757chevy

.......looking goooooood.

Thanks. I really like the patina blue on your Blazer - looks great.

Originally Posted by MikeCofield

Pete did you find new webbing for the seat belts or were these nice originals

Mike the belts were restored by Sharon's Web in TX. Mount brackets were yellow zinc coated, new retractors, buckles rechromed, new webbing, plastic pieces redyed parchment. Like my upholstery the turn around time was about one year. Unlike Larry though these owners had some health problems that accounted for the delay. I've got a set of matching rebuilt shoulder belts for the front seats.

I had the seat belt bolts replated with yellow zinc - not sure it's close to the correct finish as I couldn't tell for sure how the bolts were originally. They may have been a clear zinc rather than cadmium but I can tell you the yellow zinc sure makes them look pretty.

[3757chevy]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Thanks. I really like the patina blue on your Blazer - looks great.

Thanks, that means alot. I'd like to repair the little rust below body trim and maybe a satin clear above all the rest. Looking at yours makes me think ???, sure looks nice

[DeadheadNM]

The reproduction parts used I largely sourced from Wes at Classic Heartbeat including the carpet. I did get some items from GMC Paul and a few specialty pieces from Corvette parts suppliers like Zip Corvette. For example, the repro Harrison AC box decal that came from a Corvette supplier was correct aluminum rather than the faux aluminum paper decal from pickup parts suppliers.

Door panels and weather stripping going on today. I'm going to see if the accessory door locks will fit. If not, I'll at least use the metal chrome door look pulls that are otherwise a match for the OEM black plastic ones.

[DeadheadNM]

Windshield gasket...

[DeadheadNM]

Hand polished the OEM windshield trim and wiper arms using a polishing compound and bronze wool. I also polished the single wall hold down strips but they didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped and I can't find a local polishing business so will substitute temporarily with reproduction examples. I need to get the hold down strip bolts rechromed too.

[JackB]

Thanks so much for all the posts. Your build is definitely the gold standard. I'm running a few weeks behind you on my build and I reference this thread often. Do you mind sharing where you got the AC sticker? I got the cheap looking one and would like to upgrade.

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by JackB

Thanks so much for all the posts. Your build is definitely the gold standard. I'm running a few weeks behind you on my build and I reference this thread often. Do you mind sharing where you got the AC sticker? I got the cheap looking one and would like to upgrade.

Thanks for the good words! Your build is at least as good and has been a very helpful reference.

I'm nearly certain that decal came from Zip Corvette. Check the description for a 72 Corvette. If it references foil that the one. Not sure if the numbers on the decal are a match but no one will know if it isn't and it looks otherwise correct.

Top is painted and I think we nailed the texture! Went with hatch hinge grommets for a double wall top rather than the plate w gasket for a single wall.

[DeadheadNM]

Texture...

[DeadheadNM]

Sanded. Primed. Sealed. Texture. Paint is correct GM white.

[DeadheadNM]

Door assembly nearly complete. We used gaffers tape to mimic the OEM sealing on the inside of the doors as well as thick paper similar to OEM and smeared in some cosmoline.

[DeadheadNM]

The dyed door panels were originally green now are a near dead match with factory parchment. I'll post a pic against a nos parchment panel once I can get the blazer home. Never could find a matching nos door panel.

These are untouched OEM woodgrain panels removed from the same low mileage motor home the steering wheel came from. Armrests are NOS black examples dyed to match. Time will tell whether the finish holds up. All replated OEM bolts and screws in the doors.

[DeadheadNM]

OEM seat backs painted and installed with OEM screws.

[DeadheadNM]

Glass to be installed tomorrow.

[Ol Blue K20]

The top looks great as does everything else. I'm getting excited to see it done.

[3757chevy]

That top looks fantastic, you nailed it.

[Tuff Gong]

Pete, your blazer is looking fantastic!!! I hope you drive the **** out of it. The memories you create will be worth more than any part you need to replace.

[DeadheadNM]

Thanks a lot guys! Brian, will do!

So the local Pilkington supplier had non-Pilkington embossed Windshield glass from some plant in Mexico but with Pilkington stickers on it. Hmmmmm. Pass. My glass guy called Pilkington in Ohio and has a Pilkington embossed windshield en route but that won't arrive until next week. I'm wondering if Pilkington is shifting manufacturing to Mexico for these.

The double wall OEM tinted rear quarter top glass did not easily work with the single wall Steele repro gasket, which conforms great on the inside of the top but less so on the glass outside. We are going to give the rubber time to relax until the windshield install and see if there's improvement. The double wall glass is thicker but otherwise same dimensions and shape so we were hoping these would easily work. I'll get some representative pics posted soon.

The glass went easily into the hatch at least

[DeadheadNM]

Here's the wrinkle in the weatherstrip from the double wall glass installed into the single wall top gasket. I think I can live with this for the time being.

[Dirt's72]

Pete I bought that skinny pilkington glass and installed it with a precision gasket on my swb twice and it still leaks like a mofo. I was expecting to see some sliders installed. Cant wait to drool over this thing.

[DeadheadNM]

Single wall is on!

[DeadheadNM]

...

[DeadheadNM]

What a struggle with the new weatherstrip! The doors that were so well aligned before got wonky once the top was bolted into place so a supplemental shim job is in order. I think I'll not remove the top until next summer to let the gaskets settle into place

[DeadheadNM]

My advice - weld ALL the factory little screw holes up before body work. Here's NOS drip rail deflector installed in the factory holes. A little off?!

Was subsequently repositioned.