Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint

[smbrouss70]

I pulled the 79 Firebird 8.5" 10-bolt out from under my other truck and mounted the brake rotors and wheels up so that I can get some good "before" measurements. I couldn't help taking pictures because those 315-35-20's just look so damn meaty, and the 13" C6 Z51 rear rotors look small in those 20" wheels...

I love these wheels, especially with the dish that the centers have.

[Palf70Step]

[gringoloco]

What are you doing for brake brackets? Just got my C5 rear calipers in the mail the other day

[smbrouss70]

I had ordered a Kore 3 setup (355mm Hybrid front and 330mm Z51 rear with parking brake) for a 79 firebird, which worked on the other truck since I used a 79 Z28 front subframe on it and this 79 firebird rear axle. That project is going to start over after the Blazer because I don't trust the connection of the subframe to the truck frame.

I am stealing the brake setup from that project, basically. After talking with Tobin @ Kore3, the tall-spindle setup that I have is the same as the C-10 setup with the exception of the hubs, since I have HD spindles for 1.25" rotors. If I changed spindles to the LD, I could have used everything just like your setup on your truck, but I would have to change tie-rods and ball-joints which has all just been replaced. It came out to be just barely more expensive to order some new hubs for the HD spindles, but with the 5x4.75" bolt pattern. The new hubs used to be a special order, but they had so many requests that they now stock them.

The only problem is that I already powder-coated the calipers green which was going to work with that truck, but I don't think it will look good against the blue of the Blazer. I have a buddy that can strip them and re-powder them, but I have to decide which color... I'm thinking a darker silver/grey/titanium color or a blue, but I'm afraid that if the blue won't match exactly it will look funny. What do you think?

[smbrouss70]

Here are my color options next to a picture that is closest to the real color of the Blazer out in the sun...

[gringoloco]

Grey all day. Can’t see your last pic, for whatever reason...

Edit: what’s your plan for master cylinder? I’ve been contemplating this exact setup, curious to see how it works out for you. The stock rotors are cheap and plentiful and converting to 5x4.75 is almost a wash money-wise, if you’re already buying wheels.

[smbrouss70]

I edited my last post... I was trying to be fancy and had built a .gif that cycled the color choices next to the pic of the Blazer.

[Chulisohombre]

I don’t think the green would look all that bad. You can two tone some of the other parts of the truck as well.
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[gringoloco]

I’m somewhere between galaxy and speedway. Like a cast iron, but with flake.

[smbrouss70]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

What’s your plan for master cylinder? I’ve been contemplating this exact setup, curious to see how it works out for you. The stock rotors are cheap and plentiful and converting to 5x4.75 is almost a wash money-wise, if you’re already buying wheels.

I have a hydroboost setup that I could use, but not sure I want to go through the trouble and if I really need it with these bigger brakes. I have buddies that are using the Wilwood masters with no assist and that would probably be all I need. Or I could run a normal vacuum booster. Obviously, master cylinder bore size would be determined by whether or not I use a booster, and which type. I guess I need to figure that out soon, huh?

Right now, I have a stock 72 style manual master cylinder for the factory disc/drum setup which would probably work fine if I replace the prop valve with an adjustable valve.

Originally Posted by Chulisohombre

I don’t think the green would look all that bad. You can two tone some of the other parts of the truck as well.
Posted via Mobile Device

The rest of the truck is staying original paint, so two-toning other parts of it won't work. The green probably wouldn't look horrible, but it would bother me that it's not tied in anywhere else.

Originally Posted by gringoloco

I’m somewhere between galaxy and speedway. Like a cast iron, but with flake.

My wife is telling me to just go with a gloss black which might not look bad with the textured black that is on the pad abutment brackets already.

[Palf70Step]

The Black that Brandi says will look good, or the Galaxy. I am not a big fan of the bright colors calipers my self. To me it distracts from the vehicle.

[smbrouss70]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

The Black that Brandi says will look good, or the Galaxy. I am not a big fan of the bright colors calipers my self. To me it distracts from the vehicle.

So you're saying that I should steer away from the hot pink and neon green candy cane striping?

I just found this Graphite Charcoal which looks promising...

[gringoloco]

Funny, I was gonna say gloss black as a second option. Have you seen evo grey? It’s a prismatic color that I used on all of my PB stuff. Nice dark grey, that flops from near black to almost silver depending on lighting

[smbrouss70]

I went back and looked through your thread to see that color, and you are right, it does look good. It's so hard to pick a color based on pictures on the internet though. My wife may be right in the fact that I should just do gloss black and call it done. My powdercoater keeps gloss and 20% gloss black in stock ready to go, any other special color I want would have to be ordered.

[smbrouss70]

Well, I ordered swatches of all the colors listed on this page, to include the Evo Grey. If I don't like any of those, I'll just do the Gloss Black.

[smbrouss70]

I've done a lot of measuring for my rear axle, and it looks like I will end up with about 1/2" clearance between the tire and the inner wheel tub. Do you think that is enough? If not it looks like I am going to have to do the "Lucy" mod that n2billet did.

The powder swatches came in today! I've taken about 100 pics, but it is amazing how hard it is to get an accurate representation of the colors. I have my favorite already, but which one do y'all like?

[gringoloco]

Plan on “Lucy” modding mine, too.

I like 2, but I’m also partial to 6

[smbrouss70]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Plan on “Lucy” modding mine, too.

I like 2, but I’m also partial to 6

Actually, you would be partial to 5, that one is the Evo Grey.

[gringoloco]

Wow, the pictures really do mess with you...

[darkhorse970]

2 or 6 would be my pick
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[Palf70Step]

:agree
6 or 2 (or Brandi Black )

[smbrouss70]

I was trying to NOT remove the original rear end until I had the new narrowed setup ready to go in, but I knew I would regret not pulling it before-hand if I didn't. Tonight I removed the rear axle and stuffed one of the back tires up in there, and am I ever glad that I did. My measurements that I was taking told me that I would have 1/2" clearance when aired out, but physically sticking the tire in there says that my math was wrong somewhere. It is touching on the inside and outside. Now I HAVE to do the "Lucy" mod that N2billet did on his bedsides. It's just a little more work, but as you can see in my pics, it will be well worth the trouble!

[gringoloco]

God bless America!

[Bennett68C10]

[smbrouss70]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

I’m somewhere between galaxy and speedway. Like a cast iron, but with flake.

The Speedway is #2 and the Galaxy is #3 in those pics above. The Kingsport Grey is #4 and is almost the same color as the Evo Grey but with more flake and more gloss. Because of the extra flake it lightens up the color a little and makes it seem to be a shade between the Speedway and the Galaxy. I'm thinking that I will end up going with the Kingsport.

I finally got a picture that is closest to what I actually see with my old eyes.