Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build

[1956cameo]

ColoradoK5, Wow! That's really cool to hear. I'm with you on the parts collecting. I did the math and if I could do it over again I would have kept my old 72 4wd blazer. I sold it for $1,850 and have since bought parts that I could have used off of it for ALOT more than what I sold it for.

[ColoradoK5]

I just picked up a decent 68 clip for mine and a five lug rear end. still need a few more things before i get started but parts list is slowly getting shorter

[1956cameo]

After taking the summer off from working on the blazer I am back at it. Around April I just hit the wall and was on total burn out mode. The last thing I felt like doing was working on the blazer. I honestly didn't even feel like looking at it. Fortunately I have been working on these old trucks long enough to know that my lack of interest was just part of the ebb and flow of working on a restoration project. I knew that eventually my interest would re ignite and the only thing I would be able to think about is working on the blazer. Well that interest came back a little over a month ago. Every weekend for the last month I have spent huge amounts of time doing bodywork on the blazer. Below are some updated pictures. They don't look too different from the pictures posted back in February but I can assure you many, many hours of work has been done since the last picture update. I am hoping to have the blazer ready for paint soon.

[Big Block]

I can see all that hard work is paying off. I can see a huge improvement. I wish I had the time and place to do that to my Jimmy. And of coarse the skills to do that kind of work! It looks good to me. You really had your work cut out when you started your project. Keep up the good work. I understand about burn out. I have too many projects and not enough time or money to keep up with all of them.

[hgs_notes]

Looks like its time to spray some primer and start blocking.

[Wasted Income]

Moving right along. Looks great.

[YBNORML]

Originally Posted by 1956cameo

After taking the summer off from working on the blazer I am back at it. Around April I just hit the wall and was on total burn out mode. The last thing I felt like doing was working on the blazer. I honestly didn't even feel like looking at it. Fortunately I have been working on these old trucks long enough to know that my lack of interest was just part of the ebb and flow of working on a restoration project. I knew that eventually my interest would re ignite and the only thing I would be able to think about is working on the blazer. Well that interest came back a little over a month ago. Every weekend for the last month I have spent huge amounts of time doing bodywork on the blazer. Below are some updated pictures. They don't look too different from the pictures posted back in February but I can assure you many, many hours of work has been done since the last picture update. I am hoping to have the blazer ready for paint soon.

I hear ya! I am in the same position with my shortbox. I haven't touched it since early summer, soon though.

Blazer is looking good!
Posted via Mobile Device

[PHAT TONY]

I think we're all glad this wuzn't left for dead again!

[1956cameo]

Big Block, Thanks for all of the encouragement! Right now the only skills that seem to be necessary is patience and determination.

hgs_notes, It won't be long.

Wasted income, Thanks!

YBNORML, Burn out sucks. Fortunately it never lasts forever. Thanks!

PHAT TONY, Me too. But I have to much time and money in it to quit now.

[made2drag]

any new progress?

[1956cameo]

made2drag, I have been slowly working on the body work a couple of days a month. I was hoping to paint it by about now but I got an unexpectedly large property tax bill, and now my paint money is sitting in a tax office. So since it will take me a couple of months to save up for paint again, I figured there's no rush.

[hgs_notes]

Cheap paint...

http://www.summitracing.com/search/d...t-finish/gloss

[1956cameo]

hgs_notes, I could definitely afford the Summit paint at those prices. There have been numerous times in the past that I have painted projects with the "cheap" paint with really good results, but since this was my dream truck I wanted to go with all PPG materials. Right now I have $700 worth of PPG primer on the blazer. The paint that I want is supposed to cost around $1,000. Now I would be too afraid to change paints out of fears of incapability.

[notsolo]

Not here to change your mind, I also like PPG ...I just can't afford it..my color choice requires silver base coat 1st then 2nd color (Lime firemist) I had a gallon of DBC and I put TCP Global over it.(Not as good as PPG) but I like it.

[fxdxharley]

You will be safe to use any urethane over the ppg epoxy primer. i just painted my bike using sherwin williams epoxy primer and dupont crhoma base then s.w. clear. came out great. my buddy that painted it had always used the ppg before he switched to the s.w primer. its cheaper and doesnt shrink like ncp primer does. P30B - SPECTRAPRIME™ COLOR SURFACER SEALER SYSTEM 2K PRIMER SURFACER - BLACK worked great and has a built in guide coat. use it as a sealer and blocking primer.

[1956cameo]

Thanks for the information guys! I guess I am just a little gun shy since I have had so many paint jobs crinkle, peel, and flake that I am too nervous to chance it anymore. I might try out some combinations on a fender or door so that way I can see how the paint / primer combos will react on a small panel.

[PD1292]

I too am glad this project was not "left for dead" glad to see it is still being worked on. I am in the same boat trying to finish up body work for final paint. Its a slow boat, with only one oar, and the trailer still attached under the water. Keep it up, Barry

[1956cameo]

PD1292, Thanks for the encouragement.



I know I haven't posted a lot in the way of pictures lately, but here are a few to prove that progress is actually being made. The first couple are pictures of the blazer after receiving it's coat of "filler" primer.







These are pictures that I took yesterday. We are getting down to the details now.

[PHAT TONY]

After all this work that HAS to feel great to be getting so close to color!

[1956cameo]

It does feel great! Long overdue but great. I hate to throw a date out there because that means it won't happen, but depending on my schedule it should get painted in late March or early April.

[NewType72]

looks good to be coming back around to paint I was enthralled to finally get one solid color on my truck and then my red finally had my dad do my tailgate after 7 months betwee painting the rest of the truck

[blazin71K5]

Wow all that work sure looks great, i can't wait to see the finished product.

[hilljob26]

i dont know about you guys, but i am ready to see some color on that beauty..keep it up

[1956cameo]

Thanks Everyone! If everything goes as planned she should be painted by the end of this month! I am already planning out the next couple of stages; new suspension with a 3/5 drop, new wiring, crate engine, etc..

[1956cameo]

So I made a little progress on the blazer today. After working on this thing for three years and three months I finally laid down a little paint. I wen't back with the factory original blue. The paint shop was able to match the paint from a paint chip chart that I had for 1972 Chevy trucks. I saved a little money and went with PPG Shopline paint. It is a base coat / clear coat paint. We put down 3 coats of paint and clear on the interior panels, dash, and firewall; and we put 4 coats of paint and clear on all of the exterior panels. Overall the paint went on really well. We do have a few sags combined with light orange peel, but that will all come out in the sanding and buffing stage. Here are a few shots.

First a few close up shots.