1978 Russet Metallic 4x4

[buffydores]

Originally Posted by Futurespeed

Thanks for the link. I book marked it and will check it periodically. There are a few in Houston which is somewhat close to me in Dallas.

Until I get the real-deal, I'll need to pick up one of these RC rides. It's the next closest thing.

https://traxxas.com/products/landing/blazer/

I already pre-ordered mine last week.

[buffydores]

I've always been jealous of the LS guys having great products that could show them what's going on with their ECMs. Us RamJet guys were given a dipswitch plug that was just stupid. Well, I've finally got a better solution. I now have this cute little USB plug that can plug into my Toughbook and data stream to my hearts content.

[OutlawDrifter]

That's handy!

[buffydores]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

That's handy!

Yep. $200 bucks for the cord and USB drive: http://mefiburn.com/mefiscan.asp

Plus this nifty dash plug: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07D4...b_b_asin_title

[RyanAK]

I just re-read this entire thread. I take a lot of inspiration from this build, buddy. Stock-plus and trying to stay true to the era except where performance trumps. And it’s a family truck! Good on ya. I hope my ‘78 Suburban can approach the excellence of your blazer.

[buffydores]

Originally Posted by RyanAK

I just re-read this entire thread. I take a lot of inspiration from this build, buddy. Stock-plus and trying to stay true to the era except where performance trumps. And it’s a family truck! Good on ya. I hope my ‘78 Suburban can approach the excellence of your blazer.

Thanks Ryan. Your words are kind.

[75C10]

Where did you get your seat belt material?

[buffydores]

Originally Posted by 75C10

Where did you get your seat belt material?

It's original. In all my searching, no one makes a match for the Mandarin interior. The other colors can be found. I like the folks at Ssnake Oyl Products in Tyler, Texas. Real knowledgeable.

[buffydores]

The original black plastic handle to the rear bench release lever has been gone forever. Never saw a NOS part for it. I finally got around to making one out of a scrap of garapa wood.

[aggie91]

Nice work on the wood handle. Looks clean.

[buffydores]

Thanks Karl. The little things are fun.

[LT7A]

Cool. The details make a difference. Although I have no idea what a garapa is.

[aggie91]

There is going to be a Classic Car Show at Flying Burger in Longview this Thursday night starting at 6pm and a Trucks & Treats at the Flying Burger in Longview on Oct 31st from 5pm tp 9pm. You ought to bring out the Blazer.

I hope to make it to both in my son's tan/red '84.

[buffydores]

Originally Posted by aggie91

There is going to be a Classic Car Show at Flying Burger in Longview this Thursday night starting at 6pm and a Trucks & Treats at the Flying Burger.

Anniversary night with the wifey. May do a drive by.

[buffydores]

Failed to mention it. I finally got a few minutes to meet Karl at the event back in October. It was so joyful to meet another squarebody lover. Karl is a super cool guy. Look forward to more meets.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by buffydores

Failed to mention it. I finally got a few minutes to meet Karl at the event back in October. It was so joyful to meet another squarebody lover. Karl is a super cool guy. Look forward to more meets.

Yup,

Real good guy.

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Yup,

Real good guy.

With some really cool trucks.

[buffydores]

Time for some updates.

The kids are getting bigger, so time to swap the low hanging modified steps for a set of original height, refreshed GM accessory steps. Here are the used ones as I'm dropping them off to get powdercoated.



There. Better.



Then I spent time pulling the steering column apart to tighten things up and to swap out the cruise multi function lever for a non-cruise version.



I replaced the front output flange for the NP203 to address a small forever leak.



And then finally, I installed ORDs Sway Bar kit for Crossover Steering.



I'm so happy to eliminate the annoying lean at every turn. It gets old.

A little side note. I'm beginning the process of preparing this thing for some new adventures. Our initial run will be next summer into Montana. I have a buddy with a Squarebody Suburban that's driving along with us.

I still have a traction bar I want to install, need to tune the shift points on the TH350, add new tires and play with a few odds-and-ends. This truck continues to amaze.

[aggie91]

Originally Posted by buffydores

Failed to mention it. I finally got a few minutes to meet Karl at the event back in October. It was so joyful to meet another squarebody lover. Karl is a super cool guy. Look forward to more meets.

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Yup,

Real good guy.

Originally Posted by 68Timber

With some really cool trucks.

It was great to meet you too. Really dig this blazer. And to the others that replied, thanks for the props. I try to do my best at putting together some cool trucks, my '65 really needs my attention, so be on the look out for updates on that one soon.

[buffydores]

Still working on this sucker. I've been focusing on drivability at 80mph in the summer. Love the traditional look of these new Toyo AT3s.



I installed Noico 80 butyl sound deadener and overlayed that with acoustic foam sound absorber in the door panels. I sprayed Boom Mat spray in the fender wells and underneath the lower panels. I also filled the space between the interior rear vinyl/particle board panels and sheet metal with Van Insulknop wool insulation. The floors were already covered in mass loaded vinyl. All together, this has made a substantial improvement in the sound profile at speed. Also, really working on the side vent glass rubber to ensure a good seal is important.

From there I needed to work on the TH350 transmission shifts. It has shifted way early on both the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts since going to 35" tires in 2014. So, out with the governor.



Using one of those weight and spring kits, I only needed a single weight and spring to get my shifts to the right RPMs.

I also wasn't super happy that the guys that originally installed my 12 bolt diff cover overtightened the drain plugs. I was fed up with it, so I just replaced the whole thing with an anodized cover and installed a LubeLocker gasket to boot.



Here's some good ole fashioned overkill. How do you kill exhaust sound when you're cruising at 3,200rpms down the highway?



I used RockAuto and a tape measure to figure out the largest mufflers with 2.5" openings I could fit in the space. These two stainless units come out of an early 2000s 4.6L Expedition. Then engine doesn't roar at speed anymore.

[OutlawDrifter]

Some good updates. I've got a set of those Toyo AT3's on my DD Tacoma, I will comment, the road noise is WAY more than I expected. The Yokohama Geolandar AT G015's on my K2500 'burb are much quieter. We'll see how the Toyo's do in the snow/ice this Winter.

I bet those mufflers made a huge difference, on my '89 K5 I ended up going from a 5x8x24 Magnaflow copy to a Walker QuietFlow SS, same deal, just too much noise at highway speed.

[buffydores]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Some good updates. I've got a set of those Toyo AT3's on my DD Tacoma, I will comment, the road noise is WAY more than I expected. The Yokohama Geolandar AT G015's on my K2500 'burb are much quieter. We'll see how the Toyo's do in the snow/ice this Winter.

I bet those mufflers made a huge difference, on my '89 K5 I ended up going from a 5x8x24 Magnaflow copy to a Walker QuietFlow SS, same deal, just too much noise at highway speed.

I knew that about the AT3 going into the deal. I just didn't want to go with a modern tread pattern. This was my best compromise.

[zellway]

Such a amazing ride you have built! I have needed some motivation to get back to work on my 76 Jimmy and I could only hope to get it even a 1/4 as nice as yours.

[buffydores]

Originally Posted by zellway

Such a amazing ride you have built! I have needed some motivation to get back to work on my 76 Jimmy and I could only hope to get it even a 1/4 as nice as yours.

Thanks Eric. I've spent 5 years tweaking and fixing it. It's about as good as you can do with one of these on 35s without replacing the frame and going coilovers. Even then, it's not a huge gain. My JK on 35s was slightly more refined, but didn't really ride much better even with high end suspension components. It has an honest 70s vibe that's hard to replicate.

[Grizz1963]

Noise can be such a distracting thing if you live with it.

I always love loud pipes at shows etc but one forgets our 5 minutes of aural pleasure ls another persons entire existence.

Good looking boxes you fitted,