here's what i have been up to

[sixty8c10]

i finally got both rear ends removed yesterday......but before i got a chance to take pics i called in to work....for hurricane rescue operations....i will get back to them in a few days.

[86 GMG]

i was looking through your pictures and i noticed something that might be a concern. DAY11 front rails of blazer very front crossbar that rivets in has an extra (dip,curve, sway) however you want to title it on the driver side where it goes in the frame opening, there seems to be a bolted in part also that im not used to seeing (i am working on a 2wd frame right know so i have been looking at a frame rail or two in the last few months) but i was curious if that might give you problems later on in your build?

[sixty8c10]

are you talking about that little bracket on the front drivers side of the crossmember? it is a brace for the crossmember. if you notice the differences in the 4wd xmember and the 2wd xmember. the 4wd stands straight up whereas the 2wd leans forward at the top. the 4wd xmember provides extra support for the steering box which is the reason for that bracket. the 2wd doesn't need the extra support cause of the way that its front suspension is mounted....... to shorten the story those crossmembers have been swapped as well. if i ever get back home i'll get some new pics.

[milehightoyz]

i admire your ambition...thats alot of work....looking good!! keep us posted.

[86 GMG]

i am acually talking about the crossmember that the proportioning valve (brakes) is connected to i believe the item im speaking of is riveted in the frame in front of the front crossmember? im sorry for asking this but i just saw this in the pics and thought i should mention it to you. best of luck in your modifications

[sixty8c10]

its all good ......that crossmember and everything attached to it was removed and put in the pick-up

[milehightoyz]

any new updates on this project? im looking to do the same thing. ive got a 78 blazer that is super clean but its 4x4 and im allergic to heights so i want to make it 2wd? will a 2wd shortbox frame bolt right under this blazer?

[bigblock73]

Originally Posted by milehightoyz

will a 2wd shortbox frame bolt right under this blazer?

No, the frames are different in the rear (the PU kicks up more) and the wheelbase is different as well.

[milehightoyz]

bummer that sucks, i plan on bagging and notching the rear anyways, but how far off is the wheelbase? thanks for the info, john

[sixty8c10]

if i remember the wheelbase for the blazer is 107" and the pick-up is 117"......i haven't been around to work on the project in a while....been down in new orleans helping with the rescue effort.

[milehightoyz]

thanks for the update and good luck with the rescue effort, my prayers go out to those waiting to be rescued.

[sixty8c10]

they sent me back home for a couple of days........got alot accomplished today


here is one to show the difference in the hangers..2wd(left), 4wd(right)

[sixty8c10]

i also got rear bolted into the blazer, but it was dark when i got finished so i will try to get pics tomorrow....then back down to new orleans

[milehightoyz]

hey sixty8c10, thanks alot for the updates. i was wondering if when you get done you could make a checklist of all the things that you had to do during the entire course of the conversion or tips and hints for others too look out for in terms of problems you ran into. i got lucky and just so happened to find a 2wd 78 blazer frame locally today which at first seemed like it may have been an easier swap this way but is probably just as much work. here are the pics of what im working with. your thread really motivated me to get movin on this project. thanks again. keep the pics and progress comin.

[sixty8c10]

here is todays pics, i got the blazer's suspension completely assembled all that is left is to bleed the brakes, then find a good engine and reasemble the front end:

[sixty8c10]

as far as problems, the only problem i ran into so far was the front crossmember....the one the proprotioning valve bolts to......the one from the pick-up was to narrow for the blazer's frame......not that big of a deal the 2wd pick-up frame had a slight bulge on the top of the frame where the crossmember riveted to, the 4wd doesnot have this bulge.....i used the front crossmember from a 71 gmc, it fit perfect..just drilled the holes for the prop valve.

milehightoyz- if you have got a way to lift that tub (fully assembled) off the frame the body swap would be alot easier...if not this (what i am doing) is fairly simple just half to make templates for the frontend swap (i used poster board) there are several like holes in each frame i used for reference holes to keep the templates centered.

if anyone else has any questions i would be happy to answer them to best of my ability

[82c10]

Originally Posted by milehightoyz

hey sixty8c10, thanks alot for the updates. i was wondering if when you get done you could make a checklist of all the things that you had to do during the entire course of the conversion or tips and hints for others too look out for in terms of problems you ran into. i got lucky and just so happened to find a 2wd 78 blazer frame locally today which at first seemed like it may have been an easier swap this way but is probably just as much work. here are the pics of what im working with. your thread really motivated me to get movin on this project. thanks again. keep the pics and progress comin.

how many projects do you have? anyways the ones if seen look killer, you got any update pics of the regular cab short bed

[milehightoyz]

to be quite honest with you far too many projects. the reg cab shortbox is about 2 weeks away from gettin color. i will def update with pics as soon as it gets out of the booth. thanks. also lookin forward to sixty8c10s updates.

[sixty8c10]

today i got the rear installed in the pick-up, try to get pics when i get off sat

[sixty8c10]

here is the pics of the rear installed in the pick-up


then i bled the brakes in both trucks......then attemped to get the blazer ready for engine installation......which is where i ran into my second problem....i had to do a little trimming to get the 2wd motor mounts to fit in the frame rails ( pics tomorrow)......... then i test fit the front clip on the blazer(batt dead in camera no pics, sorry) it looks good

[sixty8c10]

here's the blazer's motor mount pic. the frame was thicker than the 2wd, frame had to do a little trimming to get the mount in there.

now i just need an engine for the blazer. the pick-up needs a tranny....and i gotta get all this done by mid-october so i can start packing my stuff to deploy to egypt in late jan06.

[Jebb1978]

You are a true Hard Core. I would never be able to put the one I wasn't going to keep back together.

[sixty8c10]

i got the motor for the blazer today...nothing special, stock reman

jebb1978- its the board that keeps me going....i feel a need to keep everyone here updated with progress and pics......and if i were to quit no one would ever know if it got finished. if it wasn't for me coming on here and posting updates i probably would gave up on the pick-up long ago......but now that its a roller it has a home as soon as it runs.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by sixty8c10

i .....if it wasn't for me coming on here and posting updates i probably would gave up on the pick-up long ago.......

Keep going dude, your going to get both of them rolling....

[sixty8c10]

worked on assembling the long block for the blazer today, cleaning and applying the tins, fresh gloss black paint....should've quit a little sooner so i could get some pics