1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto

[tommys72]

Ill watch this one

[DeadheadNM]

The interior is almost totally gutted now. Soon I'll move onto pulling the front clip/motor/tranny/tcase. Wanted to share some interesting observations. First, I tried unsuccessfully to remove the paint over the blue door VIN decal so as to confirm the build month, which I suspected was either January or February 1972 as it was sold new in early March of that year. One of the seat backs and the dash pad had the following date codes that strongly support February as the build month. January 28, 1972 fell on a Friday.

[DeadheadNM]

Some quirks: the K5 had a second rear carpet strip in place of the correct front carpet strip (as mentioned earlier) and it looks as if the rear seat arm rests are both for the same side.

[DeadheadNM]

Swapped a single wall top for the original double wall and it fits well - no rust on the windshield frame.

[DeadheadNM]

In doing the top swap I noticed two differing styles of seal about the hinges used to attach the lift gate to the top.

1) Style one makes use of rubber grommets only with no brackets/trim plates or screws - this is the only style I found depicted in the factory assembly manual on a cursory search (top rows first pic).
2) Style two makes use of metal brackets/trim plates with underlying gaskets affixed to the lift gate and top by two trim screws at each site (bottom rows first pic).

Wonder why the change from one style to the other? I'll have to investigate what style is reproduced.

[DeadheadNM]

Want to share some p/n's for some still available GM parts: rubber gas filler hose, rubber door grommets, vent tubes for differentials etc., and the AC divert box that typically has the busted flapper.

EDIT: The discontinued 1972-only door plates #20393850 that go between the panels and the window cranks/door handles are still in stock (20 plus) at Hubbard Chevrolet in Monticello, IN 574.583.7121 but asking ~$8 apiece (cost ~$4 list is ~$12).

T.hanks for following along!

[1rippen6]

I'm along for the ride. I have seen both types of hinge seals also but never really tried to figure it out. It would be interesting to know if the hinge bolt covers with the bent lips is only on one or the other also. I wonder if it is a single wall double wall think.

[IronCanine]

I love the quirks. I wouldn't try and "correct" them either. Put it back like she came. I think you can find a truck to justify all four combinations of carpet strip installations from the factory. I think they used what they had. As a rule I love Midnight or Daytona Blue on Chevrolet trucks, but it's nice to see that Hawaiian starting to peek back through.

Great info on the OEM/NOS parts Pete. You are always blazing the trail. This is the perfect vehicle for you.

Can't wait for what's ahead.

P.S. The dash inspection tag is neat too. My brother was born the day before.

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by 1rippen6

I'm along for the ride. I have seen both types of hinge seals also but never really tried to figure it out. It would be interesting to know if the hinge bolt covers with the bent lips is only on one or the other also. I wonder if it is a single wall double wall think.

Dwayne - it's a mix, I have 2x wall examples here that use both styles (one each) but the 1x wall tops here (total two) only use those affixed with screws. The hinge covers with the screws are present on both the hatch and the top ends. I like the clean look of the rubber hinge covers. Am curious what's available aftermarket as a hinge cover replacement.

Originally Posted by IronCanine

I love the quirks. I wouldn't try and "correct" them either. Put it back like she came. I think you can find a truck to justify all four combinations of carpet strip installations from the factory. I think they used what they had. As a rule I love Midnight or Daytona Blue on Chevrolet trucks, but it's nice to see that Hawaiian starting to peek back through.

Great info on the OEM/NOS parts Pete. You are always blazing the trail. This is the perfect vehicle for you.

Can't wait for what's ahead.

P.S. The dash inspection tag is neat too. My brother was born the day before.

Thanks Brad! I'm reminded of the sleuthing that went into determining the build month for your Blazer. Am sure enough that this K5 is a February build that I've got a blue door VIN tag from Jeff on the way. Another quirk - there is only a high note horn, the low note and pigtail are either missing or were never installed. I don't see evidence that the low note horn was ever installed and a CST should have dual horns. The high note at least works. I wonder if there if there was a big difference in quality control between St. Louis and Flint?

I removed the fuel tank, front bumper, and and the inner fenders. Thank goodness for PB blaster and an impact wrench. The front wheel studs/lug nuts differ in size left to right.

Posting misc pics of the fuel tank, fuel lines, and attachment hardware for reference. The tank is in great shape - not sure if OEM but has a stamped circle surrounding a big letter "A" on the top (hard to photograph).

[DeadheadNM]

For the purists: the OEM clamps for the rubber fuel lines were originally painted yellow - almost an ochre color. The frame clamps to support the metal fuel lines are orange. The colors are tough to accurately expose.

[DeadheadNM]

One hard line that runs along on the top of the LH frame forward to the fuel tank is not shown on the above photo but I've tried to depict it below (first pic).

The ground wire for the tank sending unit is shown - it was affixed to the rear crossmember with a bolt and two star washers at midline.

[IronCanine]

Great info Pete. Thanks for taking the time to document. Invaluable.

[notsolo]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

In doing the top swap I noticed two differing styles of seal about the hinges used to attach the lift gate to the top.

1) Style one makes use of rubber grommets only with no brackets/trim plates or screws - this is the only style I found depicted in the factory assembly manual on a cursory search (top rows first pic).
2) Style two makes use of metal brackets/trim plates with underlying gaskets affixed to the lift gate and top by two trim screws at each site (bottom rows first pic).

Wonder why the change from one style to the other? I'll have to investigate what style is reproduced.

Hey Pete, Ahh the complexity of finding good repo's or NOS replacements...I bought the top no holes or mount plates from Classic truck parts." They got returned " They are black and close to the original's but not quite right. I ended up reusing what I had. All the rubber on mine was put back on. Cleaned, and Treated with Wintergeen oil+ Xyleen, Windshield rubber, and double wall top rubber gaskets also.... Door trim was toast...Link In a Link ....Ed. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=680699

[Tuff Gong]

Nice progress! I'm glad your tank is in good shape. The pictures are great. The three vent tubes most have been routed differently between years. They were under on the opposite side on my 71 and had a bracket that held the lines in place.

[1rippen6]

Originally Posted by Brian Atkinson

Nice progress! I'm glad your tank is in good shape. The pictures are great. The three vent tubes most have been routed differently between years. They were under on the opposite side on my 71 and had a bracket that held the lines in place.

Isn't yours a 2 wd that might make the difference if I remember correct on my 71 4x4 it was routed the same as Pete's but I could be wrong.

[DeadheadNM]

Brian I recall seeing a pic of the bracket you describe - Dwayne may be correct in that the difference is 2wd vs 4wd or maybe for the 72 MY the lines were changed. My green 72 blazer has the same set-up for the tank lines as my blue blazer. Brian do recall if your sending unit had a single outlet or two?

[DeadheadNM]

More slow progress. I'm dismantling and documenting everything at and forward from the cowl. I'll post some example pics of the various OEM screws used under the hood and other miscellaneous example pics.

For the bolt/screws I've only indicated the wrench size not pitch etc. but I did try to describe whether a captured washer was present, the number needed, and finish.

EDIT: To clarify, the caption on one photo below erroneously indicated that there are three bolts to secure ground straps to the rad support. In fact, there are only two straps to the rad support and another from the forward harness mounts to the RH fender.

[DeadheadNM]

More pics

EDIT: To clarify, the bolts shown under "Upper Rad Support" affix the upper radiator brackets to the rad support itself.

[DeadheadNM]

Pile of spare bolts off to receive black phosphate plating together with a set of hood hinges and hood latches. Also having some spare parts clear zinc plated.

Pic of a complete set of AC brackets for a SBC WITH the CA A.I.R emissions brackets (2) included.

[tjsblazer]

Wow Pete, wish I had this a month ago. This is absolutely awesome and a real asset. Thanks so much for taking the time to post all of this. I know it is time consuming.

[DeadheadNM]

Here are pics of the OEM battery cables for reference - included the attachment bolt with its star washer for the negative attachment at the RH cylinder head. The positive cable is affixed to the RH frame with two clamps: the more anterior clamp is rubberized, the rear clamp is all metal and had the bolt threads directed upward.

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by tjsblazer

Wow Pete, wish I had this a month ago. This is absolutely awesome and a real asset. Thanks so much for taking the time to post all of this. I know it is time consuming.

You bet Jeff - sorry I couldn't have got to the disassembly sooner. I'll post up some more example pics later that detail some of the electrical and tube routing. Hope this helps others - it only took all of an hour before I started to forget where some of these bolts went

[1rippen6]

That is awesome!!! It will be a great reference when I start to put mine together. Thanks in advance, Dwayne.

[Tynee]

Holy scmoly... The detail makes my head spin.

[Dirt's72]

Great work Pete! I'll stop by after 3 today and visit.
Posted via Mobile Device