70 Blazer Frame Off

[IronCanine]

So I had a bit of a guilty conscience yesterday when I took her to the glass shop because I went there with repro windshield trim even though I had read all the posts about it. I stupidly was hoping to have one easy step...especially after the bill for smoothing and polishing the top to bed stainless strips. But I didn't like the way the glass guy looked at me when I gave it to him, so I got up this morning and headed to the salvage yard. I knew they had a 70 with the trim on it. 40 min drive, 10 min to cut out the windshield, $20(must be a Memorial Day Sale) for the score and the rest of the day polishing the pieces myself.

...as an aside here's the VIN plate of the truck that I robbed the trim from. I'm fairly confident it's an original paint jam. Notice the round rivet in the lower left corner. I've seen a few tags with round rivets that I think were honest originals. Just a curiosity.

[IronCanine]

Got her back today from the glass shop. Again, the owner of the transport service went to get her himself and missed a downpour by mere minutes. More rain in the forecast for tomorrow, she would have been stuck there for a while. As it was she made it back to the shop without a drop on her.

...Surprise, surprise they used the OEM stainless...I was able to pick up all my other glass from him too. He cut the quarter and hatch glass, and was able to order the clear door glass...chose to go no tint (which was probably obvious by my SPID).

[DeadheadNM]

OEM trim was great way to go - I learned that the hard way!

[IronCanine]

Well, the seat work continues as we fight to get her ready for Monday. She's off to the exhaust shop tomorrow and scheduled to return on Thursday. Slapped on the SPID and door sticker today (I bit the bullet and went with 1/70 on the build date, if it turns out to be 2/70, I'll just get a new one.) Thanks ChipFlyer (Jeff) again for your help and awesome work.

The punch list is still incredibly long. This is starting to feel like one of those TV shows with the artificial deadlines.

[DeadheadNM]

Go man go!

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Go man go!

...as Frog so famously said in Smokey and the Bandit, "I've got the metal to the pedal and the thing to the floor!"

....(gratuitous Burt Reynolds laugh)

..."Daddy, my hat blew off."

"I hope your empty head was in it!"

And scene.

[TBONE1964]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

...as Frog so famously said in Smokey and the Bandit, "I've got the metal to the pedal and the thing to the floor!"

....(gratuitous Burt Reynolds laugh)

..."Daddy, my hat blew off."

"I hope your empty head was in it!"

And scene.

Don't get me started Brad "For some reason or nother, you seemed a lot taller on radio" One of my favorite movies ever

Looking real nice there sir

[Advanced Design]

Just outstanding work and attention to detail! You are inspiring me to do better on my projects and builds.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by TBONE1964

Looking real nice there sir

Thanks Tom.

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Just outstanding work and attention to detail! You are inspiring me to do better on my projects and builds.

Wow, thanks...I appreciate that. This board is the best echo chamber ever. 90% of the stuff I'm super sweating on this build, I would have never known about if not for really nice guys (like you) on here who shared their knowledge and work. There aren't many threads on here that I haven't gotten at least an idea or two (or motivation) from.

[IronCanine]

I was off today which meant I was full on into our final weekend thrash to get her done. I want to extend a huge Thank You to Wes (Classic Heartbeat) and Tim (Truckseats) who have been fantastic helping us navigate some bumps...and for both being completely available. That means a lot.

Seats are all covered as of 9:45 tonight. We got her back from the exhaust shop this morning. He did a great job. I left him with the few original exhaust pics I had along with a parts diagram that I got from 1Rippen6, and asked to just make it factory appearance...and he did, save for that one little souvenir I let him keep.

[IronCanine]

I took a few pics today while it was on the lift. I was also excited about the factory appearing "tube-style" muffler.

[IronCanine]

...just a few more. We also got the AC charged today as well. A ton of stuff remains on the interior and we've got to bleed the brakes, paint front fender wells, align the front end, get the door glass in, yada yada yada...and she still hasn't moved under her own power yet. Just gotta have two very productive days, with minor setbacks.

(Boy all this running around has gotten her pretty dusty)

[DeadheadNM]

I'm in awe!

[Bean Counter]

Just found this thread and read through. All I can say is WOW ! Incredible work and attention to detail. I live in Conyers, not too far from Athens, so I hope I see this beauty at some local shows or cruising down the road!

[Tom Vogel]

Who did your seats, and did you use new foam?

[chewysask]

I having been following your thread great attention to detail amazing restoration .
Carey

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

I'm in awe!

Pete...you are too kind. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Bean Counter

Just found this thread and read through. All I can say is WOW ! Incredible work and attention to detail. I live in Conyers, not too far from Athens, so I hope I see this beauty at some local shows or cruising down the road!

Thanks. I hope so too. I am hopeful we'll make it to our first show on Monday...and we'll definitely be at shows at the Athens Varsity.

Originally Posted by Tom Vogel

Who did your seats, and did you use new foam?

Eric did them. I chipped in on the buckets when four hands were better than two. Definitely new foam...I got it all from Truckseats...well the front seats anyway. As you know, no one makes the rear bench foam (as far as I know). Luckily our rear foam was pretty good. We augmented it a bit though.

Originally Posted by chewysask

I having been following your thread great attention to detail amazing restoration .
Carey

Thanks for following along and the kind words.

[IronCanine]

For a day where we got a lot done, I don't have a lot of pics. The tailpipe got circumcised. The wiring got officially finished. A lot of time prepping and painting small things...seat brackets, panel brackets, hold down springs, etc. Painted the rear seat hardware GM satin, and the front flat...because I'm pretty sure the front was black phosphate from the factory and I missed that when I sent things to be plated/coated...thought that would give the best factory appearance.

[IronCanine]

I do want to quickly go through something that I've found little of in the way of detail on in existing threads...but got great help via PM to members. I purchased new rear side panels from TruckWorld through Truckseats (Tim). The most common refrain on these is that they are difficult to fit over carpeted tubs and that you must be sure to purchase CST carpet that is cut to stop at the panels and not extend to the bed wall...both true.

However on my initial fitment, I could not get the panel fully seated even though I had no carpet at all on the floor. Two things: 1. My bed wall and tubs have been replaced. 2. My truck was originally a base truck, I had to procure and install trim strips and panel bracketry. (I don't think this had much bearing if at all, but for the record)

My biggest concern was at the B-pillar, where I didn't think it could go from the trim strip to the B-pillar, making an S-bend and still adapt flatly to the B-pillar.

livrat (Mark) gave me the best advice. He had the same problems...he shaved the lower portion of the panel to go over the carpet and he widened the groove in the trim trim by gently prying it open.

Since I was not going to put carpet on the tubs, I didn't have to trim the panel. But the panel fit into the groove was my biggest problem. The panels are thick, and of course I had re-chromed my strips. I figured out how wide the groove needed to be by gently prying it open until I could just wedge the panel in. I made myself a gauge with a paint stick to confirm it was wide enough throughout the length. The fit was so snug on a partial try in, we elected not to install the floor L brackets, only the wall A brackets. I decided I didn't want to punch holes for screws and grommets a while ago, so we just put velcro on the brackets.

[IronCanine]

We actually got it to fit better in the transition from the trim to the B-pillar than pictured above by gently working it into the trim strip with a screw driver (very carefully) while massaging the bend.

...and Mark was right, it laid flat against the B-pillar with no anchors at all. I would have never believed it.

[TBONE1964]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

For a day where we got a lot done, I don't have a lot of pics. The tailpipe got circumcised. The wiring got officially finished. A lot of time prepping and painting small things...seat brackets, panel brackets, hold down springs, etc. Painted the rear seat hardware GM satin, and the front flat...because I'm pretty sure the front was black phosphate from the factory and I missed that when I sent things to be plated/coated...thought that would give the best factory appearance.

You have done/are doing a fantastic job on this build Brad. Just a thought, I think you might get a better match to the factory black phosphate with a semi gloss or satin finish. I am not 100% sure what the factory finish is on a Blazer seat track but on a pick up bench seat it is something more like a zinc chromate finish.

I'll bet you are super excited to be almost done with the build. Everything is looking great and you should be proud to have such a great example of correct. I love it

Take care,
Tom

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by TBONE1964

You have done/are doing a fantastic job on this build Brad. Just a thought, I think you might get a better match to the factory black phosphate with a semi gloss or satin finish. I am not 100% sure what the factory finish is on a Blazer seat track but on a pick up bench seat it is something more like a zinc chromate finish.

I'll bet you are super excited to be almost done with the build. Everything is looking great and you should be proud to have such a great example of correct. I love it

Take care,
Tom

Thanks Tom. Here are some pics of a truck I rely on as a reference. It is a very original low mileage example. The finish on the bucket seat brackets looks to me like what you might see on hood hinges. The rear seat brackets are definitely satin (at the least, they're almost gloss). You can see what my door strikers look like in preceding posts. I sent them along with hood hinges, hood striker, etc. to be black phosphate coated. All those pieces look matte to me...so I thought flat would be the closest finish I can put on there. I figured it made sense that they would black phosphate (or Parkerize) the bucket seat brackets because they are movable and would benefit from the intrinsic lubrication of this finish.

[TBONE1964]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

Thanks Tom. Here are some pics of a truck I rely on as a reference. It is a very original low mileage example. The finish on the bucket seat brackets looks to me like what you might see on hood hinges. The rear seat brackets are definitely satin (at the least, they're almost gloss). You can see what my door strikers look like in preceding posts. I sent them along with hood hinges, hood striker, etc. to be black phosphate coated. All those pieces look matte to me...so I thought flat would be the closest finish I can put on there. I figured it made sense that they would black phosphate (or Parkerize) the bucket seat brackets because they are movable and would benefit from the intrinsic lubrication of this finish.

Either way you slice it, it is an incredible build Brad. Keep up the great work there. It looks like you are very close to logging some miles and winning some trophy's

By the way, thank you also for your suggestions on my K20. It has presented it's own set of issues but nothing I am going to lose any sleep over . If we as owners are happy, then that is all that really matters.

Good work,
Take care,
Tom

[Tom Vogel]

[QUOTE= I'm pretty sure the front was black phosphate from the factory and I missed that when I sent things to be plated/coated../QUOTE]

Where did you send out for plating? Im interested in a plater that does the black phosphate.

[IronCanine]

[quote=Tom Vogel;7183631]

Originally Posted by I'm pretty sure the front was black phosphate from the factory and I missed that when I sent things to be plated/coated../QUOTE

Where did you send out for plating? Im interested in a plater that does the black phosphate.

Ron Kaehr at Kaehr Coatings in Albuquerque, NM (you know, where people are always making wrong turns). They were great. They did my clear zinc and my black phosphate. Quick turnaround, great product, great value. Pete referred me to them. I was very pleased.