Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint

[smbrouss70]

OK, I finally got the shifter in... about 2 months later than planned. I had to work, then had some stuff come up, and then I got lazy, then lost interest, then took a nap, etc. When I first tried to install the shifter, it wouldn't seat all the way down on the transmission. The stub was too long sticking out of the bottom. I made some measurements and found that it was 0.1345" longer than it should have been. I probably should have sent the shifter back to the Core Shifters, but I had already modified the top of the shifter stub to allow me to use my Lokar stick, which he argued with me about using a Hurst stick before I even bought it. I did contact him and let him know the issue I was having. He wanted me to get a measurement on the transmission itself. I tried to get what he was after but I couldn't duplicate my measurement, which to me means that they weren't good measurements. To get what he wanted "accurately", I would have had to gut my interior to remove the high hump or pull the transmission to be able to get an accurate measurement. I'm way too lazy to do all of that.

The measurement that I got for the difference between the 2 shifter stubs turns out is the exact thickness of 10 ga. cold rolled steel. I decided that I was going to make a shim to go between the tower and the plate that bots to the transmission out of 10 ga. sheetmetal, effectively raising the tower and therefore the stub enough to allow it to all bolt up. Turns out 10 ga. sheetmetal is less common than you think since it is just slightly thicker than 1/8". I could have bought a full sheet from my local metal place, but I only needed a 4" square, so I opted to order a 12" square online that way I didn't have a full 4' x 8' sheet that I had to store afterwards. I finally got around to getting off my butt to do it last night. I made the shim, got longer bolts from Lowe's which are fully threaded and no strength was listed on them, so they'll probably break when I bang through the gears real hard. I ordered some Grade 8 4-1/2" bolts last night that should be here by next weekend, so I'll seal and final assemble it then.

It has been more of a pain than it should have been with this shifter, but the end result is FREAKIN AWESOME! I took measurements before and after the shifter swap that are listed below. I essentially cut my front to rear throw in half, and moved it all over 3-9/16" to left (closer to me). I used to have to reach way over for 5th gear, but it is now easier to reach 5th, than 1st was with the original shifter. I was afraid that it was going to put the knob right next to my leg in 1st and 2nd, but it is far enough away for it to be comfortable. I couldn't have designed something that would have worked better.

Original TKO shifter specs:
7-1/2" of throw front to rear
2-11/16" of throw side-to-side
16-1/4" tall from shift boot ring
32-15/16" from passenger door panel

New Core Shifter
3-3/4" of throw front to rear
2-1/2" of throw side-to-side
17-3/8" tall from shift boot ring
36-1/2" from passenger door panel

Difference
3-3/4" less throw front to rear
3/16" less throw side-to-side
1-1/8" taller from shift boot ring
3-9/16" further left

[smbrouss70]

Here are my 1st, 2nd, and 5th gear positions.

[smbrouss70]

And a couple of pics of the inside of the tower of the Core Shifter in case anybody cares.

[smbrouss70]

I also replaced my master cylinder lid with one that I found on instagram made by H&H Custom Rods. I think it ties in with my air cleaner very well, just need to match the sheen later.

[Palf70Step]

Very Nice!

[DeadheadNM]

Work looks great. I’ll bet the shifter is a pleasure to use.

[IronCanine]

Solid upgrades. Thanks for the pics. Would prefer audio of 2nd and 3rd though .

[smbrouss70]

Thanks Guys!

Originally Posted by IronCanine

Solid upgrades. Thanks for the pics. Would prefer audio of 2nd and 3rd though .

Just do like I do and make Vroom, Vroom noises for now. When I get the stronger bolts in and finish it up, I'll see if I can't borrow a go pro and give y'all a good driving experience while ripping through the gears.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by smbrouss70

Thanks Guys!


Just do like I do and make Vroom, Vroom noises for now. When I get the stronger bolts in and finish it up, I'll see if I can't borrow a go pro and give y'all a good driving experience while ripping through the gears.

That would be sweet. More than the vroom vroom...would like the SCREEEEEEEEECH, SCREEEEEECH, CHIRP

[gringoloco]

Only thing better than pics is vids

[smbrouss70]

I got the shifter all together yesterday and took it out to run some errands today. It's a little notchy, like it was when the transmission was new. I'm not sure if it's the shifter or the transmission. It could be that it just needs to wear in some more and I feel it more because I'm moving the stick less. I definitely need to relearn it because I tried to take off from a light in 3rd... 1st and 3rd are that close to each other! I need this quarantine BS to be over with so that I can take some road trips and get used to it now.

I don't want to record a video and make myself look like I don't know how to drive it. Plus, I need to figure out a way to mount the camera between the seats and have it actually stay there. Any ideas?

[gringoloco]

Tape it to your beer?

[smbrouss70]

You know I won't let that spill!

[smbrouss70]

I'm finally getting back to work on the Blazer. About a week after my last post, I got word that my Mom was going downhill pretty rapidly. She had been fighting Cancer for 6 1/2 years. Needless to say, I dropped my tools right where I was and spent ALL of my free time sitting next to her bed, saying all of the things that always seem to go left unsaid. It was rough watching her go down, and juggling work and everything else that life throws at you. She passed away peacefully 1 month and 1 day ago, the day after Mother's Day.

After she passed away and we had our little COVID-19 regulated burial (Don't get me started on that ), the A/C went out at my house, so we had to replace the whole thing. I guess I can't complain, I nursed 26 years out of the original unit for the house.

So here we are a month later, and I've finally gotten caught up with work. Now it's time to finish up the rack and pinion install so that I can drive it up to TN in a month for the Southeastern Chevy/GMC Truck Nationals on July 11th. Stay tuned for updates!

[DeadheadNM]

Sorry to hear about your mom Steve - hope she was comfortable and that you and your family are doing well.

[smbrouss70]

Thanks Pete. We kept her as comfortable as possible.

I just noticed that you are from Eau Claire, I'm flying up there for a wedding in August. I might have to come check out your toys.

[DeadheadNM]

You bet.

Absolutely! Please do let me know. It's a fun place up here. Lot's to do/see.

[LT7A]

I enjoyed reading about the evolution of your ride. I find that I am drawn to rigs that are not meant to be perfected. But make use of their inherent coolness, emphasize that, and upgrade from there. You don't know me at all so I don't really have a place to say much about your mom, other than I'm sorry for your loss, and I can't imagine losing mine. From an outside view, there's kind of a beauty that you had one last Mother's Day with her.

[smbrouss70]

Thanks! It means a lot when people recognize the Blazer for what is, a fun, cool, work-in-progress.

I appreciate the condolences for my Mom's passing.

[smbrouss70]

I haven't gotten much done on the Blazer for a while. I know everybody had a bad year, but with Mom passing away and work going crazy during all of the lockdown BS, I just haven't done any of the stuff I wanted to get done.

I did spend a couple of weekends cleaning up the shop to make room for a couple of additional vehicles that will be stored in there. I bought my Dad's 1967 GTO, and I'm going to be a caretaker for a friend's vehicle while he is off saving the world.

I figured while I had the shop cleared out enough, I might as well get the lift that I've been wanting. This weekend, a couple of friends and I installed my new BendPak HD-9XW 4-post lift. I should have bought this when I built the shop. It would have made transmission and suspension swaps so much easier.

Now that it is up and operational, I can finally get started installing the rack & pinion that I got from No Limit and cure my squirrelly steering.

[Palf70Step]

Glad to see you got that in. It should make things a tad easier.

[DeadheadNM]

Nice addition. How did the install go? Curious what minimum slab thickness is to place the lift - 9"?

[smbrouss70]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Nice addition. How did the install go? Curious what minimum slab thickness is to place the lift - 9"?

We put it together in one day and had it operational that night. It was fairly simple with a couple of friends and a tractor/engine hoist to handle the weight of certain pieces. There were a couple of times that the instructions weren't exactly clear, but it was easy enough to figure out what needed to be done.

Since it is a 4-post lift it is free standing and is only "recommended", not "required" to anchor it to the concrete. I bought the caster kit from BendPak which will allow me to move it around in my shop. If it was anchored, you would lose that ability.

According to their website, the minimum concrete thickness is 4.25" 3000PSI concrete that is cured at least 28 days. My concrete is 6" 5000 PSI in the shop and been cured for over 5 years.

[DeadheadNM]

Excellent! Thanks for the detailed info. I had no idea that casters were an option on a four post lift.

[gringoloco]

Man, that thing looks good from every angle. If I’m bottom bunk, we’re gonna need to address bed wetting (oil leaks)