70 Blazer Frame Off

[Senorx]

Oh my!!! Been so busy the last month with work and family. Finally catching up with the build. Perfection! Honored to have made your list of helpers. Congrats on the TOTM win in July.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by Senorx

Oh my!!! Been so busy the last month with work and family. Finally catching up with the build. Perfection! Honored to have made your list of helpers. Congrats on the TOTM win in July.

Thanks Eddie.

[IronCanine]

The old girl made it back out to Eric's for some small loose ends. The cars keep getting older at the shop. I'm afraid he's about one car away from working on horses. Jack was refinished and installed as well as the jack handle and associated spring (still looking for a lug wrench...that is the proverbial last piece of the puzzle). Also put in the tailgate seal brackets and seal. I took the approach that member bigdon-70blazer took (as outlined in this thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=371141 ). It worked great. The garage seal I got was the same shape as his, but softer, just like the weatherstripping.

[Senorx]

What bolts did you use to mount the spare tire carrier? I'm taking mine to my powder coat guy soon, but I don't have the bed mount bolts yet.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by Senorx

What bolts did you use to mount the spare tire carrier? I'm taking mine to my powder coat guy soon, but I don't have the bed mount bolts yet.

Mine aren't OEM correct. The pic below is what I believe to be factory correct and I'm sure it's on a thread somewhere (probably the Blazer bolt thread). I used phosphate coated flange bolts. They matched other correctly phosphated interior bolts and I preferred the look. I got them at Fastenal...but Lowe's, Ace, everybody's got em.

[Senorx]

At this point OEM correct is slim to none. Just trying to get it installed and get my spare tire mounted. Thanks.

[Senorx]

I have so many questions about the build now that I have had a chance to read through half of it. What's the story with the blue Monroes? Are they for the stock height? Any part numbers? I need new shocks. What radiator did you buy? Part numbers? I need a new one myself. I'll have more questions, but these will satisfy my thirst for information at the moment. LOL.

[OLDYELLOW]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

The old girl made it back out to Eric's for some small loose ends. The cars keep getting older at the shop. I'm afraid he's about one car away from working on horses. Jack was refinished and installed as well as the jack handle and associated spring (still looking for a lug wrench...that is the proverbial last piece of the puzzle). Also put in the tailgate seal brackets and seal. I took the approach that member bigdon-70blazer took (as outlined in this thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=371141 ). It worked great. The garage seal I got was the same shape as his, but softer, just like the weatherstripping.

Horses? I don't think so, its been bad enough working for a jack...

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by OLDYELLOW

Horses? I don't think so, its been bad enough working for a jack...

Hey, hey now...this is a family website. Let's keep it professional. Furthermore, I think your equine epithet is unfair to both myself and the entire mule community. I've found that tenacity, persistence and consistency were productive and noble traits...and much like horses, mules don't rust...so don't be so quick to write off the horse thing.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by Senorx

I have so many questions about the build now that I have had a chance to read through half of it. What's the story with the blue Monroes? Are they for the stock height? Any part numbers? I need new shocks. What radiator did you buy? Part numbers? I need a new one myself. I'll have more questions, but these will satisfy my thirst for information at the moment. LOL.

Nothing special about the Monroes. Stock ride height/travel. I just like the color..it's classic and it fits the build. It's a re-core/rebuild of the factory Harrison. We had a little trouble with it. It came back a touch wide from the radiator shop (for some inexplicable reason) and had to be sent back...then it had a leak just before we rolled it out for the first time...and again had to be sent back. Looks great, works great now.

[IronCanine]

OK...don't freak out...but I'm about to list her on eBay. Nothing bad has happened, and never did I look at this as a flip...(they cost too much to build)...but I've know for awhile that'd she'd become much more than I intended. I was building a daily driver. There were a couple of old timers that would come by the shop and check on progress...and they'd kid me about it being a daily driver, about how it was too nice, and I was crazy...Clearly, that conversation was even had on this thread. I just wanted to build it well, so it'd be dependable...but in the process it became something that I think needs to be kept in a temperature controlled environment and washed with a spray bottle. I began to become aware that those guys were going to be right about the time we got that beautiful roller done. I'm not a collector at this point in my life and things have to earn their keep so to speak....and while I love wiping down the frame rails with a diaper at night, my garage is not a museum. I also know it'll never be better than it is right now. I can't envision taking the top off for fear of a mark...and where's the fun in that. I had decided that I was going to take it to the Foose Select show at YearOne, take a picture with Foose and my Dad in front of the truck, then sell it in the spring...but Foose canceled a week ago, so I decided to go ahead and bite the bullet while it's still hot(the weather that is).

You guys have been so good to me...and this has been so much fun. My Dad and I have never had something we talked about so much as this build. And I've gotten such great feedback from TOTM to our local cruise in. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything and I'm super proud of her. So it's not even bitter sweet. The part that was fun...the hunt, the learning, the camaraderie, the building, the payoff...all a blast. It's this next part where my neuroses becomes less productive and more just plain clinical anxiety. The "don't touch it", "be careful", "I knew it"...Not fun for kids, wives or husbands.

So I wanted you all to know first, before the listing went live. I also wanted us to have one more thing to do together. Let's follow the auction together and cross our fingers that she rings the bell...this may be a bad time of year...I don't know. There are no good comps for her that I can find in the last 3-5 years. Honestly Tbruz's is the closest that sold a month or so ago. Not many factory style frame off's that I've seen...a lot of mild to crazy resto-mods and refreshes. I talked to Gary Terry about a red one he did some years ago but I've never seen it.

...so let's buckle up and see how she goes, shall we...

PS VOTE PETE TOTY

[Senorx]

Noooooo, but I totally get you. Believe it or not I read the build thread from beginning to end today. Enjoyed the journey and felt your frustrations at times. The first thing that popped into my head at the end was "its so beautiful, I'd be scared to drive it". This rig needs to be at a Mecum Auction, not EBay. Better set that reserve high. Would be nice if she stayed in the family.

[Advanced Design]

Good luck with the sale!

Your top notch restoration has inspired me to try to do better on my projects so thank you for that. Plus I've enjoyed your humor along the way too..."anything older and he will be working on horses" gave my wife and I a good giggle.

[DeadheadNM]

Brad it was one heck of a fun ride and I'm really proud to have been along. Your enthusiasm and curiosity are unmatched and we owe you a debt of gratitude for the knowledge you've imparted that will aid future builds. Thanks for your effort and thanks to your family as well. Kudos to Eric for his skills. I'll follow along with the sale and please keep in touch. When you are ready for another build I'll be here. Please set a huge reserve, you deserve it Thanks for the plug!

[Blown06]

I totally understand how you're feeling and why you've decided to put it up for sale. I hope you get a good price for it and find another project that you can share on here with the rest of us. Your attention to detail has been an inspiration and I thank you for that.

[tjsblazer]

I know where you're coming from. My first midyear restoration on a '68 bigblock Vette ended up going that way. One thing leads to another and then it ends up way nicer than the General ever shipped it from the factory. Then you end up driving it a fraction of what you initially intended. It's a slippery slope.
That's a great looking rig. A new owner is going to be very lucky. Thanks for all your help through questions and this build thread. I reference it often.
Cheers, Jeff.

[Chulisohombre]

Great job either way and good luck on resale. Hate to see anyone sell their awesome trucks. Hopefully a good new project pops up for you. Or just a good truck in good shape you can drive and enjoy.

[IronCanine]

Thanks Guys...I'm not going anywhere, I've enjoyed this part of it too much. And there'll be another project sooner or later. That definitely was too much fun. I really appreciate all your kind words and comments...you guys are the best.

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

Brad, your build was impeccable to say the least and I'm a little sadden to see you let that beautiful restored K5 go, but I understand you have to do what you feel is best. Just make sure it goes to a worthy owner who will appreciate the hard work that went into this. As much money as I think you have wrapped up in this, I hope you make out on your end or at least break even.

Good luck! I'll be watching

[mtully79]

Saw the ad...shows well and is hands down the best one to come across Ebay in a very long time.

Good luck with the sale and future projects!

[tristan]

I will think of you and your beautiful Blazer every time I consult my jack instruction decal.

Seriously, I hope the auction is a bellweather for the 1969-72s. I don't think it is the majority opinion here but I believe they deserve to sell for much more $$$s than they have to date. Maybe you can push the market for those of us who feel that way.

Good luck and thanks for sharing your restoration journey with us.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by 72K5CSTDarkOlive

Brad, your build was impeccable to say the least and I'm a little sadden to see you let that beautiful restored K5 go, but I understand you have to do what you feel is best. Just make sure it goes to a worthy owner who will appreciate the hard work that went into this. As much money as I think you have wrapped up in this, I hope you make out on your end or at least break even.

Good luck! I'll be watching

Originally Posted by mtully79

Saw the ad...shows well and is hands down the best one to come across Ebay in a very long time.

Good luck with the sale and future projects!

Originally Posted by tristan

I will think of you and your beautiful Blazer every time I consult my jack instruction decal.

Seriously, I hope the auction is a bellweather for the 1969-72s. I don't think it is the majority opinion here but I believe they deserve to sell for much more $$$s than they have to date. Maybe you can push the market for those of us who feel that way.

Good luck and thanks for sharing your restoration journey with us.

Thanks Guys.

[chipflyer]

What an amazing build and great experience! You have done an absolutely great job and own probably the nicest blazer on the planet! I'm proud to have been able to play a small part in your build!

Jeff

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by chipflyer

What an amazing build and great experience! You have done an absolutely great job and own probably the nicest blazer on the planet! I'm proud to have been able to play a small part in your build!

Jeff

Thanks Jeff, that means a lot. One of the fun-est parts was your help building that very St. Louis-y SPID. I wonder how many people are looking at that pic on eBay and thinking "A50 and Z84 shouldn't be in the same SPID!"....and then I smugly think, I know chipflyer...and they don't know CHIP!

[72blaz]

What a fantastic build and the attention to detail is incredible. I'll be using your build as a reference point for a long time.