AJ's '72 Cruiser Crawler Build - Page 3 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

BLUE THUNDER · 09-16-2008, 09:35 PM

does the th350 still work?

AJs72K5 · 09-16-2008, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLUE THUNDER

does the th350 still work?

Nope. Don't know the extent of the damage yet. No gears forward or reverse. For all intensive purposes, it's a core.

AJs72K5 · 09-16-2008, 10:50 PM

UPDATE 9/16/08: We (I had help tonight) got the TH350/NP205 combo out of the truck. It was a battle just about every step of the way. The dual exhaust made it difficult to pull the tranny crossmember out. We ended up disconnecting the collectors and a couple of exhaust hangers to get some room...the collectors are resting on the floor at this point. Once we got the crossmember down, tranny got hung up on the headers...this may have partly been because we pulled the 350/205 out as a complete unit. I wish I had a taken a pic of the carnage underneath the truck, but I didn't. The only pic of the night was the purple 350/205 sitting on a tranny jack in the corner.

Tomorrow night: start the 700r4 install!

**Yukon Jack** · 09-17-2008, 09:15 AM

I'm eager to see the new tranny in place!

AJs72K5 · 09-17-2008, 11:12 PM

UPDATE 9/17/08: The tranny is bolted in! We mocked up the crossmember and it is moved back about 1.5". The tall style 700r4/208 or 700r4/241 adapter is definately the way to go. It's a direct bolt in with the 1st gen crossmember. We still need to do all the small stuff with the tranny...hook up the cable shifter, TV cable, torque converter lockout, and the tranny cooler. We also need to bolt in the 241.

Here's a pic of the installed 700r4 showing the adapter and crossmember.

Tomorrow night: bolt in the 241 and attempt to get some of the wiring and cable related stuff done on the 700r4.

AJs72K5 · 09-18-2008, 11:36 PM

UPDATE 9/18/08: The transfer case and the crossmember are in! All of the heavy lifting is now done.

700r4/SYE241

There are a number of outstanding items I still need to take care of to button up the install:

Things to acquire:

Flange style with CV front driveshaft from an 89ish burb, truck, or blazer
Speedo gear and mount off of same truck for the 241
Shift linkage bracket for the 241 off the same truck
Shift linkage rod for the 241 off the same truck

Things to do/build:

Machine ~1/4" off of the rear 1350 yoke
Shorten the rear drive shaft
Build a shifter bracket that is at least half as cool as Greg72's. I want to adapt the factory 205 shifter to the 241. I like the idea of building something that will mount to the tail of the tranny. I may try to figure out a cable shift option
Install the torque converter lockout
Install the TV cable. The cable Monster sent me was long enough, however the shield was about 4" too short. I just opened up a ticket with them about this. It looks like I can reuse the TH350 kickdown cable bracket
Install trans cooler
Install the rear crossmember
Fab a new skid plate...the transfer case is resting on the factory one.
Reinstall and adjust the B&M floor mounted cable shifter
Fill all the fluids
Bleed the brakes

This stuff will have to wait a week or so. I need a night off tomorrow as I have more than used up my kitchen passes with the wife this week. Also, this weekend is the opening weekend of dove season in South Texas. It woulda been kicka$$ to have the truck ready and drive it out there...maybe next year.

Jtrux · 09-19-2008, 10:40 AM

Looks good AJ, I was starting to wonder how you got all these free nights off, guess it's catching up to you now.

Big J · 09-24-2008, 06:07 PM

Its lookin' good. Check this guy out for your driveshaft needs. I've bought from him before and he makes nice stuff. http://www.4xshaft.com/index.html

BLUE THUNDER · 10-12-2008, 09:39 AM

Nice wheeling. I was def motivated to get mine closer to running after seeing your Blazer and Steve's '67 swb 4x4. The tranny and t-case both come out today dammit!!!!!!!

Chevyman63 · 10-12-2008, 10:49 AM

Nice work AJ...the Blazer looks great.

vtblazer · 10-13-2008, 05:03 AM

Careful...
Once you do it in the rocks ya never go back.

Glad you got it done for the show, impressive.

**Yukon Jack** · 10-13-2008, 09:38 AM

Congrats on the trophy!

AJs72K5 · 02-01-2009, 02:54 PM

UPDATE 02/01/09: Been a while since I did an update. Just been driving it this fall and doing "tweaks" here and there. Nothing noteworthy. Some of my b-day stuff showed up from UPS and had some time to put it on yesterday.

Wire looms, poly tranny mount, shifter labels (so I can tell when I'm in 1st gear), and prop valve (more on that later)

When I jacked up the tranny, the tcase hit the floor of the body. Barely enough room to wedge them in.

Been doing a little cleaning up of the engine compartment here and there. The looms were a nice touch, and functional. They get my plug wires off of the headers.

Didn't have time to do the prop valve. But here's what's going on. Even with the Inline tube (4 wheel disc) prop valve, the rear tires are locking up before the fronts. Not sure how good of an investment that was. Anyways, that's next weekend's project...

Chevyman63 · 02-01-2009, 04:42 PM

Looking good AJ.

BLUE THUNDER · 02-01-2009, 11:51 PM

Lookin good dude. How much were the trans mounts and where'd you get them? When I put the new tranny in I noticed mine were pretty crapped out. Anyways, I'm getting really close to getting Ol' Yeller on the road. I drove it down the block the other day. I was pretty stoked. That's when I found out the brake booster had seen better days. I'm gonna take it to have the exhaust done next weekend and try to fix the small electrical problem it has. Anyways, glad to see your Blazer is coming along so well. Later dude.

AJs72K5 · 02-01-2009, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLUE THUNDER

Lookin good dude. How much were the trans mounts and where'd you get them?

Summit racing. About $55.

vtblazer · 02-02-2009, 07:17 AM

Looks like it's about ready for a long trip...Tenn perhaps.

Really nice blazer your building!

**lks dcvn** · 02-02-2009, 09:42 AM

Nice work AJ! Coming along very well.

**jaros44sr** · 02-02-2009, 11:45 AM

Nice flat black VC's and air cleaner, got a closeup of the DS cowl, back of head. How much clearance is there?

Post up about prop. valve, curious to see how it works out

Nice improvements so far...

BLUE THUNDER · 02-08-2009, 03:17 AM

Dude those rock!!!!!! Can he make me a pair?

BLUE THUNDER · 02-08-2009, 09:31 PM

Hey AJ, hook us up with the tow hooks. They are really sweet and totally functional. I need a set.

AJs72K5 · 02-08-2009, 09:56 PM

Was really a one time deal by a friend on another board. They were $150 (mostly from the waterjet time).

AJs72K5 · 02-28-2009, 08:48 PM

UPDATE 02/28/09: Been kinda quiet the past month after the engine fire on 2/08. Most of the damage was to the hood, the firewall, the distributor cap, and a whole bunch of wiring. Huge thanks to everyone that offered support, help, and parts after the fire. You guys are great!

Here's the pics of the carnage.

The good news is that insurance covered most of the damage. So, I've spent the past couple of weeks deciding what direction to take with the truck. To fix the firewall properly, the engine would need to come out. As long as the firewall was getting worked on and the engine was out, "might as well" get the hacked up firewall patched correctly. So, I started tearing the front clip off to prep for pulling the engine. Here's how far I've gotten as of this afternoon.

If you look close under the dash, right above the tranny hump, you can see the sheet metal that is just screwed in to cover up the hole they cut.

A whole big mess of parts that came off

And well, I figured as long as the engine was out I "might as well" do a little upgrade. I picked this up used from a member from a fellow board member.

More to come...

BLUE THUNDER · 03-01-2009, 03:03 PM

Nice fuel injection set up. Glad to see insurance is covering most of the damage.

**lks dcvn** · 03-01-2009, 06:56 PM

AJ - what else do you need to get it up and running again - maybe I got something you can use...shoot me a PM with what you need.

09-16-2008, 09:35 PM	#1
BLUE THUNDER Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Antonio Posts: 993	Re: AJs 72 Pavement Pounder build does the th350 still work?

09-16-2008, 10:50 PM	#3
AJs72K5 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: South Tx Posts: 1,083	Re: AJs 72 Pavement Pounder build UPDATE 9/16/08: We (I had help tonight) got the TH350/NP205 combo out of the truck. It was a battle just about every step of the way. The dual exhaust made it difficult to pull the tranny crossmember out. We ended up disconnecting the collectors and a couple of exhaust hangers to get some room...the collectors are resting on the floor at this point. Once we got the crossmember down, tranny got hung up on the headers...this may have partly been because we pulled the 350/205 out as a complete unit. I wish I had a taken a pic of the carnage underneath the truck, but I didn't. The only pic of the night was the purple 350/205 sitting on a tranny jack in the corner. Tomorrow night: start the 700r4 install! __________________ - AJ Gray Matter Build - 1972 K5 with some stuff

09-17-2008, 09:15 AM	#4
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,684	Re: AJs 72 Pavement Pounder build I'm eager to see the new tranny in place! __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14

09-17-2008, 11:12 PM	#5
AJs72K5 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: South Tx Posts: 1,083	Re: AJs 72 Pavement Pounder build UPDATE 9/17/08: The tranny is bolted in! We mocked up the crossmember and it is moved back about 1.5". The tall style 700r4/208 or 700r4/241 adapter is definately the way to go. It's a direct bolt in with the 1st gen crossmember. We still need to do all the small stuff with the tranny...hook up the cable shifter, TV cable, torque converter lockout, and the tranny cooler. We also need to bolt in the 241. Here's a pic of the installed 700r4 showing the adapter and crossmember. Tomorrow night: bolt in the 241 and attempt to get some of the wiring and cable related stuff done on the 700r4. __________________ - AJ Gray Matter Build - 1972 K5 with some stuff Last edited by AJs72K5; 09-19-2008 at 12:28 AM.

09-18-2008, 11:36 PM	#6
AJs72K5 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: South Tx Posts: 1,083	Re: AJs 72 Pavement Pounder build UPDATE 9/18/08: The transfer case and the crossmember are in! All of the heavy lifting is now done. 700r4/SYE241 There are a number of outstanding items I still need to take care of to button up the install: Things to acquire: Flange style with CV front driveshaft from an 89ish burb, truck, or blazer Speedo gear and mount off of same truck for the 241 Shift linkage bracket for the 241 off the same truck Shift linkage rod for the 241 off the same truck Things to do/build: Machine ~1/4" off of the rear 1350 yoke Shorten the rear drive shaft Build a shifter bracket that is at least half as cool as Greg72's. I want to adapt the factory 205 shifter to the 241. I like the idea of building something that will mount to the tail of the tranny. I may try to figure out a cable shift option Install the torque converter lockout Install the TV cable. The cable Monster sent me was long enough, however the shield was about 4" too short. I just opened up a ticket with them about this. It looks like I can reuse the TH350 kickdown cable bracket Install trans cooler Install the rear crossmember Fab a new skid plate...the transfer case is resting on the factory one. Reinstall and adjust the B&M floor mounted cable shifter Fill all the fluids Bleed the brakes This stuff will have to wait a week or so. I need a night off tomorrow as I have more than used up my kitchen passes with the wife this week. Also, this weekend is the opening weekend of dove season in South Texas. It woulda been kicka$$ to have the truck ready and drive it out there...maybe next year. __________________ - AJ Gray Matter Build - 1972 K5 with some stuff

09-19-2008, 10:40 AM	#7
Jtrux I'm a poor spectator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Antonio, Tx Posts: 2,287	Re: AJs 72 Pavement Pounder build Looks good AJ, I was starting to wonder how you got all these free nights off, guess it's catching up to you now. __________________ 2006 Jeep Unlimited IMPACT ORANGE 1993 Chevy 2500 4x4 ExCab LWB 454/NV4500 Tow rig 1977 Ford F100 2x4 LWB 1st truck I owned, still have it!!! 1979 Ford F150 4x4 SWB Built Ford Tough!!! 1971 Chevy Blazer 350 / SM465 / NP205 UNDER CONSTRUCTION Soon to have a LQ4 6.0!!!

09-24-2008, 06:07 PM	#8
Big J Its lookin' like a Blazer! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Gods Country, KY Posts: 1,773	Re: AJs 72 Pavement Pounder build Its lookin' good. Check this guy out for your driveshaft needs. I've bought from him before and he makes nice stuff. http://www.4xshaft.com/index.html __________________ BAZINGA! My Build

10-12-2008, 09:39 AM	#9
BLUE THUNDER Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Antonio Posts: 993	Re: AJs 72 Pavement Pounder build Nice wheeling. I was def motivated to get mine closer to running after seeing your Blazer and Steve's '67 swb 4x4. The tranny and t-case both come out today dammit!!!!!!!

10-12-2008, 10:49 AM	#10
Chevyman63 Can't wait to retire!! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Corunna, MI Posts: 1,575	Re: AJs 72 Pavement Pounder build Nice work AJ...the Blazer looks great. __________________ 2009 4x4 Chevy Crew Cab 6.0 1989 4x4 Siverado (270,000 miles) 1972 4x4 Blazer 2007 Chevy Cutaway 1 ton 1970 Corvette (sons project) RIP - CLR 10/11/09

10-13-2008, 05:03 AM	#11
vtblazer Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Central Vermont Posts: 8,538	Re: AJs 72 Pavement Pounder build Careful... Once you do it in the rocks ya never go back. Glad you got it done for the show, impressive.

10-13-2008, 09:38 AM	#12
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,684	Re: AJs 72 Pavement Pounder build Congrats on the trophy! __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14

02-01-2009, 02:54 PM	#13
AJs72K5 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: South Tx Posts: 1,083	Re: AJs 72 Pavement Pounder build UPDATE 02/01/09: Been a while since I did an update. Just been driving it this fall and doing "tweaks" here and there. Nothing noteworthy. Some of my b-day stuff showed up from UPS and had some time to put it on yesterday. Wire looms, poly tranny mount, shifter labels (so I can tell when I'm in 1st gear), and prop valve (more on that later) When I jacked up the tranny, the tcase hit the floor of the body. Barely enough room to wedge them in. Been doing a little cleaning up of the engine compartment here and there. The looms were a nice touch, and functional. They get my plug wires off of the headers. Didn't have time to do the prop valve. But here's what's going on. Even with the Inline tube (4 wheel disc) prop valve, the rear tires are locking up before the fronts. Not sure how good of an investment that was. Anyways, that's next weekend's project... __________________ - AJ Gray Matter Build - 1972 K5 with some stuff Last edited by AJs72K5; 02-01-2009 at 03:55 PM.

02-01-2009, 04:42 PM	#14
Chevyman63 Can't wait to retire!! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Corunna, MI Posts: 1,575	Re: AJs 72 Pavement Pounder build Looking good AJ. __________________ 2009 4x4 Chevy Crew Cab 6.0 1989 4x4 Siverado (270,000 miles) 1972 4x4 Blazer 2007 Chevy Cutaway 1 ton 1970 Corvette (sons project) RIP - CLR 10/11/09

02-01-2009, 11:51 PM	#15
BLUE THUNDER Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Antonio Posts: 993	Re: AJs 72 Pavement Pounder build Lookin good dude. How much were the trans mounts and where'd you get them? When I put the new tranny in I noticed mine were pretty crapped out. Anyways, I'm getting really close to getting Ol' Yeller on the road. I drove it down the block the other day. I was pretty stoked. That's when I found out the brake booster had seen better days. I'm gonna take it to have the exhaust done next weekend and try to fix the small electrical problem it has. Anyways, glad to see your Blazer is coming along so well. Later dude.

02-02-2009, 07:17 AM	#17
vtblazer Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Central Vermont Posts: 8,538	Re: AJs 72 Pavement Pounder build Looks like it's about ready for a long trip...Tenn perhaps. Really nice blazer your building!



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02-02-2009, 09:42 AM	#18
lks dcvn Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 4,347	Re: AJs 72 Pavement Pounder build Nice work AJ! Coming along very well.

02-02-2009, 11:45 AM	#19
jaros44sr Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Philadelphia, Pa. 19454 Posts: 9,707	Re: AJs 72 Pavement Pounder build Nice flat black VC's and air cleaner, got a closeup of the DS cowl, back of head. How much clearance is there? Post up about prop. valve, curious to see how it works out Nice improvements so far... __________________ Semper Fi...Uncle Sam, you da man All parts offered to help are free, unless otherwise noted Dont try this stuff in my build thread, unless you have 55 years of mechanical OTJ training SAFETY FIRST AS usual, off topic They say your mind goes second, can't remember the first Jim Last edited by jaros44sr; 02-02-2009 at 11:49 AM.

02-08-2009, 03:17 AM	#20
BLUE THUNDER Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Antonio Posts: 993	Re: AJs 72 Pavement Pounder build Dude those rock!!!!!! Can he make me a pair?

02-08-2009, 09:31 PM	#21
BLUE THUNDER Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Antonio Posts: 993	Re: AJs 72 Pavement Pounder build Hey AJ, hook us up with the tow hooks. They are really sweet and totally functional. I need a set.

02-08-2009, 09:56 PM	#22
AJs72K5 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: South Tx Posts: 1,083	Re: AJs 72 Pavement Pounder build Was really a one time deal by a friend on another board. They were $150 (mostly from the waterjet time). __________________ - AJ Gray Matter Build - 1972 K5 with some stuff Last edited by AJs72K5; 01-03-2011 at 11:04 PM.

02-28-2009, 08:48 PM	#23
AJs72K5 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: South Tx Posts: 1,083	Re: AJs 72 Pavement Pounder build UPDATE 02/28/09: Been kinda quiet the past month after the engine fire on 2/08. Most of the damage was to the hood, the firewall, the distributor cap, and a whole bunch of wiring. Huge thanks to everyone that offered support, help, and parts after the fire. You guys are great! Here's the pics of the carnage. The good news is that insurance covered most of the damage. So, I've spent the past couple of weeks deciding what direction to take with the truck. To fix the firewall properly, the engine would need to come out. As long as the firewall was getting worked on and the engine was out, "might as well" get the hacked up firewall patched correctly. So, I started tearing the front clip off to prep for pulling the engine. Here's how far I've gotten as of this afternoon. If you look close under the dash, right above the tranny hump, you can see the sheet metal that is just screwed in to cover up the hole they cut. A whole big mess of parts that came off And well, I figured as long as the engine was out I "might as well" do a little upgrade. I picked this up used from a member from a fellow board member. More to come... __________________ - AJ Gray Matter Build - 1972 K5 with some stuff Last edited by AJs72K5; 11-16-2009 at 05:52 PM.

03-01-2009, 03:03 PM	#24
BLUE THUNDER Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Antonio Posts: 993	Re: AJs 72 Pavement Pounder build Nice fuel injection set up. Glad to see insurance is covering most of the damage.

03-01-2009, 06:56 PM	#25
lks dcvn Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 4,347	Re: AJs 72 Pavement Pounder build AJ - what else do you need to get it up and running again - maybe I got something you can use...shoot me a PM with what you need.

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