Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build

[my67chevytruck]

great progress....

[shaneschevys]

Yall are doing a great job on the blazer. I would be scared to death replacing what you have done.

[lks dcvn]

Having spent numerous hours in the cold garage working on my stuff - I can see that there is a LOT of time there...it isn't until you do one yourself do you have an appreciation for the amount of time that goes into this stuff.

I was out there last night just trimming a floor patch and that took me more time than I thought it would...

Keep up the good work!

[my67chevytruck]

Originally Posted by 1956cameo

my67chevytruck, Thanks! I know it doesn't look like much but this week was alot of work!

I understand, i did the rust repair on my son's trucks. it takes time and patience. you all are doing a stand up job!

Originally Posted by lks dcvn

Having spent numerous hours in the cold garage working on my stuff - I can see that there is a LOT of time there...it isn't until you do one yourself do you have an appreciation for the amount of time that goes into this stuff.
I agree 100%I was out there last night just trimming a floor patch and that took me more time than I thought it would...

Been down this road too...

Keep up the good work!

[Yukon Jack]

Great progress!

[OARNGESI]

blazers looking good

[1956cameo]

Thanks for all the comments everyone!

[1956cameo]

Last week I started tearing into the drivers side rocker area. ALOT of rot; at least the blazer is giving me alot of metal working experience before starting on my 56' Cameo project or 55' Bel Air project!


Here is a picture of the rocker area after cutting the rotten outer rocker and outer floor section off. I used what was left of the rocker box to help me line up the outer floor section when I tacked it on.



The rotten front door pillar prior to the rotten area bieng cut off. This is the part of the rocker area that I am using as a reference point to line everything up from. I made sure to get everything (door pillar panel, outer floor panel, and hatch channel) lined up perfectly right here. Anything from this spot should either fit into place or be modified to fit into place according to the placement of these three "foundation" panels.



The base of my foundation started from where the hole for the front fender was sitting. I used this point since it remained unmoved in its original location. As you can see the first panel that needed patching was the hat channel.



I know that repop hat channels are only about $10 but I like to patch with original GM metal whenever given the opportunity. So I took a section of hat channel from my donor floor panel and welded it into place.

[1956cameo]

After getting the hat channel into place I went ahead and got the outer floor section tacked into place. With this in place I now have something to line all of the outer rocker panels and kick panels to.



Out of fear that I am going to put all of my patch panels into place only to find out that they won't allow a door to shut over them I bolted the rusted out original drivers door back on.



The next step was to put the door pillar patch back on but unfortunately I ran out of time. The next time I get out to work on it I will do that, put the kick panel patch into place, and start working on the rear rocker area. Here is a shot of what that looks like as of now.



I didn't get to work on the blazer this week because I had alot of family time going on. Next week I am hoping to knock out another couple of days of work on it.

[jaros44sr]

[QUOTE=1956cameo;3829288]After getting the hat channel into place I went ahead and got the outer floor section tacked into place. With this in place I now have something to line all of the outer rocker panels and kick panels to.


Cameo, how do you like those clamps. Been thinking of buying a set...worth the money?

[VA72C10]

Good progress. Will be following along.

[Jeffs70]

Great job you have going here, I know its alot of work I am also replacing the rocker panel and patching the floor on my 71. I never knew how much work it would be till I just dug into it, but its much worth it when your finished. I cant wait to be done with that end of the project tomorrow. I never dug into something so deep like this but it actually was simple just time consuming.

again Great job your doing here. You will be enjoying it when your finished thats for sure.

[lks dcvn]

There seems to be several of these rebuilds going on at the same time - always nice to see them being saved from the crusher.

Keep up the good work!

[1956cameo]

Thanks everyone!

[Hart_Rod]

Sweet build. Looks like I may be picking one of these up this weekend.....

[1956cameo]

Thanks Hart Rod! I don't post much on your burb build however I have been keeping up with it regularly. If you do a 2wd blazer half as good as that burb it is going to be SWEET!!

[my67chevytruck]

great progress.

[VA72C10]

that part came out nice...great progress.

[1956cameo]

my67chevytruck, Thanks!

VA72C10, Thanks!

lks dcvn, I will be extremely happy when the metal work in this area is over! Everything in this area is hard to reach and it so rusty you cant tell what you are looking at half the time.

Well its good to see someone sells that part I made; but for that price I am sure glad I made my own. It took me about 2 hours to make with a little trial and error. I strongly encourage you to attempt to make your own. It wasn't very complex. I went ahead and bit the bullet and bought the rocker box reinforcement plates and the blazer rear floor supports. I was going to patch mine or make my own but I didn't have enough good metal to save them or to make a pattern for a homemade patch from. Thanks for all the input and tips you keep helping me with!

[PHAT TONY]

Awsome!! I don't know many with the intestinal fortitude required to not only take on and start a project like this but to also see it even to this point of fab work....When you're drivin this sucker and someone says "nice Blazer", you should well be proud.

[nonamecharlie]

My truck is starting to leak in this area, after looking at your picutres I am convinces it is coming form this place under the cowel. The problem is I am not sure how to fix it. I want to stop the leak to save the door jams and the side wall before it gets bad, but I don't want to disasemble the entire sidewall like this.

Is there a rubber seal I can replace to stop the damage? I don't have much damage right now, I think just stopping the water from getting in will be enough.

[Jeffs70]

Originally Posted by nonamecharlie

My truck is starting to leak in this area, after looking at your picutres I am convinces it is coming form this place under the cowel. The problem is I am not sure how to fix it. I want to stop the leak to save the door jams and the side wall before it gets bad, but I don't want to disasemble the entire sidewall like this.

Is there a rubber seal I can replace to stop the damage? I don't have much damage right now, I think just stopping the water from getting in will be enough.

IMHO I believe the cowl and vents inside the cab are a big problem with these trucks, The cowl alone gathers tons of water through time down along the doors and posts all due to the fact these trucks have the vents, If this area was reworked to get rid of those vents and close off the cowl none of these trucks would have these problems as much as they do. also think about all the other crap that gets piled up under the cowl and in the vents through time.

[1956cameo]

PHAT TONY, Thanks! It is definately easy to give up on a project that needs as much resurrecting as this one. Getting support and encouragement from members of the forum definately helps.

nonamecharlie, I wish I could help you with a simpler solution than what I have done but I don't know of any other solutions that aeren't simply temporary fixes. Maybe someone else on here can give you some suggestions.

Jeffs70, I definately agree with what you say. The whold cowl section is simply a moisture trap.

[nonamecharlie]

OK, Thanks for the information. I guess I will just try and cover it when parked in the rain, and repair the minor rust issues in the cab now. Out here in California it never gets all that bad.

It does look like there isn't much way to stop it, I don't think water is supposed to drip in the cab from under the dash, so there must be some seal up there to prevent that (I get water droplets on the e-brake pedel and the carpet underneath)
On the passanger side it gets drips on the top right corner of the carpet. The carpet gets pretty wet when it rains good.

Cameo - If this is a design problem, won't this just happen again to you blazer in another 20 years of weather? Maybe you should seal it off like Jeffs70 suggested.

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by Jeffs70

IMHO I believe the cowl and vents inside the cab are a big problem with these trucks, The cowl alone gathers tons of water through time down along the doors and posts all due to the fact these trucks have the vents, If this area was reworked to get rid of those vents and close off the cowl none of these trucks would have these problems as much as they do. also think about all the other crap that gets piled up under the cowl and in the vents through time.

It's not that it is a bad design, but more so owner neglect! If you keep the crap out, nothing will block the drainage holes. If you take these things apart you will see that there is alot of unpainted metal inside. The system is designed to allow water to flow on thru. It should have a screen over the area in front of the windshield

JMHO, but I like the idea of the air flowing through the cab, and the vent windows are tops in my book for the amount of air flowing thru

Please don't take this as agrumentative, but just my opinion

And to answer nonamecharlie's question, yes it will probably happen again in 20 years...but I won't be around to deal with it.lol