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#51 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 1,023
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
Keith knows drops for sure!
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#52 | ||
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Oblong, Illinois
Posts: 7,028
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
Quote:
Quote:
And I sure appreciate the help! |
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#53 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Oblong, Illinois
Posts: 7,028
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
And I struggled a bit figuring out which way the Holley LS swap mounts installed. Their instructions were general in nature and had zero pictures. Again my struggle was due to my lack of experience (or just lack of clear thinking)……
So I called Holley help line. The rep there referred me to an outside website from someone doing a C10 swap using Holley mounts. That guy was selling a book on building a C10. Maybe I should buy it! Anyway the mounts are in. |
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#54 |
Senior Member
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Location: Oblong, Illinois
Posts: 7,028
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
Brake lines are in. The lines were in excellent condition, so we just cleaned them up and re-used them. I remember spending a LOT of time bending lines for the 48 truck (avatar pic) and the 56 Bel Air. I have yet to have anyone say…”Hey man, nice lines!” So I decided not to sweat these too much. Actually they look decent.
Before I torqued the castle nut on the ball joints I thought I better double check with Detroit Speed. The spindles came with zero instructions. It didn’t feel right to crank the castle nut down on that nice aluminum. Glad I did. Detroit Speed includes hardened washers, in the bigger kits, for placement under the castle nut. So I picked up some grade 8 washers from Fastenal and have them in place. Borgenson got the call for one of their power steering gear boxes. Back when Gary Mullins owned the gear box portion of that business (he sold to Borgensen Universal joint company), I had one of his gear boxes in a 55 Chevy I built. Bought one from Borgenson for the 56 Bel Air and I’ve been very happy with it! The center link and new steering parts received their new paint from Mrs AD. Who doesn’t enjoy bolting clean new parts together? |
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#55 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: West Plains, Missouri
Posts: 7,557
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
Doug, coming along nicely...Jim
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my build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=459839 Jimbo's long bed step build:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...t=464626<br /> |
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#56 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Scotts, Michigan
Posts: 3,770
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
That chassis is looking great Doug. Making short work of it.
Marc
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…………...........__________ .................. ((__|__||___\____ ..;.;;.:;:;.,;..;((_(O))____ (_(O)) 1948 Chevy Truck - Finished SOLD!! 1953 Chevy Suburban "Family Truckster" Completed: Spring of 2021 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=605484 1994 4x4 Blazer - "Field Find" https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...ferrerid=30857 |
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#57 |
67-72 parts collector,…
![]() Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Mid-MO
Posts: 22,698
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
Interesting that the outer tie rod bolts in from the bottom side.
Can the bolt on spindle arms be swapped to the other side and then the tie rods could bolt on from the top like stock spindles?
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Keith Convert to disc brakes. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823 |
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#58 |
Post Whore
![]() ![]() Join Date: May 2015
Location: Alabama
Posts: 14,631
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
("Interesting that the outer tie rod bolts in from the bottom side")
i was wondering the same thing Keith.. so i went google searching...all the pics i saw of dse installed spindles are "upsidedown" like Dougs are
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Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver |
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#59 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Oblong, Illinois
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
The spindle arms could probably be swapped left for right. I would guess the spindle arm mounting surface, going against the aluminum, was machined smooth for a more consistent and stable mating surface. And the exposed surface on the opposite side isn’t. Just theorizing on my part.
The interesting question is why did DSE develop and produce them this way, with the tie rod ends pointing up? Maybe something to do with keeping the tie rod in the same plane of the center link at typical vehicle weight and dropped ride height? Or more likely it has to do with their Speed Max system that is complete from their own designed suspension crossmember, through a steering rack and out to the brake rotors. |
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#60 |
Senior Member
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Location: Oblong, Illinois
Posts: 7,028
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
Thanks Jim, we’re hitting it pretty steady. Hope you guys are well! Have missed you all.
Thanks Marc, we are trying. Really enjoying our time in the shop this winter!
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Doug Advanced Design’s 1977 Blazer Build Advanced Design's '48 'Burb Build Mrs Advanced Design's '72 Suburban Advanced Design's 56 BelAir LS swap Last edited by Advanced Design; 02-03-2023 at 06:18 PM. |
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#61 |
67-72 parts collector,…
![]() Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Mid-MO
Posts: 22,698
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
Definitely makes more sense after seeing the spindle arm location in relation to the hub centerline.
Thanks for the pics. Looks like top quality parts there.
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Keith Convert to disc brakes. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823 |
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#62 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Oblong, Illinois
Posts: 7,028
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
I ended up going this route for rear shock mounting.
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#63 |
Senior Member
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Location: Oblong, Illinois
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
It was almost funny how I struggled loading the pads into the clips on the calipers.
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#64 |
Senior Member
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Location: Oblong, Illinois
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
An hour later I was still struggling though not as frustrated.
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#65 |
Senior Member
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Location: Oblong, Illinois
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
Changing to the retention clips that came with the pads solved the interference issue I was fighting.
Detroit speed provided the GM part numbers for the calipers and the brake hoses for use with their spindle and brake rotor. Also helpful are the suggestions for tire and wheel size. |
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#66 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,254
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
Very nice so far!! Wow the chassis looks like it is brand new. I might just have to use ridetec in my next build.
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http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=648459 https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=769441 1951 MG TD 1967 Jeep CJ5 1.9L TDI 33X13.5X15 Mud Grapplers. 1952 GMC 9700 p/u 7.3L diesel on air, dually |
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#67 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: West Plains, Missouri
Posts: 7,557
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
Doug, just now catching up, looks super...Jim
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my build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=459839 Jimbo's long bed step build:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...t=464626<br /> |
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#68 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Oblong, Illinois
Posts: 7,028
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
Quote:
Thanks Jim! Wow, we lost a couple weeks or so on the build as we took a vacation to Dallas to visit friends and family. It was good to see Wayne and Dee, who I met through this forum. Just one more item on the DSE spindles and big Silverado brakes. The DSE suggested factory hose part numbers work perfectly and attach to the original brake line location. Not shown here are the DSE hose brackets which secures the hose to the top of the spindle. |
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#69 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Oblong, Illinois
Posts: 7,028
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
To better match up with the new cam specifications, we picked up a 3,600 stall converter from Circle D. It looks really nice.
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#70 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Oblong, Illinois
Posts: 7,028
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
With the transmission on the stand, it was a good time to drain fluid and replace the filter. Went back together and of course I forgot the washer magnet.
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#71 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Oblong, Illinois
Posts: 7,028
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
The table for the transmission and the gantry crane chain hoist hooked to the Mac tie downs engine sling simplified connecting engine and transmission together.
Mrs A.D. was holding her own in getting it done. |
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#72 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Oblong, Illinois
Posts: 7,028
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
The Holley engine and transmission mounts are nice pieces too. I remember their development engineer use to post his progress on this forum periodically.
While the pieces are nice, the supplied transmission mount spacer and fasteners were not right for this application. The fasteners were too short for the transmission mount spacer and the spacer provided is not thick enough for this transmission. |
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#73 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Oblong, Illinois
Posts: 7,028
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
While we were getting ready for the install, a young car buddy stopped by and helped out. Much appreciated!
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#74 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,254
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
Looking good as a roller once again Doug.
__________________
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=648459 https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=769441 1951 MG TD 1967 Jeep CJ5 1.9L TDI 33X13.5X15 Mud Grapplers. 1952 GMC 9700 p/u 7.3L diesel on air, dually |
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#75 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Oblong, Illinois
Posts: 7,028
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Re: 2wd 1977 Blazer LS swap, mild drop….escalating
Thanks Bob, it is nice to get back to this point. Once a few parts come in in a couple days, I’ll be able to assemble the accessory drive and power steering lines.
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