"Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...

[jaros44sr]

well done my friend, looks fantastic. do you have a spotlight to fill the holes in the w/s post?

[elzombo]

Very nice!

[Big J]

Originally Posted by Bentblazer

Outstanding in its field
(Nice Job)

Noticed that did ya, lol. Best place to take a pic thats close

Originally Posted by jaros44sr

well done my friend, looks fantastic. do you have a spotlight to fill the holes in the w/s post?

I do, had it powder coated when the roll bar was done. Looks like crap though. The aluminum is old and oxidized, when the heat hit the paint it the oxidation popped through. It will work for now though. 250.00 for a new one from Unity. mo money mo money mo money

It killin me not to drive it, but.... It has no tags, no insurance, no taillights and its not even in my name yet. Here shortly jamie72 and I will be making a trip to the court house. I get thanked all the time for building him and her a nice new blazer, lol.

On a side note, I was worried that the I had got the windshield frame out of wack when I welded in the new header. I didn't!!!!! The window man had it in in like 5 minutes. Fits perfect

[jaros44sr]

how about just buying the housing from Unity, bought a good Unity spotlite off our boards for like 80

great color choice...YELLOW

[5150]

Well, it's that time to harass you about bringing it down to the show this year. July 16th, check my sig

[Big J]

Originally Posted by 5150

Well, it's that time to harass you about bringing it down to the show this year. July 16th, check my sig

Its possible, gotta whole bunch of irons in the fire at the moment so I can't commit, sure gonna try though.

Gotta secret project brewin', I will post pics when complete.

The sand-n-buff is almost complete, got the drivers door and bedside to go. jamie72 came over this afternoon and helped me put on the grill and bumpers. Its sure lookin' like a Blazer. Wet sanding and buffing is way easier then I thought it would be. Its just very tiresome and takes forever. On to the pics.

[5150]

Looks Awesome
Posted via Mobile Device

[hgs_notes]

Get the lights in there and make it the daily driver. Looks great.

[Big J]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

Get the lights in there and make it the daily driver. Looks great.

Thats what I said to my wife, make it the daily driver, and sell the dodge. Her reply was "hell no", lol. She said its way to nice to be a DD, gotta love that.

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by Big J

Thats what I said to my wife, make the daily driver, and sell the dodge. Her reply was "hell no", lol. She said its way to nice to be a DD, gotta love that.

..seriously my friend, well done on the build, you've come along way

[AJs72K5]

Damn! If it shines like that in the pics, it's gotta look killer in person.
Posted via Mobile Device

[jamie72]

Originally Posted by AJs72K5

Damn! If it shines like that in the pics, it's gotta look killer in person.
Posted via Mobile Device

it does.... i gotta get back to blue...

[Big J]

Ok I've got the vent wings rebuilt with new seals and felt. Installed those along with the windows, oh what fun all that was. I got it though. Got all the lights in except the front one in the bumper. Got a different one coming, the spring is out of the one I have. After thats in I get to chase down gremlins. No backup lights and no turn signals. I do have brake lights, and hazard lights if the parking lights aren't turned on. hmmmm. Started on the rear trim. Not quite sure how those clips are supposed to be positioned, need to do some searching, I'm sure its on here someplace. Rear bumper is crooked too, gotta straighten that.
Bryan.... I don't think its gonna be done. I'm tryin'.
Had some dirt work done too....... More to come later this week or Monday on that.....

[VA72C10]

Nice job! Looking GREAT!

On the electrical gremlins, I had a similar issue and it was a bad ground at the rear taillight cup. It was loose and not grounding to the body. Mostly sounds like a ground issue...do you have the grounds in place between the body and frame and engine and frame? And last, of course, would be to check the contacts at the rear light harness for a bad connection....

[5150]

It doesn't have to be done to bring it . You still got 6 weeks!!!
Posted via Mobile Device

[Big J]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Nice job! Looking GREAT!

On the electrical gremlins, I had a similar issue and it was a bad ground at the rear taillight cup. It was loose and not grounding to the body. Mostly sounds like a ground issue...do you have the grounds in place between the body and frame and engine and frame? And last, of course, would be to check the contacts at the rear light harness for a bad connection....

I think I've only installed 2 grounding straps and those are at the front of the truck. I bet it would help If I put one at the rear. I'm betting the switch is bad that turns on the back up lights when in reverse.

Originally Posted by 5150

It doesn't have to be done to bring it . You still got 6 weeks!!!
Posted via Mobile Device

Still got front ball joints, rotors, pads, top, tie rods, garage to build, concrete to do, culvert to put in, gravel to spread, water and electric to run, stuff to move....... Then getting off work is the greatest challenge, we are running 10 short on shift.

[5150]

You act like that's alot .

Work is the easiest, you just start coughing a bunch two days before. Just laying the groundwork.
Posted via Mobile Device

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by Big J

Then getting off work is the greatest challenge, we are running 10 short on shift.

get people to stop breakin' the law...should give you more time w/ less inmates

sooo, those vent windows were tough. Give me a heads up on any helpful tips???

[Bentblazer]

Know your pain on the vents, well worth it though. Looks really good J!

[Big J]

On the vent wings I used a cut off wheel to grind the rivet tops or bottoms off and used a punch to knock out the remainder. I did one wing at a time to use the other as a reference just in case. The rivets I bought came with the tool to drive them flat. That helped. Then it was finding whatever I had laying around to back the rivet. I used a half inch think piece of plate in the vise and a 1 inch piece of cold rolled steel. Worked great, just takes time and two sets of hands.

My wife came over to help this weekend, she installed the door panels for me and helped with the soft top frame. I'm going to try and get the top on it tomorrow. Installed the Unity S6 light that came on it too, still works. Can't wait to get the extra dough to get the panels covered, gonna take some time, way too much going out right now. Yes, I'm taking donations at this point, lol.

They started on the garage too! Ran into rock so of course that costs more when they have to bring in the jack hammer.... Oh well I guess.

[Big J]

I have the top on, it killed me to drill into the top of the windshield frame but its on.... I did seal each hole before screwing the snaps in. I like the top but it is extremely tight. Oh well, better tight then loose. Installed the marker light in the bumper and now I have all my running lights and turn signals. Still have to sort out the backup lights. Got the flowmasters that were given to me welded on too. Just stopped by the muffler shop and had him bend me two S pieces and stuck them up there. Put turn downs on so they are sitting just before the rear axle. It will work for now. Still have to hang them, just sittin on jack stands at the moment.
The pole barn is built. They started Monday and finished Wednesday. Next is electricity, water, gravel, and concrete.
Its a 24 x 45.

[VA72C10]

Nice progress and a great sized pole barn!!!

[Big J]

The sides and rear roll up pretty easy. Should be nice rollin down the road that way. Got the stereo system almost done. Need to install the 6.5s in the kick panels and tune the amps then its done. Got the rear panels in too. I put 12v outlets at the front and rear of the drivers side. It'll be real nice when I get the extra to have the panels upholstered.

[jamie72]

looking good j, can`t wait to play in your new garage..

[Big J]

Going back a couple weeks ago or so the blazer had its maiden voyage up to the county clerks and sheriffs offices to have it inspected and finally transferred from jamie72, after 8 years, lol. It was nice and sunny that morning but around 3 when I was drive up there the storms came. Not just a rain but high winds and severe thunder storms. Good test for the top I guess. It was all good, no leaks, nothing broke, made it there and back to the garage with no issues. However, I soon found out that the 3.07 gears were way too high for the 35's. I went over that weekend to my uncles and picked up a set of axles with 3.73's. Then on Monday and Tuesday I hooked the trailer to the Blazer and headed down to my cousin's garage where I commenced to tearing the new axles apart and the ones under the blazer apart. After Chris got off work we swapped the 3.73's into the front and rear. We also put in new upper and lower ball joints, rotors, bearings, pads, tie rod ends, fender trim, etc. I also got the e-brake adjusted up. Thats nice to have. So now its on the road. Still need to have it aligned and maybe a new steering box. It has no return to center and a bit of wander. Other then that its a blast to drive. Took my wife, sister and her little ones to the Madison Regatta yesterday. They all loved it.
Heres the day I drove it to the courthouse.

Heres the gear swap.




The river.



The field

My driveway, its amazing how big a Blazer is. It makes my Dodge look small, and yes, I enjoy driving the Blazer more than the Hemi.

Still not done but with where its at right now in the build its like a huge weight has been lifted. Its a wonderful thing.