72 2wd Blazer: Project "Break Me"

[gringoloco]

I like the grey spokes, though I'm a little biased. If I could have gotten the CL205s for what I gave for the Coy's, I would have them. I just couldn't justify the extra $600.

I would go with 20/20 or 20/22- the 18's just look funny when staggered with 20s. As slammed as your truck will be 22s out back or a low BS 20 w/ a fat lip would look awesome...

[jkade]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

I like the grey spokes, though I'm a little biased. If I could have gotten the CL205s for what I gave for the Coy's, I would have them. I just couldn't justify the extra $600.

I would go with 20/20 or 20/22- the 18's just look funny when staggered with 20s. As slammed as your truck will be 22s out back or a low BS 20 w/ a fat lip would look awesome...

I can get a pretty good deal on americans but they don't make any 22's in the torq thrust wheels. I think a 20 and 22 would look good also with about 3" of backspacing on a 10" rear but I will have to stick with a 20x10 with a 315/35/20 since that is all the pocket book will allow

[my67chevytruck]

Looking good keep up the work, and keep posting pics.....

[Micmac]

Looking good, keep up the good work!

[jkade]

Still grinding and welding and grinding and welding. Got the 2x6" rails welded in and got the crossmember welded in. I also got the step notch boxed on both ends. I will post up some pics when I get a chance but still a good bit of work to do.

[babyblueoval]

Damn!!! jkade.

When did you start all this?

I'm feeling really left out here. You and gringoloco started with nice trucks and your making them awesome. I'm starting with a truck that isn't even together and I haven't even started yet.

I gotta get this thing going.

Good work!

[jkade]

Originally Posted by babyblueoval

Damn!!! jkade.

When did you start all this?

I'm feeling really left out here. You and gringoloco started with nice trucks and your making them awesome. I'm starting with a truck that isn't even together and I haven't even started yet.

I gotta get this thing going.

Good work!

I had intentions of doing this when I took it home from buying it, I just wanted to drive it for a while before I tore it apart The blazer was pretty nice to begin with and all it really needed was some block sanding on the bed sides and it would have been fine but after finding the bondo and the frame being off I figured I would go all out on it. If I would have started on the front of the frame first I would (we) have just built a whole 2x4" chassis for it but since I already had the step-notch in we went ahead with the 2x6" graft in the front. The new front end will help a lot with header clearence, and the accessories on the LQ9 since the a/c compressor would have been impossible to use with the factory frame rails. Get your butt started on yours already Good luck with yours and I hope things go better than what I have been dealing with

[babyblueoval]

Originally Posted by jkade

I had intentions of doing this when I took it home from buying it, I just wanted to drive it for a while before I tore it apart The blazer was pretty nice to begin with and all it really needed was some block sanding on the bed sides and it would have been fine but after finding the bondo and the frame being off I figured I would go all out on it. If I would have started on the front of the frame first I would (we) have just built a whole 2x4" chassis for it but since I already had the step-notch in we went ahead with the 2x6" graft in the front. The new front end will help a lot with header clearence, and the accessories on the LQ9 since the a/c compressor would have been impossible to use with the factory frame rails. Get your butt started on yours already Good luck with yours and I hope things go better than what I have been dealing with

I have had a nightmare getting all my C4 components but the last peices (upper control arms) are finally on their way.
I've had the 2wd swb frame, 4-link, Dropmember, air control system, LS1 & 4L60E just waiting for the front parts so we could start mocking everything up and get the frame shortened.

I'll start a thread we I get started so you can see my progress and tell me when I do something stupid.

[jkade]

Originally Posted by babyblueoval

I have had a nightmare getting all my C4 components but the last peices (upper control arms) are finally on their way.
I've had the 2wd swb frame, 4-link, Dropmember, air control system, LS1 & 4L60E just waiting for the front parts so we could start mocking everything up and get the frame shortened.

I'll start a thread we I get started so you can see my progress and tell me when I do something stupid.

Sounds like it's gonna be sweet!!! I am partial to the ls motors, I am not one to tell someone they are doing something stupid since I am a dumb a$$ myself Sounds like you have a good game plan keep me posted on the progress

[smbrouss70]

I know how you feel babyblueoval!

[jkade]

Well I drove a hour one way today to take the 9" to get narrowed 3 1/2" and found out you have to go at least 7" on a rear with 28 spline axles. So we found a 8.8 ford explorer rear he had laying around and it was the exact lenght I need. So the plans now are for a 8.8 rear. I learn something new every day. I can get a 8.8 explorer rear with 4.11, factory locker, and it will have 31 spline axles.

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by jkade

I can get a 8.8 explorer rear with 4.11, factory locker, and it will have 31 spline axles.

And disc brakes. They are nearly as strong as the 9" out of the box, but lighter(less parasitic drivetrain loss) and can be made plenty strong for your application. I've seen 'em go 8s in the 1/4 w/1.3 60ft times. Prolly cheaper than narrowing the 9" too. Good choice.

Edit: Beware the Explorer 'pumpkin' is off center a couple inches.

[jkade]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Edit: Beware the Explorer 'pumpkin' is off center a couple inches.

I didn't know that and thanks for the info. I was going to have the 9" narrowed to 60" and that is what the width of the explorer rear is. It was only going to cost $175 to have the 9" narrowed and the axles resplined, would have had to buy gears and a locker so the 8.8 will come out cheaper in the long run.

[jkade]

Picked up a 8.8 today out of explorer with 3:73's and locker for $50 off craigslist. Hopefully next week I can get a start on the rear suspension and I will get some pics also, I got my firestone bags, nascar trailing arms, axle saddles and the early classic trailing crossmember.

[jkade]

Axle saddles and crossmember are supposed to be here Friday. Here are some pics, I just put the rearend in there to see how bad the offset housing really is and I believe it will still work fine. Next step is to get all the ford mounting off and the new axle saddles on and start fabbing up the bag brackets. I still have some grinding to do on the front and will smooth all that out with some filler when the time comes.

[smbrouss70]

Looks Good! Man, you got me wanting the Corvette suspension bad!

[jkade]

Originally Posted by smbrouss70

Looks Good! Man, you got me wanting the Corvette suspension bad!

Yes I think it will work good and I am still way under the cost of a off the shelf kit and have added a bunch of clearence.

[Micmac]

Looking gr8!

[gringoloco]

Finally, some pics! Lookin' good. Now that you have the trailing arms, what difference do you see besides the panhard brackets?

[jkade]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Finally, some pics! Lookin' good. Now that you have the trailing arms, what difference do you see besides the panhard brackets?

Not too much difference that I see besides the panhard bar brackets, I will cut them off. A good difference is they are only 2" wide which may help with a little clearence down the line. They have grease fittings in the bushings also. The pecker head was supposed to sent me the tubing ones and those are what I got. I filed a claim on my credit card and they gave me my money back for time being.

[Frizzle Fry]

Looking good!

[bagged74]

seems like it would be more cost effective to just get some 2x3 tubing and build some. Progress looks good

[jkade]

Originally Posted by bagged74

seems like it would be more cost effective to just get some 2x3 tubing and build some. Progress looks good

I may still do that but if I would have got the ones I paid for I couldn't have built them for $120 considering the time and looking for bushings. Thanks on the work

[jkade]

Ok, so here is the early classic crossmember, nascar arms, and the homemade blocks. I am waiting on u bolts now.

[jkade]

Got the u bolts from stengelbros.com, thanks edman87 for the hook up on that site and they ship fast. I am at a little stand still right now, need to get the motor and trans in, build motor mounts, build trans crossmember, build the 2.5" stainless exhaust, etc. Pulled the heads off the ls1 in my 67 and put in some new lifters over the weekend thinking it might quiten down the valvetrain but it didn't. I guess I will have to live with the sewing machine sound it makes. Maybe I will get something done this weekend so we can have some pics to look at.