'72 Frame Up Rebuild

[-Greg72]

Congrats on the build! Just found this thread from your recent post in the "How Many 4x4 Blazers Do We Have" thread.

Love the color. Hugger orange is definitely the color I'm going with on my own build....especially now that I've seen yours all straight and purdy.

Seats - Well, since you already mentioned it....I don't really like them either. Highback seats in general don't look right in a 1st Gen, and those integrated seatbelt seats are WAY to modern looking for the classic look of the truck. I'd go with a custom lowback suspension seat...you'll be just as comfortable and the look will be better.

Exhaust: Flowmaster 40s are loud, there's no doubt about that. If your willing to swap them out then think about their 3-chamber 70 series. I had a set of those on my BBC and they were nice, deep and mellow. The catch is that they are a LARGE canister to fit underneath. I used a balance pipe which as you mentioned helps take some "edge" off them.

Love the KM2s also! When I first saw your pics I thought that's what were on there so I had to find the build thread to confirm. I just bought up a single 38" KM2 recently just to see one in person... I really like the tread and for a dual-purpose truck, it seems like a perfect choice.

[scoyote]

Yea....I hear ya on the seats but I just can't find a good alternate?

I've looked at so many that I finally decided to stay with these for now...unless????

Definitely changing out the flowmasters but still not sure what I'm going to change them too....thinking the 50 series.

I need to spend some time at the muffler shop.

[scoyote]

Had a few extra days to work on things.....so I started on the interior kit.

I bought a replacement carpet kit from LMC and I'm pretty satisfied with the fit and quality.....surprised actually.

I also bought the sound deadening kits and the heat shield kits from LMC.

First I cut some 1-1/2" strips to fill in the divots in the bed to try to make it smoother when the carpet is done.

That was painful....had to use scissors because I couldn't cut it with a razor knife....and I tried hard.

Next is to glue them down without gluing myself down in the process and that's a lot harder than it sounds ;-)

After I got the strips glued down I put the 3/8" sound proofing/heat shield on top of it and taped the seams with duct tape.

I already had the side panels cut so all I had to do was cut out for the speaker (I will be adding courtesy lights as soon as I find some I like). I plan to put 1/2" foam and some black vinyl on the sides and the tailgate and maybe add some buttons or seams to break it up a little.

Adding an access door in the passenger rear (no room on fuel side) that I can put some fluids and jumper cables in, spare serpentine belt...stuff like that.

Installed the roll bar completed all the speaker/courtesy light wiring and next it goes to a buddy of mine that owns an upholstery shop so he can "professionally" complete the carpet install and side panels.

I messed with the carpet but without a stretcher and the right tools....it's not gonna look right and I want it looking good.....so it goes to a professional for the fit and trim.

That will take care of the interior for the most part.....finally!!

Well, sorta.....

I still need to get it to Softopper in Boulder to get my soft top installed....so that is gonna be next on the list.

After that I'm pretty much down to the front and rear bumpers......and then it's just wait for good weather!!!

[Yukon Jack]

Looking great - nice when an aftermarket part actually fits well!

[tjsblazer]

Hey scoyote awesome looking build. I have a 72 K5 that ia amgoing to start the same thing on in the New Year. One question for you. When you did the frame and axles in por15 did you brush and roll or spray? How does it lay down? If done by brush and roller can you tell by looking at it. Again great looking rig. Mine is factory Ochre but you got me thinking about the orange now.

[scoyote]

I brushed mine on and yes, you can tell it if you look at it hard, there are brush strokes and a few drips here and there.

I didn't try to roll it mainly because of all the nooks and crannys but the frame itself probably could be rolled....didn't think about trying that.

That stuff is exactly what they say it is though.....if you get any in the grooves on the lid you won't get the lid off again.

Really tough finish and shiny.

I would absolutely recommend that product to anyone.

[Arizonak5]

simply amazing man awesome work im pretty much speechless that blazer is perfect .................................PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dusty71blazer]

VERY nice Blazer!
I agree with you on the seats- they just don't look quite right.
For my taste they are just too modern looking, when everything is 1972 and the seats are 2005 they sorta stick out. Love everything else tho...

[Arizonak5]

I like the seats i actually made this post because i was gpoing to ask you if you had any more pics of the tracks and how you attached them to the floor I have 03 tahoe seats im putting in my 72 blazer and was trying to use the stock 03 brackets but whatever you did looks nice! i say keep the seats! the rims center console modern radio and speakers arent 72 eaither some things on these old trucks need updating seats are one of them especially in this case where these newer seats incorporate a shoulder belt, either way beautiful truck man keep up the good work



i suck at spelling!

[scoyote]

My "build" wasn't trying to retain the 1972 as stock by any means so the seats seemed like a good upgrade and for awhile I didn't like them but I gotta tell you....they are SOOOOO comfortable that I'm loving them now!

We used 1" square tubes and "tabbed them" to accept the seat tracks from the new seats. We added tabs to use the stock mounting holes too.

I really don't have a good photo but I'm going to be pulling them out pretty soon to complete the carpet and if I remember I will take a photo of the bottoms.

Once you get some 1" square tube you will pretty much figure it out I bet.

Just bolt those to the new seat tracks and put tabs on to use the old holes.

Here is a photo from page 4 of the build.

It kinda shows what I mean.

You can see the tab welded to the top of the square tubing at the front.

[Dusty71blazer]

Just to be clear, I didn't mean to offend anyone.... You have an awesome truck!

[scoyote]

Absolutely no offense taken here, not at all man.

Originally I agreed with you but I gotta tell you...those seats are so dang comfortable that it's gonna take a lot for me to rip them out.

[Dusty71blazer]

Yeah, the comfort would be nice and then add in the safety of the shoulder belt... I think they could grow on a person! Do you have a rear seat?

[scoyote]

I have the stock rear seat but I moved it back a little for more leg room (we put a new bed in it so no old mounting holes to worry about).

I also welded a bar across the rear of the seat and put all the seat belts on that bar and welded some "T" handles on the bolts and some nuts/washers under the bed so I can remove the seat all in one piece.

I also moved it back so I could remove the rear "T" handles and fold it up towards the front to a 90 degree angle and that gives me more room in the bed in case I need it.

I was looking at a folding seat option but ran out of time....wanted to get this done by summer 2010 as much as possible ;-)

I'm thinking of cutting the supports for the stock seat and fabbing it into a folding option if I can.

And while I have the transfer case shifter removed I'm hoping I can cut it down 6" and weld it back so it's not sticking up like a gear shifter.

I'm still young enough that I don't need that much leverage and it's a real knee knocker moving around in the cab.

[lks dcvn]

Really nice work on this Blazer - I wish one of mine was this far along...

[Arizonak5]

awesome man thanks for the info i will be doing that for sure! keep up the good work!

[scoyote]

Finally got my Softopper installed.

I'll get more detailed photos online later but here is what it looks like.

Pretty easy install.....directions are vague but you can figure it out if I can.

About 2-3 beers and a couple of hours....done deal ;-)

I used the header bar instead of drilling 17 snaps I only had to drill 5 and it holds just fine.

It's a good product....very well built in my opinion and it comes complete with gasket at the windshield to keep the wind from whistling through the snaps.

The material is the same stuff they use for the new Jeep tops so it's a quality material... and no snaps on the tailgate, that is a velcro attachment.

Even comes with a seam sealer to take care of the seams....pretty cool.

I'm happy with the product....and glad I don't have to lift that dang hard top off anymore!

Now...c'mon summer!!!!

[Shock_Me]

mmmmmmmmmm.......Very Sweet!

[-Greg72]

Did you say "summer" or "bumper"???

Looks like you need a little of each!


That top DOES look really nice.....thank goodness we finally have a vendor for those again. It's been a long dry spell with nothing being offered.


-G

[scoyote]

Bumpers....yea....need bumpers too ;-)

And the interior isn't finished yet.

And I want to put rock sliders on there.

And I want to put a winch under the front (kinda hidden)

And I need front and rear lockers.

And I need..........it never quits does it ;-)

[lks dcvn]

Can you take some more pix of the top - any concerns that you can see having installed it - have you done a leak test [running a hose over it] to see how it does?

Forgot to say that the top looks pretty good - how is putting it down - time-wise - 5-10 mins?

[scoyote]

I'll get more pics this weekend.

Putting it down is only a minute or two....and it has a boot (cover) for it.

It lays across the tailgate when not in use.

No leak test yet but I'm expecting some leaks.....it's not a sealed top like a hard top.....and I'm sure it will leak a little in a hard rain at highway speeds.

I think they all do.

[Yukon Jack]

Outstandingly great looking top (on an outstandingly great looking K5 I might add!)

[snowblind]

That top does look very nice. I look forward to hearing how you like it over time.

[scoyote]

Right now I'm loving it....but it's still a little stiff and needs to "relax" but that's gonna take some sun and heat....and that is gonna be awhile here in Colorado ;-)

Your build has come a long way....sure like that color.

But....I'll sure keep ya posted....but no matter what it beats trying to remove that hard top and this way I can run topless on every good day that I get....within minutes.