'72 Frame Up Rebuild

[72mudsterd]

WOW.. that is such a sweet ride. i like that soft top. I have running one From BESTTOP but its a few years old so i think i might just get one like yours. Awesome build. one of thee nicest ive seen yet. keep up the pics

[72K5er]

Anymore recent pics of your rig gettin finished up?

[scoyote]

Thanks for asking....and as a matter of fact I do.

It's been winter here in Colorado but we did get a spring weekend last weekend and I took some photos but I didn't think they were very good so I didn't load them.

Doggy seat has a t-shirt on it....that's why it looks like that.

But....here they are anyway.

Snowed yesterday .....still not summer yet ;-)

[72K5er]

Looks good. What bumpers are you gonna run? Where did you get the Bikini top?

[scoyote]

I've got a line on a factory paintable bumper that I'm going to run in the front.

Plenty of room to put the winch behind that and I'll add some fog lights to it.

I'm going to have a rear bumper fabbed so it has a swing out tire carrier.

I had the bikini top made by a local upholstery shop.

[72K5er]

The Bikini top tooks great. I just got done finishing up my front factory bumper. I am also looking to get a rear bumper with a swing tire carrier. I was looking at Protofab. They make it for a full size Bronco but they said it can easily be changed to work on a K5.

[TonyJohnson]

That's a very nice truck!

[scoyote]

Thanks Tony

Nice ride you got there too.

I'm working in Boulder a few times a week....maybe I'll see you on the road when the weather turns better.

Right now mine is at MTO here in Fort Collins getting a custom rear bumper with a swing out tire carrier fabbed.

I need to update my photos, I've added a factory front bumper since the last updates.

I think I'm going to customize the front bumper by removing the factory turn signals and welding a plate in the hole (it's a painted bumper).

Then I can add a small round turn signal and a 3" PIA driving light inside that opening..... I think that will look cool.

[TonyJohnson]

Sounds great. We'll have to meet up for lunch sometime. Don't know if you've heard about our regional meet, but we're showing our trucks at the Summerfest in the Rockies Car Show in Loveland on July 10th & having a cruise on July 11th. Your truck would be a great addition and the guys are a fun bunch. Here's a link with the flyer on post #166.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=364942&page=7

[scoyote]

That would be cool but I'm pretty sure we have our vacation planned that weekend......but I'll double check.

If I'm in town I would love to make it.

[bigeasycigars]

I have a double wall top and the holes didn't line up on my softopper on the bedrail. Did you have to redrill the sidemounting rails?

Please advise. regards..

Originally Posted by scoyote

Thanks for asking....and as a matter of fact I do.

It's been winter here in Colorado but we did get a spring weekend last weekend and I took some photos but I didn't think they were very good so I didn't load them.

Doggy seat has a t-shirt on it....that's why it looks like that.

But....here they are anyway.

Snowed yesterday .....still not summer yet ;-)

[scoyote]

Yea, I had to re-drill too because I had a double wall top.

The template they had was for a single wall top but I left them my template so they should be able to do those holes now.

[chevyblazer]

thats a great blazer men thats a kool sterring linkage that you put on its that chevy dana 60 or its custom

[bigeasycigars]

Thanks for getting back..

Which holes did you use of the six in the bedrails? And where did you place the the rails (how far from the tailgate?) I want to make sure it lines up right. Any other tips you might have for the install would be appreciated.

Thanks again...E

Originally Posted by scoyote

Yea, I had to re-drill too because I had a double wall top.

The template they had was for a single wall top but I left them my template so they should be able to do those holes now.

[scoyote]

Put the bed rails about 1/4" from the door opening at the front.

As for the holes.....actually I did it a little different.

I live pretty close to Boulder so I went over there and bought some stock and had them make me a one piece rail for the sides and then I marked the holes from the bottom and drilled them out...3 on each side I think.

And I bought some stainless allen head bolts at Ace Hardware figuring those don't come out as easy if someone was trying to take them out.....usually don't carry an allen head around.....and I bought a screw head instead of a bolt.

I also rounded off the corners on the angle pieces that bolt to the windshield rubber......just cause I didn't like the sharp corners so close to my top ;-)

Did you buy the header bar or drill holes in the header?

I used the header bar but I think I ended up putting 7 of the long snaps on it instead of 5, it sits down a lot better with the extra two.....for me anyway.

Otherwise it's a pretty easy install and if you get the bed rails too far forward or back there is some adjustment in the slide rails on the inside too.

A couple of beers and a drill......what can go wrong?

[bigeasycigars]

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond back...Yes the header bar comes with it now. I will do the same as you with the allens great idea. Seeing your truck made me go with the softopper. I hope I get some warm weather to install this weekend. Thanks again. Loved your build and thread....E

Originally Posted by scoyote

Put the bed rails about 1/4" from the door opening at the front.

As for the holes.....actually I did it a little different.

I live pretty close to Boulder so I went over there and bought some stock and had them make me a one piece rail for the sides and then I marked the holes from the bottom and drilled them out...3 on each side I think.

And I bought some stainless allen head bolts at Ace Hardware figuring those don't come out as easy if someone was trying to take them out.....usually don't carry an allen head around.....and I bought a screw head instead of a bolt.

I also rounded off the corners on the angle pieces that bolt to the windshield rubber......just cause I didn't like the sharp corners so close to my top ;-)

Did you buy the header bar or drill holes in the header?

I used the header bar but I think I ended up putting 7 of the long snaps on it instead of 5, it sits down a lot better with the extra two.....for me anyway.

Otherwise it's a pretty easy install and if you get the bed rails too far forward or back there is some adjustment in the slide rails on the inside too.

A couple of beers and a drill......what can go wrong?

[jimmypop]

Looks good!! What bumpers did you put on the front and rear?

[scoyote]

I'm going with a painted (black) front bumper but I'm going to blank out the factory turn signals and add a small turn indicator and a small fog light in each of them, there is plenty of room.

And, I'm going to tuck a winch behind it....again...plenty of room.

I think I will like the look and it will do fine until I really start to wheel it....which will be awhile.

I'm doing a custom fabbed rear with a swing out tire carrier that can handle those 35's.

It's still in the shop getting fabbed up but as soon as I can get some photos online I will.

I just couldn't find what I was looking for in a rear bumper.....but I know a guy that can make one ;-)

[scoyote]

Been awhile...it's summer.....

But, have progress on the rear bumper to show.....still not done but it is progress.

After the tire carrier is fabbed and the tire is on it.....you won't even notice how far the bumper sticks out.

I think it's gonna be perfect!

After this I've got a NOS front bumper (painted not chrome) that I am planning to modify.

I'm going to recess a solid metal plate behind the turn signal cutouts and install 2" round "driving lights" and a small recessed turn signal in there.

Then bumpers will be complete.....sorta
(eventually I'm gonna tuck a winch behind the factory bumper...but that is gonna have to wait till winter)

[Dusty71blazer]

Nice work!
Hate to nit pick, but aren't you concerned about blocking the tail light?

[my90k5]

What!! are those scratches on that new Blazer? lol

[TonyJohnson]

Originally Posted by my90k5

What!! are those scratches on that new Blazer? lol

Those are reflections.

[my90k5]

I seen that, just looks like a really bad scratch, lol.

[scoyote]

Had me looking for scratches too ;-)

The swivel for the tire carrier is just sitting there, not in the exact spot yet but it is pretty close.

It's not installed yet, it will recess so just the thicker upper part will be above the bumper and it will block part of the tail light but not the part that actually has the bulb so I think it will be fine.

Should be pretty close to done by the end of this week and then it goes for powder coating.

Was thinking of rock sliders on it and probably will ..... but not this summer.

I wanna get it so I can drive it.....will continue work in the winter.

[scoyote]

Ok....been awhile but here are some recent pics of the rear bumper fab, still in the works and I added an orange bowtie to the grill....kinda like that ;-)