78 2wd Blazer - LS Swap and more..

[phillipm]

We were able to get the firewall painted over the weekend. Next steps will be to mount the evaporator and start mocking up all the custom lines. I don't like to use the full kit from Vintage Air for 2 reasons. Nice parallel condensers can be had pretty damn cheap these days, and two, I like to tuck my lines away differently than the guys at Vintage Air do. Here is what she's looking like now..

[phillipm]

Took some time last nights and now that the firewall is dry, and we got the evaporator mounted up. I knew it was going to be tight under the dash especially because I'm also trying to mount the heater control valve under there as well. I have super small hands and even me getting in there is a definite chore! So far I got all the A/C hoses mocked up and ready for crimping, and I started in on the heater hoses. Space is at a premium under here that's for sure!

[phillipm]

Another small update. Worked on the wiring a bit last night as well as pulled the steering gear and pump out to send off to LEE Steering in Valencia CA for a rebuild. Those guys work magic and make it steer like a brand new truck! I've used them many times.

I also replaced my #6 liquid line from the bottom of the condenser to the drier with a hard line. Even though you cannot really see it through the grill I wasn't digging how that hose was looking.

Here is the new setup.

[phillipm]

We were finally able to get the service ports soldered on to my firewall fittings by a local A/C shop. Have I gotten a little too anal? I'm not sure. The guys there kept asking why I don't just put another beadlock fitting inline to house the trinary switch seperately. I just didn't want it to look like an afterthought if I couldn't help it! After that I used my Mastercool beadlock crimper and got the rest of the lines crimped and then sucked it down. I won't be back at the shop for a few days so that will give it a good amount of time to make sure the needle doesn't move. Once we confirm no leaks we'll work on getting the fender put back on and such.

[aboesec10]

looking good man!!

[phillipm]

Dad and I got the passenger fender as well as the grille/hood on yesterday. Starting to really look like a truck again! I took some time and cleaned/zip tied up the wiring so that's all looking good as well.







Finally we've been wanting to add a little more bottom end to the sound system, so I picked up this vintage suitcase at the antique store. Going to mount an 8" or 10" woofer inside to keep everything clean and hidden!



That's it for now. Still waiting on our steering box from California as well as the seat bottoms that I'm having work done on! Stay tuned!

[aboesec10]

I must have missed it but where did you get the parts for your cold air intake?

[phillipm]

I bought the elbows and the aluminum tubing on EBay. The weld bung for the MAF also came from EBay.

[phillipm]

Got my amplifier mounted last night. It just barely fits behind the side panel. I definitely don't want to look at the stereo equipment so this is good. These digital amps don't have near the heat problem the older ones did. So, hopefully it will be happy here. I'm only going to run it at 4 ohms so really shouldn't create a lot of heat.



Also took my speaker grilles off of my 6x9's and painted them with the interior paint. Just so they don't stand out so much!

[phillipm]

Here are a couple more shots of the suitcase subwoofer. Or at least what will become that!

[aboesec10]

thanks man, Truck looks killer

[buffydores]

Originally Posted by phillipm

Here are a couple more shots of the suitcase subwoofer. Or at least what will become that!

Love this idea Phillip. Great taste. Looks like I'm planning a trip to attend next years Phoenix Open in February. I'll try to plan to drop by the shop in Mesa that Friday. We can geek out on truck porn.

[phillipm]

Originally Posted by buffydores

Love this idea Phillip. Great taste. Looks like I'm planning a trip to attend next years Phoenix Open in February. I'll try to plan to drop by the shop in Mesa that Friday. We can geek out on truck porn.

Greatest show on grass! What a party that place is. You've got my number, give me a shout!

[phillipm]

So I was hoping my 50 watt laser had enough cojones to get through the 3/4" MDF.. Well it didn't. Last time I cut this stuff I was running 120 watts of power. So, I decided to just use the laser to mark each board. Much faster and easier than templating by hand that's for sure! The box is made up of just a couple parts. The back, stacking rings and then the top. Here you can see a couple pieces getting marked.





After that I used a combination of jigsaw and band saw to cut the pieces out. I think I've got about 2 hours in cutting everything. Next I'll glue and air nail everything together, but I haven't received the woofer yet, so I just want to wait and confirm fitment before doing that. Once I get it all into one piece I plan to belt sand the side and get it all smoothed out.

Also if you're wondering what I'm using it's a Hartmann 707. OD dimensions of this case are roughly 15x16x7. I think the color is Sandstone Toast. They made 3 different colors of this case, a blue, a gray and this tan one.













I haven't completely worked out how I'm going to mount it in the truck yet. I definitely don't want to modify or cut holes in the side panel so I'm just brainstorming some sort of base that can maybe slide under the carpet and provide the mounting support needed. Also I'll need to laser cut a hole pattern in the side to allow the air to pass. I'll probably do that on the back side of the luggage so it's not seen when mounted.

[phillipm]

Okay finally got a little more time to work on the truck. The woofer came in so I got right to finishing up this sub box. I glued and nailed/screwed the pieced together and then used a belt sander to smooth out all the edges. It fits into the luggage perfectly.



I then started getting all the holes cut that I was going to need. The fabric isn't as breathable as I originally thought so I ended up cutting a speaker mesh pattern into it.











And that's pretty much where we are at. Next I need to build the mounting brackets and get everything wired up. We're still waiting on the seats as well as the steering gear so until then we'll just keep plugging away and the side projects!

[OutlawDrifter]

Very cool.

[phillipm]

Okay, the steering box and pump returned from Lee Steering! We got those items put back in last night along with the rest of the Vintage Air kit. Including the ducts, defrosters and finally the dash went back in. So far I'd say the kit moves about 200% more air than the original system we had did! Can't wait to get it charged up just in time for summer here in Phoenix!

Only thing we're really waiting on now are the new seat bottoms that I'm having done.

Here is a shot of the dash re-installed.

[phillipm]

I wanted to post up the final pics of the subwoofer project! I got it tuned in and sounding great in the truck! Under the box is a piece of 3/4" MDF with the hammer in nutserts. The box bolts in from underneath and before it's fully tight I kind of lift up on the luggage and slide the carpet in-between the mount and the box. This is the absolute cleanest look I could hope for! Only future modification might be to laser cut some thing plastic with holes in it as well to spray glue into the front and provide somer further "structure" for the fabric.

[buffydores]

So freakin' trick.

[phillipm]

Originally Posted by buffydores

So freakin' trick.

Thx! Wasn't the easiest way to go but I like the idea of hiding in plain sight!

[phillipm]

Okay we decided after much deliberation to install side molding on the Blazer! The holes we're all welded up sometime in the 80's so it's a little tricky but so far we're making it along. We we're having trouble getting a socket onto the back stud and not dropping it down into the fender so I think we're going to take the inner fender out to so you can actually see WTF you're doing while trying to screw it on. That means the back hasn't been secured yet and is sticking up slightly in the photo. I think the molding is really going to make the matte wrap look even better. We've also talked about putting a white strip inside but I think one thing at a time..





I also started painting the letters on the tailgate to be black again. Small detail but I think it really helps!





I'll post more when we make more progress! Probably won't get any time on it this weekend with it being Easter and all. Hopefully next week though.

[buffydores]

How did you polish the tailgate panel?

[phillipm]

Originally Posted by buffydores

How did you polish the tailgate panel?

It was already brushed like that when we purchased the truck. My dad just used some Meguiar's spray on it I believe to clean it.. I'll have to ask him. I saw your tip with the stainless cleaner. I've also just used some WD40 on a rag before.

I do want to know what everyone does before attaching the aftermarket trip sticky mounts? Just prep cleaner in the spot? Does the trim not stick off the body too far? Can't see how it will be pulled in tight with these things...

[buffydores]

Originally Posted by phillipm

It was already brushed like that when we purchased the truck. My dad just used some Meguiar's spray on it I believe to clean it.. I'll have to ask him. I saw your tip with the stainless cleaner. I've also just used some WD40 on a rag before.

I do want to know what everyone does before attaching the aftermarket trip sticky mounts? Just prep cleaner in the spot? Does the trim not stick off the body too far? Can't see how it will be pulled in tight with these things...

Mines all 3M tape and screws. None of the original holes were there from 80s bodywork.

[phillipm]

Originally Posted by buffydores

Mines all 3M tape and screws. None of the original holes were there from 80s bodywork.

Is it the tape that came from LMC with the molding or different tape? I just want to do it right the first time! I know, novel concept.. hahaha