70 Blazer Frame Off

[DeadheadNM]

Exemplary work!

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Exemplary work!

Wow Pete, thanks...that means a lot. There's no telling how many hours I've spent staring at your build thread. Yours is the gold standard for me.

[DeadheadNM]

Thanks that means a lot. However, yours is the new gold standard and makes me want to tear down my K5!!

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

...makes me want to tear down my K5!!

No way...yours is beautiful and very original. Let's be honest, I was kind of starting with a pile. I didn't necessarily mean to be, but I was. And yours definitely ain't no clone. My CST=CloneSportTruck.

[DeadheadNM]

Brad - your inbox is full

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Brad - your inbox is full

Thanks...space cleared.

[1tuff71]

I have to chime in here and say that it is a thing of beauty. I'd be afraid to drive it. Looks better than the day it rolled off the line. NICE job. Nuff said.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by 1tuff71

I have to chime in here and say that it is a thing of beauty. I'd be afraid to drive it. Looks better than the day it rolled off the line. NICE job. Nuff said.

Thank you very much and your opinion about driving it seems to be a popular one. Nobody around here thinks I've got the guts to make it a daily driver...except maybe (surprisingly) my wife. We'll see when it's done.

[OLDYELLOW]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

Thank you very much and your opinion about driving it seems to be a popular one. Nobody around here thinks I've got the guts to make it a daily driver...except maybe (surprisingly) my wife. We'll see when it's done.

Drive it like you stole it, can always make new again.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by OLDYELLOW

Drive it like you stole it, can always make new again.

You know the transaction to purchase the truck was very bumpy and there was a moment when I worried that the truck might have been stolen...luckily very little of that truck remains...and trust me I've got a pile of receipts to prove I own what you see now.

...but the sentiment is well received...and as long as I can get the window gaps to under an inch ...she'll get miles put on her.

[mx289]

Looks great.

Congrats on getting the body back on.Won't be long now.

And I think it's so nice how could you not drive it ?

[DeadheadNM]

What's your thought on a roll bar?

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

What's your thought on a roll bar?

Well...I have given it a lot of thought. I even commented in asolde's thread about it. I think they're smart because they address a glaring safety issue and can stiffen up a twisty vehicle if done right. But esthetically I don't love them. If I had to put one in it'd be a Hickey. But that being said I can't get over how perfect the pic looks below...so we're going no roll bar. I guess what I'm saying is...emotion outweighs logic or reason when making decisions about doing a nut and bolt resto on a low option rust bucket with a limited market value.

[DeadheadNM]

Yeah, I'm struggling with the decision still (have a Hickey ready to go). I do prefer the look of no roll bar.

Great picture btw - shows the woodgrain lower trim and I'm guessing 16" or 16.5" wheels...

[Tom Vogel]

I have a 2wd. I put in a 6pt cage. Does it looks good? No.
However, having broken my neck in a roll over 20 years ago, I learned my lesson. Cool does NOT outweigh paralysis.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by Tom Vogel

I have a 2wd. I put in a 6pt cage. Does it looks good? No.
However, having broken my neck in a roll over 20 years ago, I learned my lesson. Cool does NOT outweigh paralysis.

Hey...I hear ya. There is no point to argue here. You are right. I view it as any convertible of this vintage...though candidly with a higher center of gravity...and though anything can happen, this truck will never be off road...and probably not on highway either. She'll make a 4 mile round trip from home to work and probably not break 50 mph...but by doing a basically factory resto I'm also in serious trouble with a side, rear and front impact. It's a flexy body, no head rests, thin body, no reinforcement, no top, and all hard interior surfaces. It's an old truck designed in the sixties. It is definitely safer with a roll bar.

[IronCanine]

Super rainy here today...just some piddling progress and tying up loose ends. After Mike's(72K5CSTDarkOlive) issue with the Wilwood dual piston calipers hitting his rim, I got cold feet and sent mine back. Went back with stock single pistons and got them installed today after Eric hit them with a coat of high temp clear.

[IronCanine]

Seemed to run out of end play on the driver's side axle and couldn't quite get the outer snap ring into the axle groove (as pictured) when originally putting things back together. I had left it and moved on to other things until today. Made a makeshift puller with some angle iron and an end bolt on the axle...just about a turn and a half and the snap ring popped right into place.

[IronCanine]

Also addressed another lingering pain. Toe in was easily persuaded with a pipe wrench...I had to concede the scratches to and repaint of the connecting rod. Once through the binding threads it was easily adjustable by hand. After repaint and re-install of the rod, we lightly installed the steering stabilizer. Gonna paint the u-bolts/hardware black after front end alignment.

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

Super rainy here today...just some piddling progress and tying up loose ends. After Mike's(72K5CSTDarkOlive) issue with the Wilwood dual piston calipers hitting his rim, I got cold feet and sent mine back. Went back with stock single pistons and got them installed today after Eric hit them with a coat of high temp clear.

Damn.. You work fast! I'm still messing with the Wilwood Calipers.. I found a wheel spacer 1/4" that will give me the clearance, but now I need to find wheel studs that are 1/4" longer to compensate for the spacer...actually that's me banging my head against the wall... I'm determined to find a solution to make these Willwood calipers work. I let you know what I come up with

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

forgot to mention... Awesome work and attention to detail!

What powder coating did you go with? is that 40% or 60% gloss black?

I'm taking my frame and front axle in this week along with some other parts to get powder coated

[DeadheadNM]

Nice!! And when we nail down the birthdate he can do the door VIN decal!

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Nice!! And when we nail down the birthdate he can do the door VIN decal!

Well we definitely need more info. I made an executive decision and got one going, just in case the threads have petered out. I guess they're probably due for a TTT...I figured if I got a smoking gun...and I'd guessed wrong, I just get Jeff to make me another. Same thing I plan to do if I run up on a skid plate or tow hooks that I just cannot resist.

...who am I kidding, I'm not touching that frame except with a diaper

[IronCanine]

Doors back on with the rebuilt OEM hinges. Everything going back on rock solid and square, with minimal fuss. Remarkably so...hope the trend continues with the top. Makes me think those GM engineers knew what they were doing after all ....It's really sobering looking at these pictures and seeing how little red is actually left on this tub. Firewall, windshield frame, dash, "parts" of the floor board, 30% or so of the rear deck, and the inner half of the passenger door are all that's left of the original St. Louis sheet metal.

[chipflyer]

Just a beautiful job Brad, very nice work.

Guys I finally posted a request for door label pics on the main board, been meaning to do it for a long time and just never got to it. Hopefully we can collect enough pics of real labels with dates to make future requests about build dates a little easier.
If you have any post them!

Jeff