Project Family Truckster: 2wd Conversion Turbo LSx Blazer Build

[Wasted Income]

I let 29od1 do the hard work and figure out the best way to do it. I'll be patterning my setup after his, but making my rear seat frame out of aluminum instead of steel.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...61#post5224761

[longbed67]

Wow! Just read through the build. Its looking really nice! I might of missed it but which MS series are you running?

[ls1nova71]

Maybe I missed it, but are you going back with the factory green? I see you painted the firewall green, but for some reason was thinking you were going to change the color. I guess in true 'Family Truckster' fashion, it should be green.

[Wasted Income]

Originally Posted by longbed67

Wow! Just read through the build. Its looking really nice! I might of missed it but which MS series are you running?

Thanks. I'm running a Megasquirt 3x with a Megashift for the 4L80e.

Originally Posted by ls1nova71

Maybe I missed it, but are you going back with the factory green? I see you painted the firewall green, but for some reason was thinking you were going to change the color. I guess in true 'Family Truckster' fashion, it should be green.

I'm leaving the body exactly how it is for now. Kinda going for the "patina'd POS" look, with a supercar underneath I will be doing all the bodywork and changing the color in "stage 2" once I get sick of driving around something that looks kinda like a turd.

I have been freshening it up under the hood, so when it's popped it looks nice.

[Wasted Income]

Got a new radiator core support to replace the rusted out one on my '68 front clip. Aside from the rust, it looks like it had been pushing those big round hay bales around at one time...it was all bowed in.



Got the holes for the side and center A/C vents located and cut, and got the vents in place.


Got the firewall all cleaned up, with a fresh coat of the original green paint. Also got the block off plates installed for the Vintage Air.


The A/C unit is also mounted under the dash.


Looks like the boneyard Dodge Intrepid fans should fit perfectly on the radiator. Just need to make some bosses and weld them to the end tanks. I've used Intrepid fans before on a previous LS swap and they work awesome.

[Wasted Income]

Got the AC compressor on. Fits tight to the center of the engine, which should give penty of room for turbo plumbing around it.




My partner in crime wanted to help.


Threw the core support on and got the AC condensor and drier mounted.


Threw the grille on for giggles. Also got the Jeep composite headlights installed.


Started messing with the radiator. Made some fan mounting bosses and welded them to the end tanks. Not sure I like how this "direct fit" radiator works, so I may hold onto it for another project and find something else.


Got the bulkhead connector for the transmission controller mounted in the firewall as well.




My brother fabricated an aluminum mount for the Megasquirt 3x, Megashift trans controller, and the RTMR fuse/relay block. This will mount under the dash, on the firewall. He also got the wiring for the rear of the truck done, and tucked into the framerails.



Started with a pile of aluminum with the intention of building a rear seat frame.








Started on the front seat brackets as well. Had to modify them to make them fit the floor of the blazer.
Stock bracket once removed from the seat.


Tacked together and ready for welding.


Lastly, cut the flanges off the exhaust manifolds, and did a lot of grinding, to get rid of the parting lines, and other casting BS. Once the seats are done, turbo fabrication begins.

[ColoradoK5]

BLazer Looks amazing!! Keep up the great work

[Low Elco]

Great stuff! Fab looks terrific, Can't wait for the next stage.

[gringoloco]

Lookin' SO good! What's the compressor/bracket setup? I like!

[Wasted Income]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Lookin' SO good! What's the compressor/bracket setup? I like!

It's a hybrid setup that a guy on LS1tech sells. It uses a truck offset crank pulley, with an f-body pump and fbody accessories. It was $$$ but worth it to me because I need room for turbo plumbing, and I hate how stupid the aftermarket AC brackets look with the compressor hanging way out in Guam.

It's pretty simple, really...and I could have easily made it myself, but I have a May 18 deadline. Making a 600 mile roadtrip, so it needs to be up and running and tuned by then.... Every minute is valuable at this point

[gringoloco]

I like it. Are the ps/alt spaced 3/4"? Got a link or username?
Posted via Mobile Device

[Wasted Income]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

I like it. Are the ps/alt spaced 3/4"? Got a link or username?

Yes, the ps/alt are spaced out to match the truck offset.

He goes by fox12303 on 'tech.

[thor]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

I like it. Are the ps/alt spaced 3/4"? Got a link or username?
Posted via Mobile Device

Originally Posted by Wasted Income

Yes, the ps/alt are spaced out to match the truck offset.

He goes by fox12303 on 'tech.

This should get you closer...
http://m.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?p=16249395

[Wasted Income]

Originally Posted by thor

This should get you closer...
http://m.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?p=16249395

Yeah kinda. He had two other threads with a lot more pics and details of a setup similar to mine, but they have since been removed from Tech. I'm guessing because he's not a sponsor.

[29od1]

Your build looks awesome so far! It's going to be a bad ride when you're done.
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[longbed67]

Those manifolds look like they are aluminum..... are they?

[Wasted Income]

Originally Posted by 29od1

Your build looks awesome so far! It's going to be a bad ride when you're done.
Posted via Mobile Device

Thanks

Originally Posted by longbed67

Those manifolds look like they are aluminum..... are they?

No, they are cast steel. They've just been blasted and painted before I got them.

[82ZZZR]

Saw this project in person today, looks great. Thanks for letting me stop by.

[Wasted Income]

Originally Posted by 82ZZZR

Saw this project in person today, looks great. Thanks for letting me stop by.

No problem Eric. Was good to meet you and the wife.

[Wasted Income]

Transmission harness is mostly complete and routed. Need to wrap it yet.


Front seats are done.


The hold downs that came with the fuel rail didn't fit worth a damn. Ended up having to make some stainless pieces to weld to the brackets to make them fit. They are solid and not going anywhere.




Tacked v-band flanges to the manifolds. That's all the further I am on the turbo setup as of right now, lol.


Rolled it outside to sweep up the shop and regroup...couldn't resist snapping a couple pics.




Built some brackets to mount the engine oil cooler to the core support. Also made a bracket and welded it on for the transmission cooler.




The start of coil relocation brackets.





The final product.

[Farm Shop]

Post some more pics of the seats moved forward for rear entry and showing the rear seat leg room. They look nice sitting there, but you gotta show them in action to appreciate how tailor-made they seem for the truck!
Posted via Mobile Device

[Wasted Income]

Yeah Kyle, I thought I had some pics of them folded forward, but I guess I don't. I'll snag some soon.

[Splash4195]

Nice and clean!

[Wasted Income]

Well....sometimes procrastination is the fastest way to get things done. That is certainly the case with my turbo hot-side. Really glad I didn't fab it all up with the body off....because i would have been REALLY pissed when I saw this.



Piss.

Luckily, I have sets of manifolds from like 4 different LS powered vehicles kicking around the shop, and the good ol' flipped truck manifold was the clear winner. Time to do a bunch more grinding.





I like the stance much better, after I reworked the rear suspension to drop it another 1.5"







Getting the body back on was another infusion of motivation that I needed.

Also, here is why I used the seats I did.

[Splash4195]

Originally Posted by Wasted Income

Well....sometimes procrastination is the fastest way to get things done. That is certainly the case with my turbo hot-side. Really glad I didn't fab it all up with the body off....because i would have been REALLY pissed when I saw this.



Piss.

Luckily, I have sets of manifolds from like 4 different LS powered vehicles kicking around the shop, and the good ol' flipped truck manifold was the clear winner. Time to do a bunch more grinding.





I like the stance much better, after I reworked the rear suspension to drop it another 1.5"







Getting the body back on was another infusion of motivation that I needed.

Also, here is why I used the seats I did.

Nice seats where did you get them from?