Few Pics Of My New 73 2wd Blazer

[73k5kid]

Picked up my new 73 2wd blazer yesterday. Specs are 350/350 good interior no rust ok paint excellent body. First on the list is to lower it a few inches pull the rollbar. I am now insearch of an 89-91 front end and some new wheels & tires. Need some ideas on a cheap way to lower the blazer. I've read on here of the shackle flip I need to do a search and find out how that works. Any ideas or suggestions would be great.

[cochino12]

Looks good!!!

[wedgemon]

Won't take much to make that a nice roller!

- Dave

[tvblazer78]

Good find!!

If you are talking about the back, you can take out the overload and one long sping to get it a little lower, also 2" shackle will get it down a little bit more. Mow it will rub the tank filer, but it will be ok.

Hope that helps and post pics on all the changes...

Trav

[73k5kid]

Originally Posted by tvblazer78

Good find!!

If you are talking about the back, you can take out the overload and one long sping to get it a little lower, also 2" shackle will get it down a little bit more. Mow it will rub the tank filer, but it will be ok.

Hope that helps and post pics on all the changes...

Trav

Thanks for the info tvblazer78. I will post more pics as money permits. Don't reall know yet how many inches to lower it. I'm gonna do a little searching on here and get some ideas. Thanks to eveyone else who posted.

[N2TRUX]

That looks awesome. Your not going to be able to lower it much until you get different tires. Those are rather tall and wide and will rub pretty quickly once dropped.

Too bad your not keeping the 73 front end. The 73-74 grill is one of my favorites....

[73k5kid]

Thanks N2TRUX I will be getting new tires & wheels before I lower it. I've never lowered a vehicle so it's new to me. I am doing some searching on here and like tvblazer78 old set up. The 3inch spindles with the 2inch springs up front with the flip kit and the 94 4x4 springs. I do like the front clip, I do not like the hood though. I was told and appears to be metal and not fiberglass. I really do like the 89-91 look better though. Thanks for the post, I also like your truck.

Originally Posted by tvblazer78

Good find!!

If you are talking about the back, you can take out the overload and one long sping to get it a little lower, also 2" shackle will get it down a little bit more. Mow it will rub the tank filer, but it will be ok.

Hope that helps and post pics on all the changes...

Trav

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

That looks awesome. Your not going to be able to lower it much until you get different tires. Those are rather tall and wide and will rub pretty quickly once dropped.

Too bad your not keeping the 73 front end. The 73-74 grill is one of my favorites....

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Man thats a sweet looking Blazer looks like its in great shape. Good find can't wait to see it get closer to the earth

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by 73k5kid

.... I do like the front clip, I do not like the hood though. I was told and appears to be metal and not fiberglass. I really do like the 89-91 look better though....

Most cowl hoods are metal. They do make them in fiberglass too, but they are almost as heavy as steel if you get one that can use stock hinges. They make a lighter fiberglass hood, but it requires hood pins.

It's just a matter of personal preference regarding the front end on these trucks. The trend to put an 89-91 clip to give a more modern look has been very popular for years and still well received. I am starting to see a growing trend toward the early style 73-80 clip. It seems that the classic look of the round headlights is becoming popular now.

[Crush]

Looks to be a nice find!

I'm with Ken on the frontend swap...I prefer the 73-74 and have actually toyed with swapping mine over to the older style.

Really depends on what "style" you are going for...if you're leaning towards the "hot rod" style then I'd say stick with the early front end....if you're leaning towards the "modern drop-n-drag" style then I think the 89-90 front end tends to look more appropriate. But that's just my opinion.

[tvblazer78]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Most cowl hoods are metal. They do make them in fiberglass too, but they are almost as heavy as steel if you get one that can use stock hinges. They make a lighter fiberglass hood, but it requires hood pins.

It's just a matter of personal preference regarding the front end on these trucks. The trend to put an 89-91 clip to give a more modern look has been very popular for years and still well received. I am starting to see a growing trend toward the early style 73-80 clip. It seems that the classic look of the round headlights is becoming popular now.

Harwood makes a lighter hood, I did have to take my hood springs off and now have a prop rod that I do not like. But do what you like and it will be cool no mater what.

Trav

[jdurant]

When you replace the front end, are you gonna replace the flames?

[73k5kid]

Not sure yet what I plan on doing for the front end swap. I like both clips and will end up painting the whole truck again. The flames will not be coming back once it sees new paint. Right now though the wife and I are working on refinancing the house. This will free up the cash I need to work on the project.

[joe231]

man wish i were closer, i'd take that hood and grill off your hands

[73k5kid]

Originally Posted by joe231

man wish i were closer, i'd take that hood and grill off your hands

Makes two of us, not much progress on the blazer. I discovered that the flywheel is bent on my th350 after thinking I had a bad starter. I am going to be pulling the tranny on monday I hope. I am debating on replacing with a
200r4 or 700r4. Probably for now gonna replace the flywheel until I can really tear into it.

[73k5kid]

Picked up a 1990 2wd burb last night for the front clip. It was driven about 60 miles with only 1st and 2nd gear home. Thought I was not going to make it. My wife was behind me and kept on telling me how the big cloud of smoke was getting bigger and bigger. It was puking tranny fluid all the way home but we made it. Here is a few pics. I also have another 700r4 that is going to be going in next week. I am waiting for my lockup kit from jegs so I can get it installed into the blazer. I need to move the blazer so I can get the burb in the garage and the blazer side by side. I want to drive the blazer for the next few months before I tear into it. My plan is to lower it and throw a nice set of rims & tires on it for the winter weather. Then when summer hits start the front clip swap and put some detail in it .

[Chevyrod]

Nice project!!!! Looks like your headed in the right direction

[tvblazer78]

[73k5kid]

Thanks everyone, I removed the front clip this weekend. My lockup kit should be coming in from jegs tomorrow. I am going to take the 700r4 down to my tranny guy to have the lockup kit installed. Hope to have the tranny in by wed. Also recommend anyone considering doing the swap to buy a complete parts blazer/suburban. I am making the plan for the swap after reading the tech info on ck5.com. There is little stuff that I am running into that is not in the article. It's so nice having the parts truck for the picking.

[tvblazer78]

Your not wasting anytime on this one..

[bigoates]

hey im doin a similar swap. Picked apart a 1989 suburban but no longer have it.

When it comes time to mount the cowl panel from the suburban to your blazer, tell me if you notice anything missing.

I know we have to drill holes just under the windshield for the plastic locating pins on the cowl, but there are mounting tabs on the front edge of the cowl panel that don't seem to have a home on my '74 and I dont have anything to campare it to at the moment.

Let me know..

[trenchwarfare]

Let me know if you need info on replacing the 700r4 as i did one this summer.

[73k5kid]

Originally Posted by bigoates

hey im doin a similar swap. Picked apart a 1989 suburban but no longer have it.

When it comes time to mount the cowl panel from the suburban to your blazer, tell me if you notice anything missing.

I know we have to drill holes just under the windshield for the plastic locating pins on the cowl, but there are mounting tabs on the front edge of the cowl panel that don't seem to have a home on my '74 and I dont have anything to campare it to at the moment.

Let me know..

Will do, that is why I mentioned in a previous post if you can pick up a whole parts suburban/blazer it will make the swap a lot easier. Bigoates I plan on keeping the suburban until I am atleast done with the clip swap. I will take pics, I hope to start on it next week. This is my first clip swap so I figure it's best to keep the burb incase I run into problems. I hope to get the 700r4 in by wed. It's so nice to go out and pick parts off this thing as needed.

[73k5kid]

Originally Posted by trenchwarfare

Let me know if you need info on replacing the 700r4 as i did one this summer.

Thanks, I will do that if I run into problems trenchwarfare. I did the research on this forum but there is always something you run into. 700r4 swap seems to be something I can do with my limited wrenching skills. The one I am debating tackling is the tbi swap from the 90 burb. I don't know if I have the tech skills to complete that one. Will see I figure I have everything on the burb to run fuel inj so why not right.

[bigoates]

THANKS