Project "Vertically Challenged"

[70k52wd]

I have already started my airbag suspension project. I have owned this truck for many many years, and have always wanted to get it into the weeds...
With an incredible amount of inspiration, encouragement, and a wealth of knowledge, I must first thank Board Member "lolife99". I sincerely, thank you for all of your support.

Well, here is the victim, a 1970 2wd Blazer I bought years ago at trucks Carlisle.

Plans are to do a Dominator air suspension, along with the Thorbecke Bros. Upper, and now, lower control arms. I have a set of tubular lowers I had planned on modifying, but ditched that idea, and am opting for the TB uppers and lowers.
I will be using products from Early Classic Enterprise(ECE) to include 2.5 drop spindles, new rotors calipers and so on. The rear setup will again use ECE products, super track bar, lowered shocks. I am using Performanceonline also, 2in solid blocks, c-notch, and a front shock relocate kit. POL has good prices.

I have the truck up on jacks now with front end off. Just cleaning, drilling, and now waiting for parts.

More pics and info to follow. Very soon.

[lolife99]

Thanks for the kind words.
I'm subscribing to this one!

[hotrodhomi]

sounds like a good plan

[thirdstreettito]

Beautiful C5!

[blakeaz33]

Great looking truck! Looking forward to seeing your updates.

[Twisted78SS]

Very nice C5, I'll be watching this one..

[LuckyHenriksen]

Awesome looking blazer

[70k52wd]

Here are a few more pics of progress.



I put this pic in there to show the Chisholm 2in drop arms that I pulled off. The crusty rotor is from not driving the truck much since I've owned. Less that 8k in 15+ years of ownership, every mile was to a car show somewhere. It's now a driver(when finished).

This is a pic of the Chisholms (for sale).



This pic is cleaning up x-member, getting ready to do a driver quality, protective coat of paint.



Here is a pic of X-member. Note the missing saddles. That's what projects are all about. Figuring out how to fix past fupa's. The Chisholms require removal of saddles. I have the saddles, and I think I have a solution for the fix. They require a round head bolt of some sort for the forward saddles to index the x-shaft. I'm open for crafty ideas.



Here are the saddles.



I wanted to also give Performanceonline a thumbs up. They are fast on delivery. I placed an order on a Mon, and here on Fri, from Ca no less.

More updates soon to follow.

[nuke1]

that is one fine blazer you have there, will look great slammed

[70k52wd]

Haven't had a chance to do a lot to the Blazer, to cold for me.
I have managed to paint a few things that I will post pics of when installed.
I got some allen head bolts for the cross shaft index, and got saddles bolted in place. I have a stock x-shaft I will use to see if it works. I have the front bolt with one shim.

Sorry pics are blurred, but you get the idea.

Pic of stock rivet in saddle.



Pic of allen bolt with shim.



Pics of allen bolt and cross shaft.





Pic of saddles loosely installed. If you look closely you can see the shim on the front saddle.



If it gets warmer I'll get more stuff done and posted.
That's all for the moment.

[VA72C10]

Your blazer already looks awesome and the stance is just going to set it off!!! Can't wait to see it in person.

[lolife99]

Looks like those button head allen bolts are going to work fine. Keep the pictures coming! Did you find your u-bolts?

[Rokcrln]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Looks like those button head allen bolts are going to work fine. Keep the pictures coming! Did you find your u-bolts?

I disagree, they do fit well on the arm by it self but once placed in the saddle the lip of that saddle takes up allot of the button head's height. I would add a thick washer under the button head if it were me. Their is really allot of stress on those factory pins and they need full contact. You know it might be better to use a regular allen head bolt so you have a square edge like the factory pins did with added height of the head.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[lolife99]

I think he has a washer under the bolt head of the front saddle to help it make contact. (none under the rear saddle bolt since there is no dimple there) Although, the Thorbecke Bros, a-arm cross shafts have dimples in both ends, so you could use washers under both of those button head bolts.

Also,... won't the u-bolts take all of the load?

[IvelDesigns]

that's a nice lookin' blazer you have there. Looking forward to seeing your build progress.

[70k52wd]

Originally Posted by Rokcrln

I disagree, they do fit well on the arm by it self but once placed in the saddle the lip of that saddle takes up allot of the button head's height. I would add a thick washer under the button head if it were me. Their is really allot of stress on those factory pins and they need full contact. You know it might be better to use a regular allen head bolt so you have a square edge like the factory pins did with added height of the head.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Roc, thanks for looking at thread. I had a 1/2in regular allen bolt in my hand. The standard 1/2in head fit the hole perfect in circumference. However I went with the button style as it will allow for height adjustment. It may be hard to see, but the front saddle has a spacer in place. Also with the standard head I would have to commit to drilling both the saddles and crossmember larger. I would have had to grind standard head down for correct fit as the head is too tall.

I am not an engineer, so I don't know for sure, but it seems to me that the u-bolts carry the load. If I'm wrong and anyone knows for sure, please let me know. I don't want to crash my truck.

Hey Lo, my factory cross shafts have two dimples. Maybe 73 style has em, 71-72 don't.

[lolife99]

Hey,... I told you,... I learn something new every day on here. I didn't know that.
I also sent you an email about some ralleys.

[STOCKISH]

Nice looking ride. Cant wait to see it slammed. Good luck.

[70k52wd]

Nothing new this week. I just wanted to show off a couple of tools I picked up while at the Fastenal store. The saw is cool, it has a 4 way blade placement.



Please don't ask what I paid. Yes they were on sale. But as a self confessed impulse shopper, It doesn't matter to me what I paid. I bought them because I needed them, and I just wanted to see how much free stuff the Fastenal guy was going to give me.

This is also the fringe benefit of doing the job myself, guilt free tool shopping. I never knew how much I like to shop.

[LUV2XCLR8]

Building my 1st from scratch, non air, but interested
in the outcome of yours so I am subscribed till done.

[lolife99]

I love new tools!
You will find those very handy. Don't forget the safety glasses. (that makes me sound like the old man that I am)

[70k52wd]

Long time for such little progress. Anyhow, I had a slight problem with the u-bolts being to wide spread. So, I broke a vise trying to close them up a bit...piece of junk. I had a local exhaust shop pinch them. So that ordeal took a lot of time away.




So I got it together, well, almost. The exhaust hit the Trackbar before I could get it to ride height and make adjustments. I'll just chop the tail pipes for now.





Plenty more to come. It's cold again, maybe later this week it'll warm up a bit.

[VA72C10]

Hey, a little bit of progress is better than no progress!

[70k52wd]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Hey, a little bit of progress is better than no progress!

I agree. And I'm glad I went ahead and started project, because little issues WILL crop up on any build. This way, maybe I'll be done by early spring. Just collecting up all of the little items(fittings, lines, fasteners) is a task all on it's own. It's going to take a few weeks to get the lower CA's from Thorbecke Bros., That's why I went ahead and started rear. Once we get a brake on temperatures around here, and I get the A-arms, I should have it together pretty quickly.

[lks dcvn]

Nice project - it should look nice when you are done...

Keep the pix and the updates coming.