72- Blazer 4wd-to 2wd drive?

[burton_62]

Hey all from Minnesota here I am new to the club. I am very interested in changing a 4wd to a 2wd.How much work is this? or any 2wd Blazer's around my area. Southern Minnesota

[low'n slow]

I'm doing it now. It's not too hard. Get a complete crossmember from 1973 up to about 1987. Put an flip kit in the back. Of course different transmission and driveshaft. New engine stands. Here is an inprogress picture

[bouncytruck]

There are several conversions on the board and there are several ways to go about it. From what I've read, a stock front cross member is fairly straight forward, almost a bolt in. You could also do a custom front cross member, like those offered by Porterbuilt.

Out back, you can either flip the axle to the top of the springs like low'n slow said or you can put trailing arms in, but you'll need to fab some spring/air bag mounts or you can put a complete custom rear suspension in.

If you want to go crazy, companies like Jim Meyer will build you a custom frame with what ever suspension you want, but it will cost you.

There is at least one board member who has done at least a dozen conversions on first gen blazers. I'll let him pipe in if he has any suggestions. Heck, last I heard, he had a few sitting around his shop waiting to be sold. It would be cheaper to ship one from his shop in the Seattle area than repair the rust from the salt on the Minnesota road.

Post some pics of your truck and the progress as you do your build.

[burton_62]

Thanks for all the info I have found a 72 Blazer in my area 4wd, and also a 2wd longbed frame, trying to make something to work out of this is it possible?or shoulds I try and find a shortbed frame instead? would that work?

[bouncytruck]

The short bed frame isn't going to be any easier - the suspension areas of the frames are the same, the distance between the axles and behind the rear axle that is different. 4wd frames are slightly different over the top of the rear axle, which is why you'll need to fab some spring or airbag mounts if you use the rear trailing arm suspension off the 2wd Pickup frame.

A short bed pickup has a longer wheelbase than a Blazer and, even if you shorten it, you'll need to fab up some body mounts. A suspension swap is the easiest way to go. You could do the front cross member now, along with the steering box, and transmission and just do the rear flip saving a more complicated suspension for a future project.

[hotrodhomi]

I would stick with the 4wd frame and make modifications.

[burton_62]

So its my understanding that if I find a 73-87 1/2 ton front part of a 2wd frame would work better than a 67-72 2wd swb frame? and when you refer to a rearend flip what does that exactly mean?

[jmuck]

The front Xmember from aa 73-87 would be better b/c parts are cheaper like drop spindles and brakes. When the say flip kit the mean putting the rear springs under the axle instead of on top. This lowers the rearend. If I were you I would 4-link the rear if you want to run bags. My blazer was a 4x4 when I got it last year.