Left for dead: 72 2wd blazer build

[1956cameo]

I want to say a Huge THANK YOU to the following members for going above and beyond in helping me with this project! And of course want to thank everyone who posted in this thread for giving me advice, encouragement, and motivation.

Muleman100: Thank you for donating your time, shop space, and tools.

Critter: Thank you for donating the much needed blazer top glass.

14U2NV: Thank you for donating the jack hold down components.

HuggerCST: Thank you bringing me all of the parts that I bought from member mkmiller.

mkmiller: Thank you for donating the rear carpet strip.

lynnfield: Thank you for donating the original style valve covers, and a set of rims.



The current number of people who thought this blazer was a parts truck and are genuinely shocked I am fixing it up : 3 (Hopefully I am now at a point to where this number wont change)



I just sold off some of my old projects and was looking for a 72 blazer to work on. I was trying to find a nice driver 4x4 blazer but found this 2wd project for sale on the forums parts section. I wasn't really looking for another project but I got it anyway. I liked that it was originally blue with white interior. It had all of my must have options like CST equipment, A/C, power steering, power brakes, white single wall top, 350 engine, and turbo 350 transmission. It had a few other nice options but nothing that was setting the world on fire.

If it still had the original engine and transmission in it I would have restored it back to original. Unfortunately I got it in a very stripped down and delapidated state. Since everything is missing and I have a complete 1970 factory big block truck I thought I would put the drivetrain and other components from the 70 big block truck into the blazer. My goal is to make something GM should have made in 1972. A factory 402 big block 2 wheel drive blazer. I want to do it to all factory specs with all of the big block components. Basically make something that most people will think is completely factory original (besides custom wheels and stance) but wont be.


This is how it sat when I got it from a fellow board member pdr510 (Steve) in Choudrant, Louisiana. He had only had it for 4 months and he got it from Albany, Georgia.



Steve was getting rid of it because he had come accross a great deal on a very solid and highly optioned blazer that was to become his new project. This blazer was definately in a sad state, but really does have alot of potential.




Here it is all loaded up and ready to go to it's new home in Texas.

[1956cameo]

Steve gave me the original doors, front outer and inner fenders, and grill. Most of this stuff is going to be tossed, but there is alot of stuff in there that I can use. Things like the blazer specific components on the doors, brackets, passenger side inner fender, and some hardware.




Started going over the body to see what patch panels I will need to buy. Looks like the bed panes will need patches but are salvagable. The floorboards are toast, rocker panels are done, and some areas of the firewall will need patching. Overall the blazer tub is in decent shape. The passenger side rocker box needs a little patching but is solid enough to keep.




The drivers side rocker box is done and will need replacing.




The dash is rattle caned in black but is solid and has no holes cut out around the radio.




Picture of the stripped out interior.

[1956cameo]

This is the donor truck. It is a 1970 CST 1/2 ton. It has the factory 402 big block, turbo 400 auto trans. It is complete except a couple of the factory big block A/C brackets.




The engine bay of the donor truck. Everything you see will soon be on the 72 blazer.



I am also going to install a factory posi rear end that I have acquired over the years.

[low'n slow]

Looks good. Are you going to post a build thread?

[HuggerCST]

Well dang, I missed you when you passed through. Great project, I'll be watching this one go together.

[1956cameo]

I decided that there is no time like the present to get started on the blazer. I noticed some fiberglass and rust on part of the firewall so I went to a solid parts suburban body that we have and cut out a patch panel by drilling out the factory spot welds.

This is a picture of the section of firewall that I am going to cut off to use as a patch for the blazer.




This is the first patch panel that I have taken off so far.




This is the suburban firewall after the patch has been taken off. Much of what you are seeing now will also need to be taken off and used as a patch on the blazer. The problem is one of the previous owners tried to stop leaks and rust with screening and bondo. A great recipe to speed up the effects of rust.




This is the same section on the blazer right before starting on taking it off. Judging by the amount of fiberglass shoved underneath that panel alot of the metal behind it will need replacing.






This is far as I was able to get today, but hoping to get a little more work done tomorrow.

[1956cameo]

HuggerCST, Sorry I missed you. I asked Steve if you were home but he said you were working (which I assumed bieng mid day on a Monday). If you make it out to the Dallas swap meets much we might be able to meet up at one of those someday.

low'n slow, This will pretty much be my build thread as long as the moderators don't mind me keeping it in the blazer section instead of the projects and builds section.

[1sik52]

Good luck with the build.

[jaros44sr]

Ok, I'm in...we can always use another build thread to watch. Nice to see another one being saved

[Thealien]

Subscribing, looks good!

[14U2NV]

Subscribing! Can't wait to see the progress....

Chad

[lks dcvn]

Nice project!

Curious to see what lies beneath that panel...

My patch panels should be here tomorrow...then I get to learn welding...should be fun.

[1956cameo]

Thanks for all the comments everyone!


So heres what we were working with when the outer panel was removed. Alot of very thin metal on this panel. However the firewall panel and upper gutter panel actually looked very solid.




Heres what we had after all of the bondo had been chipped away. quite a large gaping hole. Also there were alot of holes around the vent housing. I decided it would be best to drill out all of the factory spot welds and replace the entire piece rather than cut and patch a bunch of small areas.




There are still a few remaining pieces of the old panel but overall the panel is out. The dash is making it a little challenging but so far everything has moved along without any major hurdles.




Fortunately the donor trucks panel is in excellent shape. I got it about halfway out today before I ran out of daylight. I also took the dash completely out of the donor truck to give me a better understanding of how the entire panel is placed into the trucks from the factory.





This is as far as I was able to get today. It looks like it will be a few more hours of work before I can start welding in any donor panels. Fortunately I checked out the passenger side inner cowl area and it doesn't look like it will need anywhere near as much surgery. Right now I am focusing on getting everything from the toeboard up to the windshield frame solid before tackling the floors and rockers.

[ksbrktracer]

Man I want a 2-wd blazer.....Good luck with the project, should be fun...!

[capev86]

i would put a drain hole in the bottom so it doesn't rust out again....and coat it all up inside with zinc weld through primer.

[PHAT TONY]

Lotta work ahead, but for a real 2wd Blazer it's worth it! Just keep telling yerself "Time is free."(It's a load of B.S. I know, but it's either that or drink moderatly.)

[Muleman100]

Subscribing, need any help let me know. Good luck on the build or rebuild.

[1956cameo]

Thanks for the comments, tips, and words of encouragement everyone!

[Critter]

Lookin good! I like how you went about replacing that part of the cowl. I need to do the exact same thing. Keep up the good work.

[1956cameo]

Critter, Thanks for the compliment. Unfortunately it looks like I am going to have to remove the dash in order to get the entire panel replaced like I want to do. I really don't want to move good body panels only to weld them back in into place but I think it is the only way to finish this job correctly.

[CheyenneShop]

Your patients is awesome - look forward to the build.

[Jtrux]

I removed the dash on my blazer, it's such a PITA!

[1956cameo]

theCheyenneShop, Thanks for the compliment.


jtrux, How hard was it to line everything back up properly? My dad is worried about lining everything back up. I on the other hand am not very worried about it. I figure I will make a few guide holes and then put screws or pins in them to line everything back up properly, also follow the spot welds. Just curious how your experience went since I will most likely be taking the dash off Wednesday!

[Critter]

Me and Jtrux removed both of ours...problem is, neither of us have put them back.

I don't think it is going to be that big of a deal though. There are 3 bolts per side where the dash bolts to the inner part of the door frame. They are hard to get to up under the dash, but I think they will line everything back up when we want to weld things back up under the windshield frame. I will try to find a pic and post it.

[Jtrux]

Yeah it looks like once you put the 3 bolts on each side back on you could just easily clamp the dash and windshield frame together and make a series of spot welds all the way down just like factory. There's a ton of spot welds that hold it together along the top but once they are cut out the dash comes right out.