1970 Blazer Build

[hevy_chevy67]

After wanting to have a Blazer for a very long time, I've lucked out and one has fallen into my lap. Pure luck I stumbled across it and the owner was willing to sell it.

This pic is from the day I looked at it. Owner and I agreed on a price and I was going to come back in a couple weeks once he cleaned up the yard and got it out. He was also going to take the top off and keep it as he has another K5.

Other then the two diff's, there isn't much left for drivetrain and running gear in this. So I'm going to make it a 2WD. I already have a K10 that rides rough and I like the 2WD look better anyways. So my quick plans are:

- 2wd conversion. Trying to get a hold of Dead End garage so I can throw trailing arm suspension in rather then keeping the leaf rear
- 5.3 / 4l60e swap
- 20" tire and wheels
- 4/6 lowering kit
- Body and paint (the part I do not look forward to)

[hevy_chevy67]

Last Saturday I went and picked it up. I could barely sleep the night leading up lol. I've wanted one of these for a very long time.

Its a project, but it has good bones. Needs doors replaced and front clip obviously, but will also need new bedsides. Bed will need a couple small patches, but underneath the truck is surprisingly good. From what I've read, these rocker boxes tend to go bad? These ones are intact and appear to be pretty solid.

[hevy_chevy67]

Previous owner was keeping the top, but I lucked out again and there was a hardtop for sale on Facebook. Went and picked it up.

[hevy_chevy67]

And here is where I am as of Sunday.
Got the tub off and need to start stripping the frame down. Plan is to have it sandblasted in a couple weeks and get it painted as fall is getting close. That will give me all winter to get the suspension, brakes, and possibly motor & trans in place.

[1970cstblazer]

Nice Blazer. A tub with intact rocker boxes is a rare find.

[litebulblsc]

Why get rid of the leaf springs? Just do an axle flip to get it sitting better...

[hevy_chevy67]

Originally Posted by litebulblsc

Why get rid of the leaf springs? Just do an axle flip to get it sitting better...

I like the trailing arm ride better. If I keep leafs, I need to get new leafs anyways and those aren't cheap either. I'm also convering to 5 bolt and have a couple 71/72 trailing arm rear ends ready to go. And in the future if I want to go lower it will be simple.

[IronCanine]

Cool project. Congrats.

FYI...some of those 4WD parts (even the little stuff) would be of value to others. Don't scrap em. You might be surprised how much of it is 1970 only and harder to come by.

[hevy_chevy67]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

Cool project. Congrats.

FYI...some of those 4WD parts (even the little stuff) would be of value to others. Don't scrap em. You might be surprised how much of it is 1970 only and harder to come by.

I keep everything lol. Last week I junked a bad hood and I totally felt bad doing it lol. Nothing from this Blazer is getting tossed.

[hevy_chevy67]

Got the donor frame stripped and the 2wd crossmember mocked up. Really nice that a couple of the holes line up between the 4x4 and 2wd frames.

[hevy_chevy67]

Moved quick to get this sandblasted and painted before cool Temps move in up here. It's not going to be a show truck but I'm super happy how it turned out. Little tight on shop space at moment so it's gonna cure on top of another frame lol.

[zammer]

Nice find! That tub does look great for any that are left sitting up in canada in a field. I've seen that top in person as well and its also in great condition, nice scoop. Im definitely in to watch your build, it will be nice to see another first gen blazer on the road in alberta. Good luck with the project

[hevy_chevy67]

I tried to get documentation pulled on it from Vintage Vehicle Services but it turns out it was a US sold Blazer which I guess help explains the tub's condition. I was really hoping I could get the option list, as the glovebox has a CST emblem on it but I can only make out about 1/3 of what it on the SPID. The previous owner had it for about 10 years, so someone before him must have brought it up.

[hevy_chevy67]

Got my front crossmenber back in to mark some holes to drill. Compared placement to another C10 and those two existing holes in the 4wd frame get placement bang in on.

Trailing arm crossmeber is in as well. Two existing holes in frame get the wheel base to about 104.5, match exactly on both sides. Local guy is going to make upper coil mounts, panhard bar mount, and shock mounts for me as I can't get a kit from Deadend Garage to finish the 2wd conversion.

[hevy_chevy67]

Se the body back on just to make sure my front and rear placement is good in the wheel wells. Both look good enough for me.

[raggedjim]

Nice work so far. Good luck, Rg

[hevy_chevy67]

This thing is to starting to snowball......

I purchased a pair of new bedsides, but now looking at the bed floor I'm really leaning to changing it too. Its beat up near tailgate area, and needs some patches here and there. Bedsides are coming off regardless, so thinking I should just bite the bullet on it.

I have no good usable front end sheet metal. I'm going to be picking up a set of new fenders, so I've decided to make it a 68 Chev front end. Found a nice original 68 rad support already for the swap.

Also swapping out trailing arms and crossmember for these ones made by a local guy. They have a built in 2" drop.

[best view]

The long term fourcast for Alberta is a snowy winter

[LT7A]

That's a good find. I'm a little more of an originality guy than your plans call for, but at least this one won't be rusting away anymore. I see you've got one of the 20s ready to go. Are you going to get others with similar patina?

[hevy_chevy67]

Originally Posted by LT7A

That's a good find. I'm a little more of an originality guy than your plans call for, but at least this one won't be rusting away anymore. I see you've got one of the 20s ready to go. Are you going to get others with similar patina?

Lol, still on the lookout for three more just like it. Not holding my breath though haha

[hevy_chevy67]

Also scored the last remaining difficult to find pieces
. The front seats are 73 75 blazer buckets but super pumped about the rear seat I found. Super clean original cover.

[1rippen6]

Originally Posted by hevy_chevy67

Also scored the last remaining difficult to find pieces
. The front seats are 73 75 blazer buckets but super pumped about the rear seat I found. Super clean original cover.

If you want to put original covers on, I sell the side skirts to convert them to 69-72

[1970cstblazer]

That is a '69-'70 rear seat, and it appears gorgeous.

[hevy_chevy67]

Originally Posted by 1rippen6

If you want to put original covers on, I sell the side skirts to convert them to 69-72

I think I had messaged you about some skirts a few months ago. The seats I had those in mind were turned out to be too far gone to repair, but I'll be in touch soon as I'll need full skirts for these ones.

[hevy_chevy67]

Originally Posted by 1970cstblazer

That is a '69-'70 rear seat, and it appears gorgeous.

I wasn't sure of the extact year, thank you. My VIN decodes as a 70, so that's good to know.

Seat is really good, almost need to paint the truck to match the seat