Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Just ran across this thread. Great truck to build and start with. I plan on pulling my frame and cleaning it up in the future when i finally throw the LS in. Have you worked on putting in the 700r4? I plan on going with the 700r4, the shorter shaft installed in the tranny, and moving the engine forward. Whats your plans on this? I wish I had those leveling mats for the bed area. Mine was missing when I bought it.

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

One more thing where did you source the rebuild kit for the front end?

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Hey Kirk, I changed my mind on the auto trans, I'm keeping it stock with just a few performance upgrades. I'm keeping the 465 but I'm swapping the 10 spline for a 32, rear disc brakes, new heads and a cam and going with the Vintage air and 2.5 Skyjacker springs with 12.5 33's.

I bought my front end parts from Advance auto, Moog upper and lowers and they loaned the tools for the job.

Thanks........

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

I bent the rear body mount frame bracket back into place and welded it but it just doesn't look correct. It has a lean to it after I welded the crack so I'm guessing it was just beat to $##$ over the years so now I'm looking for a replacement if anyone has one.

I'm also looking for a clutch pivot bracket that's on the top of the frame rail on the drivers side, the one on there now is rounded out (could fab something up probably).

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Actually, mine used to be standard shift, but now its auto. If your not in a hurry, i could cut the rivets and send it to you

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Hey jaros, thanks for the offer, of course I will pay for it just let me know. I don't want you to cut up your driver. I'll be working on the chassis for awhile, I just started priming the frame this coming Wed. I've cut the brackets off and I'm working around them until last so no hurry.

Thanks........

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

That's a really clean Blazer you got there! Do you have any pic's posted?

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

No need to pay, just paying it forward. I do want to take a pic. of it to make sure it works for you

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

These are the brackets I'm looking for:

http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/...pse7c845eb.jpg

http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/...ps720f3b65.jpg

The body mount bracket was smashed too far down and has a lean to it when it's on the frame rail. The clutch pivot bracket was just rounded out over the years.

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

I sanded the blaster primer off the frame to bare metal and used a small wire wheel on my die grinder for the flash rust. I wiped the frame down with Ospho and let it set over night.

Man that stuff rocks! Even after all of that I sanded the frame again, wiped it down with WGR then shot some primer (SPI Black) on the front half and that's where I'm at now, sanding it back down for a final prime.

http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/...ps661e9e42.jpg

http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9a7f6cd1.jpg

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

That clutch bracket looks just like mine, are you sure it is rounded out, if so, then mine is no good

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Well, after further review of the image from the LMC catalog, I'm seeing a lock washer on the outer side of the bracket. The Ball Stud-frame #9 is flat on opposite sides which explains the extra "locking plate thing". I had to hold the Ball Stud with a pair of needle nose to tighten the nut in the past.

http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6f9ffb95.jpg

I can fab a tabbed washer to work for that missing link.

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

I got the frame in primer now. SPI black epoxy, this stuff looks pretty good on it's own. Going with a single stage and a dulling additive for the final coat. I'll wet sand before I do the paint. Looks a lot different than when I started and zero rust.

http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/...ps029cbbec.jpg

http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/...ps99e09190.jpg

http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/...psf9e073a9.jpg

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Just moved the frame outside to clean out the small garage I'm working out of. Doing up the axles now.

Attachment 1140984

Attachment 1140985

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Worked on my rear axle today, cleaned and primed....

Attachment 1141225

Should have the front axle cleaned up Sat. ready for prime. Cleaned up some old bracket weld marks on the frame rear rails and smoothed them out. Getting close to reassembly time.

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Wow! what a difference blasting and a little (I mean a lot of) elbow grease does.

Attachment 1141297

Attachment 1141298

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Just a Photoshop rendition of what I'm aiming for. I liked the wheels and tires on this one as well as the lift but keeping it as original as much as possible.

Attachment 1141350

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Just doing some minor frame patching. I cut off some unused brackets that were welded on over the years, smoothed over and filled the grooves.

Attachment 1142839

Attachment 1142840

Attachment 1142841

I feel lucky to have a frame in great shape to start with, makes a restore that much easier.

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Not much today, just cleaned up the garage, degreased and cleaned my bell housing. Painted the bell housing and the adaptor from the trany to the transfer case, I'll post some pic's tomorrow they turned out pretty nice.

Got the front axle tore apart and sanded down. Now I'm setting up my paint booth to paint my axles, frame and chassis parts.

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Bell housing and adaptor cleaned and painted. Degreased, wire brushed and then WGR for paint. I used Eastwoods Spray Gray, seems to hold up very well. I'll know more later when I start to reassemble the drive train but I like it.

Attachment 1143736

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Looking good man! :metal:

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Thanks Thor, just havin fun. Congratulations on the baby girl!
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Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

I like the cast grey on the heavy metal parts, makes it look like its brand new....nice start to the build

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

I've been beating myself to death on what to do with my restore. I wanted to raise it and add the 33's and that looks good and all but I've also been looking at some really nice stock blazer's that I would love mine to look like. This is one here that's got me thinking twice about my restore.

Attachment 1144997

I guess it all comes down to what I'm happy with right? I mean, it doesn't have the original SPID anymore and I am having the tub blasted and I really like the olive green. Man oh man, what to do. This is so typical I guess, when doing a frame off, lol.

What say you?

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Got my frame painted. Got out this morning thinking I was going to get the frame and axles painted, lol, finished up the frame and 10 minutes later it started pouring down rain. Every day was beautiful while I was working but my first day off and it rains, can't win.

Should have it pulled out of the garage tomorrow so I can finish up the axles. Turned out nice though, I used Omni single stage black with 33% Flattening additive no reducer and a 1.4 tip, layed out pretty nice.

Hopefully, if weather permits, I'll shoots some pictures of it tomorrow.