Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Hey Pete, fun to catch up with your build for sure. Which company supplied your carpet?

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

The reproduction parts used I largely sourced from Wes at Classic Heartbeat including the carpet. I did get some items from GMC Paul and a few specialty pieces from Corvette parts suppliers like Zip Corvette. For example, the repro Harrison AC box decal that came from a Corvette supplier was correct aluminum rather than the faux aluminum paper decal from pickup parts suppliers.

Door panels and weather stripping going on today. I'm going to see if the accessory door locks will fit. If not, I'll at least use the metal chrome door look pulls that are otherwise a match for the OEM black plastic ones.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Windshield gasket...

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Hand polished the OEM windshield trim and wiper arms using a polishing compound and bronze wool. I also polished the single wall hold down strips but they didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped and I can't find a local polishing business so will substitute temporarily with reproduction examples. I need to get the hold down strip bolts rechromed too.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Thanks so much for all the posts. Your build is definitely the gold standard. I'm running a few weeks behind you on my build and I reference this thread often. Do you mind sharing where you got the AC sticker? I got the cheap looking one and would like to upgrade.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Thanks for the good words! Your build is at least as good and has been a very helpful reference.

I'm nearly certain that decal came from Zip Corvette. Check the description for a 72 Corvette. If it references foil that the one. Not sure if the numbers on the decal are a match but no one will know if it isn't and it looks otherwise correct.

Top is painted and I think we nailed the texture! Went with hatch hinge grommets for a double wall top rather than the plate w gasket for a single wall.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Texture...

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Sanded. Primed. Sealed. Texture. Paint is correct GM white.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Door assembly nearly complete. We used gaffers tape to mimic the OEM sealing on the inside of the doors as well as thick paper similar to OEM and smeared in some cosmoline.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

The dyed door panels were originally green now are a near dead match with factory parchment. I'll post a pic against a nos parchment panel once I can get the blazer home. Never could find a matching nos door panel.

These are untouched OEM woodgrain panels removed from the same low mileage motor home the steering wheel came from. Armrests are NOS black examples dyed to match. Time will tell whether the finish holds up. All replated OEM bolts and screws in the doors.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

OEM seat backs painted and installed with OEM screws.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Glass to be installed tomorrow.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

The top looks great as does everything else. I'm getting excited to see it done.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

That top looks fantastic, you nailed it.:metal:

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Pete, your blazer is looking fantastic!!! I hope you drive the **** out of it. The memories you create will be worth more than any part you need to replace.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Thanks a lot guys! Brian, will do!

So the local Pilkington supplier had non-Pilkington embossed Windshield glass from some plant in Mexico but with Pilkington stickers on it. Hmmmmm. Pass. My glass guy called Pilkington in Ohio and has a Pilkington embossed windshield en route but that won't arrive until next week. I'm wondering if Pilkington is shifting manufacturing to Mexico for these.

The double wall OEM tinted rear quarter top glass did not easily work with the single wall Steele repro gasket, which conforms great on the inside of the top but less so on the glass outside. We are going to give the rubber time to relax until the windshield install and see if there's improvement. The double wall glass is thicker but otherwise same dimensions and shape so we were hoping these would easily work. I'll get some representative pics posted soon.

The glass went easily into the hatch at least :)

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Here's the wrinkle in the weatherstrip from the double wall glass installed into the single wall top gasket. I think I can live with this for the time being.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Single wall is on!

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

...

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

What a struggle with the new weatherstrip! The doors that were so well aligned before got wonky once the top was bolted into place so a supplemental shim job is in order. I think I'll not remove the top until next summer to let the gaskets settle into place :(

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

My advice - weld ALL the factory little screw holes up before body work. Here's NOS drip rail deflector installed in the factory holes. A little off?!

Was subsequently repositioned.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Pete I bought that skinny pilkington glass and installed it with a precision gasket on my swb twice and it still leaks like a mofo. I was expecting to see some sliders installed. Cant wait to drool over this thing.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Pete, all your hard work and attention to detail really shows. One of the nicest Blazers I’ve seen. The Blue and plaid really go together well.

Ray

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Thanks buddy. Does your glass have "Pilkington" embossed into it or the name of the Mexican manufacturer? I kept the vintage replacement windshield and will use if needed but it's a bit scratched from the wipers.

Ray thanks a bunch. I'm really looking forward to see what it looks like out in the sunshine. Next week!

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

I recall seeing the Pilkington label somewhere during the installation but all I can read now is crinamex by vitro. Boy am I disappointed about it. Turns out my water leak on the floorboard by the kick panel the whole time was my door gasket. Now the leak is worse than before with the new windshield and gasket.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

That's the Mexico made glass labeled with Pilkington stickers we passed on. I'll keep you posted and let you know what arrives. Sorry to hear you are dealing with that hassle. Call Pilkington and complain?

Member UGAK5 sent me this photo of the Pilk logo on his recently installed windshield after he and I had some discussion on the matter of glass. His windshield was shipped from Pilkington in Ohio and the Pilk rep commented that there were only eight more like it remaining in the warehouse.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Post # 261
I’ll be all eyes on board with this as I’ll be trying the same with my single-wall top this year.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Keep me posted as I likely won't get to my attempt at installing until next year. In three weeks we move out of state. If I weren't moving I'd make the time to restore and install.

And, I may refurbish and install this complete GM 72 Cruise Master cruise control setup I now have that's correct for 72 K5s before tinkering with the windows :)

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Your hard work and attention to detail is very impressive and inspiring Pete. You seem to keep hitting little snags here and there but you keep marching on not letting them deter you from the build and I believe your Blazer will be a very strong candidate for TOTY when completed. Good luck with the move as well.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Moving again? Where we going this time?......

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

I know. It sounds crazy. I promise I'm not running from the law or anything else.

My wife and I weren't looking for jobs but were recruited to jobs by a good friend that pay more, offer more time off, and have less work in Eau Claire, WI which has way less violence and crime and better schools than Albuquerque does. Our daughter is 18 mos and this is an opportunity to raise her in a more community and family oriented place. My folks moved to NM from MN and I have relatives still in Minneapolis, which is an easy 1.5 hrs away.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Another climate change :lol:...but probably a lot prettier views.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Got behind on this thread. What a fun catch up. Little left to add that hasn't already been said many times over. Another top shelf restoration generously shared. Equal parts inspiration and information. 100 pt truck, 1000 pt guy. I love this truck...good luck with the move my friend.

PS my brother and I are in a perpetual argument Rallys vs. Steelies...You've made him a happy man with that pristine set ;)

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Thanks for the good words and well wishes guys. Rad, I'm still wrestling between steelies and rallies - love the look of both. I've got a set of 15x8 steelies that may find their way onto the Blazer yet.

Happy to say the test drives went well with no leaks or lost parts. I've not yet driven it so can't personally comment on ride quality or the feel of the quick ratio Red Head rebuilt steering box. FWIW Eric the shop owner says the ride was smooth not stiff and he noticed no squirreliness (sp?) with the steering at all. I'll comment back on the feel of the leaf springs and steering box.

I'll get more pics up next week once the Blazer is home and before it ships to WI.

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Front...

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Rear....

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

...

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

One more...

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

Still a few finishing touches in order. I need to install the front shoulder belts, which needed to be shortened, the AC needs to be charged, remaining decals and the GB emblem applied. Almost there!

Re: 1972 Medium Blue Highlander Blazer Resto
 

btw - we were able to get Pilkington embossed glass and the install was hassle free using the OEM trim that I polished and a NOS gasket.