Yes another 72 build thread
 

Well, I bit the bullet. I've wanted a 72 for some time now, one I could put my own name on, it had to be a CST and in somewhat good condition. After looking for some time I found a likely candidate.

It's a little rough (but what 72 dosen't start out that way) but the price was right and it is complete. The pictures here are from a family member in the area so this is all I have until I pick it up and get it back home.

I'm excited to begin the restoration.......

Edit ::. After reading other 72 build threads, I should have said "a little dirty" rather than "a little rough". Wow! the rust you guy's start out with and the finished results are amazing. I hope I can call on you all for any advice when my time comes. Thanks for all the replies.

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Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

A few more.....

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Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Wow, that looks very nice - congrats!

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Thanks Yukon, one more week untill it's setting in my driveway.

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

When you said rough, I was expecting something different. That truck doesn't look that bad. Definitely a great start. How far away is it located that you had to have someone else get you pics?

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

It's about 1300 miles from me. I have a sister-in-law that lives in the area. Flying out next Tue. to see what condition the motor's in. I have plans to throw a set of 33's on it right away if it's drivable, if not I'll just pull it back with a U-haul truck. He has a ton of extras to go with it including a top, trany wheels....

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Good looking project! If you think that is rough than I don't even wan't to know what you would think about mine. :lol:

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

That looks sweet cannot wait to see more of the covered seating .

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

1956cameo I retract the "rough" statement on your behalf.

Updated My Opening Post, lol

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Nice blazer!!!! Looks like an excellent starting point for a restoration.

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

I think some of us are just too impatient to wait for the right project to come along. Either that or we just love pain! I am not sure what the benefit of me living in Texas is if I am going to always work on rust buckets that I get from out of state. Keep us posted on this one; I can't wait to see it cleaned up!

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Mine started off in about the same color and shape ,but ended up like this. So good luck and welcome to the club.:metal:

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Nice score....another mustard yellow joins the club:lol:

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

awesome the black blazer is sweet y saw that same color on a blazer today at wheck yard

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Just got home today from CO., with my K/5. What a long drive 1400 miles in two days.

I am so tired right now but I still have to go to work and drive another 6 hours.

Here's a picture cleaned up just a bit (not using any elbow grease) loaded with the extra item's and new shoe's for the drve back (31 x 10.5 x 15's). Gotta go to work now but I'll post more pic's of the seat's rockers and more when I get home Tue.

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

looks great!

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Glad to see that you got it! How was the trip? Any problems?

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

I did have problems. The rod bearings were shot so me and my nephew (caught a flight from SC to help me out) decided to drop the oil pan and replace the bearings. I couldn't find an oil pan gasket so we decided to goop it up with permatex (what ever that gasket making stuff is called).

Well, about 50 miles out my oil pressure was dropping (night time driving) when I got out to check it out I found oil sprayed all underneath and all over the tail gate. It was pouring out around the gasket. I just had to keep an eye on it and fill occasionally. I didn't want to drive any faster than 60 on the way home, not knowing how well the mains would hold up.

I knew this motor was shot but patched it up so I could get back home without renting a truck to tow it back (call me cheap). What I didn't know is that this motor is a 305 and not a 350, I probably could have found a gasket for a 305 that night.

Well anyway it's home so now I can work on it. Here are a few pic's of the interior and common rust spots that I'll be tackling first. The rear seat looks almost new.

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Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

A few more......

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Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

I'm not sure there is such a thing as an easy trip home when picking up a new old vehicle!

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Placed a small order with LMC. The dash pad was old and as you can see the PO had glued the pad down. I wasn't to fond of the brown dash so I'm in the process of removing the top layer brown and buffing it out.

I also ordered the direction signal switch with harness. Napa wanted like 50 bucks for a universal and another outlet wanted like 100 bucks for the same thing, lol.

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Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Loods good. i might have a Glove box door in that color here, I can check when I get home if you want.

I like that it's a well optioned truck. I would have likes a roll bar and rear seat in mine.

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

That is a real good looking project! It doesn't look like there's hardly much wrong that won't be a quick fix. Anything you can drive 1400 miles right off is almost new! Good luck and keep the pics coming!

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Thanks red71 (Decrepit Old Guy). I'm planning an engine swap within the next few weeks. Looking at the GM crate 290hp. Still waiting for my dash pad from LMC.

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

DON'T BUY A GM CRATE ENGINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am a mechanic and work on lots of hot rods of the $150,000 and up range. They come to the shop I work at when the problems need to be fixed. Of the 7 GM crate engines I have had experiance with in the past year 8 of them had very expensive problems. That alone isn't the biggest concern. When trying to get warranty is when you hit a brick wall. The quickest was 4 months to get resolved. the worst was almost 2 years and about $2000. in unpaid expenses. You can't buy quality anything these days, because the overall demand is for cheap. So far in my search for the least expensive engine, I have found Whiteperformance to be the best. They seem to hand pick and remachine the new parts the sell. I have a theory that the cheapest is not always the leats expensive. I bought a set of Patriot heads from White performance, a buddy of mine could not wait the delivery time, and bought the same thing localy for money. A side by side camparason, the ones my buddy bought where crapp. My son bought 535HP Crate eng. from WP. It is awsome. Borderline streetable for me, but it works for him. Any ways,,,, After a couple of months the head gasket went. Phoned them, and since they don't know who they are dealing with, and everyone is a mechanic, they led me step by step to determine that it was for sure the head gasket. Once determined they shipped out all the parts to repair the problem.


On a side note DON'T GET OR BUILD A NEW ENGINE WITHOUT A ROLLER CAM!!!!!! THE OIL NEEDED TO LUBE THE CAM IS NOT,,,,NOT READILY AVAILABLE. Chevs have always had a problem with eating camshafts, and pumping all that metal throughout the rest of the engine. For the last few years it has gotten a lot harder to find oil with the zinc and phosfates needed to lube a flat tappet cam.

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Thanks for the headsup pumpkin but I need a motor asap. The 305 in it now has a trashed crank. The crate motor is a two day swap for me alone and complete. I have a limit of about 2,500 to throw at the swap.

EDIT::.

I was also thinking of getting the 260hp for less money and just swaping out the cam.

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Nice score on the blazer she is real nice.. Btw I have had my crate motor in my blazer for 8 years and have not had a single problem other than regular maintenance..

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Look up whiteperformance on ebay. They have all kindsa good deals. Vortec 350 short block about $1400, aluminum heads about $650, roller cam and lifters, not sure but I'ld guess around $600, roller rockers $120, polished aluminum valve covers $60, new billet HEI $60. I have been dealing with them for a few years now and there customer service has been great, and I can't find anyone that can beat there prices.

stores.ebay.com/whiteperformanc1

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Finally got my dash pad and switch in today. Quality is superb on both products. I got the dash all cleaned and buffed out, just need to paint the new vents to match the pad.

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I'm happy with it.

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Thanks french-. I've heard a lot of good and bad from the crate motors. Hoping I'll have good luck with mine.

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

I'm sooooo... tempted to cut into my dash. I wanted to install a factory AC dash anyway. Somebody talk me out of it!

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The only thing about installing a DIN radio over the factory location is you still have a slight indent on either side where the factory knobs recess. I don't know, what do you think?

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

get the radio plate from Mekdad....looks good (comes unpolished...I polished it up....)

PO cut a HUGE hole in my dash....
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filled it nicely...
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Looks good to me...
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Or you could always paint it if you didn't want it polished...

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Just placed my order with Summit (close to home). Should be dropping in the 350 on Tue. It's only 1.5 hours from where I work so tomorrow when I get in I'll be driving to Summit.

I've decided to cut the dash, it's my truck and I think it would look better with the radio in the dash. I'll be looking for an AC dash in the meantime to install factory AC.

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Nice CST... how much that set you back?

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

It is your choice but here's a little feedback. I'm all for modernizing these trucks, however... I have a cut dash and I wish I didn't.

The idea is great to have a nice DIN player in there but controlling a new style Ipod/USB headunit mounted center dash in a bouncy truck is a challenge. I'm going to move my head unit to a Tuffy center console to provide better control and better theft protection. All my music is radio, ipod and usb stick now so the need for discs is minimal.

I think it would be super cool to have cranking tunes but when people look in they just see the stock AM/FM dash. Have you seen this touch screen dash install? Really nice set up. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=370004

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1257186537

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

I agree snowblind, I just wanted someone to talk me out of it. I have a pretty clean dash now (once I get the glove box and ash tray changed out) and I really want to keep that appearance.

I'm going to try all other options as well as the center console myself.

Thanks for the info.

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Just got off the phone with Summit, shipping my stuff today should see it by Wen. I wanted it for Mon, that would give me 3 1/2 day's to get it in. Now I have to take my time and get it all painted and mount all the extras and wait to install it next Tue/Wen. Oh well. lol

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

I told myself I wouldn't take the top off until I had the motor in and replaced the body mounts........well, I couldn't resist. The body mounts wern't to bad and the weather was calling me to come out and play, lol......

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The front snaps are for a custom made grill cover the PO had made. I have that cover, pretty nice and good quality.

Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Some bling for the new motor......

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Still waiting on the motor to get here. Tomorrow....

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Re: Yes another 72 build thread
 

Nice bling....truck looks great with the top off...