"Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

I have been a lurker for awhile and have finally decided to start a build thread on one of my rides.
This is my 79 blazer "Baby". It was named by my 4 year old because he thinks it is HIS baby.
The Blazer belonged to a club brother of mine and I had been storing it at my house for about 6 or 7 months. He called me one day and asked if I would like to trade it for a transmission I had lying around. I have always loved the full size Blazers and one can never have to many trucks, so I jumped at the opportunity.
I finally had some time off of work so I jumped into it and got her running, registered, got one solid color on her instead of the 5 different primer colors, fixed a few issues and got her on the road to replace my 34 ford pickup as my daily driver.

She has the factory 305 which has been rebuilt. Slight lowering in front via cut coils and the rest is pretty much stock.

http://www.bandbspeed.com/images/blazer/baby1.jpg

http://www.bandbspeed.com/images/blazer/baby2.jpg


My plans will be to take it slow as I have 11 other cars in my stable including a few AD Chevy pickups and a few hot rods to work on.
I am going to redo the drop with a static 5" - 5". I am going to run 20" AR Salt Flat Specials. I will put on a 3" cowl induction hood and shave as much of the external hardware as possible. I also plan on swapping out the engine to a 454 I have in my shop. I am sure there will be a ton more to do but I also need this to be my shop truck / parts chaser / push truck when I don't want to run my 2002 3500 dually.

Here is a quick photoshop sketch of the mods I have planned for the very near future.


http://www.bandbspeed.com/images/blazer/Baby4.jpg


http://www.bandbspeed.com/images/blazer/79 blazer.jpg


I will keep this thread updated as I proceed.
Hope you enjoy.

Nate

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

Sweet, should turn out great.

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

Cool, and welcome.

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

Thanks guys.
Good to see you here to Bruce. Seems like we got too much in common!
Let me know if you know of a good gauge cluster, dash & gauge plate. I need some nice interior stuff.
I also need some pointers on bringing the AC back to life. It's murder right now and even worse for my little boy to drive in HIS blazer with no AC.

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

Any updates?

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

I like it!

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

A bunch of small stuff.
It has now become my daily driver as I retired the 34 ford for that purpose.
I completely removed and cleaned and repaired the gauge cluster and got everything working.
I still have no air and will not until I hand out a bunch of coin to fix it.
I notice a left hand forward lean due to the front springs so I am looking for the lowering kit to get it even all the way around.
Being a designer and fabricator I am slow because I continue to have weird ideas on the rear suspension.
Do I do a 84 Jag IRS that I have back there or a short throw 4 link from a G body that I have or just do a static drop?
Like I said, I am a weird hot rodder and experiment a lot.

I changed the rear wheels to 255r/65/r15 Astro Supremes on the back because those were the only tries I had in my stash that would fit.
Now I am running 2 different sets of rims. Flashy ones in back and standard steelies w/ full slat flat / moon disks up front. I had 14" Astros but they wont fit over the rotors.
This could start a new trend OR just look completely stupid. Right now it works, buts looks completely stupid... LOL

I have a small issue with the rear window and the cable connecting the movement motor to the regulator gear drive sticks and does not transfer the movement.
I removed it, put PB blaster through it, got it moving via a drill and greased it BUT now it tries to curl & fold on itself. It will not transfer the rotation evenly unless it is perfect straight and even so it looks like I need a new cable.

Because of the lack of air I want to tint the windows to try to make it only slightly better.
I also need to get in there and check the distributor and vacuum because it seems my idle has fallen way down. But that is an easy fix.

Other than that I have just been driving the piss out of it. I pegged it out at 85 the other day and felt smooth to me but I am used to driving 70 year old cars so anything smoother than than is good for me of course not nearly as good as my wife's Passat but we can't expect that can we?

Tanks for the replies guys!

Nate

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

Nate I have a pair of superior wheels laying around. They look a lot like cragars. I had a full set till the tire shop broke one.

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

Bruce,
When I get some free time I will have to check those out.
Do they look like these?
http://www.hotrodhanks.com/imagesProducts4/5303.jpg

or these?

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg



I have two other cragars in my stash.
I liked the steel wheels that were on there but the backs were 285/60/r15 but the offset would not allow me to lower the blazer much without rubbing.
I want to do as thick of a tire as I can back there but still be able to tuck them ya know.

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

These, I only have 3. I am debating running two on the front and running the stock steelies on the rear of my pickup.

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...s/100_4434.jpg

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

Well I just took her down to rip the front end apart.
Brakes are starting to go and the front was getting a little wobbly.
I figured it would be a good time to order new springs, spindles and all new bushings.
So tomorrow I should have the 2" dropped springs and the 3" dropped spindles show up and be able to pick up the bushing here in town.
Wonder if it will be low enough.
The rotors feel fine, smooth with no ridges, but I am going to replace the pads while I am in there.
Everything is Beltech so it should come together nicely other than the crooked front lean I'm going to have until I can do the rear.

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

Cool, when ya gonna be done? Looking forward to pics. I just dropped the front of my '80 shortbed, gonna start the rear tomorrow.

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

Bruce,

The spindles were delivered today.
I also picked up a set of Energy Suspension graphite control arm bushings today.
I didn't want the squeak of the red bushings on the control arms.
I'm not sure when the springs will be here.
I also need to measure and find bushings for the sway bar.
Then I have to grab a new set of ball joints and break pads.
I am trying to decide if I want to do some new drilled rotors too.

Man, how does this s*#t escalate like this????????
I can't leave anything alone!!

I want to see some pictures of your truck to. How did you lower it?

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

Nate, I used 2 1/2" drop spindles and cut 1 coil off the springs, 4.25" drop in the front. For the rear I flipped it by welding new perches on, 5.75" drop.

Before

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...s/100_4437.jpg

After

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...s/100_4556.jpg

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

Well,
I got into it and decided to do an entire front end rebuild.
Things were starting to get pretty loose and all of my dust caps were torn.
Everything I can remove will be removed, cleaned and painted black.

I am going to replace the ball joints and all the hardware while I am under there too.

Here are a few shots.

http://www.bandbspeed.com/images/blazer/blazer (1).JPG


http://www.bandbspeed.com/images/blazer/blazer (7).JPG


http://www.bandbspeed.com/images/blazer/blazer (8).JPG


http://www.bandbspeed.com/images/blazer/blazer (9).JPG

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

Here is the new bushing set:

http://www.bandbspeed.com/images/blazer/blazer (3).JPG

And the new 3" dropped spindles:

http://www.bandbspeed.com/images/blazer/blazer (4).JPG

I still don't have the damn springs yet and apparently new ball joints are hard to find in Vegas.

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

As long as you've waited for parts, you could have ordered the ball joints from Rock Auto. when you get it back together, we'll have to invade Cars & Coffee. :devil:

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

That sounds cool Bruce. But we don't have to wait for this puppy to be back together. I could always head down in my 34 Ford Pickup, If I could ever get a Saturday morning off.

I don't mind the wait though. It has given me time to clean off (POWER HAMMER) the 32 years of Utah red clay off of it.

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

So I have been having issues with the springs.
Primarily with the fact that they have up until this point not showed up.
I called and emailed several time and no response.


Out of the blue I get a tracking number this morning. I check the tracking number and it says the springs were delivered today. ?????

Aren't you supposed to get tracking numbers BEFORE they deliver parts?

I won't mention names on WHO NOT TO ORDER STUFF FROM unless you mind waiting 16 or so days.

Anyway rant over.

Should be able to make some progress soon now.

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

That is a long wait for springs, makes me glad I just cut a coil off mine.

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

O.K. as you have noticed with work and all the other stuff in my life I am a little slow with progress.
Last night I finally got a lot of work done.
I am going overboard and I have disassembled everything and have been cleaning it all and replacing almost everything with new parts. (minus steering, tie rods etc.)
It just makes me more comfortable.

Today I have the A arms at work and will be blasting them to bare metal so I can repaint them.
I had to make my own ball joint extractor. I bought one because of the amount of work I do but turns out it did not fit my application.
I have a great trick now if anyone is interested that is 1/10 the cost of a standard ball joint service kit.
Cost me 9 bucks for a large C clamp and a little cutting and welding.

I will get the arms blasted today, painted tonight and get the bastard back together!!!

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

Bruce your killin me man!

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

LOL http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...smilie_354.gif No problem Nate, shes gonna look a lot better than mine when its done. I haven't been cleaning anything. As a matter of fact, I need to find one of the DIY car washes, without mud in the brushes. Mine is dirtier now, than before the washing.

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

um yeah.. So I'm not dead.
Been working like a fool and have taken some time and done a lot more on the Blazer than I anticipated.

Here are some progress shots.

Front Lowered..

http://www.bandbspeed.com/images/blazer/blazerx.jpg


I could not take the stink bug stance so...
I lowered the rear too.

http://www.bandbspeed.com/images/blazer/blazerxx.jpg


I think I am right about 5" up front and 6" in the rear total lowering.
More to come.

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

looks good man.

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

Sweet, I like the stance. I was just wondering where you've been. I've been on the road looking for work for about 3 weeks. Been to FL and now I'm working my way back out West.

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

Looks good man, can't wait for more progress.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

Thanks all.

I found a great deal on a set of 18" Stock black stock Camaro wheels with perfect rubber and silver trim rings so I picked them up last night.
They will help me with a couple control arm clearances I have from lowering the front .

I am going to have to run a billet adapter but these will give me all the clearances I need.

Excuse the quick photo shop. Just did it to get an idea.

http://www.bandbspeed.com/images/blazer/blazerxx2.jpg

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

Well here, Finally, is the Money shot.

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...30505320_n.jpg

I have had some time off work to get the things done I needed done.
It included all new brakes at all four corners.
Custom machined rotors and hubs to fit the rims and a bunch of other misc items.

I am still going to replace the rear shocks with air shocks and remove the bump stops. Regardless of what they say I am sitting on the bump stops without a notch, so they have to go and I will have to improvise a bit more back there to keep the stance and get some sort of travel.

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

blazer looks good man keep them pics coming....

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

Your Blazer looks good. How did you lower the rear? I'd like to do the same to mine. Do you have any pics of how you lowered the rear?:metal:

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

very nice!

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

Sorry boss. I just noticed this due to the holidays.

Thanks for the compliments guys.

I used a Belltech flip kit and air shocks.
The flip kit is very well thought out although I believe the previous owner may have reversed the spring eyelets because, even though the flip kit says you should not need to notch I was hitting the frame despite almost everything I tried.

Ultimately I cut the rubber bumpers down and added the air shocks to make it manageable until I notch it.

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

do you still have the original bumpstops in there? if you do I'd get rid of them, and you should be ok untill you put somethin heavy in the back.....

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

Forgot to mention that part. I cut the old ones out to be replaced with new Poly stops. Ended up cutting those stops down also.

She would literally sit on the frame until I threw the air shocks on. Now I have about about 2" of travel and a decent ride when pumped to 80 psi or so.

With my other Hot Rods that I drive on a regular basis I already have the Vegas streets memorized so the Blazer has not been an issue so far. I know what to avoid when needed.

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

Here are a couple better shots.
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...95241596_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...31750353_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...15759198_n.jpg

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

I hope to have some more photos soon.
I have been doing a heart transplant on the old girl.
It originally had the 305 with a T350.
I was having real bad oil issues, bad pressure, bad blow by.
The pump and the front seal were shot.

I ripped that engine out and took the T400 out of one of my Hot Rods and mated it to a 1992 454 I have. I put that in last night along with all new Energy Suspension motor mount inserts and new tranny mount.

I pre fit the engine and everything was cool. I took it back out to do a little detail work and add a few things and went to stick it back in and now have some clearance issues.
Thank God these Blazer's transmission mounts bolt in. I am going to have to remove the bolts and slide it back a few inches due to the new combo.
I will hopefully get it all buttoned up tonight.

I have been shooting pictures a long the way and will post those when I am done.

N8

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

Thanks for the info on the rear. You and I think alot alike, cause I want to put a big block in my blazer also. Let me know how it turns out.:metal:

Re: "Baby" - My 79 Blazer Project
 

hey man im in Vegas as well, if you ever need a hand wrenching or drinking a beer just let me know! You ever hit up the car meet at Rancho and Craig at the DQ on friday nights? I might be out there in my yellow 79 short bed this friday. Blazer looks really nice btw, great stance!