Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Mostly original 72 Blazer

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Started tear down about 3 years ago. The Blazer was solid and complete,

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Stripped Everything off the frame. Lots of rivets drilled and punched out. Removed all 4X4 springs, cross members. Sand blasted frame and started reconstruction.

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Seconds tick by...or seasons in this case.

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Frame Spec's help to find out how the original was built, a lot of Cleaning and sand blasting and repainting, some things got done more than once.

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Not a lot of photo's of pieces going back together, tried to use as many original 2wd truck parts as possible. Couple teaser pic's of the color.

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Looks good so far! Are those corvette ram horn manifolds or 4x4 ones?

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Silver Manifolds in the photo were original 4x4 dump strait down. had to replace with Dorman 45 degree swept back.

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Cleaned undercoating off everything, wheel wells, under hood radiator support and body. Used Mastercoat silver on bare metal and shot U-Pol Raptor bed liner tinted blue over it.

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Top came off after body was bolted back on the frame, removed windshield and painted dash and cowl area.

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Looking good!

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Some Engine and drive train shots, after getting the whole thing together 327 didn't have good compression. (Bummer ) pulled that out in January and dropped in a crate 350. Drive shaft may have some history to it beefy 45" came from a motorsport engine builder outside Charlotte.

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Parking brake cable was fabbed up out of a piece of frame rail. other bits copied from (Bruce's just a pickup)

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

I have been dreading the painting of the doors it took almost 2 weeks to get them prepped once started. After 2k primer, All pieces were painted bright silver,2 coats then topped with 3 coats of green.

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Some orange peel but over all I am very pleased with the way it came out

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Looking good! I'm going to follow along.

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

After 5 Coats of clear

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Painted original grille a few years ago, had a few holes and cuts in it. 67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?p=5082961&posted=1#post5082961

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Good looking truck man, I see that you are local. Im down just south of the md/va line in temperanceville va. Hope to see you around.

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Thanks jhama78, slowly getting a few things done, seats in.

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Side Panels made from 3/8 Aztek acrlic

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Did using the garage door pully help as a multiplier for your rear brakes? Thanks

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

No real mechanical advantage over the original hook and eye.

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Wow! Excellent work! Any chance you have the any leftover parts to sell like some of the small stuff on the motor?

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

X2 very nice work.....

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Wow Ed......Looking good! Glad to see it coming together.

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Thanks Richard and also Pete and Jim for the kind words...Its been a trial, got a few bugs mostly self inflicted. Working on smoothing and painting the Hard top now.

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Ed....how hard was it to do the trailing arms? Thinking of doing the same, any hints

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Hey Jim Trailing arms are not too bad, all the extra's make it worse than it should be. Parking Brake cable, axle saddles and Spring perches need to be different. Shocks I moved the stock mount back a couple inches and it seems to work. I have an extra set of trailing arms and cross member if you decide to go this route...Ed.

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Thanks Ed. for the info., i may take you up on the offer, the only part i m having a problem wrapping my head around is the transverse arm. I found a rear end outta a '96 tahoe for 150.00, so all i have to work out is the coil overs. Were there OEM holes in the frame for the cross member, i see you have demension sheet, and did you work off of that

How s the truck running.....

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Spec sheet is a big help, maybe a couple holes line up. Not a simple bolt it right up kind of deal. Blazer Runs very well, needs some weight in the back, and maybe some drop springs to level it out.

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Thanks alot for the info. and past help, got me past a sticky situation. I think i ll go down the trailing arm road after i get the engine running, lots and lots of wiring right now

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

What did you find the easiest way was to install that front crossmember in the correct spot? What did you measure off of?

I might be converting my blazer.

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Some of the bolt holes lined up, took as many measurements as possible off of spec sheet, center of radiator support 21 7/8" to center of 2wd cross member. I used cross member from an 1982. LMK if you need other measurements.....Ed

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Thank you. Any photos of the front crossmember installation you can provide?

The measurement of 21 7/8 is that measuring straight across or somewhat diagonal following the frame line?

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Photos are not a great help on placement...All layout should be done strait and level with the frame, keep in mind wheel base 104" so you have a starting point in the back. Mark the center of the rear axle and measure forward on each side, scribe a line on the frame. Double check across with a square on each end, and diagonally if possible someone here said 105" looks to be better for centering wheels, matter of preference. But may give you more room in the engine placement. I also used 1/2" blocks on top of frame for engine stands.

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Thanks for the help.

I was thinking of getting the frame level. Then use a laser plumb-bob to precisely measure the lengths on the floor transferring them up onto the frame

Moving the front cross member forward, wouldn't that cause issues with other stuff lining up? Or were you talking about the rear?

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Keep as close to 104" is the best bet, Layout on the floor would work well then transfer measurements up. If you do a rear axle flip, it would greatly simplify your build. Rear leaf springs and shocks ready to go

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

I will be swapping In rear trailing arms. Probably use the no limit shock relocater kit.

Re: Sum Old Parts -72- 2wd conversion
 

Bump - any updated pics Ed? Best, Pete