78 2wd Blazer - LS Swap and more..

[buffydores]

Originally Posted by phillipm

It was already brushed like that when we purchased the truck. My dad just used some Meguiar's spray on it I believe to clean it.. I'll have to ask him. I saw your tip with the stainless cleaner. I've also just used some WD40 on a rag before.

I do want to know what everyone does before attaching the aftermarket trip sticky mounts? Just prep cleaner in the spot? Does the trim not stick off the body too far? Can't see how it will be pulled in tight with these things...

Mines all 3M tape and screws. None of the original holes were there from 80s bodywork.

[phillipm]

Originally Posted by buffydores

Mines all 3M tape and screws. None of the original holes were there from 80s bodywork.

Is it the tape that came from LMC with the molding or different tape? I just want to do it right the first time! I know, novel concept.. hahaha

[dec010974]

Ccool. It was very entertaining to read this build thread. i may seal an idea or two. Enjoy the blazer.

[dec010974]

Cool. It was very entertaining to read this build thread. I may steal an idea or two. Enjoy the blazer.

[PEDROSKI]

Do the center white stripe before adding the trim so you don't have to "fight" the trim.

[phillipm]

You know I don't know if I want to do the white or not, I really cannot decide. It would be vinyl just like the rest of the truck so it wouldn't be hard to tuck it under the lip of the trim later.

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by phillipm

You know I don't know if I want to do the white or not, I really cannot decide. It would be vinyl just like the rest of the truck so it wouldn't be hard to tuck it under the lip of the trim later.

The full two tone would look awesome. But having the trim alone will look good.

[phillipm]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

The full two tone would look awesome. But having the trim alone will look good.

Yeah I think I'll take it to the brother's show at the end of June like this and have a look there at some of the other trucks. Really appreciate you're guys opinions. Thx!

[phillipm]

I know I'm slow as I really only get to work about 12 hours a week on the Blazer, but man, installing this trim is taking WAY longer than I expected!!

I also learned that the 2-sided tape that ships with the trim from LMC is absolute junk. Even using adhesion promoter the side pieces were still falling off. I went to Home Depot and grabbed some 3M Extreme Bond tape and so far so good! Worst part is getting the old tape off of the clips on the trim. I've been using a razor blade and adhesive remover to get them off but it's a slow process.

Here is where I'm at after about 5 hours of work so far... I'd say the only thing saving my back is our 4 post lift! Being able to set the truck at a height you can drill and work standing straight up is a life saver!!

[Naught]

Originally Posted by phillipm

I know I'm slow as I really only get to work about 12 hours a week on the Blazer, but man, installing this trim is taking WAY longer than I expected!!

I also learned that the 2-sided tape that ships with the trim from LMC is absolute junk. Even using adhesion promoter the side pieces were still falling off. I went to Home Depot and grabbed some 3M Extreme Bond tape and so far so good! Worst part is getting the old tape off of the clips on the trim. I've been using a razor blade and adhesive remover to get them off but it's a slow process.

Here is where I'm at after about 5 hours of work so far... I'd say the only thing saving my back is our 4 post lift! Being able to set the truck at a height you can drill and work standing straight up is a life saver!!

How did you know where to but the bottom molding? Do you have the measurements for the location of them?

[phillipm]

Originally Posted by Naught

How did you know where to but the bottom molding? Do you have the measurements for the location of them?

I used the hockey stick moulding at the front of the truck to get the distance top to bottom.

[BlueJeep]

Phillip, I'm wondering if you can give a re-cap on your learnings with the A/C and given the chance to start over, what you'd recommend? Sounds like you would advocate for the Vintage Air from the beginning, what about compressor choice? I'm about to start my 5.3 install in my suburban, and I'm aiming for cool air when done. Besides the interior volume difference between my suburban and your blazer, I've also got the rear air I'd like to include in the mix. Thanks for any advice you can provide after your experimentation.

[phillipm]

Originally Posted by BlueJeep

Phillip, I'm wondering if you can give a re-cap on your learnings with the A/C and given the chance to start over, what you'd recommend? Sounds like you would advocate for the Vintage Air from the beginning, what about compressor choice? I'm about to start my 5.3 install in my suburban, and I'm aiming for cool air when done. Besides the interior volume difference between my suburban and your blazer, I've also got the rear air I'd like to include in the mix. Thanks for any advice you can provide after your experimentation.

You know I can't say that I put any effort into getting the factory system to work. However yes, looking back I would likely do the same thing and jump straight to a Vintage Air or Restomod Air system. Both are great. I will say that the smaller evaporator and TXV style of the aftermarket systems are not a good match for the later model bigger compressors like the 10s17 and 10s20 that I was trying to use. What would happen is it would work great at idle or low rpm around town, but the second you got on the freeway and I was running closer to 2k-2200 rpm, when the TXV would open the inrush of freon would be so fast that it would cool too quickly and then close again. If you're familiar with home systems it was like having a 5ton unit on a home that needs a 2ton. So the air would be ice cold but then the compressor would turn off and effectively not cool the truck. Now, it took me almost 2 years of research and trial and error to fully figure that all out. Now I have a 709 compressor and it works great. I say all of that because, with you having a rear air system as well that will help but I still fear that the main system will not work properly if you have everything on low as that's when the problem got real bad. Additionally, I can say that with the factory 78 orifice tube system I didn't have any issues and I think that's because of the style of metering. Late model trucks also use orifice tube and I think that's what that factory compressor is better matched to.

Side note, I'm building a rear air system that will sit within my center console. I don't have much to share at the moment and I've been working slowly on it for a few years now but maybe I'll actually finish it this year and can share that too.

Hopefully that answers your questions. Let me know if it doesn't.

[phillipm]

Moved on to the driver's side. Definitely going quicker on this side!




Also spent some time really dialing in the up and down alignment on the tailgate. It was working just fine and the window fit great, however, the passenger side was up about 3/16" higher than it should of been. Really just fine tuning everything at this point in prep for installing the rear tailgate trim.

[phillipm]

Well just down to a couple screws as well as the two final tailgate bands. I also got my seat bottoms back and they've been modified to have some bolsters now. Really ready to put the seats back together and get this bad boy over to the a/c shop for a charge!

[phillipm]

Well I'm sure everyone is probably pretty bored of seeing trim installation pictures so here is the final one! We were able to get the rear tailgate pieces installed yesterday. This finally completes that project. Took me 3 like freakin weeks to get them all on but it's a much larger job than i even initially anticipated. That's for sure.



After that we moved on and got the front seats reassembled. That's not a tough job but it definitely takes 2 people to make it manageable.. Really happy with the change. I know it's subtle, in fact most people wouldn't have noticed but when sitting in them you now have a supportive feeling on your thighs and it's not like your sitting on a flat bench anymore. Here is a little before and after side by side as well.







After that we moved on and got the original style wiper blades installed. I can't tell you how much having aftermarket black blades on there upset my soul. It just looked so wrong. I need to get the drivers side arm dropped down one notch but you can see the change.





Just waiting on a few more things to come in. Also need to get it realigned after installing the new tubular CPP lower arms and get the AC charged with 1.8lbs of 134A. After that a window tint job before summer and he should be ready to go! I just realized I need to finish painting the lettering on the tailgate too! Haha. Darn, things never end.

[mcmlxix]

Are you bringing it out to LS fest in Las Vegas this weekend?

[phillipm]

Originally Posted by mcmlxix

Are you bringing it out to LS fest in Las Vegas this weekend?

Really wanted to, but it's my Wife's birthday this weekend and she didn't think that sounded as fun as I did. Ha-ha. I am planning on being at the Brother's show in CA with it at the end of June though.

[phillipm]

After only driving the Blazer a few times really, and I've already come to realize that rolling down the back window manually sucks. If you've got something in your hand it's made even worse as you fling that handle around and around only after awkwardly fumbling to get the thing unlocked if you've done so.. After reading nothing but horror stories about 40 year old motor/cable/transmissions not working right I decided to give the guys at Nu-Relics a call. Dusty there was super nice. He explained that while they are unable to provide a all new solution, if I sent him a power regulator he would modify it with a reliable motor on regulator design he's come up with over the years.

What I got back is nothing short of awesome! They hot dipped and stripped my regulator, replaced the original transmission with a new welded on adapter ring and then mounted the new style motor right to the regulator. After that they cleaned and even painted it as well as replaced both rollers for me. It wasn't inexpensive by any means but it was the do it once and hopefully not worry about it again solution!

Here are a couple pics of it when I opened up the box last night..





Wish I would have taken a before picture but I didn't. Just imagine a nasty grimy piece that you definitely didn't want to handle without gloves on. It had broken rollers and a broken cable transmission. Now I've got this bad boy! Really looking forward to getting the harness run and wiring it up.

[buffydores]

Originally Posted by phillipm

Now I've got this bad boy! Really looking forward to getting the harness run and wiring it up.

Definitely wire up a switch for the dash. It's like heaven.

[phillipm]

Originally Posted by buffydores

Definitely wire up a switch for the dash. It's like heaven.

Most definitely will be doing that! However because I don't feel like cutting a square hole in my freshly painted dash I'll be mounting a toggle underneath in the driver's side so I can easily reach it when standing outside the truck as well.
Posted via Mobile Device

[phillipm]

Well this is it guys! Finally drove the Blazer home over the weekend. First time since taking it to Vegas back in November. It's been a lot of work to make the necessary changes and though it doesn't look much different other than the moulding on the outside this thing is flat out awesome around town as well as on the highway now. The new CPP lower control arms couples with the new Lee Engineering built steering gear is just awesome. It handles great and the feel in the wheel is just like a new truck. Seats are amazing and sit up nice in the vehicle, plus the new Vintage Air was blowing 36* out of the vents with enough volume that you could easily feel it in the back seat with the deflectors positioned straight and angled up for best reach. I haven't begun to tackle the rear power window kit but of course when I do I will post that up.

[OutlawDrifter]

Looks great!

[wazzabie]

who did you have do the rear seat? that turned out great

[phillipm]

Originally Posted by wazzabie

who did you have do the rear seat? that turned out great

I had a local guy do it. He works out of his garage at night on projects for me. If you're in Phoenix and want to use him PM me and I'll share his contact info. That's for anyone in the area. He's out on the west side of town near Surprise.