69 GMC "Ol' Blue"

[mud.man.rj]

Glad to hear your back at it and congrat's on your bs, now that sounds funny..

[rgunlock]

Congrats on the degree! Now time to get after it.

[americanmusc1e]

Congrats on the degree Mike! I just graduated with a BS in Computer Science this past fall. The truck is looking good. Keep going at it!

[Dieselwrencher]

Congrats Mike!

[7dee2]

OK the BS (congrats btw) is over when do we see the wrenching start?

[swamp rat]

Awesome!

[mjensen]

Thanks all! I've been really struggling to get the motivation to start on this project. I did manage to get the garage organized, but I just can't seem to find the ambition at the moment.

[swamp rat]

That does happen at times, you'll snap out of it in due time..

[mjensen]

Well, I'm officially stuck. I actually got out in the garage today to try and get something going on this beast. I wanted to start mocking up the exhaust only to realize I don't have the correct collectors. Now I'm sitting here staring aimlessly trying to figure out what I can do.

Signed - Officially Lost :-)

[7dee2]

Most of the time I just rig a temporary setup so we can fire up the project and continue (headers w/bolt on mufflers). Then take it to the muffler shop for the actual exhaust system later. I know you bought a kit, could put you in touch with the guy that helped us out on the K30, he's in Centerville?

[mjensen]

I think for now I'll be able to move forward again, even if it's just a little bit. I was so pissed that I couldn't find the parts I needed that I decided to do what I should have done in the first place. Go to hedman.com and see if I could figure out just what I needed. Yup, 3" ball to 2-1/4" collectors....Ordered shortly after I posted, because if you can't work on a project, you might as well spend money on it right? They showed up today, and I'm super excited that they are going to do the trick. Now I should be able to mock the exhaust up and see some forward progress. I'm still not sure what to do when I get done mocking these up, but maybe this will force me to actually think about it.

[rgunlock]

That's cool that you found a solution Mike. You won't have to look too hard to find more that you can work on

[mjensen]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

That's cool that you found a solution Mike. You won't have to look too hard to find more that you can work on

Haha! That's for sure! Just need to figure out what I'm capable of doing LOL.

So, yesterday was almost a derailing moment as well! I mocked up the driver's side, and all was well. Then came the passenger side. Even though the kit was supposed to work with the NP205, I don't think it was supposed to work with an NP205 and headers. DAMN!!! So, after I finished throwing stuff around in the garage, I called a local muffler shop and they agreed to bend something up for me. He told me that he couldn't guarantee it would fit, and I told him that's a risk I'm willing to take

This was an early mock up of the driver's side.


What do you mean it won't fit!


Back from the muffler shop...problem solved. Oh, while I was there, I got a single stick so that there weren't any joints on the driver's side. I didn't like how the kit was broken out.


All mocked up


Here's the final product...Still have some adjusting to do, but I think it turned out well!

[yj4000]

That came out great.

Ryan.

[7dee2]

Good job!

[rgunlock]

That has to feel like a good weekend's progress. Nice job!

[mjensen]

Originally Posted by yj4000

That came out great.

Ryan.

Originally Posted by 7dee2

Good job!

Originally Posted by rgunlock

That has to feel like a good weekend's progress. Nice job!

Thank you all! Yes, I'm very happy with the progress. I was even able to fix a broken off bolt in the transmission that holds my 4wd shifter in place. I think I'm finally ready to tackle the items needed to get this beast running! I don't want to get ahead of myself though

[ryanroo]

pipes look awesome. always something to deal with building exhaust.

[NewType72]

Oh man that exhaust is really pleasing my OCD so good work with that man!! Fighting a similar issue on our 73 currently figuring out all the different possibilities. Congrats on the degree as well!

[mud.man.rj]

Exh is nice, 2wd is so easy but 4wd and the old t case in the road is a bit more challenging, nice work.

[Dieselwrencher]

Your exhaust looks very nice!

[mjensen]

Originally Posted by ryanroo

pipes look awesome. always something to deal with building exhaust.

Originally Posted by NewType72

Oh man that exhaust is really pleasing my OCD so good work with that man!! Fighting a similar issue on our 73 currently figuring out all the different possibilities. Congrats on the degree as well!

Originally Posted by mud.man.rj

Exh is nice, 2wd is so easy but 4wd and the old t case in the road is a bit more challenging, nice work.

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Your exhaust looks very nice!

Thank you all!!! Things are moving forward finally....little at a time.

[mjensen]

It's been a couple of weeks since I updated this thread, but I have done a few odds and ends. I got the radiator core support mounted, hydroboost cleaned and mounted, and test fit the hood and fenders to make sure my newer radiator will clear everything. The radiator is out of the 91 Blazer and is a bit taller than the stock one. I'm going to make some brackets to make everything work on it.

[swamp rat]

Good to see some progress!

[rgunlock]

Looks like the rad support and hydroboost cleaned up nice. Any particular reason for using the blazer radiator? Good to see that you're getting after it.