Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

I have already started my airbag suspension project. I have owned this truck for many many years, and have always wanted to get it into the weeds...
With an incredible amount of inspiration, encouragement, and a wealth of knowledge, I must first thank Board Member "lolife99". I sincerely, thank you for all of your support.

Well, here is the victim, a 1970 2wd Blazer I bought years ago at trucks Carlisle. http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_0236.jpg

Plans are to do a Dominator air suspension, along with the Thorbecke Bros. Upper, and now, lower control arms. I have a set of tubular lowers I had planned on modifying, but ditched that idea, and am opting for the TB uppers and lowers.
I will be using products from Early Classic Enterprise(ECE) to include 2.5 drop spindles, new rotors calipers and so on. The rear setup will again use ECE products, super track bar, lowered shocks. I am using Performanceonline also, 2in solid blocks, c-notch, and a front shock relocate kit. POL has good prices.

I have the truck up on jacks now with front end off. Just cleaning, drilling, and now waiting for parts.

More pics and info to follow. Very soon.:smoke:

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Thanks for the kind words.
I'm subscribing to this one!

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

sounds like a good plan

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Beautiful C5!

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Great looking truck! Looking forward to seeing your updates.

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Very nice C5, I'll be watching this one..

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Awesome looking blazer

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Here are a few more pics of progress.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_0245.jpg

I put this pic in there to show the Chisholm 2in drop arms that I pulled off. The crusty rotor is from not driving the truck much since I've owned. Less that 8k in 15+ years of ownership, every mile was to a car show somewhere. It's now a driver(when finished).

This is a pic of the Chisholms (for sale).

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_0269.jpg

This pic is cleaning up x-member, getting ready to do a driver quality, protective coat of paint.:lol:

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_0274.jpg

Here is a pic of X-member. Note the missing saddles. That's what projects are all about. Figuring out how to fix past fupa's. The Chisholms require removal of saddles. I have the saddles, and I think I have a solution for the fix. They require a round head bolt of some sort for the forward saddles to index the x-shaft. I'm open for crafty ideas.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_0277.jpg

Here are the saddles.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_0278.jpg

I wanted to also give Performanceonline a thumbs up. They are fast on delivery. I placed an order on a Mon, and here on Fri, from Ca no less.

More updates soon to follow.

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

that is one fine blazer you have there, will look great slammed

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Haven't had a chance to do a lot to the Blazer, to cold for me.
I have managed to paint a few things that I will post pics of when installed.
I got some allen head bolts for the cross shaft index, and got saddles bolted in place. I have a stock x-shaft I will use to see if it works. I have the front bolt with one shim.

Sorry pics are blurred, but you get the idea.

Pic of stock rivet in saddle.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_0279.jpg

Pic of allen bolt with shim.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_0283.jpg

Pics of allen bolt and cross shaft.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_0281.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_0282.jpg

Pic of saddles loosely installed. If you look closely you can see the shim on the front saddle.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_0284.jpg

If it gets warmer I'll get more stuff done and posted.
That's all for the moment.

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Your blazer already looks awesome and the stance is just going to set it off!!! Can't wait to see it in person.

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Looks like those button head allen bolts are going to work fine. Keep the pictures coming! Did you find your u-bolts?

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

I disagree, they do fit well on the arm by it self but once placed in the saddle the lip of that saddle takes up allot of the button head's height. I would add a thick washer under the button head if it were me. Their is really allot of stress on those factory pins and they need full contact. You know it might be better to use a regular allen head bolt so you have a square edge like the factory pins did with added height of the head.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

I think he has a washer under the bolt head of the front saddle to help it make contact. (none under the rear saddle bolt since there is no dimple there) Although, the Thorbecke Bros, a-arm cross shafts have dimples in both ends, so you could use washers under both of those button head bolts.

Also,... won't the u-bolts take all of the load?

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

that's a nice lookin' blazer you have there. Looking forward to seeing your build progress.

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Roc, thanks for looking at thread. I had a 1/2in regular allen bolt in my hand. The standard 1/2in head fit the hole perfect in circumference. However I went with the button style as it will allow for height adjustment. It may be hard to see, but the front saddle has a spacer in place. Also with the standard head I would have to commit to drilling both the saddles and crossmember larger. I would have had to grind standard head down for correct fit as the head is too tall.

I am not an engineer, so I don't know for sure, but it seems to me that the u-bolts carry the load. If I'm wrong and anyone knows for sure, please let me know. I don't want to crash my truck.

Hey Lo, my factory cross shafts have two dimples. Maybe 73 style has em, 71-72 don't.

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Hey,... I told you,... I learn something new every day on here. I didn't know that.
I also sent you an email about some ralleys.

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Nice looking ride. Cant wait to see it slammed. Good luck.

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Nothing new this week. I just wanted to show off a couple of tools I picked up while at the Fastenal store. The saw is cool, it has a 4 way blade placement.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_0285.jpg

Please don't ask what I paid. Yes they were on sale. But as a self confessed impulse shopper, It doesn't matter to me what I paid. I bought them because I needed them, and I just wanted to see how much free stuff the Fastenal guy was going to give me.

This is also the fringe benefit of doing the job myself, guilt free tool shopping. I never knew how much I like to shop.:lol:

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Building my 1st from scratch, non air, but interested
in the outcome of yours so I am subscribed till done.

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

I love new tools! :metal:
You will find those very handy. Don't forget the safety glasses. (that makes me sound like the old man that I am)

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Long time for such little progress. Anyhow, I had a slight problem with the u-bolts being to wide spread. So, I broke a vise trying to close them up a bit...piece of junk. I had a local exhaust shop pinch them. So that ordeal took a lot of time away.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_0287.jpg


So I got it together, well, almost. The exhaust hit the Trackbar before I could get it to ride height and make adjustments. I'll just chop the tail pipes for now.


http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_0290.jpg


Plenty more to come. It's cold again, maybe later this week it'll warm up a bit.

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Hey, a little bit of progress is better than no progress!

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

I agree. And I'm glad I went ahead and started project, because little issues WILL crop up on any build. This way, maybe I'll be done by early spring. Just collecting up all of the little items(fittings, lines, fasteners) is a task all on it's own. It's going to take a few weeks to get the lower CA's from Thorbecke Bros., That's why I went ahead and started rear. Once we get a brake on temperatures around here, and I get the A-arms, I should have it together pretty quickly.:metal:

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Nice project - it should look nice when you are done...

Keep the pix and the updates coming.

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Not getting any warmer tonight....I got 2" of snow here already and at this pace, we'll have well over the 4-5" they forecasted...I'm thinking 6-8.

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Yup, It's snowing hard here. Supposed to be in the 50's - 60's later this week. I sure hope.

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

very nice blazer, where are ya in va? i hear ya about the cold, cant blame ya one bit.

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Oh man! Seeing that beuatiful '70 2WD is making wanna start on mine! Very nice, and I wait to see in the weeds!

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Hey Vatlc, I'm between F'burg & Richmond. Your truck avatar looks familiar. Are you near northern Va? Loudon Co maybe?

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

I see your sig...Pics please:metal:...Thanks for complement.
Love the hauler...Got any suburbans? Barn doors?

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Well, mine is nothing nice, BUT it is a very solid '70 2WD with original paint, so I know what I'm dealing with. It is very straight besides the driver's fender and hood. Can you believe a guy pulled the original running 350 engine out of this to put in a old LWB '75 truck?? It is factory hugger orange, so that's cool. I bought a very nice top for it from uncle. Oddly, it is a 2WD and came with the 350 and SM465 4 speed, but I'll be swapping in an auto. I'm focused on trying to get my red '69 finished and my '67 C-30 going, and then I'm going to tear into this one. My wife is kinda excited about this one, because we can all ride in it, so that will help when it come times to start spending money on it!;)

Here's a few pics. The frontend looks funky because the a$$clown that pulled the engine out took the whole clip off and just set it back on there. She needs some love!

No burbs...yet!;)

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

It's taken me longer to get the rear centered than I thought it would. But I got it within a 1/4 in. A lot of jacking, unjacking. I set the Trackbar at ride height, which will be approximately 1in before entering notch.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_1417.jpg

Here are my alignment tools.:lol: I used a cargo bar to push rear over a bit and hold it in place.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_1408.jpg


And of course I just had to throw a rim on.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_1409.jpg


Template overkill...:metal:

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_1411.jpg

Next, Notch installs...Lots of rivet removal, and grinding involved.

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Good progress....i gotta come by to see that beast sometime....you going to be around Monday?

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

nice, that is sure gonna be low, i just finished up my notch install, i did not make templates though, i just started cutting, oops, welder fixes that. Talk about some heavy artilery to get that diff moved and centered.

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

I finally finished the first notch. It took me a long time to get it right. Hope the second one is easier than this one was. Should be, now that I know what to do.:lol:

Rear centered in notch pattern. That's why It's a good idea to put blocks and trackbar on first. To make sure everything will align.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_1415.jpg

Notch cut and ground to shape, then a flap disk to make it smooth.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_1418.jpg

Primered notch.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_1420.jpg

Painted Notch.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_1422.jpg

Don't forget the back side of the notch, it needs primer and paint as well. I didn't take a painted pic.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_1423.jpg

Notch clamped in place.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_1424.jpg

Notch bolted in place.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_1425.jpg

And the mess I have made.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...S/IMG_1426.jpg

After bolting everything up, the notch fit pretty well. I had to do a couple of bolt hole modifications...Just throw the instructions they give you away.

I think I have used almost all tools at some point so far.:lol:

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Nice work!

You working on this thing Friday? I might be able to swing by and lend a hand (peer over your shoulder and learn- j/k)

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Sorry, I missed this.

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

I have got to get responsible and get back to work for a while. It will be some time before I get back on it.

Re: Project "Vertically Challenged"
 

Let me know....I am dying to check it out...