Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

After 23 years of wheeling, camping, beach driving and just having lots of fun with our Blazer, it's time to get it painted.

I'll start with some easy questions first and move on to the harder ones if I can "reel" a few helpful peeps in ;)

- Mirrors: I want something I can tow with, but don't want the big 3 point truck mirrors, any suggestions?

- Painting the grill: Is there a proper color, and can I rattle can it?

- Rusty Doors and Tailgate: - I have a booth at the big automotive swap meet in this area in a couple of weeks, are my rusty doors and tailgate worth anything, or should I just part them out and scrap the rest?

I have more questions and will edit this first post as needed.

Thanks for any help, suggestions, and criticism :)

Pics to follow

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

Getting ready to leave for some much needed body work

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ps47b9b46d.jpg

Just some of the parts that I've collected through the years

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ps1d1a112e.jpg

Digging into the drivers side...........ugly

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ps8d954ce7.jpg

The ol'dood that is doing the body work............cheap, but slooow

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ps4bb31031.jpg

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

More ugly

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ps29504b0f.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ps6433ff3b.jpg


More to follow

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

I had the late 70s-80s mirrors on my 68 k10, a little trimming around the base but they looked like they belong. You might be able to see them on my old build thread.

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

That looks like it could work for me, Thanks

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

I have a windshield frame in the for sale threads if interested. Have fun with the rebuild what color do you plan on using on the grill.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=651723

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

On your doors, I would save the Blazer only reinforcement plate , around the door latch. I would also cut out the 72 screw hole area. And if your replacement doors are non 72, use you originals for proper door panel hole placement, before you scrap them.

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

Thanks, but the windshield frame has already been repaired

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psf8647464.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ps8832d2ab.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ps6e5aca75.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ps609516d1.jpg



I did keep the plates, and the stainless steel strikers, thought about the door panel hole, but don't want to swap it at this time as the doors have already been painted (I'll get caught up on my pics).........but if I do scrap the doors I'll cut those out. The passenger door is not that bad (I just had a better one) but the drivers door is pretty rotten on the bottom and is cracked around the hinges, looks pretty good from outside though.

More pics

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psb840f828.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psi1ck50iv.jpg

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

This is an awesome thread...I love the history that goes along with this build. I'll be keeping an eye on this one!

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

Your not wasting any time I thought you said the body man was slow LOL

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

I missed this one, I want to paint it the stock gray/silver. I tried a google search but didn't find anything.

Thanks, and I have lots of stories and pictures for this truck...............I'll try to keep them to a minimum LOL

Yeah, well the pic of my Blazer sitting in my driveway was taken just before I delivered to him in June..................I know body doods can be slow but, damn :banghead:


I'll try and get caught up with my pics as soon as I can, it is coming along.

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

I don't know about the silver but SEMS has a trim black that works will good maybe they make a silver that is close

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

I used satin black spray paint on my inner grill. Turned out good but I secided I liked my homemade grill better. I just cleaned it good primer and paint. I can't help you on the stock color though. That cream color I have no Clue what it's called.

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

Krylon #1403 Dull Aluminum is real close to the factory color, also close to rally wheel color. You may have to have a store order it since it can be hard to find, but looks better than any other aluminum paint I have ever found in a spray can.

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

I'll check both these out...........Thanks.

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

OK, lets get on with more pictures..............so I can ask more questions :D

Just when I thought it was ready for paint.........................

Right side rocker panel was good as I replaced it over 15 years ago, the old dood doing the work wanted to cut it out to see what was behind it, I said "no it's fine, just paint it"....................this is taking way to long.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psa039b229.jpg

We took of the right front fender and found more ugly, so off with the rocker panel..............damn

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...pstjfdwwuv.jpg

Not good, not good at all.................and yes, behind the rocker panel was rotten also

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psma5hyr5n.jpg

Time to go find a donor cab.

A Little Slice of Heaven
 

Donor Truck
 

This will work

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...pspqqlmnbj.jpg

Yep, that's what I need.............don't drop it.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psuvvwep3b.jpg

........and he drops it LOL

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ps8n6hirsu.jpg

It's OK though...........the part I need is just fine.

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

I took my son through that yard, pretty cool old cars, and pretty sad that they are just decaying out there.

Did you go into the upper areas of the barn? A ton of old trim for headlights, taillights and little of this and that.

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

Looks like lot a lot of Good old iron left there at that yard. Stock pieces can't be found around me Anymore. Ally he yards crush anything before the 80s a few years Ago. At least I got One last Look and got what I needed before The majority got Crushed. I almost cried the next time I went to the yard and the 5 trucks I had been taking from were gone.

Re: A Little Slice of Heaven
 

Do you mind posting the name of that yard or PM me. Thanks.

Re: A Little Slice of Heaven
 

Key Motors auto wrecking
29649 S Highway 213
Molalla, Oregon 97038

(503) 829-3800

Re: A Little Slice of Heaven
 

I thought I've been through all of it, but haven't been up stairs.............I'll be going back soon.

BTW, would like to see your Blazer in person sometime if that's cool.

I think they ship parts........................but they know what they have ;)

Re: A Little Slice of Heaven
 

Sure, whenever!

The younger guy working there is pretty cool. He showed us the old cars they had under tarps in the barns. They had a decent looking white '70 Blazer in the breezeway when we were there, but not for sale.

Thought he would trip me up with the Mercury pickup they were storing for some guy- but I had an associate at work that owned one. He was shocked I knew about them.

Re: A Little Slice of Heaven
 

Thanks

Although I've heard of this place for years, it was my first time there, from what I've heard about the old guy, the young guy is way cool.

Chopping Up the Donor Truck
 

The dood used a sawzall first, then a chop saw.........................

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ps7flmtjtr.jpg

Then a torch..................but it was OK, he had his buddy throw water in the cab whenever the floor mat caught on fire :eek:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psoiojmmr9.jpg

The price of the cab section was worth it just for the entertainment :lol:

Catching Up On The Pics
 

Lower cowl welded in and painted.........this was a big relief....................................and yes, I should have gutted the interior before even starting this project, but that time will come.


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psw3viatjw.jpg


Right side inner and outer rocker panel done

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psgib7taxh.jpg


The Blazer sits outside while the old dood cleans up his shop..............

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psapit92f4.jpg


...........................time to put some new paint down.


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ps0qklhp15.jpg

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

It's looking great, please keep the details and photos coming.

More Pics
 

Sorry I haven't posted anymore updates, progress is happening and some day I'll get this thread caught up with said progress :D


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psrtvofnqo.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ps1pefihpd.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psjcahzsdh.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...pstmrarcn0.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psucannjxv.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...pshukyounm.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...pseg8xnyuk.jpg

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

Yep, she's painted................

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ps8e3ntdb5.jpg


..........................and I do have more questions, but I'll wait until I have more time so I can respond.

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

Lookin real
Nice.

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

looks awesome so far, keep the pics comin'

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

Thanks, It's coming along

Hood was the first piece to get painted and is getting buffed out.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psw8mg7zqt.jpg

I love this pic. As the sun was setting behind the trees it put some natual flames on the tailgate.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ps3fu6kvpe.jpg

Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer
 

Doors are on.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psfsfdpmf6.jpg

The old dood had a hell of a time lining up the drivers door, could have been from the years of rot that was going on around the door pillar or the after market parts that were installed, or a combination of both. A friend of mine who restoring his Blazer suggested that I loosen all the body mounts on the drivers side, jack it near the mount behind the drivers seat and install a 1/8 inch shim.................................it worked :metal:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psgmosyldv.jpg

He installed the trim on the front fender (he was waiting on the passenger fender until I got the heater box installed) since the piece by the door needs to be installed before the fender gets bolted on, I will put the rest of the trim on when the truck comes home...............soon I hope

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psnpwqrkye.jpg

No pics, but I finally got the heater box (the one that came off the junk yard truck) cleaned up and put together. The rubber on the door/gate that opens/closes for the heat being on or off was rotten on the good box, but the factory didn't make them removable, so I had to cut the good one out of my heater box, that had been cut in half to replace the heater core years ago (very common on this vintage truck), then reassemble it in the good heater box, The fan motor was cleaned up, painted, I installed a new gasket kit, then installed the refurbished heater box on the truck.

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

I got my glass guy over to put the windshield

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ps6rnejz8n.jpg

This dood is awesome, he put a used windshield (all I could afford back then) in the Blazer over 20 years ago and has been doing all mine, friends and family's auto glass since then.

$185 bucks for glass, gasket and mobile installation including the chrome trim..............not a bad deal.

Oh, and now you can see the heater box that I refurbished and installed, along with the scar from grafting in the piece of the cowl, which I don't mind. I just consider it a "battle scar? LOL .

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psk0azweex.jpg



At home I put the springs on the hinges.......................using my vise, a motorcycle tie-down and a solid post made it quite easy to install them :D

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...pstda9audb.jpg

A few Questions???
 

When I first started this thread I had lots of questions and knew I would have more. But thanks to google and this site.............which usually directed me to a thread on this site, I have had most of my questions answered :)
I tried to edit my first post, but was unable so this is where I'm at.........

- I have 2 sets of different mirrors but are still looking at other options.

- Grill is painted dull aluminum, Thanks for that suggestion.

- $old my old doors and tailgate at the big auto swap meet last April........couldn't believe what I got for that rusted crap :lol:

- Was having problems aligning the drivers door but used a shim in one of the body mounts to correct that.


OK, here's a couple more questions:

- Whats a good sound deadner to use on the floor?

- What do the masses think of carpet vs rubber for the floor? I've had carpet in my Blazer for years, and when it got wet I would just pull it back and let it dry. I was going to go with rubber/vinyl this time but my wife reminded me how they hold moisture and the old carpet always dried out easy.

- Anyone use Plasti Dip? I'm thinking of this for the inside bed/fender wells https://www.dipyourcar.com/PlastiDip-Spray-All.html

That's all for now...............Thanks in advance for any insight.

On with the progress
 

The old dood finally got the right side fender on.......................but after loading the pic I noticed he forgot to put the trim on it....................so it's gunna have to come off :evil

He also has one more coat of paint to apply to this side.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psvmjqnoty.jpg

Here's his shop in the back..............yeah if I would have saw this before I dropped it off in his driveway last summer I would have ran away, oh well :waah:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ps5a4x0tf4.jpg

But it's getting closer


Fender was properly put on.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psgn4efzlh.jpg


He couldn't get the drives door to properly align, so he takes a port-a-power to it WTF?

This is where it starts getting ugly, I got a lot of work done, and it was done at a good price, but I'm about done with this guy.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ps21snzqt6.jpg


The rains come and the Blazer sits outside covered in a tarp with bungees...................new paint and you cover it with a tarp? :devil:

It's time for the Blazer to come home.

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

Grill Color Argent silver.

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

Blazer body is like a slinky, it is best to align doors with the top on...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=286915

Re: Painting My Rusted 72 Blazer......Lots of Questions
 

Thanks, but I have already painted my grill and I think it turned out pretty good, but I will earmark that in case I end up not liking it.



Thanks, that was a good and interesting read and explains a lot, like when I first got the truck 23 years ago and someone told me not to take the top off because you will never get it to line up right and it will leak. My response was "I'm sure it's been off before, and it already leaks". Years ago I used to put all the bolts in but stopped doing that because it was a pita and it didn't help with the leakage.

So now I'm thinking it will be very interesting putting my top on now after both inner and outer rocker panels on each side have been replaced. But the chart and the thread will help a lot.

My doors are aligned pretty good right now, hopefully they stay that way after I put the top on.