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

[Got Sand]

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

[Got Sand]

Getting ready to leave for some much needed body work



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



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



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

[Got Sand]

More ugly






More to follow

[Madtrucker]

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.

[Got Sand]

Originally Posted by Madtrucker

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.

That looks like it could work for me, Thanks

[1rippen6]

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

[turp mcspray]

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.

[Got Sand]

Originally Posted by 1rippen6

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

Thanks, but the windshield frame has already been repaired

Originally Posted by turp mcspray

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.

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

[Gibber1967]

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

[1rippen6]

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

[Got Sand]

Originally Posted by 1rippen6

What color do you plan on using on the grill.

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

Originally Posted by Gibber1967

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

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

Originally Posted by 1rippen6

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


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

[1rippen6]

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

[Chulisohombre]

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.

[ls1nova71]

Originally Posted by Got Sand

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

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.

[Got Sand]

Originally Posted by 1rippen6

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

Originally Posted by ls1nova71

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.

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

[Got Sand]

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

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.



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



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



Time to go find a donor cab.

[Got Sand]

[Got Sand]

This will work



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



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



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

[tjsblazer]

Originally Posted by Got Sand

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

[sambrutay]

Grill Color Argent silver.

[notsolo]

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

[Got Sand]

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.

Originally Posted by notsolo

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

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.

[Got Sand]

I didn't want it to end this way but dispite the good work that was done to it, I could no longer stand the way the old guy treating was my Blazer (leaving it uncovered under the pine trees, leting the interior get wet, covering it up with bundies and a tarp, ect...) I brought her home............in the rain LOL




It's almost finished, but still needs to be wet sanded and buffed on the right side, some touch up work on the paint, including the inner post for the wing window..........yeah he missed that.

But she is now home and cleaned up, and I'm feeling way better about that.





Now it's time for ME to get to work

[notsolo]

From the photo's truck looks Awesome, Great color, tailgate gap looks nice, Get a soft top and Drive- Drive- Drive....( Maybe add headlights and wipers )

[raggedjim]

Nice work. Your body guy did you right by insisting on pulling the rocker. Even though he made a few mistakes (I have made most of them myself!) at least he was willing to tackle it, some shops won't touch rust repair at all.

Good luck, Rg