Previous owner '68

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by jaros44sr

Nice work on the fender, but I found it easier to over tighten till the nut snapped off

In my younger years I was laid off along with 500,000 other people and pissed at the world so I came up with idea to build my work shop, dug the foundation with pick and shovel, wheel barrow....polish backhoe

Poured foundation and .learned how to lay cinder blocks when my boiler went out in the house I had them put a zone in for my work shop, 70 degrees all the time

Been enjoying it for 50 years

Good luck on your project I'll be following

Thanks Jim, I've been watching your blazer build for almost as long as I've been on the site! Sorry to hear about your son.

I wish I had built my shop earlier but I don't know how much I would have really used it. Before I retired I worked quite a bit and was always on call 24/7. It was a relief to finally be able to retire, no more phone calls at 2:30 in the morning! Now the shop is my M-F 9:00-6:00.

I'll try your method on the second fender, hopefully it's easier!

[LT7A]

I'm enjoying your approach and what you're aiming for sounds cool to me. I like the plan.

[raggedjim]

Thanks LT, I spent about 3 months in Bremerton WA years ago with the Navy. That's where I first saw a 2wd Blazer (or at least noticed what it was!) Took the ferry over to Seattle a couple times.

Originally Posted by LT7A

I'm enjoying your approach and what you're aiming for sounds cool to me. I like the plan.

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

Thanks LT, I spent about 3 months in Bremerton WA years ago with the Navy. That's where I first saw a 2wd Blazer (or at least noticed what it was!) Took the ferry over to Seattle a couple times.

It's nice on the Peninsula and being able to be there and pop over to the city now and again would be pretty cool. I worked over there for about a year and saw lots of different license plates from different states - cars of people who were stationed there. Funny that I don't know if I've ever seen a local two-wheel drive Blazer, but I'm sure there are a few around here. If you don't mind me asking, how long were you in the Navy? If you'd prefer not to say, it's all good.

You're making good progress and I appreciate your take on things. Even mentioning the reality that sometimes we cuss at things that we say we enjoy doing

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by LT7A

It's nice on the Peninsula and being able to be there and pop over to the city now and again would be pretty cool. I worked over there for about a year and saw lots of different license plates from different states - cars of people who were stationed there. Funny that I don't know if I've ever seen a local two-wheel drive Blazer, but I'm sure there are a few around here. If you don't mind me asking, how long were you in the Navy? If you'd prefer not to say, it's all good.

You're making good progress and I appreciate your take on things. Even mentioning the reality that sometimes we cuss at things that we say we enjoy doing

It was a deep red colored 2wd squarebody, but it was on the base in 1991 so I'm sure it wasn't in the area for long. Bremerton had an auto hobby shop on base, I spent quite a bit of time there working on an '73 Trans Am.

I was in the Navy for 10 years, got out when Clinton was cutting back on the armed forces. I never regret joining the Navy and I never regret deciding to leave, I had changed and was ready for a different type of life.

I don't cuss much at all unless I'm in the shop!

[raggedjim]

Decided to push the fender to the back burner and installed more front end parts.

I had the '85 1.25" rotors turned and installed new bearings and seals. I found a 72 power steering gearbox out in the horse shed. Not sure if it's good, so I painted and installed it. My motto is "Make it pretty, it gives you incentive to make it work".

[joeydurango]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

Not sure if it's good, so I painted and installed it.

[loudchevy]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

My motto is "Make it pretty, it gives you incentive to make it work".

I like that moto. Nice progress so far. I'll be following along with your progress.

[raggedjim]

A couple more pics of the assembled front end, I was feeling good, until the brake caliper fiasco...

[raggedjim]

I decided to rebuild the brake calipers I have. I know, rebuilds are cheap, but I like to learn and do so I have always rebuilt them myself. It's not that hard.

Unfortunately, when I went to install them the caliper pins would not line up on the drivers side spindle.

I had heard that some of the aftermarket drop spindles have this problem but I suspect the true problem is the poor casting quality of the aftermarket calipers. The passengers side caliper I had is an original and it fit fine with room to spare.

[chevmn]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

I decided to rebuild the brake calipers I have. I know, rebuilds are cheap, but I like to learn and do so I have always rebuilt them myself. It's not that hard.

I also would rather rebuild vs. buying rebuilt or china new where I can. Recently I was having issues with my alternator, and guy at parts store said "I can have you a new one in the morning for $85". Rather than go that route, I tore it down and found the issue, and after a few bucks for a brush set, it was back in business (and likely will outlast the rebuilt $85 unit). I did consider buying a "new" AC alternator from amazon for about $35, and using for parts. I would like to support the local businesses, but they also need to be somewhat competitive, and that is rarely the case these days, usually not even in the ballpark.

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by chevmn

I also would rather rebuild vs. buying rebuilt or china new where I can. Recently I was having issues with my alternator, and guy at parts store said "I can have you a new one in the morning for $85". Rather than go that route, I tore it down and found the issue, and after a few bucks for a brush set, it was back in business (and likely will outlast the rebuilt $85 unit). I did consider buying a "new" AC alternator from amazon for about $35, and using for parts. I would like to support the local businesses, but they also need to be somewhat competitive, and that is rarely the case these days, usually not even in the ballpark.

Well, when I buy cheap rebuilt parts I kinda expect them not to work well. If I rebuild them I kinda expect them to work, at least I know who to cuss if they don't! Recently they tore down an old building in my town that had been a starter alternator shop. They threw away tons of wound coils for starters, and other parts. I grabbed some stuff I could identify but most of it got scrapped. Labor $ is a killer for shops like that.

[raggedjim]

I decided to grind the offending caliper. I know, if I had ground the spindle area then all calipers from now on would have fit. But I have this thing about things not fitting correctly, if you don't fit, you will be ground down and made to fit. I'm not going to grind a good part to make it fit a bad part.

The second pic shows the comparison of the 2 calipers. The passengers (original GM part) casting on the right is crisper and not as bulky. The drafts from the dies are more pronounced and it fits. The drivers caliper works, now.

[raggedjim]

Finally got the calipers installed.

[raggedjim]

The front brake hoses are for an '85, I had to tweak them to make them fit without hitting the spindle.

[Shifty One]

Looking good!

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by Shifty One

Looking good!

Thanks!

[raggedjim]

I hand bent some brake lines for the rearend and installed the trailing arms, springs, and rearend. No excitement, which is good.

[raggedjim]

Finally back on all 4 wheels.

[68Gold/white]

I have some of those later brake hoses I plan to use on my 67 and 68.
Those CPP lower control arms, are they 73-up, or earlier???

I am/or was planning on using 71-71 upper and lower control arms, because the shaft/bushings can be greased. Now that I'm educated on how they work, I'm not sure..
The 72 and earlier control arms do NOT pivot on rubber bushings. The caps on the upper and lower control arms screw into the control arms with external threads and the shaft screws into the inside of the caps. The bushings only capture the grease coming out of the caps, and only serve that purpose and to keep dirt and moisture out of that area.
THose pickups have always rode real nice, maybe I am over thinking this...

[raggedjim]

DA68 wasn't too sure which the CPP a-arms were for, turns out they were for the earlier trucks, I had to change out the ball joints to make them work with my 73-87 spindles. They take standard press-in balljoints.

I've had 67-72 pickup and 73-87 pickups, and I can't tell the difference in ride. Some people claim they can, that the rubber bushings are smoother, but I could never tell the difference. I really don't think you can go wrong with either setup, these old chevys are great.

[raggedjim]

Went back and forth on where to put the proportioning valve. Finally decided to put it in the squarebody location since I already had one.

[raggedjim]

Then I went to the back and installed the adjustable track bar. I also had to remove the u-bolt nuts because someone forgot to put the shock relocator brackets in place. I blame my wife, even though she isn't doing any of the real work on this truck.

[raggedjim]

Started installing the gas tank. I had already removed the crossmember and will deal with any interference with the bed crossmembers when I get to them.

January 6, 2024

[raggedjim]

The straps will be bent the WRONG way when you get a new tank (bottom strap). You need to bend them like the top one (or something reasonably close).