72 Blazer - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

wiggins · 05-23-2011, 11:06 PM

I am thinking about upgrading my suspension(new springs/4'' lift) on my 72 Blazer, any suggestions, recommendations?

Burt4x4 · 05-24-2011, 10:07 AM

What are you going to be using the Blazer for?
Camping and fireroads or heavy off-road trail blazin?

wiggins · 05-24-2011, 11:51 AM

nothing to extreme mild off road, its to nice of a Blazer to tear up but my springs are starting to sag a little and its not siitting level anymore. I want it to handle good going down the road and be ok off road. I ve been happy with the factory springs

jaros44sr · 05-24-2011, 02:05 PM

with out pics, my mind is a blank

, but if a pic or two shows up on my 'puter I might reckaleck something...

nice nomad, one of my alltime fav. vehicules, rite behind a '67 BB vette

wiggins · 05-24-2011, 05:59 PM

i might trade that Nomad for that particular vette' but I would have to think really hard about it, heres a pic
added for a my 56' Nomad as well for your viewing pleasure, lol

jaros44sr · 05-24-2011, 09:02 PM

VERY NICE on both fronts...thank you for the viewing pleasure!

It doesn't look that low in the rear, but you are sitting on an incline, how about a 1" zero rate with longer u-bolts. Lots of guys can help you out with their experiences...

Welcome aboard!

wiggins · 05-24-2011, 09:24 PM

its not really all that low front to back, it leans to the driver side by about 2'' or so. Never really noticed but I took that square body rear bumper off and put an original back on and that told the story. It was very crooked so I put the other bumper back on which has more adjustment in the brackets until I fix my lean.

jaros44sr · 05-24-2011, 10:50 PM

body mount bushings, rusted body brackets, broken leaf in a spring, bent frame,bent bumper brackets, or all of the above, ...just guesses. That thing looks to nice to have any of the serious problems listed above

what would you guess the Nomad would be worth??

BOHICA · 05-25-2011, 12:53 AM

With that size tire, I'd probably go with a 2" lift.

1972CST · 05-25-2011, 09:40 AM

Looks like it has a small lift now... lower side to side seems like a broken leaf or a bushing issue????? Great looking rides by the way.

wiggins · 05-25-2011, 10:51 AM

Thanks guys! I am alos going to replace the body bushings which may be al the problem is as far as the lean. The current lift is a basic spring over using the factory springs w a 3'' piece of I' beam cut to fit on top of the axle as a block. It works fine but its not that smooth going down the road which may be my springs. I have talked to a local shop that does lifts and he said he would go w a 4'' lift (would sit about an inch higher) and get the axels back on the top of the springs. he said its afer and most importantly it would ride better. also I would need no block n the rear the lift would be all springs. It is pretty nice Blazer. It is at 110,000 original miles on all original running gear right now.Its had one paint job about 3yrs ago and this make shift lift, and some modern front buckets(still have the originals), other than that all original.

That Nomad would be worth about 60K but thats if it were for sale, lol

HI OFCR · 05-25-2011, 11:06 AM

If you go with the spring lift, have some custom springs made to meet your needs. Dont buy the over the counter ones. I just had springs made for my truck from ALCAN spring and I really like them.

BOHICA · 05-25-2011, 05:39 PM

Didn't say it was already lifted.

In that case, yeah, I'd go with 4" as well. Maybe a 1" body lift if you need more fenderwell clearance, but no more than that and only if necessary.

wiggins · 05-25-2011, 06:17 PM

Thanks guys I have decided to go w a 4'' and just the stock size body bushings. I'll post some pics maybe next week or so.

SeventyOne · 05-25-2011, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiggins

Thanks guys! I am alos going to replace the body bushings which may be al the problem is as far as the lean. The current lift is a basic spring over using the factory springs w a 3'' piece of I' beam cut to fit on top of the axle as a block.

So you basically have blocks front and rear? That's pretty dangerous (unsafe) for the front. good thing they're coming out!

mustardjimmy71 · 05-26-2011, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiggins

and get the axels back on the top of the springs. he said its afer and most importantly it would ride better.

The leaf springs go on top of the axle tube from the factory and in all bolt on lift kits

mcmlxix · 05-26-2011, 06:02 AM

goto diy4x.com and get the shackle flip to eliminate the rear block and use style stock springs and keep a decent ride. lift springs ride stiff. If you do buy front lift springs, spend the extra money and get thinner flexible springs for a better ride as well.

http://diy4x.com/cart/index.php?rout...product_id=112

wiggins · 05-26-2011, 10:55 AM

Nope just on the rear but I dont like em anywhere if I have a choice. Blazer was already set up this way when I got it, slowly fixing things.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeventyOne

So you basically have blocks front and rear? That's pretty dangerous (unsafe) for the front. good thing they're coming out!

wiggins · 05-26-2011, 10:57 AM

Well that would explain the fron they are already on top w/o a block. This is my 1st Chevy 4x4 all my other 4wd stuff is IHC, mostly scouts, and the springs on them are all mounted underneath the axle from the factory front and back.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mustardjimmy71

The leaf springs go on top of the axle tube from the factory and in all bolt on lift kits

1972k5blazer · 05-26-2011, 12:15 PM

wiggins you didnt by chance buy that k5 from a guy named gary hodges did you ?

wiggins · 05-26-2011, 02:07 PM

Cant remember, Ill have to check. he was from Arkansas though. He had just been transfered to Tx w his job and Had just got this Blazer back from the body shop in Ak. I bought it from him unfinished w loads of spare parts. Slowly fixin her up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1972k5blazer

wiggins you didnt by chance buy that k5 from a guy named gary hodges did you ?

1972k5blazer · 05-26-2011, 03:59 PM

I would about bet anything thats the guy . Cant remember for sure if that was his name or not but i know a real close friend of the last owner and i knew soon as i saw that blazer i about passed out ! You lucky dog i saw that blazer for years sit by my uncles house and always thought man i wish i had that k5 and would walk over and crawl around it and wish . At the time it looked like it does in your pics but the inside was not finished and i think it didnt have any of the seals on the glass but looked like alot of the seals and stuff were laying in the floor. I always wished i could buy it but didnt have the funds one day i had my friend call his friend and price it just so i would stop wondering what it would take to buy it . About a year or so later i was gonna be able to get the cash so i got his friends and was about to plan a trip to texas and called him but i was to late . Just wanted so say thats one nice 1st gen . And im glad i finally got to see it again . Good luck with fixing her up

elks · 05-26-2011, 06:38 PM

Dude I have used and will only use Alcan springs for my projects. Never have had any issue, they will build a spring to your specs, ie: weight length, lift, etc. I know guys that use them in almost all application. Look em up they was about the same price as anywhere else. Only they are 40 minutes away and allow me to save shipping cost.

The shackle reversal is ok, but if I remember correctly it rolls the axle forward a bit and may cause issue when trying to stuff a larger tire.

SeventyOne · 05-26-2011, 09:38 PM

He could get the flip and have Alcan build stock height rear springs with the center pins moved back 1" to recenter the axle.

I have Alcan springs and so far they are great - still building the chassis but so far so good.

bigeasycigars · 05-27-2011, 02:38 AM

My 2 cents...Take what ya like and leave the rest.

Deavers or Alcan for custom made springs.
Skyjacker Softrides for ready made.
Springs @ all four corners.
Steering Stabilizer
ORD Greaseable Bolt/Shackles
Rubber Body Mounts
Bilstein Shocks

I just lifted mine using a set 4" Skyjacker Softride springs, It rides better than it did stock...and is pretty comfortable ..I'm happy with them. (I got them at cost so went that route). I'd go with custom springs if you can wait the 3-5 weeks though. I changed my shocks to Bilsteins and love them, Replaced old worn out body mounts to Rubber Body Mounts (I had the same lean as you have and swaping the mounts and springs corrected it). I'm going to put the ORD Greaseable Bolt/Shackles in soon as well. I'm running 33" x 12.5" x 15 MTZ's

05-23-2011, 11:06 PM	#1
wiggins Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Deep East TEXAS Posts: 453	72 Blazer I am thinking about upgrading my suspension(new springs/4'' lift) on my 72 Blazer, any suggestions, recommendations? __________________ Preserving American History one truck at a time.

05-24-2011, 10:07 AM	#2
Burt4x4 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 1,842	Re: 72 Blazer What are you going to be using the Blazer for? Camping and fireroads or heavy off-road trail blazin? __________________ 1972 K5 MPFI454/Sm465/Np205/D60/14FFd/Re-Centerd H1s w/Swamper Iroks

05-24-2011, 11:51 AM	#3
wiggins Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Deep East TEXAS Posts: 453	Re: 72 Blazer nothing to extreme mild off road, its to nice of a Blazer to tear up but my springs are starting to sag a little and its not siitting level anymore. I want it to handle good going down the road and be ok off road. I ve been happy with the factory springs __________________ Preserving American History one truck at a time.

05-24-2011, 02:05 PM	#4
jaros44sr Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Philadelphia, Pa. 19454 Posts: 9,446	Re: 72 Blazer with out pics, my mind is a blank, but if a pic or two shows up on my 'puter I might reckaleck something... nice nomad, one of my alltime fav. vehicules, rite behind a '67 BB vette __________________ Semper Fi...Uncle Sam, you da man All parts offered to help are free, unless otherwise noted Dont try this stuff in my build thread, unless you have 55 years of mechanical OTJ training SAFETY FIRST AS usual, off topic They say your mind goes second, can't remember the first Jim Last edited by jaros44sr; 05-24-2011 at 02:08 PM.

05-24-2011, 05:59 PM	#5
wiggins Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Deep East TEXAS Posts: 453	Re: 72 Blazer i might trade that Nomad for that particular vette' but I would have to think really hard about it, heres a pic added for a my 56' Nomad as well for your viewing pleasure, lol Attached Images __________________ Preserving American History one truck at a time.

05-24-2011, 09:02 PM	#6
jaros44sr Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Philadelphia, Pa. 19454 Posts: 9,446	Re: 72 Blazer VERY NICE on both fronts...thank you for the viewing pleasure! It doesn't look that low in the rear, but you are sitting on an incline, how about a 1" zero rate with longer u-bolts. Lots of guys can help you out with their experiences... Welcome aboard! __________________ Semper Fi...Uncle Sam, you da man All parts offered to help are free, unless otherwise noted Dont try this stuff in my build thread, unless you have 55 years of mechanical OTJ training SAFETY FIRST AS usual, off topic They say your mind goes second, can't remember the first Jim

05-24-2011, 09:24 PM	#7
wiggins Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Deep East TEXAS Posts: 453	Re: 72 Blazer its not really all that low front to back, it leans to the driver side by about 2'' or so. Never really noticed but I took that square body rear bumper off and put an original back on and that told the story. It was very crooked so I put the other bumper back on which has more adjustment in the brackets until I fix my lean. __________________ Preserving American History one truck at a time.

05-24-2011, 10:50 PM	#8
jaros44sr Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Philadelphia, Pa. 19454 Posts: 9,446	Re: 72 Blazer body mount bushings, rusted body brackets, broken leaf in a spring, bent frame,bent bumper brackets, or all of the above, ...just guesses. That thing looks to nice to have any of the serious problems listed above what would you guess the Nomad would be worth?? __________________ Semper Fi...Uncle Sam, you da man All parts offered to help are free, unless otherwise noted Dont try this stuff in my build thread, unless you have 55 years of mechanical OTJ training SAFETY FIRST AS usual, off topic They say your mind goes second, can't remember the first Jim Last edited by jaros44sr; 05-24-2011 at 11:04 PM.

05-25-2011, 12:53 AM	#9
BOHICA Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Cookeville, TN Posts: 274	Re: 72 Blazer With that size tire, I'd probably go with a 2" lift.

05-25-2011, 09:40 AM	#10
1972CST Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Concord NC Posts: 511	Re: 72 Blazer Looks like it has a small lift now... lower side to side seems like a broken leaf or a bushing issue????? Great looking rides by the way.

05-25-2011, 10:51 AM	#11
wiggins Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Deep East TEXAS Posts: 453	Re: 72 Blazer Thanks guys! I am alos going to replace the body bushings which may be al the problem is as far as the lean. The current lift is a basic spring over using the factory springs w a 3'' piece of I' beam cut to fit on top of the axle as a block. It works fine but its not that smooth going down the road which may be my springs. I have talked to a local shop that does lifts and he said he would go w a 4'' lift (would sit about an inch higher) and get the axels back on the top of the springs. he said its afer and most importantly it would ride better. also I would need no block n the rear the lift would be all springs. It is pretty nice Blazer. It is at 110,000 original miles on all original running gear right now.Its had one paint job about 3yrs ago and this make shift lift, and some modern front buckets(still have the originals), other than that all original. That Nomad would be worth about 60K but thats if it were for sale, lol __________________ Preserving American History one truck at a time.

05-25-2011, 11:06 AM	#12
HI OFCR Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: West Des Moines IA Posts: 63	Re: 72 Blazer If you go with the spring lift, have some custom springs made to meet your needs. Dont buy the over the counter ones. I just had springs made for my truck from ALCAN spring and I really like them.

05-25-2011, 05:39 PM	#13
BOHICA Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Cookeville, TN Posts: 274	Re: 72 Blazer Didn't say it was already lifted. In that case, yeah, I'd go with 4" as well. Maybe a 1" body lift if you need more fenderwell clearance, but no more than that and only if necessary.

05-25-2011, 06:17 PM	#14
wiggins Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Deep East TEXAS Posts: 453	Re: 72 Blazer Thanks guys I have decided to go w a 4'' and just the stock size body bushings. I'll post some pics maybe next week or so. __________________ Preserving American History one truck at a time.

05-26-2011, 06:02 AM	#17
mcmlxix Collector of Projects Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 3,106	Re: 72 Blazer goto diy4x.com and get the shackle flip to eliminate the rear block and use style stock springs and keep a decent ride. lift springs ride stiff. If you do buy front lift springs, spend the extra money and get thinner flexible springs for a better ride as well. http://diy4x.com/cart/index.php?rout...product_id=112 __________________ Rich 1972 K5 Blazer CST Click HERE D60 BIG BRAKE UPGRADE Click HERE Last edited by mcmlxix; 05-26-2011 at 06:04 AM.



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05-26-2011, 12:15 PM	#20
1972k5blazer Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: mtn.home ar Posts: 235	Re: 72 Blazer wiggins you didnt by chance buy that k5 from a guy named gary hodges did you ?

05-26-2011, 03:59 PM	#22
1972k5blazer Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: mtn.home ar Posts: 235	Re: 72 Blazer I would about bet anything thats the guy . Cant remember for sure if that was his name or not but i know a real close friend of the last owner and i knew soon as i saw that blazer i about passed out ! You lucky dog i saw that blazer for years sit by my uncles house and always thought man i wish i had that k5 and would walk over and crawl around it and wish . At the time it looked like it does in your pics but the inside was not finished and i think it didnt have any of the seals on the glass but looked like alot of the seals and stuff were laying in the floor. I always wished i could buy it but didnt have the funds one day i had my friend call his friend and price it just so i would stop wondering what it would take to buy it . About a year or so later i was gonna be able to get the cash so i got his friends and was about to plan a trip to texas and called him but i was to late . Just wanted so say thats one nice 1st gen . And im glad i finally got to see it again . Good luck with fixing her up

05-26-2011, 06:38 PM	#23
elks Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NW, Colorado Posts: 285	Re: 72 Blazer Dude I have used and will only use Alcan springs for my projects. Never have had any issue, they will build a spring to your specs, ie: weight length, lift, etc. I know guys that use them in almost all application. Look em up they was about the same price as anywhere else. Only they are 40 minutes away and allow me to save shipping cost. The shackle reversal is ok, but if I remember correctly it rolls the axle forward a bit and may cause issue when trying to stuff a larger tire. __________________ Confidence is the feeling we have before we fully comprehend the situation Last edited by elks; 05-26-2011 at 06:44 PM.

05-26-2011, 09:38 PM	#24
SeventyOne Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Oakland, Ca Posts: 1,381	Re: 72 Blazer He could get the flip and have Alcan build stock height rear springs with the center pins moved back 1" to recenter the axle. I have Alcan springs and so far they are great - still building the chassis but so far so good. Last edited by SeventyOne; 05-26-2011 at 09:39 PM.

05-27-2011, 02:38 AM	#25
bigeasycigars Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 226	Re: 72 Blazer My 2 cents...Take what ya like and leave the rest. Deavers or Alcan for custom made springs. Skyjacker Softrides for ready made. Springs @ all four corners. Steering Stabilizer ORD Greaseable Bolt/Shackles Rubber Body Mounts Bilstein Shocks I just lifted mine using a set 4" Skyjacker Softride springs, It rides better than it did stock...and is pretty comfortable ..I'm happy with them. (I got them at cost so went that route). I'd go with custom springs if you can wait the 3-5 weeks though. I changed my shocks to Bilsteins and love them, Replaced old worn out body mounts to Rubber Body Mounts (I had the same lean as you have and swaping the mounts and springs corrected it). I'm going to put the ORD Greaseable Bolt/Shackles in soon as well. I'm running 33" x 12.5" x 15 MTZ's __________________ '71 K/5 CST Work in progress...In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns. Last edited by bigeasycigars; 05-27-2011 at 02:40 AM.

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