I been given an early Christmas gift and am honoured with the December Blazer of the month.
So here's a little History on my beloved 71 Blazer.

I bought it back in 1999 in Pheonix Arizona from a guy who was buying a new house and needed the cash.Looked it over and settled on 5K.
I got my money's worth as all in all it was a REAL solid truck.
Here is what I started with.
http://images6.fotki.com/v79/photos/2/229137/823271/fded5f60_jpg_orig-vi.jpg
http://images6.fotki.com/v79/photos/2/229137/823271/fded5ee2_jpg_orig-vi.jpg
MMMM...velvet.
http://images6.fotki.com/v77/photos/2/229137/941202/fcbf459d_jpg_orig-vi.jpg

From the time I bought it to present I've been working on it and also driving it daily.

In Nov. of 2002 I started the rebuild and took it off the road for 7 months.
Myself and a friend tore it apart and stripped the paint off and repaired the rust.
http://images5.fotki.com/v69/photos/2/229137/857108/fd2d9dd3_jpg_orig-vi.jpg
Typical rust for our trucks.You can poke your figer through these inner rockers.
http://images5.fotki.com/v69/photos/2/229137/857108/fd20a079_jpg_orig-vi.jpg

Anyway...a little elbow grease, a few bucks and 7 months later, I end up with this.
http://images5.fotki.com/v69/photos/2/229137/857108/fb6dba67_jpg_orig-vi.jpg

Something that's nice to look at but ugly enough to still play in.
http://images5.fotki.com/v81/photos/2/229137/1079309/DSCN0722-vi.jpg
http://images5.fotki.com/v81/photos/2/229137/1079309/DSCN0781-vi.jpg
http://images6.fotki.com/v86/photos/2/229137/1079309/DSCN0804-vi.jpg

I've done ALOT of crap to this truck.Here's just a few mods.

Started with a rebuilt 4 bolt main 355 SBC and mated that to a TCI built 700R4.To make the 700R4 fit I moved the eng forward 1 7/8ths to retain the orig mounting points of the T/C and keep the driveline angles stock.

Then put in TPI from a 91 Camaro.
http://images5.fotki.com/v70/photos/2/229137/865118/f992c982_jpg_orig-vi.jpg

Rebuilt and recovered my buckets and rear seat.As well as putting in new carpeting from ACC.
http://images5.fotki.com/v68/photos/2/229137/857108/fb845df2_jpg_orig-vi.jpg
http://images5.fotki.com/v69/photos/2/229137/857108/fbc41682_jpg_orig-vi.jpg

Added dual electric 14" fans.Keeps the beast nice and cool.
http://images7.fotki.com/v114/photos/2/229137/936987/DSCN1612-vi.jpg

Rebuilt and converted my factory A/C to R134.Cools nice!
http://images5.fotki.com/v70/photos/2/229137/865118/fb74e4cf_jpg_orig-vi.jpg
http://images5.fotki.com/v71/photos/2/229137/865118/fb74e48e_jpg_orig-vi.jpg
http://images5.fotki.com/v71/photos/2/229137/865118/facd9a1b_jpg_orig-vi.jpg
http://images8.fotki.com/v108/photos/2/229137/865118/DSCN1465-vi.jpg

I added rear disc brakes from TSM.Used a 78 Corvette M/C and rear brake calipers(with integral parking brake) and prop. valve from a 84 Cadillac Eldorado.
http://images5.fotki.com/v68/photos/2/229137/835824/fdac0b09_jpg_orig-vi.jpg
http://images5.fotki.com/v68/photos/2/229137/835824/fdab5062_jpg_orig-vi.jpg
http://images5.fotki.com/v68/photos/2/229137/835824/fdab504a_jpg_orig-vi.jpg

Well I just noticed how long this is getting so I'll end it here.
I'd keep going with all the pic's of the mod's I've done but this post is long enough.
Can you tell I love this stuff!!!! :D :D :D

ALL the pic's to ALL the mod's I've made to my Blazer can be seen ****HERE**** (http://public.fotki.com/blazbk/)

Sweet looking ride like the engine. Takes a lot of guts to take a truck like that offroad

Congrats on the award, you have a great looking ride.

To have it is to use it. :cool:
Great mods, very nice work.
Really sweet blazer.

Your Blazer is sharp! I hope mine looks half that good when I get it finished.

That's SWEEEEET! Especially like the TPI. How hard was it to bolt on and how much did it cost you to convert. I'm still a long way from rebuilding my motor and converting to TPI looks interesting, if I can afford it.

Great ride!

TPI was $1,700.00.That was a "turn key" set-up...Just install and go.
I know that that sounds expensive but piecing together a system can be just as expensive,unless of course you get everything from one doner car.

Another Outstanding Member Of The "Blazer Club" ;)

Very nice Blazer! Your TPI conversion looks good. Do you have a hidden front winch?

Very nice......can`t wait until mine is complete.

Yup....Warn 9000 right behind the bumper.
http://images6.fotki.com/v78/photos/2/229137/976300/fe4354f6_jpg_orig-vi.jpg

I love the color, not too common.

You did a GREAT job, sweet looking blazer!!!!!! :D

Definitely one of my favorite K5's - awesome stuff you have done to it.

YYYYYYEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABOBK!

Congrats BobbyK, you deserve it!
Burt

NICE!!!! I had the TPI idea also and I have a doner car. could you tell me about the harness? did you buy one out of Jims Performance or splice the blazer and TPI harness together? Also how much did you gain from this conversion?

Harness is from Jim's performance.

The Blazer was rewired with a stock replacement harness but I have since modified those harneses as well.

The TPI wiring and the orig. Blazer wiring are independant of each other.Other than grounds and power they do not mix.

My gains were approx. an extra 50 miles to the tank.(that's hwy miles with a 700R4 locked up doing between 65+75mph)
Instant startup and smooth idle,better throttle response.

The downfall of a stock TPI is that it falls flat after 5000rpm.The size of the runners really limit it's potential for power.
But for me and what I use my truck for it works great for me.


Burt....your one crazy MoFo!:)Thanks though!!!

BobbyK, Thanks for the info. Better mileage and performance, whats not to love there. Not to mention the cool look under the hood. 5000 rpm is plenty(not looking to smoke the rear tires ya know) Your work is an inspiration to us All i'm sure. Thanks for the great presentation!

Hey Canuck! Nice truck and congrats.Lots of work but it paid off.

Doug

Congrats BobbyK! Truely Inspirational!

I'm diggin' your Blaze! Can we clone it? I've been looking for a good set up for rear discs for awhile, how are they working for you. Sounds like you have fun wrenchin on your ride(s) Keep up the good work.

Bobby that is a sweet azz blazer....

Thanks for the comments gents.
Rustg,The rear disk's work great ever since I put the 3/4 ton Booster on.