Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

They look better as 16's, I'd be tempted to run them without trim rings. Great choice.

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

The trim rings make them pop. I drove a few days without them. Trim rings are definitely better.

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Thanks Donny :)

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Here we go. New spare tire on custom 16" spare. I went 245/75R16 to give it a good clean fit:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...9-1600x900.jpg

All the wheel stuff lined out perfectly:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...7-1600x900.jpg

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

That looks killer. nice job!

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Last couple of items. The steering pump whines when it gets warm. Waiting on the new NOS quartz clock.

Any suggestions on the steering pump?

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Love the seats, where did you come up with the material? I'm restoring a '79 and would like to come up with a way to do the blue plaid. Great restoration, hope mine looks half as good when I'm done.

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

SMS out of Oregon has the materials stock piled.

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Is the PS pump new?

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Newish.

These trucks make everything else look blah. Here it is today at a charity skeet shoot. There's something so right about driving around with a couple of shotguns and boxes of shells in this thing. 'Murica!!!

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...R-1600x900.jpg

I've spent the past two days replacing the clock, instrument backing plate, speedometer, circuit board, clear plastic bezel, dash bulbs, speedometer cable and speedo gears to get the speedo running true. I had my little GPS app measuring the difference between actual speed and speedo speed. It was fun.

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Beautiful! Very nice work

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Both blinkers stopped working. Any ideas?

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

could be your flasher.

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Left one is fine. Right one is not. The actual blinkers with fine. It's just the dash bulb that's not blinking. I just replaced the bulb, so that wouldn't be the first guess.

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

I think it's a ground. It was dimmer than the right one before and after I replaced the bulb. Where did this thing ground out. I just replaced the circuit board, so the problem isn't there. Where did it ground?

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

I'm thinking it's the bulb holder. Everything else grounds to the same place, so it's either the bulb or holder. I'll look at it in a couple of days.

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Do you mind sharing part number(s) for the replacement speedo cable you used?

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Just hollered down to O'Reillys for a delivery to our shop. We buy a lot from them.

Figured out the light. The bulb was a dud and the bulb plug had some corrosion or something that was dimming the bulb. I cleaned the bulb plug with soap and water, then vinegar, then soap and water, then water, then dry. Then I replaced the bulb. Now the light is just as bright as the left one.

The driver side mirror won't stay put at highway speeds. Gonna fix that next. I think the rubber grommet does more holding than it first appears.

Adding dielectric grease to the serpentine belt has addressed most of the whining sounds up front. Needed new header bolts and nuts. Got those on. Pretty much there.

I like driving things for awhile to work out the bugs. I took my two boys to a local car show yesterday and showed the Blazer. That was super cool.

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Dad commented on the slop in the steering column, so I ordered the Borgeson steering shaft with u-joints on each end.

http://www.borgeson.com/xcart/produc...&cat=34&page=1

The steering box is new, the ball joints are new and I have a frame brace installed, so there's no reason I shouldn't upgrade the shaft to something new.

It will probably be the first part of next week when I get a chance to install it.

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Outstanding work on the Blazer! Hopefully since I'm in the same part of Texas, I can see it some day in the future.

Where did you get the rubber you cut for the floor mats?

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

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Awesome job w/ this one - looks really sharp!

Think your Dad will drive it a lot again, or will it see limited use?

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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Not sure, but if he doesn't, this guy will.

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

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:metal: :metal:

That interior and front end accessories look great!

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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Thanks. It hits the right notes.

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Dad had only one complaint. The sloppy steering from the original rag joint. So Tuesday I installed a Borgeson unit with u-joints at both ends. Nice upgrade. Ended up sawing the original in half to get it out. I had to cut 8" off the Borgeson unit to get it to fit right. And it was damn hot outside.

Here are me and the boys heading to a car show a couple weeks back. We're not very cool.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...0-1600x900.jpg

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

American Floor Mats. It was stupid expensive, but I couldn't find anything else that looked good and matched the interior.

http://www.americanfloormats.com/pyramid-rubber-mats/

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

That's a great picture!

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Did you get the mirror to stay? Mine do the same thing at highway speed. I was thinking of taking it apart and wrapping a motorcycle rim strip around the post and putting the locking plate back on. But wasn't sure.

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

I installed a new one. The answer is no. Once you hit 70, they start to creep. I tried adding rubber to the post. Didn't work. I'm sure something would work, but I didn't figure it out.

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

The rubber grommet is just to seal the housing where the post goes into the base. There should be a friction sleeve wrapped around the mirror post where it clamps into the base. I'll see if I can find a picture from when I rebuilt and painted mine.

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

John: I know, that's what we're talking about. There just doesn't seem to be enough friction at those surfaces to matter, even tightened. I added several layers of rubber and it would still rotate.

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

10-4. Mine did the same thing, they were original to the truck though. When I had them apart to paint them, I soaked the base gaskets, grommets and sleeves in hot water and Dawn dish soap then cleaned them. They stay put now. If yours are new, dirt probably isn't the issue - maybe take the sleeves off and tape some skateboard tape in place instead? That should grip good.

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Here's the Borgeson shaft:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...-1024x1820.jpg

Packing stuff out at the lake:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...6-1600x900.jpg

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Had that same issue.
You can remove the screw at the bottom of the cover over the base of the mirror, and slide the cover up over the rod closer to the mirror head and there are 2 bolts you can access under the cover the gently tighten down on those, test the mirror head to make sure you can still move it. Then just slide the cover back down over the mounting hardware and replace the screw.

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Lol. Folks, even when you tighten, they still creep. I drive this thing at 80 on interstate. Those big Dumbo's move.

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

LOL, well they shouldn't move. Maybe you need to slow Dumbo down, so his ears aren't blowing so hard.

BTW, that is THE nicest Blazer I think I have ever seen!! Great job! I just LOVE that interior, sweet!

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Thanks amigo. It drives so well. It's super fun to drive.

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Okay I fixed my aftermarket (LMC) mirrors. Now this may not work for everyone because I used parts from the original GM mirrors.

What I did was take mine apart, and then transfer the GM rubber, and the GM base plate over to my LMC mirrors. They now work fantastic and do not move at all on their own! I will post a few pictures over in my blazer thread, but I couldn't be happier with the results. It seemed like the rubber that GM used was a completely different product. It was also about 1/2 the size of the LMC rubber which was surprising. The GM base plates also fit the shaft much better and have more of a "wrap" on the mirror stem.
Phillip

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Glad you got it figured out.

Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
 

Are you running r12 or r134a?