Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Why replace? Just curious - tight examples not hard to find. I had a set replated for use on my current build and they turned out great.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Yup, kind of a basket case purchase. Doubles of random items. ;)

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Yes sir, I'm with you. I have the rear end shimmed so that it is pointing at what I hope is the correct angle. Wont know until the drive train is in. We will see on the front. Like you noted above, I will hardly ever have it in 4wd so it should not matter as much as the rearend. Regardless, this rig better be smooth down the road or I'm gonna lose my mind. My Jeep experience just spooked me a little.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

I was planning on having mine plated as well. Can I have them plated without being taken apart? Your thoughts?

I need a pop rivet gun for some heater control & box restoration. The rivets on my heater control assembly are broken, so I figured that I would just buy the resto kit for the controls and do it this winter. I already have the interior box torn down, sending to the powder coater soon.
I'm also planning to pick up an exterior box at the next Portland swap meet. The previous owner at some point cut the original in half with a sawzall. Lol... (sad face)

Plus I need to replace the kick panel vent rubber. Yay!

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

The tail gate hinges can be replated as assembled no sweat. I had mine clear zinc plated and these will be (are) painted to match the body like GM did. I had a NOS set powder coated orange and I used these on my k20.

My pop rivet gun is a cheapie from Home Depot.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Excellent, thank you for the information. I did not want to disassemble those anyway. ;)

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Picked up my motor today. Need to install the oil pump, pan and the rest of the covers... and intake. Hope to get the drive train in before New Years.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Nice build bro. Just found it. Subscribed

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Thank you sir!
Glad to have you. ;)

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Timing cover showed up today. Yes!
Still trying to figure out what kind of valve covers I want to go with. I'm having a hard time. ;)

Any suggestions....?
I was thinking old school M/T covers in black.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Old school MT's would look very nice I would think. Waddya gonna do with the timing chain cover? Paint or leave "gold"?

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

crazy how clean your gargage is during this whole build... props to you sir!!!!

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Nice to see another 1st Gen in the 'couv. Nice build

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Thank you for the feedback! :)

Yeah, it is either the M/T's or the gloss black chevy script. Leaning M/T's... I like the old school touch the M/T valve covers bring. I dont think I can do the T-handle hold downs though... I went with the slotted mags for that vibe as well. My old man told me that I need a big chrome barefoot gas pedal and a Mr. Horsepower sticker for my wing window. Lol. He is the same guy that put a 427 in a 55 chevy truck without any frame modifications. I remember him welding a chain to the frame and bolting it to the block instead of replacing the torn motor mount. That truck also had that sticker in the wing window. Childhood memories!

Leaving it gold. Just something different. I'm suprised how much more gold the cover is than the oil pan. Milodon cover vs weiand pan. :( I asked the machine shop to put the brass freeze plugs in and not paint the block. Of course they put the silver ones in and painted it. The builder was super nice, he was just trying to be helpful since I told him I was painting the block black. ;)

A lot of the bolts and little brackets in the suspension are the same zinc gold color. It started with the Offroad design heavy duty shackles arriving with that plating. I thought it was a nice touch against the black powder coat and paint. The Header and intake bolts will be the same color.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Lol, thanks buddy! I work hard on that. ;)

It is an unspoken agreement with the wife. The last time I did something like this the kids tracked red dust from the aluminum polish into the house. It was like flour that gets into everything. I had just finished all of the hard wood floors in the house with some natural looking "fake hand scraped" 3/4" dark oak. When the red dust gets into all of the "natural cracks and knots" momma loses her friggin mind. I spent a day on my hands and knees with acetone and Q-tips getting the stuff out of the cracks. Never again.

Plus I just remodeled the garage summer 2016, paint, drywall and concrete floor refinish. It is my zen area. Here is a pick from when I was doing the jeep.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Right on buddy! Where are you at? I'm over by 164th and Cascade park drive.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

I like the contrast of the timing cover and now see that it is not a stand alone and that you have other parts the same color. Sounds very well thought out!

I have the T handle hold downs on mine (Block is red, valve covers are polished aluminum-I'd post pics but they always turn sideways for some reason!). Some old school throwbacks are good (for me!), but maybe that is because I am old!

Funny about your Dad and the BBC. I used to put SBC engines in my Datsun trucks without any frame or suspension upgrades; they didn't last long!

Really enjoy watching your progress; that is gonna be a beautiful rig!

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

I'm downtown near main street

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Thanks buddy!
That is the exact reason those T handle hold downs drive me nuts. ;) I am a bit OCD. Post the pics, I gave up on the pics being right side up. Lol, you probably noticed.

The Datsun/sbc combo sounds like fun!

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Awesome!
You have a driver or a project?

Let me know if you are looking for any parts. I will probably have extra stuff I need to offload as I move forward.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

I have been able to keep them pretty straight (I will admit to suffering from OCD as well!) but have thought about how I will feel if they start to get crooked! I'll attach a few pics and just deal with the crooked nature as it appears you have as well....

Lots of power and low weight made the Datsun's a blast to drive. Built one as more of a street version (wide tires on back and skinny up front; it was the 80's after all!) and one as a lifted truck with 31's. Both were fun but the front ends and rear ends did not like the power or the weight!

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Looks amazing! I like the ram horns, I almost ran with those. Still might if these headers don't fit.
I bet the Datsun was like a mini dragster!! I knew a guy that had a 4wd chevy luv with a sbc in it... lol, it broke every time he drove it.
I read one of your posts on another thread, did you say you have a jeepster?
I was looking at a Jeepster bull nose basket case before I ran across my current project. I have no regrets:), but I do like the Jeepsters.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Thank you! The ram horns were ceramic coated so they should stay nice looking. I've ran headers before (have them on my Jeepster) but not sure they really add much so will stay with stock manifolds here.

Those little trucks were just not build for the weight or power or weight of the non stock engines :) But you're right; it was a blast to drive!

You are better off with the Blazer than a Jeepster, especially when it comes to parts. Then there is the "a bull nose isn't a real Jeepster" banter that you would have had to put up with if you had gone that route! They are cool rigs though; I'll attach a pic (probably crooked!) of mine (and if that is not allowed on the board, will a mod please remove or let me know?).

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Your Jeepster is awesome!!!
I was not a huge fan of the bull nose, so I feel I lucked out picking up my blazer.
;)

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Thank you, sir! It is a fun little rig and I enjoy it. Some days the Blazer is fun to hop in to (Mama and I grabbed our 3 nieces and nephews the other night and took them in it to go look at Christmas lights) and other days the Jeepster is the right rig to grab (I like taking that out to the beach to grab lunch and run up and down the coastline).

In the end, I believe that you did better by grabbing the Blazer as well!

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Do you any milky way bars left?

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

... no (sad face)
Box came with the rig, it made me laugh so I kept parts in it.
:)

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

I thought that was funny

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Got some painting done today.

I had more time into the preparation of the garage with everything getting a drop cloth lol.

The motor recieved a nice coat of gloss black, and the gas tank got a nice coat of silver hammered metal.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Evapo rust.

I can't say how impressed I am with this stuff. I am cleaning a ton of bolts and pieces that I want to reuse.

It did a great job on my door screws and ferrells, not to mention my floor vent brackets and arms.

I have been picking it up at harbor freight, $25 a gallon I think, and you can reuse it somewhat... pretty good bang for the buck.

The bolt "smoke ring" made me smile... not sure what came off of that bolt, but I am sure it was bad. ;)

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

I second your endorsement of evaporust. And I have to confess, I ran out and bought sorting trays for my bolts. Thank you. Help me :)

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Very nice, the motor and the slot wheels are a favorite of mime.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Yes!!! Sorting trays - hours of entertainment!!!
That is awesome!

Is it bad that I would rather sit in my garage and sort bolts on New Years eve than go out and visit with friends and family?

I think I have issues.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Thank you for the compliments sir!

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Great build thread....top notch work at a pretty fast pace. Looking forward to more updates.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Thanks buddy!

But it is just never fast enough, it feels like I am taking forever. ;)

Fyi... please note. The LMC blazer/burban tank straps and accessories are a joke. My experience so far makes me feel as if I am scabbing in a tank for a different vehicle. The straps are pre bent for something else, not a Blazer. I had to flatten them out with a soft mallet and then re-bend them. Lets not forget that you have to change out your filler neck in order for it to take fuel at a rate faster than one click on the gas pump.

No basketball for the kids until I get some different bolts. Lol.

Happy new year!

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

there is no cure for those issues pete is a doctor just ask him for a cure for this sickness

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Late to the Party, Super clean work and another awesome build. Just finished my fresh air flapper doors, I used 3/32 silicone sheet instead of the standard foam. More durable IMO. Conforms to the curves nicely.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Looking good; did you settle on a valve cover?

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

I have thought about it, and I don't want to be cured. :)