1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Bought on my 14th b-day... Our original plan of making it a cool driver- has changed to a fully modernized powertrain which will eventually be my daily driver:metal:

The first day home
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN1110.jpghttp://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN1115.jpghttp://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN1117.jpg

Starting the teardown
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN1584.jpghttp://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN1854.jpghttp://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN1800.jpghttp://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN1587.jpg

Original 350
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN1802.jpghttp://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN3493.jpg

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Stripping the paint (found some unfortunate things under some thick bondo:censored:)
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN3490.jpghttp://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN3492.jpghttp://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN3495.jpghttp://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN3554.jpghttp://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN3982.jpg

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Began the rust repair- needed inner and outer rockers, floorboards, kick panels, and some pillar patching.....

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN2653.jpghttp://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN2654.jpghttp://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN4267.jpghttp://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN4269.jpghttp://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN4268.jpghttp://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN4285.jpghttp://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN4287.jpghttp://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN4284.jpg

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

More rockers
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...DSCN4267-1.jpghttp://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN4282.jpg

Once the drivetrain was out and sold, and all of the rust repair was finished, it was time to take the body off... I threw around some ideas about how i can do this in a 2 car garage space.... so i built this.
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN5148.jpghttp://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...DSCN5196-1.jpghttp://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN5189.jpghttp://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN5198.jpg

Then started goin at the frame...
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN5195.jpghttp://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN5281.jpg

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Preppin for powdercoat...used my front axle as a dolly to get it on the trailer...
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN5293.jpghttp://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN5294.jpg

Back From Powdercoat-more pics coming
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN5343.jpg

Got my 2006 5.3 and 1992 NV4500 5spd- Had great luck on ebay! -more pics soon
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN5277.jpg

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Awesome project! Lots of great pictures! Keep us updated!

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Wow, great pics!

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet, and I luv the homemade lift rack thingy :metal:

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Keep us posted how you get all the drivetrain to match up. I've been kicking that same idea around myself. sweet build, Mario

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Father, Son projects. I love them. Keep us posted as you go further.

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Great work, we're hooked already so keep em coming!

Looking at the first pic date, all this in two years?

Body lift is way cool, must be heavy.
What are you going to do with it now?

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Way to get after it!

Nice work! What's your target date to have her on the road?

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Looks great. I like the lifts you made, wanna rent them out? :D

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Great project - very cool that you and your father are tackling this together!

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

We bought the Blazer in March of '06 but really actually started working on it when football ended in late December... The body rack works great, it separates into 3 different pieces so it easily fits in a 6 foot bed, and can easily be adapted to use on any car.. I built this one so that i can use it on my Dad's 1955 Bel Air 2 door hard top when we are done with the blazer... This lift makes it a piece of cake to scrape undercoating off and do the work on the undercarriage, even putting the body on a rotisserie...I've had a few people interested in buying/ renting it, but i would want to build another one to keep this around for my projects... PM me if you are really interested in buying/renting one....:blz:

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Pics of the powdercoated frame (after a couple good rainstorms while sitting in the driveway:lol:)
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSC01925.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSC01922.jpg

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Cool Project!
Get that thing done by July and drive it to Blazer Fest in Hollister!
Duno if you know about us but we are Nor Cal Off Road and every summer we have a 3 day camping & wheeling party at Hollister Hills. On Saturday night we have a big raffel and give away some pretty cool stuff. One year I won a soft top for my 72K5, that was a good year for me :metal:
Anyway keep up the good work!
Burt

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Sweet looking build you have going...

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Finally got the lift installed and the axles painted.. Used Eastwood Extreme Chassis Black it is an excellent product.... The neighbors and people driving down the street loooooove looking at it!!!!:floss:

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN5567.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN5566.jpg

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

...thanks to your sister for the help assembling the chassis!! Nice documentation of the project so far. Keep up the good work, bro!

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

I forgot how badly your rockers used to look!!

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

What's the status on the body work? Any progress? Great job so far!!!

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

smart, and looks like a real nice start

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

I am working on getting the whole drivetrain together (my excuse for avoiding body work):lol: Drivetrain is painted and ready to go its just havin the time to do so... ill post pics of that soon..

I found some old pics of what i built to store my top when i started the build.. It cost $50 at harbor freight for the 1000 lb hoist, scrap tube from the pile, and some welding.. To keep mom happy we reinforced the roof a lil so the roof wouldnt sag on the outside:metal:
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN2486.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN2540.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN2541.jpg

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Great work. The lift you made is awesome. i like the height of the garage and the storage for the topper. Keep up the good work and keep posting pics. Later mario.

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

wow goooooood work!!!! really neat and spend good money on your **** and wow that truck is going to be prime!!! good work!!!

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

I am impressed so far, I really like the body lift you built, I think I might wind up copying your idea there, that thing would be damn handy for installing truck beds, bodies, and what ever else.

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Havent had much time to work with football starting but... got the firewall finshed... hydraulic clutch conversion figured out.... drive by wire pedal modified angle to fit.. and 5.3L mounted(pics soon)
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN5602.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN6357.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN6358.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN6311.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN6318.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN6359.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN6360.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN6361.jpg

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Lookin' good. Any updates? Driving it yet?

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Football should almost be over right, get back to the Blazer! Looking super sweet, I have a 5.3 and an NV 4500 so I am super interested in seeing how this goes!! BTW you don't want to sell your single walled top do ya.....I didn't think so, but had to try!

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Just got finished with a long football season... now time to finally start working and hopefully get the Blazer on the road within the next couple months. First work was fixing the irrepairable attempt at body work with a torch and some welding wire by the PO..
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...DSCN7076-1.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN7080.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN7089.jpg

and the other side that was literally filled and inch deep with solid metal...

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN7014.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN7018.jpg

Next Project is to undercoat the entire tub which i already stripped (PITA!) with HERCULINER. Buying Seats this week in order to modify the floor or make brackets etc. Still having trouble finding the perfect way to mount engine without Shortening/Lengthening drivelines but its getting close. More updates soon... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Lookin good, keep us posted.

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

great project, enjoy the build.

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Got some seats out of a 2004 GMC sierra both are full power with heaters:clap: got a great deal on them. Ill have to reupholster with black leather to match the rest of the interior and the back seat.. They're really comfortable and the foam is in great shape.. now to mount them:metal:
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN7198.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN7199.jpg

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Not great pics but got somethin special in the mail today... A bestop soft top with all hardware... vinyl is flawless it sat in a box for 10 years, ill replace the windows and have a hellofa nice top:metal:
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN7236.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/DSCN7235.jpg
Reinforced the floor and got seats mounted, they fit amazingly well ill put some pics up soon...

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

I'm liking it.

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Cool that you found a soft top for it, you'll be able to run it all year, yes?

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

:cool:

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Maxx!! Hey brother, I haven't logged onto this site in months, but here I am again!! :metal: The seats look *****in'! Also niiiice soft top. That's gonna look great on the truck. Decide on the body color yet? :lol: I just drove my '65 today and it's running great!! Well it should be with a new battery, single-wire alternator, spark plugs & wires, and an HEI!!!

Re: 1972 Blazer 5.3 E85/ NV4500 5spd 4x4 Build
 

Bobby Bobby!! :)