Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

It's time to start a build thread for my new project - a 1972 2wd factory Blazer.

It's been in my garage since Memorial Day and have been working on it (not as much as I would like) over the past few weeks.

Specs:
1972 Factory 2wd Blazer - CC VIN
Original Color - 524 - Red/Orange - exterior was painted black at some point
Black Seats - both covers in poor shape
Black Rubber Floor - ripped and gone in most spots
No Rear Seat Option - seems rare to me
Stock AM/FM Radio option on SPID - long gone
No Motor/Trans - was a 307/SM 465 truck
Lots of rust in the doors, bed and floors
Hood was beat up a bit and fenders needed some work
Tailgate was sticking and had rust on outside and inside
Doors were in bad shape as well - Driver side was rusted at the hinges and Passenger side wouldn't open when I got it
Black Single Wall top/hatch was in great shape - just needs minor tweaking and cleaned up. Hatch lift sticks on one side.
Chassis was clean with only surface rust and no surprises
More mud dauber wasp nests than I had ever seen on one vehicle

These were the pictures used to decide if I was a buyer or not...

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

A few more from before it got to me...

It came with the trans hump, and the stock driveshaft as well.

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

I spent over a week just cleaning it up a bit once it arrived. I took a quick inventory of the work ahead and started to reverse the years of neglect on this Blazer.

Here are a few pix of the clean up...

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

Cleaning up/Checking it out continued...

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

Continued...

Now this is where it got interesting. I was trying to figure out what was in the back of this Blazer since it arrive and it took me almost the whole day to clear out the stuff to get to floor in the back since it was covered in parts and other junk from over the years.

I noticed the speaker brackets on the wall just behind the B pillar and a speaker cable that ran under the floor to the rear corner near the gas filler where it looks like they would attach an external speaker so they could hear the music outside the truck.

Needless to say - it was all coming out.

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

And first wash of the exterior other than rain in likely a decade.

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

Plenty of 'Before' pictures-

Items of note-
passenger floor where seat connection is = rusted out
windshield is bad
radio hole area - not cut (thankfully)

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

More before starting pictures-

Factory firewall markings
Driver Side Floor = gone
B pillar rusted out a bit
All body mount rubber was gone
Torsion boxes = very weak

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

More body mount carnage
Rear Bed floor = rusted out in both corners likely from leaking hatch
Clean slate for the motor/trans
Passenger side Door bottom = gone

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

Mud Dauber nests - all over the truck - now long gone
Passenger side B pillar - rusted a bit
Passenger side floor - gone

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

Glove box area - I removed it
Passenger side lower door
Windshield Frame = solid in the middle - some rust on passenger side corner
Cleaned up the radio area to see the actual color of the truck - it's growing on me
Now let's see what's actually in the back of this truck...

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

It just keeps getting more interesting...yes that is insulation under the wood.

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

Making some more progress...semi-solid sheet metal under there.

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

Cleaning out the cowl...removed both seats and door panels and now checking out the floors.

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

This blazer hadn't even hit my driveway and I purchased a replacement tub from MT from another board member...making for an easy swap candidate.

It will need a media blast on the undercarriage and some A pillar work on the driver side.

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

A few more pictures of the future body for this project...small rust spot in the bed area will need attention as well.

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

Well...for me to swap I tub I needed a few things first.

- prep the current body for removal
- remove/replace the body mounts/bolts - so I can remove the tub (PITA!). If you haven't had to do this on an East coast truck - it might be a rite of passage as they rust to the body and to the chassis so getting them out is a real chore. I have done this exercise more times than I want to admit and it still isn't fun.

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

This was the remains of the bolts after getting a few out...notice no bolt is still in one piece. One twist of the wrench = snap. Thankfully the heads were all rusted and welded to the tub so I got to drill/grind them out.

It doesn't look like much was accomplished in these pictures. For those who have done it on a rusty truck - you know the experience.

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

To make the tub swap easier and to make future work on this truck a bit easier as well - I picked up a MaxJax 2 post lift for my 3rd bay garage. The lift uses epoxy and anchors drilled into my garage floor and can be moved to multiple locations if needed. I installed a second set of anchors in my other larger garage so I can move the lift between those spaces depending on what work I am doing.

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

I have nothing to complain about with my rust repairs.......

Smitty

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

Great to see that blazer resurrected. I'm on board for the build.

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

Watching this one. Great work so far. I think it rotted more since the last time I saw it.

Mike just left here and told me he's headed for the tub starting tomorrow morning.

Edit: Are there brackets on the rear floor for a seat?

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

There are no rear seat brackets - nor evidence that they were ever installed. Looks like a rare no rear seat truck.

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

In to see this one thru.

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

Glad to see your saving this 1, What are your plans for this, New tub has mounts for rear seat are you going Deluxe or plan Jane? Post some photo's of the OEM parking brake set up on the frame please. 44 yr old sound deadening floor mat, Yikes!

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

Thanks all - lots of work to do on this one.

Not sure if I will ever use a rear seat on this truck. I may add nylon bolt inserts to the holes to keep the threads intact, clean up bed and just enjoy it for the short term.

Plans are as follows:

Locate clean 67/68 front clip, doors, tailgate - pending
Clean up chassis - removing rust scale, undercoating
Rebuild suspension - not sure if staying stock height or not yet - swaying toward 2.5/4 drop at this time
Install 5 lug rallys with 275/60 tires - have wheels, need tires
Locate LS motor/updated trans (still need an automatic crossmember)
Get it running/stopping by the end of the year (I hope)

I'd like to get it safe before I get it pretty.

I did take a few pix of the ebrake stuff in this thread.

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

Thanks, OOPS and Duh Huh on my part, Wish I could absorb what I read.

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

The tear down began this weekend...

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

More pictures of the disassembly - appears to be the original upper ball joints (rivets intact) on the front suspension buried under a lot of grime.

Curious to know what the actual mileage is on this blazer if those are still the originals.

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

The spare tub from Montana made it to Ohio this week and along with it came a clean 67 driver side fender and a set of clean doors.

Tub bracing is pending at the moment. I am looking for a rolling chassis so I can drop this down on it, make sure it is straight, brace the openings, replace the A-pillar and the rockers and get it ready for a body swap.

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

I went to the Goodguys show in Columbus over the weekend and spotted some really nice trucks.

Note the door/rocker blend on the blue truck. It was very well done.

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

A few more of the blue one with very subtle body mods all over it and another truck that was a few feet away. Anybody know which headlights these are?

Very clean.

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

Removed the heater items from the firewall and found a nest and some hidden rust.

Cleaned that up and started to hang the 67/68 front clip pieces.

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

Started to mock up my 67/68 front clip and added new core support mounts.

I now have a 67 driver fender, 67 core support, 67 grill. I just bought the headlight buckets on the forum.

I picked up a set of inner fenders for ~$100 shipped from this post.

Still looking for a 67 passenger fender and a 67/68 hood to complete the front end stuff.

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

Looking forward to following the progress!

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

Not too much progress - acquiring parts along the way.

Spent some time mocking up the front clip though - so there was some work done this weekend.

I also started taking a closer look at the spare tub I bought from MT.

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

Glad to see this rig getting some attention... Seeing it finished driving down the road in my city priceless !
Hope we can catch up sometime 😉

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

Ill watch this one!

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

Looking good

Re: Lks Dcvn - 1972 2WD Blazer Build
 

That blue one was sick! The door handles and front turn signals looked good!! Bumper looks good sucked in too