What have I bought? A 72 Blazer!

[rwhite692]

Originally Posted by Chulisohombre

If you stay with 4.10, All depends on what tires you stick to and how much highway driving you do. Mine with the 4 speed and 35s with 4.10 it's perfect.tires any bigger than that and I'd want 4.56 or more if you go bigger than 37-38 eventually.

Hi Chuliso, I plan to stick with these 35s. Glad to hear the real-world experience with 4.10s and the SM465 is positive!

[rwhite692]

Originally Posted by SeventyOne

Love your build! How much did the upholstery run you? Looks great and I'll need to do the same in the future with my seats. I'm just over the hill from you in Castro Valley.

Thanks 71. I'll send you a PM on the seats.

[Chulisohombre]

I run about 2300 rpm at 60-65 so It's not too bad. Get about 10-12 mpg but when you are driving a lifted 5000 pound brick you can't get much better unless you run a Diesel. I usually try to Keep it around 60 mph. Seems to be the perfect compromise without having overdrive. Those seats look killer for a cheap apolstry by the way. Keep hammering on it.

[SeventyOne]

Hey RWhite - Do you know where I can buy a 14 bolt rear brake tee union bracket? It's the little bracket that bolts to the diff cover that hold the rear lines in place.

[Chulisohombre]

This might work for you. I believe it looks to Be what's holding Mine on. Or a junkyard maybe. http://www.heartbeatcitycamaro.com/s...lip-1968-1969/

[rwhite692]

Originally Posted by SeventyOne

Hey RWhite - Do you know where I can buy a 14 bolt rear brake tee union bracket? It's the little bracket that bolts to the diff cover that hold the rear lines in place.

I just fabbed up a small tab/bracket out of 1/8" thick by 3/4" wide flat stock....It's nothing complicated, just a little piece with a hole at each end.

[rwhite692]

Well it has been a while since I have posted any updates. Decided that having a good winch on this thing is going to be important based on where I intend to take it up in the Sierras...SO I ordered up a Warn 9.5CTI and designed a front bumper around it...I also wanted to get good solid recovery points up front, and needed mounts for some good lighting, so I bent up some DOM tube.

The recovery point mounts are from Chassis Unlimited and bolt through the winch box and the frame horns, they are 1" thick and really nicely made, I'd highly recommend them.

I also installed a transfer case ebrake setup, from High Angle Driveline, I'll have to take some more pics of that.

[Chulisohombre]

That looks really nice. More like badass. Great work.

[Lieferson]

That bumper looks awesome. You sir have skills!

[rwhite692]

Well, I have had a chance to drive the truck at speed around town, and there's good news, and bad news:

The GOOD:

The 14-bolt rear, with discs, combined with the installation of the one-ton brake booster, results in excellent braking, I couldn't be more happy with the performance.

The Crossover steering conversion which I made up using a fab kit from Chassis Unlimited, is GREAT, and the steering feel is much better than the stock setup, MUCH tighter turning radius as well.

While it required quite a bit of fabrication to mount the caliper (to my satisfaction, anyway), the High Angle Driveline NP205 parking brake setup works GREAT. I am really glad that I didn't go the "eldorado calipers" route, with the rear axle.

THE BAD:

The SM465 trans shifted fine but made a **GOD-AWFUL** clattering racket when coasting, indicating that something was loose/sloppy in the trans.

So, I yanked out the trans and NP205 transfer case. Let me tell you, that SM465 at around 180 pounds is one heavy / awkward SOB.

After getting it out, I opened up the trans and it was obvious that the input bearing for the trans input shaft was shot, and also as a result (or partly as a cause?) the pilot bushing in the crank was badly worn out. The output shaft splines on the trans output shaft were badly worn as well, along with the coupler to the NP205. Taking all of this into consideration, I decided to have the trans completely rebuilt.



I thought about just scrounging up another SM465 locally, but the prospect of going through a full install of a trans with an "unknown" level of goodnesss, only to find out that it also had problems, was not appealing. At All.

I considered doing the rebuild myself, but given time constraints, and also in the interest of knowing for sure that the rebuild was done correctly, I decided to have Anaheim Gear do the rebuild. My family and I were down at Disneyland last week, so we threw the trans in the car and took it along .

My wife was thrilled that 180 pounds of SM465 transmission were coming along in her car, for the trip. I made my best attempt at hermetically sealing the greaseball, so as not to permeate the car with the smell of ancient 80W90.

Anaheim Gear did a full rebuild and also added their 3rd gear sleeve (prevents 3rd gear pop-out) along with a few other upgrades, including stiffer springs in the shift rails to tighten up the shifting. These guys know their stuff. This pile of parts came out / got replaced with new components:



All buttoned up, Dyno Tested, and ready for a coat of paint:



Of course with the NP205 out, I am going to change all the seals on that (it does not seem to need a rebuild). I'm also going to install a twin-stick conversion from ORD.



And of course, since all of this stuff is out, a new clutch and flywheel are going in (Flywheel showed some hairline cracks).



Hopefully I'll have all of this all back together within the next few weeks...Then I can get going on fixing the floor pans and rockers.

[1tuff71]

Just checking back in to see if you decided what your going to do with the truss's. I picked up a front one a couple weeks ago from a guy on here but still looking for a rear now. Build looks to be going well BTW.

[RCinLaveen]

I landed here as the pic of your 14 bolt six lug hubs comes up on Google Images. I have a similar set up, and need some bolts for the flange (don't want to run allen head bolts).

Where did you find the 12 point flange bolts, and do they have a shoulder under the head as the factory bolts, or threads all the way up?

Have the 12 point bolts been able to hold the flange in place without leaking?

And one more question, what did you use to seal between the flange and the hub since the factory shim is too large once the hub and flange are turned down.

Thanks for your help.

[rwhite692]

Originally Posted by RCinLaveen

I landed here as the pic of your 14 bolt six lug hubs comes up on Google Images. I have a similar set up, and need some bolts for the flange (don't want to run allen head bolts).

Where did you find the 12 point flange bolts, and do they have a shoulder under the head as the factory bolts, or threads all the way up?

Have the 12 point bolts been able to hold the flange in place without leaking?

And one more question, what did you use to seal between the flange and the hub since the factory shim is too large once the hub and flange are turned down.

Thanks for your help.

Hello RC

I got the 12-point bolts from McMaster-Carr. Item Number 91271A716 (pack of ten pcs). They are fully threaded.

The flange of the bolt heads needs to be turned down slightly, so as not to protrude from the hub diameter (I have a lathe, so did it that way, but you could accomplish the same, by putting the bolt in a drill, and using a bench grinder to reduce the diameter, easy to do.

I did not use a gasket. I used Permatex Gray RTV sealant and have had no leaks. The setup has been trouble free. Hope this helps!

Rob

[RCinLaveen]

Rob, thank you. Exactly what I needed to know.

[rwhite692]

RC you have a PM

[rwhite692]

Figured I should post a couple of updates... I have been wheeling this truck pretty hard, since getting it running. Apologies if some of this is repeated from earlier posts...

So the first significant thing I did after getting this running, was to look for a better rear axle, so I decided to build up a 14 bolt full floater. I lucked out and found one on Craigslist with 4.11's and a Detroit locker, I converted it to Disc brakes then I re-geared the front D44 to 4.11, and put a lunchbox locker in it.



Shaved the housing, and closed it up using a kit from TMR Customs, and ground the ring gear

[rwhite692]

Converted the D44 to high steer with a kit from Chassis Unlimited and swapped in a 2WD steering box

[rwhite692]

I have been really enjoying the truck but, some things really needed (and still need... attention)

[rwhite692]

I decided it was time to put the tired 400SBC out to pasture




In its' place went an LS, it's a bone stock L96, 6.0 that I got with 26K miles out of a wrecked 2015, 3500 cargo van.





The driveline had to be moved 2" forward in order for the cylinder heads to clear the firewall. I used the Holley swap oil pan and the crossmember and mounts from Pacific Fabrication












I used the Trailblazer SS exhaust manifolds. I want the truck to be quiet, since we usually roll out on our excursions at 0-dark-thirty.

[rwhite692]

Boyd Welding EFI fuel tank. These guys do amazing work, and the price is very good!



I drew up an enclosure/skid plate to protect the tank, in autocad, and the guys at Chassis unlimited cut all the parts for me out of 3/16" A400 plate, on their laser table.

Then all I had to do was weld it all up.

[rwhite692]

Picked up a kingpin D60 for the front, that will be the next project, after the truck is moving under its own power again....



So.... That is about where I am at, as of right now. Still have to finish hooking up the PSI wiring harness, and while I'm at it I am replacing all of the wiring in the truck, so that has been time consuming. Hoping to get the truck ready in time for an upcoming trip to slickrock in May!

[rwhite692]

Here are a couple of vids of the truck in action with the old SBC. Carburetors and rock crawling are not a great combo

Slick Rock Road 5_15-16_2015 #2 - YouTube

RW's 72 Blazer at Slick Rock 5/21/16 - YouTube

[cleszkie]

I like your style! You are making all the right upgrades. And as others have said, your fab skills are strong. I have enjoyed the pictures of your clean, deep welds. Keep 'em coming.

[Chulisohombre]

Great videos.