'79 2wd Blazer DD Project

[Lsx32]

Ok guys, so since becoming a member a couple weeks ago I have been reading and reading about these blazers and how to lower them. I bought this thing back in February and a few days after driving it home from Panama City, the transmission crapped out. The PO told me that he had had it for two months or so and that he had purchsed it from the original owners family who, after he (OO) passed away let it sit for 2-3 years. The PO did a basic tune up, replaced the front brakes and a few other things. My dad and I pulled it, had it rebuilt, and reinstalled it. PO had (for some reason) ran dual exhaust straight out the back and you couldn't hardly drive it without getting gassed out. The first thing I did once we got it back on the road was take it to the exhaust shop. I found a pair of Flowmaster 40s for $50 on CL and had those installed with 90 deg. pipes turned out behind the rear tires.

Since then it has been a pretty reliable daily driver.

Little things have been popping up/starting to leak since then
(ie: rear main, front seal, valve cover gaskets, master cylinder, PS pump etc.). Anyway I have been replacing and trying to repair them as they come up and as I go. I replaced the brake booster and MC a couple weeks ago and replaced the PS pump and hoses today. As far as the engine goes, it doesn't really leak too bad (a drop every once in a while in the driveway). The areas I listed stay saturated and it puffs a little smoke on startup. other than that it seems to run good. I'm hoping that it will last another year or so while I save up and gather parts for either a 5.3/6.0 4l60e swap.

Anyway my next project is to get this thing closer to the earth. (I'm tired of people telling me my 4x4 sits too low) So I've did a lot of research on how low i want it to be and how to get it there. I've measured the front and rear from ground to fender trim front is 30 11/16" and rear is 30 5/8". I then measured counted off 4.5" on the front and 4" on the rear. this should put me around 26 3/16" front and 26 1/8" rear. I cut a couple pieces of scrap ply wood that i had and put it up beside the truck to see where this would put the fenders. looks like it should tuck about a half inch of tire in the front and and be about even in the rear. My tires are 275/60r15's front and rear. I sure wish companies made parts and kits specific for the blazers.

After doing some research on here and reading WillowRun's build of his 2wd from last year, I think I have decided for the front to order McGaughy's 2.5" drop spindles for the front and possibly cut a coil and a half out of the front or order McGaughy's 2" drop coils. For the rear I think I have decided to order the McGaughy's 6" flip kit and then install the 4x4 rear leaf hangers to bring it back up, hopefully to where I need it. I'll probably also order the McGaughy's shackles just in case I need another inch or so (that's what she said lol). I'll also be ordering McGaughy's Model #1350 drop shocks for the front and possibly the 1850's for the rear (either these or some cheap air shocks trying to decide). Hopefully I can get to ordering this stuff on Friday.

Anyway sorry for typing a novel for my first post. If anyone has any input let me know. Here's some pics.

[PEDROSKI]

Sweet! I did the 2.5 spindle and 1.5 cut coils(3/4 ton coils) on the front for mine, rides good. For the rear I did a flip and Crown Suspension blazer specific bolt in cnotch. et me get to my phone and I'll post a picture of it if you'd like.

You have yourself a great start there! I love the blue/white combo

[phillipm]

Flip kit in the rear on the stock springs and hangers.

2.5" spindles and 2" springs in the front. Tires are 275 60's in the back and like a 245 in the front. Cannot remember the front exactly right now.

[Lsx32]

I'm afraid that if I just do a straight flip kit, it'll be too low in the back. It sits level as it is maybe a tad high in the front.

[PEDROSKI]

Here is mine with the intial drop. 2.5 spindle and 1 cut coil with a flip


I finally caught a good angle and noticed the rear sagging so i decided to cut another .5 coil.
Here you can see the difference

[Lsx32]

are the wheels the same size? The rear looks smaller. Probably an optical illusion. What flip is it? 5" or 6"?

[Lsx32]

The reason I ask is because in my research I've seen 5" flips (crown suspension) and 6' (McGaughy's).

[PEDROSKI]

Rear is a 5inch flip and 20x8 front and rear

[PEDROSKI]

On 15x6.5/15x10 rallies

[BaggedRanger]

Mine had spindles and cut coils not sure how much they were cut but even with the springs and a mini c notch I hit frame occasionally going through bumps.. It's now in the process of being bagged but here was what mine looked like with 20's (245/35 front 275/40 rear)

[Lsx32]

Pedroski, did the pumpkin hit with the rallies on it? Did you use a notch? I plan on running them for a while might go with 18" torque thrust or coys down the road.

[PEDROSKI]

Pumpkin hasnt hit anything.
I am usng the Crown Suspension cnotch.

[Lsx32]

When you have the rallies on there so did the tires rub?
Posted via Mobile Device

[PEDROSKI]

I had 215/70 up front on 6.5 rallies, no rubbing.
295/50 in rear with no rubbing

[68Timber]

You can always add the 4x4 hangers later if needed, you might not need it. Nice truck!

[Willowrun]

Originally Posted by 68Timber

You can always add the 4x4 hangers later if needed, you might not need it. Nice truck!

I agree.
Here's the clearance on mine from axle to frame with 4x4 hangers and the factory 1/2" block to lower it a little more.
Measure the space you have now axle to frame with the spring over set up and then see how much greater that is than the axle tube diameter. That will tell you feasibility of just doing the flip.

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by Willowrun

I agree.
Here's the clearance on mine from axle to frame with 4x4 hangers and the factory 1/2" block to lower it a little more.
Measure the space you have now axle to frame with the spring over set up and then see how much greater that is than the axle tube diameter. That will tell you feasibility of just doing the flip.

My truck came with those small blocks too. I sandblasted them and painted them and threw them in the parts drawer, just in case. Good to see I might actually need them someday.