"Well it's a 69,70,71,72,73 automobile" K5 build

[Jdubs71]

I have been a member for a few months now and thought that it might be a good time to start posting pics of the progress of my build. I waited a while to start posting pics because its been a very slow process. I have to go 6 months at a time before I can post pics so it looks like I have actually got something done. So I have had my 71 blazer for about four years now. It’s the second one I have owned, the first one was a 69 that I sold to put a down payment on a new truck

This blazer was actually a birthday present from my girlfriend who had no idea what she was getting herself into. I'm sure if she had to do it all over again she would have never bought it for me I bet the next time she surprises me with a truck it will be completely restored . We met a guy off craigslist to to look at something totally unrelated to the blazer. While talking with the guy he mentioned his brother, who lived across the road had a few 69-72 trucks which turned out to be about 30 trucks and one blazer. I made an offer on the blazer and he didn't take it. We left that day and I couldn't stop thinking about it.

About a month or so later I was surprised on my birthday with the same blazer I couldn't stop talking about. It ran, but had sat for years. I drove it home and it sat after that. It sat untouched for about three years so I thought it would be a good time to start polishing her up. I will post some pics of what it looked like when I first got it, and some of the progress I have made in the past year.

My plans at this point is to do a fame off restoration. I plan on doing a 5.3/4l60E swap and using the original np205 tc. I'm going to go with a 4" lift and 33" tires. My plan at the moment is to paint it yellow with a white top, its the girlfriend favorite color so I guess I owe it to her to let her be able to have a say so in the color, pus I like the look of canary yellow trucks.

Here is a few pics of it the day I was surprised with it on my birthday.


How do you like the tarp wrapping paper.

[Jdubs71]

A few more pics after I started getting some motivation to work on it









It's fairly clean, a little rust, but not bad. Holes were drilled all over the dash and on the bed rails. The wiring was a mess which is what gave me the motivation for tearing it down. It stopped running one day and wouldn't start. I figured it was as good as time as any.

[Jdubs71]

So I'm sure most of you will catch it immediately. One of the PO's thought it would be a good idea to cut a sun roof in the top. Apparently it was too much wind with the top off and not enough wind with the top on. It's a shame because it's a single wall top and in pretty good shape other than the large cut out. The rear hatch is trashed.

[Jdubs71]

I pulled the motor, trans and transfer case so that I could start getting everything rebuilt. Since the rust was very minimal I didn't have to replace any major body pieces. I can do the cutting and welding, but the bondo and painting I cannot do. I sent the blazer off to be painted and have all the fiber glass repaired on the top. At the same time I was going to find a frame and start putting axles and the suspension lift I wanted under it. When the body was done getting painted I was going to swap everything over to the frame I was working on. Luckily or at least that is what I initially thought, the painter had a bare frame sitting at his shop that he said he would have powder coated and thrown into the paint package deal I just had to pay for the powder coating. I waited....waited... checked up on the blazer about every three weeks or so and continued to wait. I still didn't have the frame yet so I was at a stand still for about 6 months. My blazer continued sitting untouched. I finally went in with my trailer and picked the blazer up. The body shop owner only gave part of my deposit back and made me pay for the frame which had been powder coated.

I took my blazer to a different body shop around February of this year and that's where it has been since, but it gets worked on occasionally. When the insurance jobs come in the blazer goes out. I figured it would give me time to get the rolling chassis put together with the lift I want.



Some before and after shots of the rear quarter panels




After, oh and I said good bye to the Cb antenna and the 1000 lb rear bumber.

[hilljob26]

lookin good.. im hopin to have a crossmember jigged up in a couple months...once i finally get one done that i like i will send you some pics

[Jdubs71]

So I started working on the frame which ended up being a polished dog turd. It looked nice because of the powder coating, but they powder coated over a homemade welded cross member and a few other po additions. The frame didn't have and rear spring hangers and on one side it looked like the hanger was pulled from the frame. I later noticed the frame was a little bent and the repair job was S@#t.

I hacked the homemade job off and took the frame to the repair shop

Before and after taking the frame to the local frame shop. Another $400 in expenses to straighten the frame. I couldn't find a frame locally for the life of me, but after It was out of the frame shop they were everywhere, go figure.

[Jdubs71]

Thanks Mike,
I should still need one by then not in a big hurry at the moment.

[Jdubs71]

So I got the frame back and started on my quest for spring hangers. Luckily for me the frame was a 70 and GM only made one hanger for that year. It was different from the 69 hanger and the 71,72 hangers. I found out the hard way and bought hangers that didn't work. Thanks to a member on the forum I found the hangers I needed after about 6 months of looking, and became an expert in 69-72 leaf spring hangers.

[Jdubs71]

I got a set of 73 axles cheap and decided I would go with them. I had to hack off the rear spring perches and shock mounts, but the front axle is a direct fit. I was going pretty good and then summer in the CA Central Valley came. there was a lot more down time because it was too hot to do anything. The powder coated frame set in the baking sun for about three months.




So about a month ago I decided I would bring the frame back into the garage and start putting the suspension lift I bought under it and clean up the axles.
The frame had set out for a few months so it was dirty. I used the marine clean that comes with POR-15 to clean the frame. I don't recommend cleaning a powder coated frame with it, it dulled the color almost instantly. Lesson learned.

I ended up just top coating the frame with the chassis coat black por-15. It actually turned out better than I thought it would. It levels out pretty nice. In other spots you can tell it's brushed on, but its not that bad.




I also got the front axle painted.

[Dale99]

Looks like it was in a lot better condition then the one I picked up.

Just remember nothing great was built over night. Take your time.

[Jdubs71]

Originally Posted by Dale99

Looks like it was in a lot better condition then the one I picked up.

Just remember nothing great was built over night. Take your time.

It was actually in decent shape. When the front fenders came off the fire wall looked like it had been involved in a crash at some point. The body guy said surprisingly someone did a decent job fixing it. I would have never known because the body lines all matched up pretty good.

I would say I'm definitely taking my time on it. I'm just now getting the thread up to where i'm at and its been almost a year. Its going slow.

[Jdubs71]

I decided I would spend a little $$ on the single wall top. I had a double wall also, but I liked the idea of the heavier less road noise single wall. I don't plan on ever taking it off once I'm done with my build. I honestly didn't think it would be possible to fix it, but I got in touch with a guy that has been working with fiberglass most of his life and trying to get by.

Here are some before and after shots of the top. It came out pretty nice except for that darn sag.










After






Sorry about the pics being different sizes

[Jdubs71]

More

[Dale99]

Looks good!

[gringoloco]

Nice work reviving this one! Keep it up

[Jdubs71]

Got a little more done the other day. Bolted up the front axle with the new lift springs.





When bolting the rear leaf spring hangers to the frame there was a little slop with 3/8" bolts so I drilled 7/16" holes in the hangers and frame and got them bolted up.



Got the new rear lift springs bolted up. The rear lift springs are actually 6" inch springs to take away the rear end sag from the weight of the top according to sky jacker. I didn't think the top weighed that much.

[David623]

Nice work on the frame and the fiberglass top. I too am putting a 1999 5.3 and a 4L60E transmission and using my NP 205 over again. I got my cross member and motor mounts from Pacific Fabrication and parts needed to convert the transmission and to fit the 205 transfer case from Advanced Adapters. I just got the transmission back and the new output shaft has been installed, the kit I got from Advance Adapter has two new casting parts to fit on the back of the transmission and and transfer case right now I am have a little issue to work out, but things are looking good.

[Jdubs71]

Nice. I still need to order that stuff. I have been holding out because I didnt want to drop $400 on a crossmember, but I mostlikely will since I have not been motivated to build one. That and I have a new baby so the ole blazer has been neglected and funds not as redily availible, although I just ordered an aluminum efi tank from fuelcellguy. As soon as that comes in I will probably plumb the fuel lines. Do you have a build thread? Let me know how the crossmember works out. Also if you dont mind can you send the dimensions to me in case I get motivated and build one.
Thanks, Justin
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[Jdubs71]

Ok so I was in the area of Pacific Fabrication today so I bit the bullet and picked up an LSx crossmember. I'm glad I went in when I did because Kevin ended up giving me a smokin deal on a custom made harness set up for electric fans with the fuse relays. Good guys there. Will post up some pics later tonight.
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[Jdubs71]

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[Jdubs71]

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