Yet another LONG build thread
- Thread starter BCGPER
- Start date
Tacoma
Et incurventur ante non
- Location
- far enough away
It looks GREAT so far!
and I agree on the color, looks awesome.
and I agree on the color, looks awesome.
BCGPER
Starting Another Thread
- Location
- Sunny Arizona
Actually, I'm not at all fond of green. In fact, I rather hate it. The main reason it's staying green is the the 37 year old writing on the firewall from the assembly line is in excellent shape. I figured I'd save that little bit of history on it, since most of the rest of the truck, the way it was delivered from the factory, will no longer exist.
BCGPER
Starting Another Thread
- Location
- Sunny Arizona
Well, I lied. Since I didn't have much going on tonight, and the weather refuses to straighten up, I decided to pull the beast into the garage and do a little tinkering.
Popped off the passenger door, and started chopping up on the body. Much to my surprize, the old gal doesn't look too shabby underneath. Cut off the rocker panel. Floor and inner rocker box have some rust, but are easily salvageable. Fitted new (made in Tiwan) rocker and was totally shocked how well it fit right out of the box. Both front inner fenders and rockers are after market, so I was worried about the fitment. Both have gone together as good as GM parts.
Oh, and Shawn, it's not attention to detail. It's OCD....
(The tires in the pics are the ones we were talking about)
Popped off the passenger door, and started chopping up on the body. Much to my surprize, the old gal doesn't look too shabby underneath. Cut off the rocker panel. Floor and inner rocker box have some rust, but are easily salvageable. Fitted new (made in Tiwan) rocker and was totally shocked how well it fit right out of the box. Both front inner fenders and rockers are after market, so I was worried about the fitment. Both have gone together as good as GM parts.
Oh, and Shawn, it's not attention to detail. It's OCD....
(The tires in the pics are the ones we were talking about)
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OCD,,,,,?Oh, and Shawn, it's not attention to detail. It's OCD....
(The tires in the pics are the ones we were talking about)
I'm waiting for the go ahead to come get them...
BCGPER
Starting Another Thread
- Location
- Sunny Arizona
Well, as promised, it will be a LONG build. The weather is turning nice, so other priorities (playing) are taking up most of my time. The passenger side of the Blazer is pretty much done.
The import sheet metal parts I've been using have been very hit and miss. The more complicated parts such as rockers and "A" pillars that I worried about, fit like a glove. The dumb parts, like basic patch panels, I've had to beat the crap out of to get to fit right. The couple high dollar NOS parts I've installed have probably been the worse. Who would have thought, things like the radiator support, which I went NOS because it aligns the entire front end, would have come from GM in several different flavors? After a couple hours of test fitting, cutting, welding, ect, the NOS parts fit!
So, I've been mostly collecting parts. The replica upholstery, complete with seat heaters (that was "her" one wish) arrived today. Some big brown truck has been stopping a couple times a week here. All sheet metal is here now, along with most of the small parts to make it a driver. I just happened to be in the garage with the door opened tonight. The UPS driver said "damn, no wonder my back aches, I've been delivering a K5 here!" Carl Plus from Teraflexplus hook me up with the 4" lift so I can fit the 35's under it. Who would have thought Tera dealt with rusty old Chevy stuff?
If you're looking for tech, you wont see much here and there wont be in the future. This is just a simple restoration on a mall cruiser. It's been a lot of years since I've done a lot of sheet metal work. I quickly realized that I was fitting my patch panels up too tight, so I couldn't get a nice smooth weld on them without tons of warping. I ended up opening up most of my seams with a die grinder and cut-off wheel to get a little area for a decent weld to penetrate at a cooler temperature. Once I did that, this patching stuff is a walk in the park. It's been the stipid little door dings and what not that take some time. But what the hey, I'm having fun anyway.
I won't be shy about the cost either, since that never seems to come up in these builds. I paid $2900 for the truck to start, which I think wasn't bad considering, but no steal. As of now, the total just topped $5000, and it's nowhere near leaving the garage yet. I have high hopes of completing it for under $10K, but I'm a very optimistic person. Only time will tell.
The import sheet metal parts I've been using have been very hit and miss. The more complicated parts such as rockers and "A" pillars that I worried about, fit like a glove. The dumb parts, like basic patch panels, I've had to beat the crap out of to get to fit right. The couple high dollar NOS parts I've installed have probably been the worse. Who would have thought, things like the radiator support, which I went NOS because it aligns the entire front end, would have come from GM in several different flavors? After a couple hours of test fitting, cutting, welding, ect, the NOS parts fit!
So, I've been mostly collecting parts. The replica upholstery, complete with seat heaters (that was "her" one wish) arrived today. Some big brown truck has been stopping a couple times a week here. All sheet metal is here now, along with most of the small parts to make it a driver. I just happened to be in the garage with the door opened tonight. The UPS driver said "damn, no wonder my back aches, I've been delivering a K5 here!" Carl Plus from Teraflexplus hook me up with the 4" lift so I can fit the 35's under it. Who would have thought Tera dealt with rusty old Chevy stuff?
If you're looking for tech, you wont see much here and there wont be in the future. This is just a simple restoration on a mall cruiser. It's been a lot of years since I've done a lot of sheet metal work. I quickly realized that I was fitting my patch panels up too tight, so I couldn't get a nice smooth weld on them without tons of warping. I ended up opening up most of my seams with a die grinder and cut-off wheel to get a little area for a decent weld to penetrate at a cooler temperature. Once I did that, this patching stuff is a walk in the park. It's been the stipid little door dings and what not that take some time. But what the hey, I'm having fun anyway.
I won't be shy about the cost either, since that never seems to come up in these builds. I paid $2900 for the truck to start, which I think wasn't bad considering, but no steal. As of now, the total just topped $5000, and it's nowhere near leaving the garage yet. I have high hopes of completing it for under $10K, but I'm a very optimistic person. Only time will tell.
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bumpitorcrawlit
New Member
Looking good
I will be watching this one. I love that model year truck. looking forward to seeing more pics.
I will be watching this one. I love that model year truck. looking forward to seeing more pics.
Maverick
old-school
- Location
- Anywhere, thanks to my geeky droid
I absolutely LOVE that year Blazer. All time fave!!! Wanted one so bad when I bought my '74 but couldn't afford any I found. Will enjoy this build, and will try and figure out a way to have one someday (in my vehicle bucket list, so to speak)
Brett
Brett
Tacoma
Et incurventur ante non
- Location
- far enough away
I'm stoked to see this. You feel like posting boring pics of patch panel fit-up, you go ahead. And props for not being a p*ssy about prices either. No one here should be under the illusion that things are free LOL
The first-gen K5 is one of those classics vehicles that I can't help but love. Yours is coming out great so far.
And props for not being a p*ssy about prices either. No one here should be under the illusion that things are free LOL The first-gen K5 is one of those classics vehicles that I can't help but love. Yours is coming out great so far.
BCGPER
Starting Another Thread
- Location
- Sunny Arizona
Glad you're enjoying my misery.......
Hey, since you're the Chebby parts king of Toolee county, would you happen to have an early 80's bed floating around? I hate the filler neck protruding out the side on Blazers. And I don't understand why people don't cure that when they fix them up? Maybe it's tougher than I think to pull off, but I guess time will tell.
Anyways, I'm looking for a drivers side fuel door, filler neck, and a few inches of sheet metal surrounding it, to cure that ugly filler neck issue. Just from eyeballing cars on the road, I think a Jeep XJ might be the best fit for what I want to try. But, if I can make a Chevy part work, I'd rather do that. I know, kinda anal, but I'd like to keep it as GM as possible.
Hey, since you're the Chebby parts king of Toolee county, would you happen to have an early 80's bed floating around? I hate the filler neck protruding out the side on Blazers. And I don't understand why people don't cure that when they fix them up? Maybe it's tougher than I think to pull off, but I guess time will tell.
Anyways, I'm looking for a drivers side fuel door, filler neck, and a few inches of sheet metal surrounding it, to cure that ugly filler neck issue. Just from eyeballing cars on the road, I think a Jeep XJ might be the best fit for what I want to try. But, if I can make a Chevy part work, I'd rather do that. I know, kinda anal, but I'd like to keep it as GM as possible.
I'm stoked to see this. You feel like posting boring pics of patch panel fit-up, you go ahead.
The first-gen K5 is one of those classics vehicles that I can't help but love. Yours is coming out great so far.
Tacoma
Et incurventur ante non
- Location
- far enough away
I might just... I'm going to be adding a tank to teh K30 and I can't remember if I hacked some chunks out or what yet... I'll check.
BCGPER
Starting Another Thread
- Location
- Sunny Arizona
Figured it's been a while, so I'd chime in. Not much has changed, other than the total cost. I'm up to around $7400 right now, and I still can't drive it! Body is now rust free, yippee!! Just starting on some mechanical items, braking, lift, ect...
Wow, looking at the pics, I guess things have changed a little.
Just starting on some mechanical items, braking, lift, ect...Wow, looking at the pics, I guess things have changed a little.
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BCGPER
Starting Another Thread
- Location
- Sunny Arizona
And, things the way they sit tonight...
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- Location
- West Jordan
Looking very very nice!
BCGPER
Starting Another Thread
- Location
- Sunny Arizona
Well, I guess one bright side to this crappy weather is I'm stuck in the garage. So, I'v gotten further that I had planned. It's pretty much a driver now, except for a couple back ordered parts.
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BCGPER
Starting Another Thread
- Location
- Sunny Arizona
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