Black Hills blazer build

[turp mcspray]

I am going with a 454/400/205 combo. Here are some mock up pics. I wanted to keep the large truck pan so I modified the stock crossmember with a spare that I had. I went this route instead of making one from scratch with tubing so it will still look stock to the casual observer. I ended up dropping the center by two inches.

[turp mcspray]

I moved the crossmember ahead two inches. I then moved the trans/transfer case back one inch. The 400/205 adapter is one inch longer than the 350/205 adapter.So by doing it this way it put the transfer case stick in the same location as it was stock with the 350/350/205. The fan fit perfectly inside the 2wd bb shroud. Half in half out.

[70gmcjimmy]

Cool pics, Scott! Even tho I saw the truck in person, the crossmember pics definitely clarify what you had to go thru to use that bigger pan and to keep from messaging the firewall. Nice work!

Later---DAC

[turp mcspray]

swyfor5, here are a few shop pics.

[Mint68]

Sorry to say, I looked at the photos and those are actually buss hooks. I happen to have a bus missing the hooks, so if you wanna just ship em out....

Sweet blazer, and its a good looking shop also.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Welcome to the board looks like ya do some pretty sweet rides..

[turp mcspray]

Here's whats been happening in the last month.
I pulled the 454 out of my donor truck. It had been rebuilt but I HAD to open it up for a look. Zero ridge and very obvious hone marks. They also used a double roller chain and had it balanced as well. The guy that had it supposedly spent a buch of money on it. Maybe he did. As I suspected...flat tops. YUCK!! Those will have to go! No 8 to 1 compression for me!LOL!
I thought I was ready to pull the body off the frame but decided that the first time I get a dent in my new GM rockers, I am going to be PO d! So I built some rock sliders. Also figured I would mount my cage now as well.

[turp mcspray]

Here's a few pics with cage in blazer.

[turp mcspray]

Here's a couple with the top on.
Hopefully this weekend the body will come off the frame!

[swyfor5]

Turp, sorry for slacking on reply's. Nice shop setup! Maybe you've seen my threads on the bumper lately, kinda taking up all my spare time here. Getting close to the end of my custom bumper journey! This is the best forum on the web for 1st gens I have ever found, great bunch of guy's here! Keep the pic's coming! I dream of setting up my barn/shop for resto work and look forward to more pic's of how some of you guy's are already "doing" it!

[vtblazer]

Great progress report!

Will the cage be tied into the frame or bolted to the tub for the final install?

How'd you build/mount the rock sliders? Any better pics of em?

[Yukon Jack]

Good job modifying your engine crossmember - I went that route also to get the necessary clearance. Your pics are great and one of them nicely shows the driver side firewall issue and how that can be addressed by moving the motor forward.

You're doing a great job and I will enjoy watching your project progress!

[turp mcspray]

Originally Posted by vtblazer

Great progress report!

Will the cage be tied into the frame or bolted to the tub for the final install?

How'd you build/mount the rock sliders? Any better pics of em?

When I had the cage in my orange blazer it was just bolted with 6"x6" plates on the bottom. After a summer of hard wheeling in the rocks with no top, my rear body body brace/u channel (below the tailgate) was bent downwards outside the framerails. Presumably from climbing rocks and putting downward pressure on the rear cage legs. When I put the top back on it would not seal towards the back of the bedsides. There was about 3/8" of daylight between the top and the bedsides! I'm not going to "wheel" it like did the other one, but plan to attach it to the frame. I will post pics of what I came up with.
I will also post some good pics of the sliders and how they are mounted as well.

[swyfor5]

Awesome, looking forward to what you come up with here! Looking at going at these same areas on my build soon, thank's.

[turp mcspray]

Here are some pics of my "rocker savers".
I mounted it to the frame at the body mount locations thinking that would be the strongest point. The outer rear tab will mount to the outer most rocker end cap bolt. A very strong location as well. For the front tab I will weld a piece of flat stock with a nut welded to it inside of the rocker box.
Hopefully these will work for that ocassional rock or log that that I drive over against my better judgement.LOL!

[turp mcspray]

Here are a few more.

[turp mcspray]

....and a couple more.

[turp mcspray]

Here's what I got done last weekend.
Finally got the body off the frame!

[turp mcspray]

I needed something for a body cart. I forgot that I had a frame from a rusty blazer that I parted out long ago. I figured it would make an excellent body cart! I wasn't sure if it would be stable enough with the wheels so close together. Once the body was on the frame I decided to ad some pipe to to move the wheels further out for more stability. I left the front clip,doors,tailgate,top,and cage installed for easier storage while I work on the chassis. It is pretty heavy with everything still attached!

[turp mcspray]

Here are a couple of pics after I rolled it outside. My outdoor storage lot is gravel so I needed pneumatic casters to be able to roll it in there.
Next I will focus on the chassis and drivetrain.

[BobbyK]

I think you might have started a new trend with that tire /rim combo.

[70gmcjimmy]

Originally Posted by BobbyK

I think you might have started a new trend with that tire /rim combo.

LOL- I can see Foose havin' to cut 8, 6 and maybe even 4 inch wheels for this new trend that Turp started!

Dang Scott, you are as productive as they come, Man. Nice innovation on the cart and sliders.

Later---DAC

[turp mcspray]

Here's my daily driver. As soon as my clone gets off his dead ass I want to satin black it, with a candy red over flake top. If I didn't have to sleep I could get something done!

[turp mcspray]

Finally making progress on the Blazer again. I am currently getting everything mocked up, as far as the chassis goes. I installed my springs,axles,shocks,etc. Got my 73 up gas tank and skid plate installed.
I've got the exhaust almost finished. I haven't decided where the tailpipes will exit yet.

[turp mcspray]

Finally making some progress again. Right now I am trying to get everything to do with the chassis mocked up.
I got the axles,springs,etc. installed. I have most of the exhaust figured out. I'm not sure yet where the tailpipes will exit.