Ratchet's Blazer - 1970 2wd with Original paint

[smbrouss70]

Thanks Doug, I think these are the only full-length SBC headers that don't hang way below the frame and still allow you to keep your mechanical clutch linkage.

Looks like I'll be picking up my back seat while y'all are having the Wire & Fire party (still wish I could make it). I got this picture in a text today. I'll FINALLY have a matching back seat! Plus it'll have room for bigger tubs. Now when a buddy's son and his girlfriend have to drive me home after drinking too much, I won't have to sit on the floor of my own Blazer.

[lks dcvn]

Looks great!

[gringoloco]

Very nice. What’s the plan for the tubs?

[smbrouss70]

Cut = Custom!

I'm picking up the seat this weekend, and I have multiple sets of tubs laying around. I'll take 2 sets and make one set approx. 1.5" wider than stock. I wanted to wait until the seat was back and mounted so that I can get an accurate measurement on how wide I can go. I'd be really embarrassed if I widened the tubs and then they didn't fit with the seat in there.

Once they are done, I know a painter that can make them match.

[youngrodder]

I did similar modifications to my 48 Suburban. I widened the wheel tubs and I raised them a couple inches to allow me to layout on 22's. This also effected the placement of my 3rd row seat. I did something very similar to yours. I took 2 3/4" out of the center and cut the seat springs to match. It was a lot of work. I love the look of your blazer, from the wheels to the stance and everything...Looks great man.

Marc

[smbrouss70]

Thanks Marc! I've been following your build also since an AD burb is on my short list of vehicles to own.

[smbrouss70]

For those of you that haven't voted yet for TOTM, this month's theme is for Blazers. There are a ton of really nice Blazers in there, so go pick your favorite and vote!

I'm not saying for you to vote for my Blazer, but if it is your favorite, then by all means!

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=780101

[smbrouss70]

It's been a while since I have worked on the Blazer, but today I got my filler plates from Full Custom Fab. They are real nice pieces. They are thick metal and were packed extremely well to avoid shipping damage. Now, I just need to get them painted and installed.

[gringoloco]

Those do look nice, wish I’d thought of it. This firewall has really slowed me down...

[GAc10boy]

Originally Posted by smbrouss70

It's been a while since I have worked on the Blazer, but today I got my filler plates from Full Custom Fab. They are real nice pieces. They are thick metal and were packed extremely well to avoid shipping damage. Now, I just need to get them painted and installed.

Those look awesome! Zac at FCF does a killer job. Just installed his seat lowering brackets in my ‘68 shorty.
Posted via Mobile Device

[smbrouss70]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Those do look nice, wish I’d thought of it. This firewall has really slowed me down...

Yeah well, I wish I had thought of what you did to the valve covers...

Originally Posted by GAc10boy

Those look awesome! Zac at FCF does a killer job. Just installed his seat lowering brackets in my ‘68 shorty.

Those look good too. I would have ordered those, but I have buckets.

[GAc10boy]

After looking for specs on your wheel set-up, I went back and got caught up on everything you're doing to the blazer. Man, it's so sweet! Can't wait to see it in person in the future. I'm going to do a better job of staying plugged in on it. Keep bringing the updates!

[smbrouss70]

Come out and do the HRPT with us again this year. It WILL make it this time!

Did you find what you were looking for? If not, just ask...

[gringoloco]

Is the SM465 going back in?

[smbrouss70]

If I have time before HRPT, yes. Although my wife and friends are trying to get me to leave it as it is until I can get the TKO. I am focusing on getting my first home-built exhaust done and A/C before anything else though. The A/C has taken a nasty turn since I decided that I don't want hoses coming out of the firewall anymore... I can't seem to do anything the easy way.

[smbrouss70]

OK, I have hit an impasse and I need your opinion as to which way I should proceed.

My original intention was to pull the old cable style Vintage Air setup out of my other truck and use the firewall plates that I ordered and a bulkhead to get the lines out of the firewall, similar to the first picture and run the heater and A/C lines over the inner fender to hide them as much as possible, but you would still see the lines at the firewall. The problem that I found was that the A/C lines coming off of the unit ended right at the firewall (hence the ugly plastic plate that came with that kit) and I couldn't turn the lines inside of the firewall to be able to run over to the bulkhead on the side.

Friday, I ordered a new Vintage Air evaporator kit because it would allow me to easily run the lines to the bulkhead. Now that everything has come in, I found a couple of pictures from a truck for sale on eBay which has gotten my wheels turning. They used a modified factory heater box on the firewall and ran the A/C lines out of it. I remember that N2Billet did something a little more modified, but he said it was a pain in the @ss to do it.

Now I'm thinking that I could gut the factory heater box, and use it to hide the A/C lines of the old style unit. I could leave the blower motor but pull the squirrel cage so that the A/C lines could run to the side and still pass them over the inner fender, but have the heater lines come out of the stock location on the box. It would keep more of a stock heater truck appearance under the hood, but still give me the much needed A/C. The A/C lines would be hidden more with this option at the firewall. I could also send the new unit back to Summit and only lose the return shipping.

So which way would you go?

[Palf70Step]

I have seen others do it that way Steven and it does look clean. Personnaly I like the look of that big honk'n AC out of there. It just intrudes so much into the engine compartment.

[gringoloco]

I had also thought about modding the heater box, similar to what you’re thinking. I abandoned the idea knowing my Hill’s inners will interfere. All that said, I Like the plates and bulkhead idea, but instead of over the inner, run the hoses down low, next to the inner, in-line with the framerail.

What evaporator kit did you order?

[smbrouss70]

I bought the Vintage Air Sure-fit evaporator kit for a heater cab with A/C controls Pt# 751171. That setup has hard lines to get the connections to the firewall, like shown below. If I leave those hard lines out, I can run hoses wherever I want them to go.

[Advanced Design]

The modified factory box looks better than the block off plates. Between those two, I vote for the modified factory box, especially if it goes with the rest of the theme of your engine compartment.

[smbrouss70]

I still can't decide which way I want to go yet, but I did mock up the plate for the bulkhead since I was a little worried that it wouldn't fit in the area that I wanted it to go. Just in case anybody else is wanting to do something like this, Vintage air PT# 389601 (Black) or PT# 388600-MBA (Polished) fits in that area like it was made for a 67-72 Chevy truck!

[smbrouss70]

Got my new bracket in today!

I bet you're wondering what it is, huh? It's a new bracket from Full Custom Fabrication (the same guy that made the firewall plates) to mount the new style Vintage Air without having to put bolts through the firewall. The 2 holes below the FCF logo will bolt through the top of the toe board.

I have also decided to go ahead and run the plates after fighting to get around the heater box to change out headers. It'll just make my life a lot easier even though it won't look quite stock.

[smbrouss70]

After ordering custom axles from a supposedly reputable company and only putting 798 miles on them, you pull an axle because a wheel seal was leaking and you find this! Now I need to pull the other axle to make sure it isn't screwed up too.

YES, I'M PISSED!

At least now I know what the noise from the rearend was... Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the Blazer is going to make it to my buddy's show next weekend.

[Palf70Step]

Sorry to see that

[gringoloco]

I thought of you when I saw that bracket on IG. Shoulda tagged you, glad you found it. I’m liking this direction.

Are the axles from Moser? Will they make good on it?