Making a Blazer cab/dash

[Jeff1971]

If you took a C-10 cab from a 69-72, could you cut off the extras, add a Blazer upper windshield repair set and end up with a usable cab/dash. I’ve looked at the Classic Heartbeat pics for their upper bow repair parts and it’s hard to tell if that’s the whole upper section or just repair patches. Looking at this because I’d like an AC cab with no hidden rust goobers.

There are a lot of cabs out there.

Jeff

[Blazerowner]

It’s been done with 76 up blazers, seems like it would work. I’ve owned both and they look pretty much the same other than the header.

[4x41971SWB]

PM sent

[Heydanl]

There is a difference between a pickup windshield frame and a Blazer/Jimmy windshield frame. There is an internal reinforcing brace at the bottom of the Blazer windshield pillar starting from about a third of the way up the pillar and extending down into the area where the top door hinge is bolted on. A regular pickup frame doesn't have this brace. I am building a Blazer and the windshield frame was rotten, so I did what you're thinking of. I had a parts pickup I pulled the pillars from and modified the top of the pillars to match the Blazer's (which I had cut apart). I drilled out all the spot welds on both sets, so I could blast the pickup pillars and discovered this internal brace. They weren't in bad shape, so I just cleaned them up and welded them into the pickup pillars. I am in the process of replacing the header with the kit you mentioned and yes, it is the complete upper bow. Hope this helps.

[Jeff1971]

Good info. Thanks

[YoungPup1977]

I have taken a 72 c10 cab that was all rusted out in the floor and made it for a 72 blazer Its not that hard to do. Took the roof off and the floor on c10 and also added a AC dash to boot. welded in the top windshield frame. Seems that the only thing on the blazer that the aftermarket has not reproduced yet.....both front and cargo floors are now available, stepdown plate, rear bedsides, wheel houses, doors, even the tow hooks ....all available.

[69-72]

Yes it is possible. That’s what I did to make mine. I’m not sure I understand what sure Heydanl is referring to about extra bracing, I’ve never seen that on any of the blazer windshield frames I’ve taken apart.

A word of caution on the repro upper inner ws piece, do not rely on the visor mount or any of the weatherstripping mounts or visor hook holes. They were significantly off on the one I got, the visor would have been hanging sideways had I used the holes it came with and the visors didn’t even reach the hook mounts.

[Heydanl]

Yes it is possible. That’s what I did to make mine. I’m not sure I understand what sure Heydanl is referring to about extra bracing, I’ve never seen that on any of the blazer windshield frames I’ve taken apart.


I'm screwing this up, the above text was supposed to be in a quote box. Anyway, this is the brace I was referring to. It actually incorporates one of the bolting points for the front fender. Mine is a 72, if you've never seen it before, maybe it's a factory upgrade for the last year? I know it was factory, it had the typical spot weld dimples on the pillar exterior, but you've got to really look to see them.

[CG]

So maybe Im not understanding ... You can start with lets say a long box C10 of whatever year you like, and they make enough aftermarket parts that you can use a portion of the C10 cab, shorten up the frame, and build an entire blazer?

Im wondering (if this is correct) why this isn't being done all the time. Especially considering how much a roached out blazer is going for these days.

[BIG ORANGE]

I had to do the very same thing with my blazer, yeap brace it up real good and take a lot of measurements too. make sure its square....

[69-72]

Originally Posted by CG

So maybe Im not understanding ... You can start with lets say a long box C10 of whatever year you like, and they make enough aftermarket parts that you can use a portion of the C10 cab, shorten up the frame, and build an entire blazer?

Im wondering (if this is correct) why this isn't being done all the time. Especially considering how much a roached out blazer is going for these days.

No it’s more for people trying to fix a badly rusted Blazer. There are so many Blazer unique parts that you would pretty much need one to start with

[lks dcvn]

- the only part that is really needed from a Blazer that isn't reproduced now is a good windshield header.

You would still need a blazer donor for the unique parts.

I will say that there is an increasing list of Blazer parts being produced now. I think I have purchased one of each of them now based on my 2wd Blazer build.

[hemi43]

Originally Posted by 69-72

There are so many Blazer unique parts that you would pretty much need one to start with

Let's hope it stays that way for a long time. I for one don't really want to see the market flooded with aftermarket Blazer bodies, or fake Blazers made from pickups running around. I don't want our trucks to follow what has happened to the first generation Bronco. There was no less than 40 Broncos at last year's SEMA show, and 95% were Chinese made bodies. YUK !!

[4x41971SWB]

Well sorry to say it is coming. I spoke with a guy who reproduces ford and GM bodies.
He is GM authorized and has been given the green light from GM to reproduce full Blazer bodies.
They will be out within a few years or less.
He is in the beginning stages now of building jigs and tooling up.
He also has plans to reproduce single wall tops.

[hemi43]

Originally Posted by 4x41971SWB

Well sorry to say it is coming. I spoke with a guy who reproduces ford and GM bodies.
He is GM authorized and has been given the green light from GM to reproduce full Blazer bodies.
They will be out within a few years or less.
He is in the beginning stages now of building jigs and tooling up.
He also has plans to reproduce single wall tops.

There goes the value of our trucks !!

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by hemi43

There goes the value of our trucks !!

I don't know, the original VIN is where the value is. The 69 Camaro's have had complete bodies out there available and they are still big $...