Ice cream getter

[1949gmc]

Originally Posted by Longblock

I have an old Shriner car like that as well....

Me too. My dad bought it for me for my sixth birthday. My older brother has one as well.

[MT300RUM]

Just as i suspected! A 400 horse barn, Very nice, I also respect the Patriotism,
Keep up the good work

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Looking very nice...

[vtblazer]

Any updates here?

[SONOSADSACK]

Hey VT, nice to here from you. I haven’t spent much time here myself this summer, but your hiatus hasn’t gone unnoticed.

No real progress to speak of. Come to find out, these things don’t restore themselves no matter how long you leave them alone. Actually up until two weeks ago the family and I have been gone every weekend since Memorial Day. Without weekends, Blazer time is hard to come by. I did get the tub blasted and the floors, rockers and kick panels finished. Blasting uncovered some uglies on the right side and windshield frame. It looks like it may have come to an abrupt and unscheduled stop once upon a time. Most of the damage was up high but between the accident damage and the auxiliary fuel filler, the right qtr panel has been a real PITA.

[vtblazer]

Originally Posted by SONOSADSACK

Come to find out, these things don’t restore themselves no matter how long you leave them alone.

How true, I tried that approach too and found the same result.


Yours is lookin' good, are you going back to the same color green?
FWIW I thought it looked really good bright green.

[SeventyOne]

Originally Posted by SONOSADSACK

Hey VT, nice to here from you. I haven’t spent much time here myself this summer, but your hiatus hasn’t gone unnoticed.

No real progress to speak of. Come to find out, these things don’t restore themselves no matter how long you leave them alone. Actually up until two weeks ago the family and I have been gone every weekend since Memorial Day. Without weekends, Blazer time is hard to come by. I did get the tub blasted and the floors, rockers and kick panels finished. Blasting uncovered some uglies on the right side and windshield frame. It looks like it may have come to an abrupt and unscheduled stop once upon a time. Most of the damage was up high but between the accident damage and the auxiliary fuel filler, the right qtr panel has been a real PITA.

Do you use an engine hoist to lift the tub? Can you give some specs on how you do it?

[SONOSADSACK]

SeventyOne – I do. I was looking for a way to do the job by myself with things I already had. I used an aluminum rail, a couple of chains, c-clamps a couple of ratchet straps and a guess as to where the balance point might be. That was the first time. Lifting wasn’t a problem but balance was so I bought a cheap balancer from Harbor Freight. The straps stretched and the c-clamps where replaced with bolts. I plan on replacing the chains with something rigid but they work. Overall, it’s not great but it is effective.

[1ATony]

subscribin....nice project. I love those wheels.

[SONOSADSACK]

Thanks Tony

Green VT? Pics must be a little funked-up, that’s ocher. I can’t make up my mind. I would really like to go triple black with wood trim/accents. All depends on how happy I am with how the body work turns out. Also love medium olive green, hugger orange, lemans blue, and victory red. Haven’t ruled out ocher either. Shouldn’t this be the easy part?

[vtblazer]

Originally Posted by SONOSADSACK

Thanks Tony

Green VT? Pics must be a little funked-up, that’s ocher. I can’t make up my mind. I would really like to go triple black with wood trim/accents. All depends on how happy I am with how the body work turns out. Also love medium olive green, hugger orange, lemans blue, and victory red. Haven’t ruled out ocher either. Shouldn’t this be the easy part?

Sorry..., in post #25 on my screen it totally looks bright green.

Color choice was the biggest paine in the arse to choose for me on the several I've done so far, almost chickened out from going Hugger Orange on this one a few times too but I always wanted an orange one and finally stuck with it.

They look sweet black but it hides a lot of the body detail IMO.

Luck with the paint choice buddy, good luck...LOL

[SONOSADSACK]

35x12.50 tires on 15x12 wheels. The tread face on the tire measures 10". I will probably go a little wider next time but these will have to do for now.

[VA72C10]

Looks good! Glad you're still working on it!!!

[heeroyue2002]

thats alot of wires

[vtblazer]

Great to see this one making progress.


Body looks good!

[SONOSADSACK]

Another five months have clicked by with little to show but little is better than nothing right? Still mocking things up before another round of disassembly. Motor mounts are finished and after trying a couple sets of off the shelf headers and not being happy I had a pair custom made. It hurt a little, but I got just what I wanted.

[SONOSADSACK]

A little more progress…
My original engine/front light harness was really shot so I made one good harness using three junk harnesses. Really easy after figuring out how to remove the blades without destroying them.


Also put the left fender back on to make sure the location I choose to mount the ECM would work. That went well so I couldn’t resist hanging the right side. That didn’t go so well. Not happy with the gap at all. Two steps forward, one step back!
I put the tires and wheels back on just because…

[67-72trucks]

Nice!! Who made your motor mounts and cross member? I need a set made.

[SONOSADSACK]

69-72trucks
They were built around the motor in the truck. Take a look at the “1972 Highlander 6.0/4L80E/LoMax” build thread. He used a prefab mount setup from DIY that required minimal alterations. Good write with good pics too.
http://diy4x.com/cart/index.php?rout...&product_id=80

[VA72C10]

I know you're not happy with the gaps but it's looking good in pictures

[jaros44sr]

^^^I agree, looks perfect from here, gaps can be worked on later bfore paint

Did you polish the slots

Looks like a quality build so far

[SONOSADSACK]

Thanks for the good words.

I agree, the gaps can always be adjusted after paint but I’m planning to build the truck, tear it all the way down, add paint and bolt it all back together without any surprises. That’s the plan anyway. I worked in a body shop about fifteen years ago and recently ran into a friend of mine who is still there. He doesn’t work in the shop anymore but offered to help me out. Good people. They allowed me to come in on a Saturday when the shop is closed and use one of the racks. Never burn bridges. My friend actually did all of the real work, I just did the grunt stuff. Anyway, we found three body mounts had settled or tipped down along with the frame rail turning outward. The worst was the main support under the driver’s feet which had dropped by about a ½” and the front right frame rail was down about ½”. We also pulled the right side of the cowl ahead about ¼”. All of this gave me the gaps around the right door that I was looking for without shims and with all hinges and fender slots being on center. Now, if after paint I still want to make some small adjustments, there is room.

After a few tugs and getting really close

[SONOSADSACK]

jarros44sr I just seen your question about the slots. They are actually “new”. I found them on eBay. They are MT’s that were discontinued several years ago. Some guy in California had four 12” and one 10” and would not separate them. I keep checking every now and again to see if I can find anymore 10” to put another set together but no luck. If not it will make for a shiny hose hanger.

[SONOSADSACK]

Fall is here so it’s time to get back at it. I removed the Skyjacker leafs and replaced them with a set from Deaver. Rears are basically a bolt in but because of the additional length the fronts required a little more effort.

Fronts - Skyjacker vs. Deaver

Rears - Skyjacker vs. Deaver

[SONOSADSACK]

After another round of tear down I cut out a section of the fire wall and replaced it with the panel that came with a Vintage Air setup I picked up. I also had an opportunity to use a rotisserie. Not necessary but definitely makes things easier. I think this truck has had everything imaginable mounted under the dash at one time or another. Lots of holes to close up.





Kind of feels like I’m not getting anywhere…