The Great Critter Revival ‘09

[jojo]

shop's looking good!

[mcbassin]

Glad to see the shop coming together! Awesome!

[Critter]

Thanks guys, I am not the fastest person around when it comes to projects like this, but it's slowly coming together. My plans are to get the roof on by this weekend. Then I get to begin putting up the side walls.

[JHT67]

The wheels pictured on your Blazer, what are they called? I had a set, but the truck sat too long and the tires became dry rotted, so we swapped them out. My dad had the tires in his back yard, in front of his garage, with a dog(sometimes two), and some jerk still got away with 4 tires and wheels (ruining two sets), so he scrapped them all. Long story short, I'd like to find another set someday.

[Critter]

I think they are called "turbines", at least thats what I have heard them called. I think they are very cool in a retro way, honestly, if I could find a way to polish them and make them shiny I would probably keep them on my rig. Unfortunately as far as I know, magnesium will always look dull like that. Mine aren't perfect, a few dings and dents here and there, but if I am every ready to get rid of them I will let you know.

[JHT67]

Sounds cool man ,thanks. "Turbines" makes since, still don't think I would've figured it out on my own though.,

[Critter]

Hopefully some of y'all LSX gurus will jump in on this...I have a lead on a 4L70e just down the road from me for a reasonable price. It is pulled out of a wrecked Vortec Max with about 20,000 miles so other than a rear shaft swap, I don't think I would have to put a bunch of new parts in it. My understanding is that a 4L70e is just one step higher in the 4L60e/4L65e progression but I'm no expert. I know the case is virtually identical, but are there any additional sensors etc that would give me grief? As far as I can tell they simply have even beefier components compared to the 60 and 65 so in my book it is a no brainer to go with the 70 keeping in mind the last couple of pages on this thread. Can anybody give me a reason otherwise??? Thealien, Wasted Income y'all feel free to jump in with your opinions on this one.

Also, my shop is in the progress of being enclosed, the roof is on and the sides are going up...only time will tell how good of a carpenter I am!

[Critter]

Oooohhh...just read about the 4L70E has a "input speed sensor". Maybe I want to steer clear of this due to computer gremlins.

[mosesburb]

Originally Posted by Critter

Also, my shop is in the progress of being enclosed, the roof is on and the sides are going up...only time will tell how good of a carpenter I am!

Well, since there are no updates on the truck, how about some pics of the building?? Gotta keep the masses entertained you know....

[Thealien]

I would contact finish line transmission or I believe there are a couple of board members who could help. I am unsure if you can use the 70?

[Critter]

Originally Posted by mosesburb

Well, since there are no updates on the truck, how about some pics of the building?? Gotta keep the masses entertained you know....

Let me get a little more work done, don't want to be too anticlamatic with the pictures.

Originally Posted by Thealien

I would contact finish line transmission or I believe there are a couple of board members who could help. I am unsure if you can use the 70?

I've been doing what research I can, and I think I am going to stay away from it because of the speed input sensor. I'm sure the right person could tune/wire my computer for it or take it out of the equation all together, but it might be more trouble than its worth. Maybe I will just go back to my search for a good 4L65e.

[Critter]

Well here is a little teaser pic from my cell phone. I obviously have more work to do then its on to enclosing with some sort of board that will accept stucco on the outside (going with stucco to match my house). It looks a little low profile in the pic on that lowest side but I still have a full 8' of clearance and a little over 11' on the high side. I plan to line that lowest side with work benches. I would have preferred more clearance of course but I am coming off the back eave of my existing car port so that was what I had to work with.

I don't build much out of wood so this is a big new experience for me, that's why its structurally metal. Oh yeah, if you see something that looks dumb or wrong please don't say anything. Just laugh to yourself and don't post anything, I don't feel like tearing it apart and starting over.

[MrBeast]

Critter, glad to see you are getting your shop put together. I went through the same thing, about a month and a half after I saw you and Jtrux up at rudy's there I got laid off and it has been a tough couple of years after that.

Looks like you are going to have a damn nice blazer when you are done.

[Jtrux]

Originally Posted by MrBeast

Critter, glad to see you are getting your shop put together. I went through the same thing, about a month and a half after I saw you and Jtrux up at rudy's there I got laid off and it has been a tough couple of years after that.

Looks like you are going to have a damn nice blazer when you are done.

I was in Corpus a few weeks back running the Beach to Bay relay marathon, I shoulda got ahold of you. I'll be back soon though.

[MrBeast]

Originally Posted by Jtrux

I was in Corpus a few weeks back running the Beach to Bay relay marathon, I shoulda got ahold of you. I'll be back soon though.

Damn, I am right by downtown now too, I have a shop that is just off of exit 1 on I-37, let me know the next time you are down.

[mcbassin]

The shop is looking great! I bet you can't wait to get that thing finished! I can remember being at that point, it seemed like I would never get done. By the way it sucks setting 30 foot trusses by yourself.

[Critter]

Shops getting close. I have the stud walls in place but now its time for sheathing and I am a little lost/overwhelmed with all the choices. If any of y'all guys are familiar with Stucco, get in touch with me, I have questions!

[Critter]

There has been a development. The last major decision to make for this thing is the transmission. Months ago I decided to use a 4L65e as you can see in the previous posts. A few weeks ago I thought maybe I would just deal with the extra length and go with a 4L80e due to the extra strength and the fact that my computer was already set up for an 80e. Well just in the last few days I was going on and on about how much I liked NV4500s in trucks and how standard transmissions are my favorite and blah, blah, blah and my wife and Jtrux at about the same time said, "Why don't you put one in your blazer". Up until that point I had honestly never really considered it beings mine came with an auto along with a factory tilt column, I always just planned on keeping it an auto. However, I want to build this thing EXACTLY how I want it and NEVER sell it, so maybe I should convert it. It makes sense as far as overall drive train length is concerned, it will be a little simpler when it comes to the computer harness, I LOVE NV4500s, and I was trying to incorporate a trans temp gauge into my cluster if I had an auto so now I wouldn't need that.

On the flip side, I will need to gather an LSX bell housing and transmission, a clutch pedal assembly, an hydraulic clutch setup not to mention convert my tilt to a non-auto. The Advanced adapter kit to mate any of the three transmissions to my np205 is about the same price so that issue is a wash.

I'm kind of just talking out loud, aka brainstorming so if someone feels like offering their opinion on any of this please speak up.

[Jtrux]

Originally Posted by Critter

There has been a development. The last major decision to make for this thing is the transmission. Months ago I decided to use a 4L65e as you can see in the previous posts. A few weeks ago I thought maybe I would just deal with the extra length and go with a 4L80e due to the extra strength and the fact that my computer was already set up for an 80e. Well just in the last few days I was going on and on about how much I liked NV4500s in trucks and how standard transmissions are my favorite and blah, blah, blah and my wife and Jtrux at about the same time said, "Why don't you put one in your blazer". Up until that point I had honestly never really considered it beings mine came with an auto along with a factory tilt column, I always just planned on keeping it an auto. However, I want to build this thing EXACTLY how I want it and NEVER sell it, so maybe I should convert it. It makes sense as far as overall drive train length is concerned, it will be a little simpler when it comes to the computer harness, I LOVE NV4500s, and I was trying to incorporate a trans temp gauge into my cluster if I had an auto so now I wouldn't need that.

On the flip side, I will need to gather an LSX bell housing and transmission, a clutch pedal assembly, an hydraulic clutch setup not to mention convert my tilt to a non-auto. The Advanced adapter kit to mate any of the three transmissions to my np205 is about the same price so that issue is a wash.

I'm kind of just talking out loud, aka brainstorming so if someone feels like offering their opinion on any of this please speak up.

Thataboy!!

[dfwright]

subscribing

[Critter]

Well beings I have a new subsciber I guess I can post a few parts pics. I pulled the trigger on an NV4500, you can get most of the story here. One reason I really wanted this one is it is honestly the first LS style bellhousing I have seen for one of these things. I know it's not a big deal to use a standard "old style" nv4500 bellhousing, but I like the idea of having the top bolt hole and knowing that it would work with my 6.0. PLUS it came with the flywheel and complete hydraulic clutch setup that I can reuse!

The NP241 will be on the for sale forum pretty soon to help pay for the Advanced Adapter adapter that I still need to purchase.

Also my shop is coming along slowly but...well mainly just slowly. I have the stud walls up and just waiting for a little help to enclose it.

[jojo]

Lookin good Critter!

[dfwright]

So there are other people from San Antonio, you just all hang out on the Blazer boards, eh?

[jojo]

Well.. you know we san antonio folk gotta stick together!

anyways I'm still waiting for somebody to schedule a meet for all us chevy truck dudes.

I'd show up, I just ain't smart enough to get something like that organized!

[Critter]

Originally Posted by dfwright

So there are other people from San Antonio, you just all hang out on the Blazer boards, eh?

I think there are about 7 or 8 of us Blazer guys here in the San Antonio area. I go to the truck side of the site quite a bit but I'm not sure about the other guys.

Originally Posted by jojo

anyways I'm still waiting for somebody to schedule a meet for all us chevy truck dudes.

I'd show up, I just ain't smart enough to get something like that organized!

Me too!