Project : HITCHED

[910hugger]

So here we go on getting a build thread started. I brought home the 72 last July and have been slowly plugging away. The big plan is to drive on my wedding day when we get HITCHED. I will also be taking the truck on a 2 week tour of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta Canada. Lots of work to still go and starting to feel the push but should be doable. Just looking for a nice, reliable driver for the big day.


The big trip home

[910hugger]

Starting to clean it up and take a closer look on the situation after a 622km trailer ride.

Previous tub floor, fender, rockers and floor pan have been patched previously but the rocker boxes were still intact and body mounts arent rusted out. Body mount rubbers are finished but all in all it could have been a lot worse and looks to be a very solid platform to start with

[910hugger]

The engine was previously rebuilt and bored 30 over 6 years prior and has been sitting for at least 4 so time to see how it runs. A fuel and spark issue caused some issues and resulted in a pile of carbon build up, which in turn caused a lifter to stick and bent a push rod on no.1 cylinder. Soooooooo.........out with old

[910hugger]

And in with the "newer"

[910hugger]

and in

[910hugger]

Dart Pro1 72cc heads, Crane 1.5 Gold Race Rollers, Comp Roller lifters, Comp Xtreme XR294, Comp Magnum pushrods, Professional Balancer, RPC alum pulleys, MSD Pro Billet RTR, MSD Blaster SS coil, MSD 8.5 wires.

Time to get running and continue on.

[910hugger]

another small addition to help complete the project.

[68panelman]

Wow dude, you guys don't use salt do ya!. That's how it was here in the 90's.

[910hugger]

After cleaning out the interior of the 69 K5 this is what I found:::
Posted via Mobile Device

[910hugger]

Posted via Mobile Device

[910hugger]

67-72 Rear sport bumper ( w/brackets,bolts,liscence bracket)
69-72 Blazer Body mount kit
Rear brake line
Park brake cable
New drums(4)
Side mirrors
Rear view mirror
Door latches(2)
Rear ujoints(2)
Window regulator(2)
Starter

other parts needed to finish 72

Rear seat ( w/mounts )
Seat belts ( front/rear )
33x12.5x15 tires/rims
K5 Blazer emblems
Passenger sun visor

Along with door handles, window handles, gauge clusters, weather stripping, heater controls and odd/end parts
Posted via Mobile Device

[70cst]

I luv it

[910hugger]

Once engine was dropped in the task of bolting torque converter was made much easier with the fiancé rotating engine over with me underneath. The little bits of help make some of those potentially very frustrating jobs easy and uneventful.

Seems to be my luck that regardless of how I mark timing and drop distributor into place it always results in being 180 degrees off and a significant backfire. Now that I am using MSD 8360 distributor and Blaster SS coil I couldnt recall what color wires went where so I used a jump lead to power coil and a push button on the starter. Again not a big deal other than that to install distributor the cap and rotor have to be removed to clean the firewall. Also made a nifty coil bracket using the 3/8" studs on the brake booster.

Once rotated 180 deg engine fires but..........................

Fuel line cracked or sucking air somewhere ( clear fuel filter full of bubbles)

Powermaster 9600 starter needs shiming since it hangs up on flexplate and runs on

[910hugger]

Im having a little doubt if my buckets are from 67-72 and would like to know before i commit to ordering seat covers ??????


any guesses????

[Wasted Income]

Looks like a real solid starting point. Looks like it will be a real solid marriage as well, if your gal helps out without complaining, and supports the addiction

One question....where is the fuel filler?? Also, the PO must REALLY like Taz, lol.

[Wasted Income]

The seats look legit to me. For reference, here are the seats out of my bone stock survivor 72 when I bought it.

[briank]

I believe your seats are correct, yours didnt originally come with the highlander (yours were parchment) but I believe later seats were taller.
Posted via Mobile Device

[910hugger]

That takes a bit of relief off knowing that the seats are probably correct.


Previos owner had shaved the filler neck and moved it inside the tub. I will eventualy change it to a flip down liscence plate and have the filler there.

[lopemaxx]

hey hugger

Nice looking build

I have an extra rear seat at my place if you still need one, pm me and maybe we can work something out.

[910hugger]

[QUOTE

I have an extra rear seat at my place if you still need one, pm me and maybe we can work something out.[/QUOTE]

thats a possibility because with the 69 I am kind of robbing Peter to pay Paul and finish the 72

[70-K5]

Awesome work! Did something very similar myself in terms of the get away vehicle at the wedding.

[910hugger]

Installed a Powermaster hi torque mini starter and a few issues came up. Runs real tight to flexplate and cannot seem to shim pinion back/down enough. It hangs up on way back in. Almost as though it cant disengage fast enough.


Next problem is fuel related. I though the pickup had a crack in the line or the screen was plugged. Very gently used air pressure to blow line to tank and tank to pump. Looked good so I added 50 litres of fuel. Turned out the seam had a hole and this was result
Posted via Mobile Device

[910hugger]

Starter
Posted via Mobile Device

[910hugger]

Oops. That was oil. Heres starter damage
Posted via Mobile Device

[910hugger]

Switched to a mini starter with same amount of teeth as stock and then........

72 Blazer 355 roller - YouTube

At least its enough to fill with coolant and start completing assembly so i can tune. Pretty sure the miss is on #7 cyl because i wasnt confident when i crimped plug terminal
Posted via Mobile Device