My Trazer build.

[team39763]

I've always wanted a Blazer with a truck cab on it.  Finally I got my hands on a 84 Blazer frame(thought it was an 87 at first) and my buddy gave me a longbed 78 GMC.  At first I wanted to go crazy with mods, but I can't afford to get too wild and still finish before November(the races).  The goal for this truck is to beat my current racetruck and run deep in the 10's.  It's gonna be severly underpowered, so everything else has to work perfectly as a combo. 

Here's my plan.
Convert Blazer to 2wd with 78 GMC parts.
Set engine back 8-10".
Get the truck to weigh in at 2900lbs with me in it.
Install a large cam, good springs, and rod bolts in the 5.3L.
Spray a 150 shot of nitrous.
Install ladder bars.
Build a TH400 with transbrake and good converter.
Use a small tire(29.5X11.5W = 15" wide).
Gear it accordingly.

Here's what I'm starting with.


Got the body off the frame.

[team39763]

I found a drawing of a regular Blazer and I modified it to how I think I want mine to look.  This truck's only purpose will be to race, so I'm not worried about carrying things/towing or how it rides.

[heavychevy91]

sounds like your goin to have a pretty nice setup at the end. shooting for the 10 sounds like you got a good project ahead of you

[team39763]

Yeah, I'm hoping it turns out nice.  I'm not a drag racing expert, but I think it should be an awesome drag truck that competes with the smaller trucks like the chevy Luv and the S10's.

[mean79]

prettynice build my boss did the same to his mud bog blazer. cut the top part of the truck cab and welded to the top of the blazer tub

[team39763]

My plans have changed as far as the motor.  I'll be getting a 5.3L this weekend hopefully.  I plan to clean it up nice and pretty and throw my old 4L60E behind it and see if I can trade the combo for a Big Block.  One of my neighbors has a 454 in his yard, but I heard it's in pieces and probably not complete...so I may have to ask around a bit more to find a decent trade.  I'm also getting a newly rebuilt 350(roller) shortblock in a trade...I'm gonna throw that in with the 5.3L/4L60E trade...maybe it'll help me get a decent big block in return.  Obviously I can't put together a decent smallblock judging from the one that's in my race truck, so I'm gonna try my luck with the big block.  I read that those are easy to make power with, so I'm gonna give it a try.

[team39763]

I scored a square headlight frontend for $10 off a neighbor, so I'm gonna get rid of the round headlight GMC frontend.  I should have the roller 350 and a 400sbc in my possession by this weekend.  The 454 ended up not being for sale, so I'm thinking of sticking with the LS motor.  We'll see.  I'll post up pics this weekend when I get all the motors together.  I got the 5.3L already and it looks OK...looks like somebody has been in the oil pan(silicone all the way around).
  I also made a deal with a neighbor for his 67 C10 rear suspsension(trailing arm).  I've read a ton of good things about that setup and it looks like it'll allow me to run the big tires I want.  I'm trading my old 4L60E for his suspension.  I just have one last job to do before I can fully jump into this project.  Instead of springs, I'm gonna throw some coilovers on(came off an old car).

[team39763]

Here's my 78 GMC.  It's missing the doors and the front suspension is a little rusty from us removing the hood 2 years ago.  The cool thing is this GMC even with a flat front tire and water in the steering box...it steered/felt better than my race truck.  I'm gonna use the bed from my race truck and just shorten it a bit for the trazer.  I'm gonna throw a stepside on my race truck.

[team39763]

Here's a picture of my 5.3L and you can see my busted 6.0L block in the background.

[team39763]

It looks like I won't have this build anywhere near completion for the races in November, so I'm gonna just take my time and do it right.  Converting the K5 frame to 2wd isn't gonna work out for me since none of the holes line up and I don't trust myself with measuring and drilling the correct holes.  With my luck I'd have everything mounted 2mm off and the truck would chase it's own tail everytime I launched it.  So I'm gonna just cut the front of the frame off the 2wd and weld it on the K5 frame(was gonna Z the frame anyway).
  As far as the motor...I still want a BBC.  I'm really desperate to get rid of this 350 shortblock, so if any of you guys in Texas want a motor, mine is for sale.  It's freshly rebuilt(not by me), .040 over pistons, roller lifters with "nitrous" cam(according to previous owner), comes with balancer and waterpump. I really need this thing gone before it rusts up in my front yard.  I'd take $400 for it.  PM me for more info.  The 5.3L is for sale too.

[Captkaos]

Do you have a donor 2WD Blazer Frame?  Is that what you are back halfing on?

I have a 454 for sale and a 2wd blazer LOL

[team39763]

I only have a 4wd blazer frame and a 78 2wd LWB frame.  I'm almost at the point of doing something really "outside the box".  A big time racer told me he put a mustang k-member under his C10, so I may try it and see what it turns into.  I may not like it due to the narrow wheel track.  I saw it on his truck and it is a bit different than mine with the skinnies on.

I wish I could pick up the motor and frame, it'd be so much easier.

[Captkaos]

The rears as you know want be the same.  Won't matter if you are cutting the floor out, but...
The front crossmember holes should already be there, if I remember correctly.

[team39763]

I'll check again and report back.

EDIT: I checked and only the lower/rear hole lines up.  The rest are in different places.
Here's the 2wd 1978 GMC Longbed frame


Here's the 4wd 1984 Blazer frame.

[Captkaos]

got pics?