1987 Blazer Project.

[chevyh20]

hi, Im jeff from NH . I am a new member. I have visited as a lurker looking for ideas occasionally. I want to share my 1987 Blazer project with you. I am doing a frame off restoration. My truck suffers from heavy rust, living all it's life in the northeast. I have some pics to share . I look forward to your replys with questions, comments, pointers. this is my first time doing this.





The Floor and supporting pieces will be gone soon. I am going to have the supporting parts fabricated at a local steel place.


The Rocker is gone. The cab is being held together by the orange steel.


I need 2 of these. Does anyone make them?  It is the cab pillar supporting piece that attaches to the rocker back.


Thanks for looking at my project,
Jeff

[choptop]

Wow, you gotta lot of work going on. Looks good so far.

[VileZambonie]

I had an 84 K5 that I did the same thing to. It came out really good. GM was still selling the entire rear floor assembly when I did mine which helped. Everything else I had to fab. Lots of work, lots of welding and the end result was nice but I wouldn't want to do it again! Good luck with it!

[Blazin]

Holly crap ! That thing is rusty. Looks good so far.

[SUX2BU99]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I totally admire your guys' determination and dedication to taking on a project like that!

[chevyh20]

Thanks for the encouragement guys. I have a few new pics. The floor has just been removed. No more rust. (most of the body is gone!).





I Took everything out because i am having the 4 major support pieces under the floor fabricated at a local metal shop. I am a little afraid of sticker shock in having this done. I plan to do as much of the sheet metal work and completion of the body while the floor is being made.  also i have to take the drivetrain out of the old frame and restore a used frame that i bought.  I will post that project when i start. Any suggestions or questions are welcome . i am new at this. Ignorance is bliss.
Jeff

[chevyh20]

Hi all,
Here are a couple of updated pics. Have the left rocker and kickplate installed:



and here is my junk floor i took out, looking to replace everything here:



This is getting fun!

[Captkaos]

Sent you a PM of the parts availible and what isn't.  You have a lot of fab work ahead of you.

[chevyh20]

Has anyone had experience. having the floor structural pieces fabricated. What have been peoples experiences. What kind of cost am i looking at? I am hoping for a miracle of finding a junk truck with good structural floor parts.

[VileZambonie]

which specific parts are you referring too? If you mean the supports for the floor pans I made some on a Blazer I restored out of street sign post material and it worked perfect.

[chevyh20]

Thanks for the suggestion, funny i thought of that too. not sure what i will settle on for the finished project. Not quite there yet. I just got both rockers and kickplates on (thanks chris). And have taken apart the dash to repair rust there. It seems water has been leaking from somewhere. and now has to be repaired. Plus i want to paint the firewall whatever color the truck ends up . Any thoughts on color?  This is going to be mostly a work and utility vehicle. I was thinking bright blue would go good with a bright yellow plow.  This body is taking longer than i want. I still have the frame to do also. I hope i finish before the snow flys!

[Captkaos]

Are you asking about the overall color?  Lighter is always better if you plan to use it and it look good.  Which is why a lot of utility vehicles are white, or yellow.

[hotrod24]

you are doing all this work for it to be a work truck dont you have something that you use other then a this blazer.

[chevyh20]

hi,
Right now i am driving a tundra that is a lease. It will run out in the spring.
So i am fixing this and going for no car payment. Although the cost so far is like a car payment .
Just got the firewall all naked tonight. Got to get that fixed fast so i remember how to hook every thing back up.
Most of my guages warning lights etc . were not working. the 5 amp fuse is ok. I am thinking it is the printed circuit. Is there anything else i should check?
thanks for the help.

[chevyh20]

hi,
it has been a while since my last update. Thought i would report the progress.
1. I have got the firewall fixed. there were holes on the firewall from where water had gotten through the seam sealer in the vent area. this also allowed water into the cab. i welded in a couple of pieces of metal you can see in the pic.
2. I finished fixing the area at the back of the rocker panels. This is all new metal there was nothing but rust before. it is pictured below too.
3. I now have the whole thing "square and level" , ready for the floor and cargo area.
I will be working on the cargo area next.
4. And i bought a donor truck for 400.00 . It looks ok in the pic, but it is really rusty like mine was when i started. But I drove it home , so i can't complain. has a good drivetrain with 350 ci and overdrive transmission that i am using plus many other parts. enjoy the pics. please comment on anything. click on the links to see bigger pics

http://img529.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00452xn0.jpg

http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00451hk9.jpg

http://img375.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00454ja4.jpg

http://img529.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00452xn0.jpg