04 blazer project

Damn that looks fun!

i started building something
and my welds are getting prettier




started to get really heavy to lift and install alone.


swing out tire carrier build starts tomorrow

Woohoo! Improved aero!

Bumper looks really great, though.  Will this give you the departure angle you were hoping for?

Looks good !!

Will this give you the departure angle you were hoping for?

I hope to see some increase in empeegees!

thanks guys!

as for departure angle, it'll be a significant upgrade, but only offroading some more will tell me if it's enough or not.

finished up the swing out today, freezing my butt off all day.
hopefully paint dries in 30 degree garages....

good enough "for now" status, I definitely want to add a gas strut and opening limiting device at some point.

also a pair of brand new grade 8 5/8" bolts I had (and decided to use for the latch system) turns out to be bent.
this has caused me major headaches all day as the should-be-sliding bolt (used as a pin) is binding up everywhere.
been doing a looot of sanding on this bolt to make it run smoother, but i think i still have a bit more to go to get it to slide as smooth as i'd like it to.

Looks great for sure. It's much 'leaner' looking on the truck than I expected it would based on those first build pics you posted. 

aaand done-ish now.
fun fact - rustoleum hammered finish paint will not fully dry in 24 hours in sub 30 degree temps.



https://www.facebook.com/greencactus3/videos/10107391009963603/

Done!



https://www.facebook.com/greencactus3/videos/10107432423834873/

Saw this in person yesterday.  Very high end fab work with all the struts and latches integrated into the tire carrier.

Went wheeling in the snow.... and frozen-but-not-frozen-enough-ice with snow on top

ice was about 2" or so thick, so thick enough to support partial weight of the truck, and then it gave out over the deep part. with all the snow over the ice and no tracks, I had no idea i was even over a puddle until I was in the water. I was actually still in 2hi at that point.

So sank it in a big puddle, and the symptom was an intermittent starter and a reversed clutch pedal function.... press the clutch to engage, foot off to neutral.. WTF!
(i need to disable the clutch safety switch for situations like this apparently)

i could get it to not slip up to 3/4 gear but not in 5th
limped it home, from the park like that, (my left leg is gonna be huge!)
and then a mile away from home something popped and i have zero clutch now.
I assume the slave cylinder couldnt handle being at max pressure (im pretty sure i maintained over 100 lbs of pedal force the entire way home) for 1.5+ hours and something let loose
had a buddy flat tow it home.

What a day.

the drivers side was underwater long enough that i was soaked up to my ankles inside (door seals can only hold for so long, recovery took quite a long time since it was so slippery out.

This is on a 3 month old LUK clutch/pressure plate.
We'll see what it looks like when it comes out.....

blazer is currently in the garage making a big mess on the floor, with a box fan attempting to dry the carpet (seat is out and wood under the carpet to space it up)

and I think i finally got the home furnace working again (that failed saturday early morning and noone had the parts i needed in stock, so amazon 1 day shipping got it to me today around noon)

I have no drivable winterable vehicles currently so I'm off to borrow a buddy's beater focus that I might eventually buy.

Ugh. what a shitty experience, especially for a day when i was planning on going nice and easy and not break anything because it's snowy and limits are low.

Oh on top of that I apparently poked a hole in one of the duratracs. it was low on the way home so i pumped it up, but this morning the wheel was completely on the ground.

Brutal. Hopefully the clutch survived. Sounds like you're having a shit week man.

I'll place my bets on the pressure plate getting boned, but not exactly sure how.  Brutal is a good word for that situation.

Not going for the wheel bearing and timing belt for a super awesome winter audi? Ever since it started snowing I've been missing that car, but that probably means it is better that it is yours now. Focus!

I'll place my bets on the pressure plate getting boned, but not exactly sure how.  Brutal is a good word for that situation.

Not going for the wheel bearing and timing belt for a super awesome winter audi? Ever since it started snowing I've been missing that car, but that probably means it is better that it is yours now. Focus!

Yea, I agree PP is likely, but can't figure out how or what the solution should be.
A heavier duty or even a racing puck clutch wouldn't change the PP design significantly.
Nope, Audi is too nice to expose to the saltiness yet.
I do still plan on making the audi the main project car at some point so i can't make it rusty
Plus I don't even have a title for it yet

after it got recovered


an earlier puddle that appeared out of nowhere.

I do still plan on making the audi the main project car at some point so i can't make it rusty
Plus I don't even have a title for it yet

Now who would be holding onto that title too long?....

They're actually known for their excellent rust proofing, but I'm sure that will only last so long.

Looks like that would be fun (driving in the snow) I live in Fla so dont get to see it that often.

Last year I drove the Blazer to Wisconsin but didnt see much snow & what was out the 2wd didnt like.  LOL   Spin city with  regular tires.

Green Where do you live ??

finally got around to fixing the blazer. ended up replacing clutch, slave, and master.
i think i need to take it easy for a while, but ice racing season is about to begin

I live in Michigan.

Go racing.

Did you get water in everything? I was tearing apart my old slave the other day and they're stupid simple - a groove all the way around the center with a rubber seal stuffed in there is all that applies the pressure.

it's gained near 300 lbs in less than 2 years....