04 blazer project

That's like $200-250/year on front end wearable parts? Seems like you could justify that axle swap on a dollar basis easily enough haha

PS Those rear calipers are always jerks. I keep putting off regreasing the long bed rears even though i know it's a time bomb if I don't.

That's like $200-250/year on front end wearable parts? Seems like you could justify that axle swap on a dollar basis easily enough haha

PS Those rear calipers are always jerks. I keep putting off regreasing the long bed rears even though i know it's a time bomb if I don't.

yea.... it's more an effort issue...
but noone on this forum would understand the difficulty in maintaining motivation to finish a project right?

the pins were still sliding smoothly this time (i must be regreasing them plenty often) but the antiseize was starting to dry.
I purchased this in hopes of better lubrication for longer.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018PSASU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

swapped in the new pistons, seals and dust boots.
kind of a pain in the ass, it might be worth just buying calipers next time, i'm not sure.
we'll see if this fixes it.

well, sandblasted the frame over labor day weekend at silver lake sand dunes
https://www.facebook.com/greencactus3/videos/10108985911887363/



and now look what's happening

aand a good day of work later...


unfortunately modded diff to front diff clearance and pass side valve cover to HVAC box clearance didnt agree

so the oilpan had to get dropped, which required dropping the front diff, which required apparently all of the front end to be taken out. ugh

Nice motor mounts.

Is that the stock 5speed behind it? What parts did you use to make that work?

yup, stock nv3500
im only using 7 bellhousing bolts, but im assuming that's fine.
basically just using 4.8 clutch parts

Sachs (NFW1050) Flywheel
Luk Clutch 04-205 - Luk Clutch Kits
6x Chevrolet Performance 11569956 - Chevrolet Performance Flywheel Bolts

i should probably get the shifter back on the trans and confirm clutch disengagement though. probably should have done that when i had a friend over yesterday.

well i notched the notch.
pretty complex shape with bends on bends on bends, so had to do it in several pieces.
I hope it clears!

If you get this done before me.... well it's my own fault and I will laugh.

tacked together some mounts i had cnc plasma cut a year or so ago.


amazingly they fit nicely! (Thanks Harley!)


roughly mid-range of adjustments all around


new notch clears with a finger gap all around!

Looking good - it's going to be a beast with the power to push the extra weight you've added in offroad mods.

Looking good - it's going to be a beast with the power to push the extra weight you've added in offroad mods.

with the aluminum block i should be taking weight off compared to the v6 so it'll be a significant change!

It's always great when the CAD works out!

How is the clearance to the HVAC box now?

Losing enough weight to add it back in with a solid axle?

it's almost as if it's a tool everyone uses to design a vehicle!

less than an 1/8" to the hvac box currently, but i have some room to move the engine/trans assembly forwards with the new pan notch and the hopefully arriving today trans mount bushing.

I can actually drop the whole engine lower by a good amount if i were willing to cut up the new engine mounts, but I don't think I really care about CG height on this truck too much.

There's no way I can drop enough weight to compensate for the weight I'll be adding with the solid axle. I'll most likely be tipping over 5000 lbs on a scale after that swap.....

got the mounts painted pretty and mounted up, slid the entire powertrain package forwards by about 3/8" and decided i want to drop the whole engine a bit.
right now the corner of the valve cover is RIGHT at the height of the corner of the HVAC box which is quite inconvenient
dropping the engine by roughly 1/2" should help that clearance out while my 2nd pan notch should account for clearance to the diff.

so i'll be getting new mounts waterjet, but this will slow down progress by at least a week. ugh.

Where are you having the waterjet work done? Cost?

If you're bored waiting for parts feel free to stop out and help with my swap. 

Where are you having the waterjet work done? Cost?

If you're bored waiting for parts feel free to stop out and help with my swap. 

trying to get it done at work, cost TBD

ha, right. although we need to meet up at some point so i can have an intake again.
are you still climbing regularly?

I thought that might be your answer.

Climbing every Wednesday still, but probably hitting the road in a few weeks. Job is done at the end of September. Could switch days without much issue, though if another works better for you.

learned a couple things yesterday...
1. the "5.3" alternator i bought off CL last year is definitely not for a 5.3 possibly for an older SBC.
2. if you buy a used starter motor from the junkyard, make sure you don't just cut all the wires to it. loosen every nut first in case you break off the signal stud after you try to loosen the nut a year after you bought it...
3. the 4.3 alternator is the same as the 5.3 one? i unfortunately gave away both of my alternators from the s10 and blazer 4.3s in the past month. *sigh*

today i learned:
1. there are a couple different kind of radiator e-fans on 99-04 intrepid/concordes the dimensions appear similar but some have integrated relays, some do not, and the non-integrated ones have a little less depth. fans also look more elegant. i pulled several different ones and picked the best looking one with a mopar sticker and part number.
Mopar T411AD7541 (4596411AD 83403 2121) from a 2002 v6 intrepid. this is the kind without the integrated relays, but i snagged the relay harness from the other style too just in case.
I'm curious which style everyone else is running

2. not a single dr37 alternator in the whole yard. found 1 dr44 but the bearings were shot. I did realize the harness connector is not the same between the dr37/44 so if i wanted to upgrade to the 44 later, it may require a little more homework.
I ended up picking up a s10 4.3 alternator for now. looked at probably 10 of them before picking the one with the least amount of bearing noise.

3. there were a whole 2 LS starter motors in the whole yard. one looked like the old style with the one bolt that is shorter. I didn't realize trucks ever got that style, i thought it was only the camaro/vettes
i opted to grab the other one from a 02 silverado which the sticker said had 265k miles on it. lets hope it isn't the original starter. is makes "loose parts" noises when i shake it which seems kind of odd, but i'm not sure if that indicates anything bad.

overall, spent 3 hours in this abnormal heat, spent $80 and got a bunch of parts including the previously misplaced water pump bolts.