My build thread (or is it rebuild?)

[kitimatdude]

I decided to start a build thread here. I'll post pictures of my progress as I go along. I expect to be ready to roll around march.
I got the body off the blazer today and got it on the floor  I'd post up a pic or 2 but my camera was at home maybe tomorrow.

[kitimatdude]

Here is a side view front clip and stub fenders are removed I took this to show how close 44s get to the cab. Plenty of room

Ok in this pic I have the body off and you can see both frames and the 454. The upper frame is trimmed off just forward of  the front cab body mount both frames bolt to the rear bumper.

Another view, you can see my step mounting pretty good in this pic. It's bolted to both frames.

Here you can see the relative height of the engine in my frame to the tires. The body is lifted 12" at the front but the engine/transmission/transfer case is only lifted 4"


The pictures turned out darker than I thought they would. I took them with my video camera (no flash) I'll try to get better pics for my next update.

[rocker]

What on earth made you decide to do a complete overhaul?

[kitimatdude]

You would be amazed at what I've found so far...  It only takes an afternoon to pull the body off. it makes working on the drivetrain soooo easy. I want to rework a lot of the details that pissed me off this year. I have about 20 things I want to change or modify.
some of the big ones are:
-switch to propane
-doubler
-better driveshafts
-rebuild engine for propane
-rebuild or replace transmission
-rebuild transfer case
-fix all the annoying wiring 
-some kind of exocage over the tilt nose
and the list goes on...

[kitimatdude]

Ok I stripped a bit more off it and brought my old still camera with a flash, way better pics.
Heres one showing upper frame pruned off and engine height relative to tires/frame

This one shows a frame connection

frame connections and bumper mount

from the rear showing driveshaft angle

[kitimatdude]

Now for the fun part some of the carnage I found:
Engine mount bolts, see anything wrong?


My transmission quit working thats when I decided to cut the wheeling season short and tear it down. I suspect the pump went. there is a little damage showing on the outside:
gap on bottom

I removed the upper bolt to remove the dipstick tube and then put it in a few threads

bolt hole boss broken

Busted shock mount

[rocker]

You could have left some of that mud in the gorge.

[kitimatdude]

You could have left some of that mud in the gorge.

no kidding, I have a pile on the floor that must weigh 100 lbs!
oh well I'm using it as floor dry till i shovel it up...

[kitimatdude]

I did a few shelving lighting jobs around the shop and only drained the fluids in the truck today.
I was looking up header flanges so I took a pic of my exhaust ports and other crap.


Pass side step detail

twinsticks

from rear to front

body on the floor


any questions?

[redneck_justice]

well i guess ya won't be bored this winter john. have you ever weighed that beast?

good luck with the rebuild man.

[kitimatdude]

yes, last weigh in was 6300 lbs and that was b4 the winch was added maybe 200 more?
That was the same day as the pic in my avatar

[kitimatdude]

messed up valve lock 

drivers side bores, they dont look too bad.

inside the bore looking out by eyeballing it it looks like 5 thou wear

Drivers side head

Passenger side head

the messed up valve lock pic is blurry I'll try to get a better one tomorrow.
I have a line on some 12:1 pistons for the open chamber heads. those would work great with propane. the catch is they need standard bore. I'll measure mine tomorrow.

[kitimatdude]

I measured out the bores it looks like my worst bore is 0.005"  or 5 thou of wear so it looks good.

I pulled the engine today awesome flexplate carnage... I can't believe it didn't fail, it was about to.





The last one is dark but you get the idea.

I pulled out the pistons and main caps and took a good look at the crankshaft journals.
I all looks ok, the bearings even look great! I guess that knocking I heard was to do with that messed up valve keeper.

Time to start ordering in some parts.

[kitimatdude]

Well, the 12:1 piston deal fell thru they were for a 427. They have the right bore but the pin is in the wrong location.
Back to the drawing board

[kitimatdude]

I can't believe I got away with this timing chain 

I pushed it over with my finger and took this pic 

its a miracle it didn't skip a tooth! It also explains a lot of my shitty performance.
I put in this pic cuz I think it looks cool