Going up?

[BlazerZR5]

Now you need a rebel flag on the roof to match your tag....lol! looking good

[J@mes]

Quote: Originally Posted by BlazerZR5

Now you need a confederate flag on the roof to match your tag....lol! looking good

Fixed. That's much better.

I would actually do that,now that you mention it. The truck needs atleast 5" more and bigger tires before it would look right though. It looks too stock right now.

Daylight photo of the refurbished front end



I finally had a chance to inspect my a/c. It stopped blowing after using it for the first time. I thought it was the motor so i hooked up an old one and nothing. Checked the fuse,and somehow it had popped the fuse. Fixed that and bam..a/c that blows,even though it needs freon. I need to get it filled,and fix the dash vents. I only get floor and defrost right now which does nothing. I need air blowing right on me when it's 90+ degrees or it's useless.....

[J@mes]

Got bored..




I thought this was a neat angle?

[J@mes]

Seeing as i have no trailer hitch,and no tow hooks to connect a strap to if i get stuck... I'm looking at these: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_TOW-HOOK-Rugged-Ridge_10179584-P_N3206B_A%7CGRP2070_____

I'm not sure how much i can get tow hooks for at the u-pull it,or if they even have any. Worth a shot i suppose. I can make do with just one on the rear for now,but eventually going to run two in front,and two in the rear

[BlazerZR5]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kiko

Fixed. That's much better.

That's actually the battle flag if you want to be technical! lol! I guess a little of Ohio did rub off! Lol I know a guy that can hook up the flag in paint and a guy that can hook it up in vinal

[J@mes]

Will be a while on the flag,but we'll see. I drove my bagged truck to work today (Felt so wierd) and it hit me,since it's not my daily driver,but is tagged/insured,why not put a v8 into it instead of buying a luv? Then i could actually cruise in it some and not have to trailer it everywhere (couldnt afford tag/insurance on the luv)

I'm gonna wait a little. First i want to get the front of this truck lifted 3 inches,then i can safely spend money on the other truck. If i do the swap,i'm going to keep fuel injection. It'll look fairly stock when i'm done. 350V8 + 5 speed manual = awesome! Could get a spare set of 18's for it,and mount slicks on them for the drag track. Just switch out the rears once i got there.

For now though,i'm working on christmas shopping for my girlfriend (Actually getting started early for once!)

[Stewzer55]

Shopping for Christmas in July?

[J@mes]

Yup. Gives me 6 months to rack up a bunch of gifts. I'll have almost all of mine wrapped,before most people even start. I'm usually the guy who's just started shopping,a week before christmas and running around like a madman.

[richarddhoward]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kiko

Seeing as i have no trailer hitch,and no tow hooks to connect a strap to if i get stuck... I'm looking at these: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_TOW-HOOK-Rugged-Ridge_10179584-P_N3206B_A%7CGRP2070_____

I'm not sure how much i can get tow hooks for at the u-pull it,or if they even have any. Worth a shot i suppose. I can make do with just one on the rear for now,but eventually going to run two in front,and two in the rear

Installed one on a buddies truck. Worked like a charm

[J@mes]

Sweet. My parts list currently is (Not in specific order really)

*Lift spindles
*Brake lines
*Lights
*Tow hooks
*Winch

[J@mes]

Did a little work,but not much really. I'm trying to hold off on buying parts,until i have the spindles and brake lines. Fixed my driver-side window track. The glass would fall forward when you tried to roll it down,and it would work fine if you held it with the other hand,but when rolled down,it would rattle like a mofo. Tried connecting the wires to my rearview mirror for my interior lights too....but found out why they cut them. The stupid switches won't turn the lights off. Looks like i'll be robbing a s10 of it's mirror eventually. Also found a old dufflebag in my closet,and started on my offroad kit to keep behind my seat. Yeah.... I'm pretty bored tonight

Aside from that,just went off on the trail earlier. Managed to get my rear tires stuck in a mudhole finally,but with a unknown offroad guy behind me to witness my stupidity.. I was able to get out in reverse though,but spun tires the whole way. Trying to establish some connections with offroad guys here,so i finally have someone to go with. I'm tired of always wheeling solo

[J@mes]

Random pic,just cause



Finally put my drivers door panel back on,and put the spare tire back under the bed. I really hate all this damn rain,but it does help me to get minor truck stuff done finally. I'd rather be enjoying sunshine though

[BlazerZR5]

I'm pissed about this rain!! I'm all ready to get that Sonoma in my driveway back together!! now they say it's gonna rain tomorrow too.my weekend
Is shot!

[J@mes]

I havent been on my roadbike in atleast 4 days now... I have a race in 3 months. I need to train. You could roll the truck into the shop... Couldn't you?

[BlazerZR5]

Yeah,technically I could but,it would be tight.I still got what's left of the red stepside in the way.Ive found something to keep me busy,I've been cleaning up engine parts.

[J@mes]

Got bored last night and started doing some research on shackles. Stock are 4" center to center. The ones on here from the previous owner have different holes for the leaf spring,but the hole they have them in is 7" center to center. Technically i'm already driving a lifted truck,haha. The rear is 1.5" higher than stock. I can adjust one more notch for another 3/4". I'll hold off probably until i get the front spindles unless i get bored and have wrenches in my hand

[85Monster]

So when you gonna throw on a pointless whip antennae? haha, all lifted trucks should have one

[Sonomanclature]

Quote: Originally Posted by 85Monster

So when you gonna throw on a pointless whip antennae? haha, all lifted trucks should have one

Whips are nice, easy to tune and keeps tailgaters at bay.

I miss mine tbh.

[J@mes]

I thought of one,but havent decided on length or mounting place. Plus i need a cb first. I'm currently trying to save up the money for the brake lines & lift spindles. Sometimes i think i need 2 jobs. One for everyday life,and the second to support my trucks.

[BlazerZR5]

I know that feeling,lol. That's why I fix 3 sell 2......but,there isn't many people that will buy first gens.at least the normal car buyer won't unless they're cheap.then you can't make money,because parts aren't any cheaper for the old ones.

[J@mes]

I'd buy just about any 1st gen that i could get my hands on,granted it's cheap. I love how people list a 20 year old stock truck for $3,000 online and think it's going to sell,just because it has a paintjob though.

It would be easier to buy the spindles if i wasn't also trying to put back for a 3K roadbike for next race season. I wish tax time would come again already,i need another check,haha..

Looks like i will be just driving it & doing needed maintenance for a little bit.

[BlazerZR5]

I can't do that.i get bored too fast.im stupid bored of that black stepside.I don't wanna drive my other trucks to work and back because of the whole mall parking lot thing.

[J@mes]

Shitty pic,but it's dark. I finally painted the rear bumper black,to match the front. Looks much better i think. Will get a better pic in the morning

[J@mes]

[BlazerZR5]

Would look better if it was a second gen

[J@mes]

[BlazerZR5]

[J@mes]

Got bored and made this. Pretty neat. Then,and now..




Brand new pics






Hopefully should have the lift spindles soon. I've got part of the money,and i have some stuff on craigslist that i'm waiting to sell.

[J@mes]

Went to measure my shocks,to see if i could lift the rear more. I can,but i found out they are trashed and need replacing anyways. They have no spring left in them. I also found this...




Leaking wheel cylinder and my master cylinder was at minimum level. Yay.. I found a bottle of fluid in my bagged truck,but i have to make it to my parents this weekend to put in the new cylinder (which i must pick up tommorow evening) Aside from that,i've been having good luck. Good thing i noticed before my trip back to florida (Same city/area where i bought the truck. How wierd is that?) in september. That would have sucked rather bad.

[ShortBuss]

Oh,that sucks! It must have just happened to have that much fluid on the ground and still stop?

[J@mes]

It did it about a month ago,but just enough to leave some residue on the tire. It went away and has been fine since. I kept checking on it,but i guess it decided to finally come back and be even worse. I biked to work today and will be putting the new cylinder on when i get home. I'm hoping the old one isnt a bitch like the one on my '91. Funny thing,the other truck had the same cylinder leak. Apparently the right ones go out first?

[BlazerZR5]

You gotta learn to check over your truck every so often to find stuff before parts fail,lol. I'm petty sure I got a brand new set of brake shoes for that year truck laying on a shelf in my garage.those are probably saturated with brake fluid.If I can find them your welcome to em'have you even looked at the brakes? lol. how are the axle seals? That's a nice amount of fluid....

[J@mes]

Everything else looked fine. It looked worse than it was. I replaced the cylinder already,and have been driving today and it's good. The brake shoes did have a bunch of gunk. I wiped off as much as i could for now,and no issues. I've got some stuff to do,but it rolls and stops for now so i'm happy

[J@mes]

The previous owner had installed the adjustable shackles,as seen in some of my first picture of the truck. I've decided to stick with them for now. I found that by adjusting them,i could gain another 3/4" so...


Driverside before






Driverside after




Bumper before



Bumper after



The passenger side shows about 1" higher. I can't tell if the bed could just be tweaked or something. I have been figuring up my bills,and i think i will have enough to place the order for my lift spindles,2 weeks from tommorow. Technically though,i have lifted a s10,AND bagged one :P

[J@mes]

I forgot that my bumper was sagging down in the before picture,but not the after,so it's not accurate. I fixed the bumper before i finished lifting it. It was about 19 1/4" before the lift (After fixing it)

[J@mes]

So i figured some things,and spindles will be ordered on the 16'th of the month. Not sure how long they'll take to get in,but if this truck is as easy as my '91,i can have them on in no time. I'm also looking at a body lift again. I want more tire clearance,plus the higher i have to step up to get into the truck,the better

This is the one summit says will fit:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PRA-532/

Any thoughts on it? And anyone think i'll have issues with the shifter hitting anything after the lift??

[J@mes]

Came across some extra funds,and my 3" spindles are on their way to me. Delivery is supposed to be on,or before tuesday of next week. Hopefully before,cause they're coming to my job and i'm off work on tuesdays and would like to install them that day.

Not sure about brake lines,but i've heard you can unbolt the bracket from the frame,to get enough clearance to temporarily drive. It will be roughly 2 weeks before i'm able to order extended brake lines. We'll see. I'm super stoked though. I'm ready to have this mofo in the air

[BlazerZR5]

Man,I would cancel that!! you should get lift spindles for a 98+ 2wd blazer if anyone makes them! with all your doing to it your gonna need to beef up that brake system!! I'd do the 98+ blazer conversion with the duel piston brakes in the front and disc rears.

Im not sure they're even made? lol! you need to drive my Sonoma then my '97! the blazer brakes are awesome on a pickup!

[BlazerZR5]

Just looked.nevermind,lol. nobody makes them from what I see? others have looked too!

Anyways congrats!! I can't wait to see it some time

[J@mes]

I'll figure out something later with brakes. I'm looking at some train horns for it and getting prices. It's something i've always wanted to do :P

I'm looking forward to posting pics. I can't wait for it to be level,plus i like the thought of having to actually step into the truck. It's partially there with the tires. That was only about 1.4 inches of lift though. I want more!

[J@mes]

Top of my rear bumper on the '93,is roughly the same height as my bed on the '91





Can't wait for the spindles to get here. The height difference between front/rear is pretty noticeable in this photo. After the front is up,i'm thinking of doing a aal in the rear for another 1.5" (Roughly) I'm addicted. Every time i lift the truck,it's never enough

[bmxzach]

wider stance would set it off huge. Rims!

[J@mes]

I'm putting 1"-1.5" spacers on later. I'll be keeping the stock steelies for a while. The spindles are supposed to move the front wheels out maybe a inch or so. I'm going to see how that looks before i order any spacers.

I liked the more aggressive look with the wheels spaced out,plus when i take it offroad,it can sling more mud ON the truck,instead of UNDER it

[baggedout81]

Im not forsure if these will work for brake lines.Im kinda doing the same thing but only w/ a lowrider.Its a 81 cutlass (g-body) my car an your truck use the same upper/lower control arms.Just not for sure if the calipers etc. are the same.But hey its a start an a part number.I'd just go to napa get a stock one then get the one in the link see if there the same.I havent done it yet,so let me know.Ohhh an i guess the longer brake lines (atlest the ones i think they are) are off of a 80's cady

http://www.layitlow.com/forums/22-ma...ake-lines.html

[J@mes]

I bought a brake line for the right/rear of my '91 and i remember having to bend it a little because it was too long. I have been wondering if i could just buy a couple of those,but since they don't flex,i'm not sure how well they would work when the suspension moves.

I gotta take a look at how the front brakes are setup. It's been a while since i've done front brake work on a s10. I'll take a look tommorow after work and figure out something.

If i can safely extend my brake lines,and not have to fork out a hundred bucks,i'm definately doing it.

[baggedout81]

Yeah the fronts flexable,from what my research has came to.They put the longer ones on all different kinda cars in the 80's.There almost 3" longer.

[J@mes]

The replacement hoses at advance,say 11.6" long. The ones on my truck can't be more than 7" long from what i can tell. I havent measured them. If that was the right part number,and mine are indeed 7",i could easily get 4" longer hoses for 15 bucks each without having to order.

[J@mes]

Measured,and i was incorrect. This is why i'm NOT the person you get to estimate measurements,haha. I got about 10-11" when i checked. It was hard to tell,cause the truck was on the ground. I just had the wheel turned so i could get to the brake line to measure.

Lift spindles are scheduled to be delivered by end of day on tuesday..i can hardly wait!

[00bravadaplatinum]

nice build.

[J@mes]

Thanks. I had the idea of using stock 4wd brake hoses,because they're 6 inches longer and have both have a 10mm banjo fitting aswell as 3/8-24 female fitting. The banjo fitting looks a little different though..so i don't think that idea will work. Kinda sucks.

I'm going to call tommorow or tuesday and talk to a guy in semmes. I heard he will make custom length hoses.