Petro's Project

[Petro]

I have been gathering parts for awhile now and yesterday I got a major peice of the puzzle. I picked up a 6.0L LS2 for the truck. It will take some time until everything is complete since I'm still on a small Army salary. But if I don't get stop lossed in September then I will be a civilian again and hopefully make more money. If you any connections to Law Enforcement , Firearms Instructor , Security Management type positions let me know.If I do get stop lossed and deploy again then at least I'll have a large amount of savings to finish this up when I get back. My last deployment savings went to paying off truck , new living room , tv , new bedroom , trip to Jamaica , and a some other things. Anyways here is a list of what I have as now.


Leather Blazer seats (going to get them recovered in tan leather)
8.5 Blazer Disc Brake Rearend 3:42
Floor Shifter Console to use with T56 Transmission
6.0L LS2 Engine
Sonoma Hood (needs to be painted)
Cal-Vu mirrors (not installed ; also need paint )

Here is my truck as it sits now:





Blazer Rear:




Here it is for a test fitting on the truck after my little body work experiment. I realized it's not my thing. I'm more mechanically inclined.

[Drag2blaze]

Looks damn good man.

[Oldskool94]

Balla Shit!

[Petro]

Planned Mods:

~ C6 Z06 Brake Setup (Front and Rear)
~ Spohn Upper and Lower Control Arms
~ ATS spindle
~ C6 Z06 Wheels
~ Paint frame with Chassis Saver Paint
~ Polyurethane Sway Bar Kit
~ 2 in Drop Coils or Coilovers (haven't decided)
~ 3 in Drop Leafs
~ Nitro 2 or Street Peformance Shocks (haven't decided)
~ Eaton Posi for 8.5
~ Moser or Trickflow Differential Cover
~Dynamant the Interior
~Shaved Antenna (Maybe Doors and Tailgate Handles)

It will be awhile before everything is done but little by little it's coming together. As with everything in life money is the big factor here.

[ZQ8 Blazer]

Looks good, you need any help with that console install just let me know.

98+ Blazer rear ends is a big must on a S-10 imo. I say shave the gate handle, paint the door handles, gator gaurd the bed(if you plan to use it at all), and sell me the ZQ8's.

I like money too, I need to sell more real estate....well I haven't sold any yet so I just need to sell SOME real estate

[Driveway Kustoms]

keep us updated on those spohn arms, ive been very curious about them, looks like a good start to a nice project tho

[Petro]

When it comes time to sell the wheels you'll get first dibs ZQ8Blazer...Now since I have the engine I'll primarily be spending money on it. I'm still on the lookout for steal on a Trans. After the motor and trans I'll finish the 8.5 rear ....Then we'll see what I do next. Here recently I did some maintence on my truck so that took some of my savings. I put new U-joints , center support bearing , MSD plug wires, and Bosch Iridium spark plugs. Also did a oil change. And I need to replace my Driver's Side Door Pins. All that little stuff to keep the truck like new adds up quick.

[ZQ8 Blazer]

What kind of trans do you want? Wonder how much shipping would be? You wouldn't believe the prices of parts for the junkyards around here. For example I have about $50 in my entire console swap.

[Petro]

Well I was going to do T56 but here lately I've been leaning toward a 4L60E ...One because ease of swap...With the T56 I'll have to get a clutch , master cylinder , and I'd have to mod the truck more. Since mine is a automatic . I'd also want to change out the gauge cluster (for one from a 5speed)even though everything would still function properly.

[ZQ8 Blazer]

I thought you just need to get an adaptor to make your 4l60e work with the lsx?

[Petro]

Yeah but I rather have one for a LSx engine. Like from a GTO or Firebird/Camaro...As ours aren't rated for much HP/TQ

[ZQ8 Blazer]

oh, didn't know that. What would the difference be from a Silverado vs. Camaro's trans?

[Petro]

I'm not real savvy on Transmissions but I believe gears. And I think most of them are 4L80E but don't quote me on that.

[ZQ8 Blazer]

Naw most are 4L60e's. The 4L80e's were in the 3/4 and 1 tons. I know I priced a complete 5.3l w/ 44k, came with harness, engine, brackets, but no computer or alternator, power steering pump etc... $800 w/o a core.

[Petro]

The yards around here are WAY overpriced. One of the reasons I can't wait to move back home. But if you find one cheap let me know.

[Petro]

Well another setback money wise... I think I may have to replace to whole distributor on my 4.3...Bought new cap and rotor and problem isn't solved...This is a bummer...

I like keeping the truck running like new but I hate when problems arise. Everything else replaced on the truck was by choice for
tune-up/maintenance. This is the first problem it's given me.

[ZQ8 Blazer]

My friend bought a 5sp tranny for his 88, had 60k original miles on it. I think he gave $700. I'm guessing a good cond 4l60e out of a 99+ truck will run $800-$900 w/o core. Just drive on up here

[Daveman2]

4l60es in our trucks have a bunch of different parts than the camaro/vette ones, I beleive one of which is the drive shell and the servos, and as stated, gearing, although that might be the rear end.

Do a 6-spd, it will be so much more fun!

[ZQ8 Blazer]

What's the difference between the fullsize and s10 trans?

WAIT, Petro there's a trans on the LS2 in he pic, what's amatta wit dat?

[Petro]

Didn't have the money to buy it too...Wish i did...It's an auto...

[ZQ8 Blazer]

oh ok. Needs to sit a little lower out back imo, you gonna flip those leaf springs?

[Petro]

Oh yeah definitely..Probably tomorrow...

Have you had to replace your distributor in your truck?

[ZQ8 Blazer]

nope and I'm pretty sure it hasn't ever been replaced, aren't they kind of high for our models? Seems like I seen that somewhere.

[Petro]

The reason I ask is because it looks like I won't have enough room to pull/install. I mean I don't know how long the shaft is for our engines but it just seems like it'll be a pain without pulling the motor. I could just be over reacting . The remanufactured ones are about $85-$95 and new like $200-$230..I'll be going with a remanufactured one for sure...It'll last til i get the 6.0 installed...

[ZQ8 Blazer]

I know on my 94 fullsize I just pulled the cap off, but it was the older style that is a lot taller than ours. I would look at mine, but the Blazer bodies sit about 1 inch higher off the frame that the S-10s, the engine is raised up too, but I don't think it's a full inch so my engine would be easier to pull than yours.

On my 94 I found the best/easiest way was to remove the entire front clip including rad support then pull it that way. I pulled mine with our tractor that has a front bucket on it, made it friggin easy.

How many miles does your engine have on it?

[Petro]

92,000 miles....I guess I'll wake up early Monday and get started on it...Hopefully it goes smoothly...But nothing ever does when it comes to working on vehicles...

[ZQ8 Blazer]

damn, maybe mine has been replaced. I bought it with 122k and now it has 150k.

[Petro]

I dunno...But mine is making a awful noise and the census is that the bearings went out...

[ZQ8 Blazer]

Muffler bearings?

[Petro]

No the bearings and bushings in the distributor...

[ZQ8 Blazer]

lol yeah I know

[Petro]

Alright you had me going there....

[ZQ8 Blazer]

ha ha

[1BadElky]

subscribing... and t56 ftw!

[01cherryreds10]

There's enough room to take the distributor out, you'll have to take the cap off to clear the cowl though. Save yourself the troubles and take the entire intake off as well as the throttle body. My dad snapped the distributor where the bolt goes through so we just picked one up from the junkyard for $50. Then he snapped the cap

Oh yeah as long as you're doing preventative maintanence, try and pick up an aluminum third door handle on eBay. I've had two snap and the next replacement is definately gonna be aluminum. Nice truck and color

[Petro]

Thanks for the info Cherry. That makes me feel better about having to replace it. Yeah I got a aluminum handle just last week. $15.00 total (shipping included) and only took me like 5 min to install. No more worries about that thing breaking and looks great. Oh and did you "need" an oil pump tool to line the oil pump up? Or can I just use some tool I already have? And again thanks for the tip on the distributor.

[Petro]

Well I just installed the new distributor. (A first for me.) I made sure that everything was the way it should be and double checked. I put everything back together and no problems. No more noise and it seems to run a tad smoother too. Oh and there was plenty of room to pull/install the new shaft. Didn't need a oil pump tool just used a long flat head screwdriver. But the tool would've made it a lil easier. Anyways $130 later my truck is back to normal. (The remanned one didn't come with a cap and rotor so I had to keep the ones I bought yesterday.)

Oh yeah and next is replacing the door pins on driver's side door. But at least that's cheap like $15 for pins and door spring tool.

[ZQ8 Blazer]

pins and the tool? Where?

[Petro]

Door Spring tool from Harbor freight $2.99
Door Pins from O'Reillys $8.00 (with splined bushings)

[ZQ8 Blazer]

You're f'n kiddin me! I've been wanting one, but only need it once so don't want to pay $12 for it(I'm super cheap ha ha) The closest Harbor Freight to me is over a hour away though.

[Petro]

I've got this idea to do something like a "ram air" using the SS Bumper Cover. By having a scoop behind the center opening and come up to the TB. I could make my own by using a vacuum former and some poly/plastic. To corny or not worth it?

Similar to this:


And similar to this but it would fit snug around the backside of the opening...

[ls1s10onair]

i think its a bad ass idea, but how could that work? the grille is flush on the rad. support, and the rad/condenser is there? Even so, i wouldnt do it, cuz of losing valuable radiator airflow

[Petro]

It would be flush with the backside of the bumper and taper then would I would have it come below the core support and up behind the radiator to the TB. With Jareds Radiator/fan setup and the Vette accessories I think I'll have enough room. Does that give a better idea?

[platour22]

Do you have to run a floor shifter with an automatic, or can you still use the column shifter. Just noticed you have one. I picked on up from a junk yard but its messed up a little. But would rather use the column.

[Petro]

Column shifter will work no problem...I bought that floor shifter console to work with the T56..The hole where the shifter for the T56 is the same as the auto floor shift console...Some guys before had been using the 95-97 model blazer console with the vertical cup holders for the T56.. But with this style console and a T56 you get cup holders and a factory appearance. Search for the thread console w/ T56...

[ZQ8 Blazer]

What about the full length 5sp center consoles?

[Petro]

The shifter on the T56 sets about 6in further back...So the 5 spd consoles wouldn't work...The one that most guys were using was the 95-97 Blazer console (with vertical cupholders.) I had the idea about the floor shifter consoles and turns out it works and at least one person already did it...

New Door Pins are in...No more air leaking in and getting road noise inside the cab with the windows up...It was just the top driver's side one that was bad..

[ZQ8 Blazer]

I could have sworn I seen on setup like that...

Mines like that too, but I have new door pins. That side was wrecked, but it was just damage to the door and not the a-pillar or roof.

[Petro]

I called Moser today to ask some questions about their C-clip eliminators and differential covers. I'll have to do some more research for the c-clip eliminators. But I on their covers they have Moser engraved/stamped on them. I was asked if I could get a blank one so that I could get LS2 S10 put on it. They said it was in the casting but I don't think it is.Anyways I wonder if someplace could blank it out and engrave it. Not to worried about being able to engrave just blanking the Moser out..Thought it would be a nice touch..

[Petro]

Sorry about the grammar in the above post...sounds like a drunk wrote it...Anyways I just got a good deal on stock intake/fuel rails/injectors. I plan on getting it ported. I can go with a FAST intake later on. I want my other parts to get here!!!!