Couple more -
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Couple more -
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Lest my speedster brother's and sisters think that we only mess with "poser cars" (the spyder) or other Eurotrash (assored 911's) here's another garage project from Casa De Lane.
A few years ago, Steve announced that he wanted to get me a really nice anniversary present. He was pretty darn serious about the "nice" part because he offered up a big diamond ring (blech - whatever), a WS6 Trans Am convertible (mmmm...nice), a 63 SS Nova convertible (oh getting warmer) or a two-wheel drive blazer (BINGO!).
When we first met, I had a 68 SWB stepside pickup that I adored. I sold it, bawling like a baby, with 1.7 million miles on the odometer. So a similar vintage two-whel drive blazer was EXACTLY what I wanted.
Took months to find one. This truck is a 72, factory 2wd, factory air, factory automatic. Perfect. Except we promptly named it "Rusty". Guess why... There was so much rust in the floors and rocker's that Steve fell thru the truck... But Steve can fix pretty much anything made of metal, and alot of parts are available for this truck.
Only problem was that he got awfully distracted during the build. Along came the spyder... Then we built a house... Now he's building a 911 cabriolet. But the blazer is up next. He asked me to clean it up from the last couple of years of storage so I thought I would share this beautiful truck with you guys and gals.
Engine is small block 383, 700R4 transmission, posi. The seats are from a 90's chevy pickup. The rear floor has the "feet" for a suburban 3rd seat grafted in so that the rear seat sits all the way down on the floor, folds in half and slides out the back.
The fuel door is from a Honda VFR motorcycle that Steve cut out and grafted in. Side markers and tailights are smoothed. Tailights will be in the rear valance and are Ford Focus 3rd brake lights (LED) modified for brake/turn. Truck will have a steel cowl-induction hood.
Should be a pretty sweet ride when its done! The windshield frame and interior is painted, but the rest of the truck is still in white primer.
angela
A few years ago, Steve announced that he wanted to get me a really nice anniversary present. He was pretty darn serious about the "nice" part because he offered up a big diamond ring (blech - whatever), a WS6 Trans Am convertible (mmmm...nice), a 63 SS Nova convertible (oh getting warmer) or a two-wheel drive blazer (BINGO!).
When we first met, I had a 68 SWB stepside pickup that I adored. I sold it, bawling like a baby, with 1.7 million miles on the odometer. So a similar vintage two-whel drive blazer was EXACTLY what I wanted.
Took months to find one. This truck is a 72, factory 2wd, factory air, factory automatic. Perfect. Except we promptly named it "Rusty". Guess why... There was so much rust in the floors and rocker's that Steve fell thru the truck... But Steve can fix pretty much anything made of metal, and alot of parts are available for this truck.
Only problem was that he got awfully distracted during the build. Along came the spyder... Then we built a house... Now he's building a 911 cabriolet. But the blazer is up next. He asked me to clean it up from the last couple of years of storage so I thought I would share this beautiful truck with you guys and gals.
Engine is small block 383, 700R4 transmission, posi. The seats are from a 90's chevy pickup. The rear floor has the "feet" for a suburban 3rd seat grafted in so that the rear seat sits all the way down on the floor, folds in half and slides out the back.
The fuel door is from a Honda VFR motorcycle that Steve cut out and grafted in. Side markers and tailights are smoothed. Tailights will be in the rear valance and are Ford Focus 3rd brake lights (LED) modified for brake/turn. Truck will have a steel cowl-induction hood.
Should be a pretty sweet ride when its done! The windshield frame and interior is painted, but the rest of the truck is still in white primer.
angela
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What's the latest on the 904, Angela?
Love the older Blazers.
Love the older Blazers.
Steve and I are holding out to see what Thunder Ranch's 904 is going to look like. TR is going to build a 906 style frame (more birdcage than the Beck). Tom showed me the plans for it, and it is very nice. As soon as we can see one in person, we'll throw down some cashola. Also, TR is going to offer an, umm, how shall I say this delicately, "american-man" sized, a little taller and longer. Steve is still unhappy that the spyder doesn't fit him (but I am frankly delighted hehehehe).
There is also a new fuel injection system that has passed thru the development stage and should be on the market shortly. If it is as good as it looks on paper and on the prototype that the designer let us see, we'll use it on a 993 engine. It will offer easier tunability/adjustabilty than TEC-3 (in other words, a dummy like me can do it), along with a somewhat vintage look. Imagine an electronic Hildebrand fuel injection - that's the basic idea, except that it is electronically modern.
angela
There is also a new fuel injection system that has passed thru the development stage and should be on the market shortly. If it is as good as it looks on paper and on the prototype that the designer let us see, we'll use it on a 993 engine. It will offer easier tunability/adjustabilty than TEC-3 (in other words, a dummy like me can do it), along with a somewhat vintage look. Imagine an electronic Hildebrand fuel injection - that's the basic idea, except that it is electronically modern.
angela
Angela - is that house next door to you still up for sale? I would love to be neighbors with crazy gear-heads like you & Steve (I mean El Grande Guapo!).
Godd luck with that Blazer project!
Godd luck with that Blazer project!
Lookin' good Angela! Very good!!....
It always amazes me that folks like you and Steve can make something workin' on lifeless come back to life beautifully -- with so many modifications that shouldn't go well together. Somewhere, there's an artist living in y'all's mountain-biking, 911-modifyin', neighbors-scarin' by Spyder-backward-drivin' house.
The windshield frame, especially, had to be a pain in the butt. If the angle's not right, if the clips aren't perfect ... so many little variables just to hold a piece of glass.
Interesting, too, that the "what box?" thinking went with Focus lights instead of fender-mounted stockers. What will compliment them on the front end? Maybe some hood modifications and eliptical glass fairing covers in the shape of the former fender metal?
Sure does look nice at this point. The seats look like you could run over railroad tracks and not feel a thing!
The windshield frame, especially, had to be a pain in the butt. If the angle's not right, if the clips aren't perfect ... so many little variables just to hold a piece of glass.
Interesting, too, that the "what box?" thinking went with Focus lights instead of fender-mounted stockers. What will compliment them on the front end? Maybe some hood modifications and eliptical glass fairing covers in the shape of the former fender metal?
Sure does look nice at this point. The seats look like you could run over railroad tracks and not feel a thing!
Thanks guys! Steve is very excited now that the truck is unburied and clean to proceed with work on it. He drug out the door hinges and hood hinges. I'll kick them off for powder-coating this week. The door hinges are the only thing that keeps the front end from being mounted. Its a real pain to put the hinges on the tub with the fenders in place, so he wants to do that first.
We started this project some five years ago. Bought the truck, drove it one time out to my mother's house (who was HORRIFIED at the sight of it) and then took it home. Steve went to work on a Saturday and the way out the door made a smarty pants comment that I took as a challenge. He said, see if you can get the frontend bolts loose before I get home.
Kinda felt like he was short changing me, I can do more than just get a few bolts loose! So when he came home, the truck was down to bare tub much like you see here. I got all the front sheetmetal including inner fenders, hood, etc., removed by myself. The hood was heavy! All downhill from there! Unfortunately, since painting the inner tub and body work/primer on the outer, it has been sitting untouched for close to 4 years...
And yes, El Guapo Jim, the house next door is for sale. And Cory, my speedster brutha, this big old truck is going to be one mucho cool cruiser! You'll see WHEN you come out, maybe next year?
angela
We started this project some five years ago. Bought the truck, drove it one time out to my mother's house (who was HORRIFIED at the sight of it) and then took it home. Steve went to work on a Saturday and the way out the door made a smarty pants comment that I took as a challenge. He said, see if you can get the frontend bolts loose before I get home.
Kinda felt like he was short changing me, I can do more than just get a few bolts loose! So when he came home, the truck was down to bare tub much like you see here. I got all the front sheetmetal including inner fenders, hood, etc., removed by myself. The hood was heavy! All downhill from there! Unfortunately, since painting the inner tub and body work/primer on the outer, it has been sitting untouched for close to 4 years...
And yes, El Guapo Jim, the house next door is for sale. And Cory, my speedster brutha, this big old truck is going to be one mucho cool cruiser! You'll see WHEN you come out, maybe next year?
angela
I probably should head west one of these years. My much-loved (blech) stepmother took the time to plan all of my annual leave for me this year. I can do local stuff with trades and swaps on the schedule, but I'm screwed until this fall.
Hey -- one more question. Why a 2WD?
Hey -- one more question. Why a 2WD?
The 2wd trucks built 67-72 actually have surprisingly advanced suspension. Look under a current NASCAR vehicle and you will see pretty much the same suspension, a-arm up front with very long trailing arms to coil-over rear suspension on a solid axle. With good swaybars, lowered and decent tires, they handle surprisingly well. I still hold a hillclimb class record in my 68 2wd pickup(local climb). The record has held for some 18 years. I actually used to be a good driver (I suck now).
The 2wd blazer in this body style was only built for part of 69 and thru 72. They are fairly rare. I don't know the exact numbers, but if I remember right, there were about 1700 built in 1972. Of that group, probably only a handful were factory air factory V8's. So this is a fairly rare truck.
The "why 2wd?" is easy. It's rather rare, handles GREAT and looks absolutely stunning when it is "dropped." And baby, this puppy is going to be in the weeds! Here's a couple of pics of what they look like when lowered. Steve also "backdated" the front end to the 67/68 front - the first picture is a 67/68 (actually 67) front end on a 69-72 tub. Nice as these two trucks are, I can assure you that the one Steve builds will be BETTER (open bragging on my skilled husband).
angela
The 2wd blazer in this body style was only built for part of 69 and thru 72. They are fairly rare. I don't know the exact numbers, but if I remember right, there were about 1700 built in 1972. Of that group, probably only a handful were factory air factory V8's. So this is a fairly rare truck.
The "why 2wd?" is easy. It's rather rare, handles GREAT and looks absolutely stunning when it is "dropped." And baby, this puppy is going to be in the weeds! Here's a couple of pics of what they look like when lowered. Steve also "backdated" the front end to the 67/68 front - the first picture is a 67/68 (actually 67) front end on a 69-72 tub. Nice as these two trucks are, I can assure you that the one Steve builds will be BETTER (open bragging on my skilled husband).
angela
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Holy crap!
So you won't be needing that Spyder anymore, then?
So you won't be needing that Spyder anymore, then?
Well Cory, you ALWAYS need spyders! By the way, an aquaintance of ours is selling a nearly complete (even painted!) 911 powered spyder on ebay. Quite lovely color combination.
angela
angela
That is one sweet ride. I like the look of the open bed. Are you planning to run air suspension? Either way I love to stance. Have you considered running megasquirt? I hear its pretty inexpensive and can do a lot of tuning.
No megasquirt. Lets face it - this is a large displacement small block chevy. Edelbrock carburetor and intake manifold - just about fool proof and flawlessly sorted(very important for me) on this type of vehicle. I am consistently amazed with how easily this type of system sets up and runs right out of the box.
A little low-tech, yes. But very much in character with a great big convertible low-riding sled that should throw out 400? 450? lbs of torque!
angela
A little low-tech, yes. But very much in character with a great big convertible low-riding sled that should throw out 400? 450? lbs of torque!
angela
I better notify your neighbors about the new "RedHead Sled" hitting the pavement sometime soon! NICE!!
Love that body style K5. It looks like it's going to be a sweet ride!
It's Deja Vu all over again; because in talking about these trucks somehow I remember we mentioned "Copperhead" as built by Stacey David from the old Trucks series with the first 572 GM Performance Parts engine off the line. It's probably the nastiest (and most gas guzzlin')truck I've ever seen. It came out gorgeous too...I wonder who has it now.
***Update****
Fire in the hole baby!!!! Got the blazer running tonight. No leaks, no drips, sounds like it's making good power. We couldn't locate the replacement ignition switch and wiring (somewhere in storage). The PO had melted the original one. I looked at it and said, let's hot wire the bitch!
Steve looks at me and I continue, take those two, hold 'em together and hit 'em with the purple one! Few minutes later we were burning gas and making noise!
Damn I love firing 'em up the first time! Nothing like it! Oh, here's the funny part... After the obligatory 20 minutes or so run time, we shut it off and were putting tools away. It was THEN that we found the replacement switch and wiring - DOH!
angela
Fire in the hole baby!!!! Got the blazer running tonight. No leaks, no drips, sounds like it's making good power. We couldn't locate the replacement ignition switch and wiring (somewhere in storage). The PO had melted the original one. I looked at it and said, let's hot wire the bitch!
Steve looks at me and I continue, take those two, hold 'em together and hit 'em with the purple one! Few minutes later we were burning gas and making noise!
Damn I love firing 'em up the first time! Nothing like it! Oh, here's the funny part... After the obligatory 20 minutes or so run time, we shut it off and were putting tools away. It was THEN that we found the replacement switch and wiring - DOH!
angela
Engine pics (still some work to do here). Don't laugh at the tape over the carb, it's really handy for NOT dropping things in the engine... The trans cooler and a/c go in front. Going to use electric fans on this one. Second picture is Steve after he put the hood on. 2" steel functional cowl hood.
angela
angela
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I'm guessing that Steve's coiffure means the weather is getting much cooler in Oregon! We already know the Blazer is going to be one kick-ass truck! Looking forward to seeing the finished product. Wait a minute, I think I said that 2 years ago. Full speed ahead, Angela!
Who is that strange man?
He he!
He he!
Thought you guys would get a kick out of Steve's first drive in the Blazer. First drives at the Lane household usually involve some form of entertainment...
In this case, we have a vintage truck with unbled brakes. As in, no brakes. Also, no seat or door latches but most of that stuff is pretty over rated anyway. So we gave Steve a perfectly nice milk crate to sit on and tied the doors closed with a piece of wire. Steve headed out into the field without brakes but with me hanging onto the tail gate to be the human anchor if he got too close to the fence. Short list of wives who will chase behind a pickup truck and act as an anchor... Probably with good reason - LOL!
He had no problem making the corners and even did a spectacular burn-off in the grass. Two rows of sod hurled in the air (12 bolt 3.73 posi) like exclamation points to a really good day!
The only downer was that the new coil springs on the rear end are way too high. The rear needs to come down probably 3 inches.
angela
In this case, we have a vintage truck with unbled brakes. As in, no brakes. Also, no seat or door latches but most of that stuff is pretty over rated anyway. So we gave Steve a perfectly nice milk crate to sit on and tied the doors closed with a piece of wire. Steve headed out into the field without brakes but with me hanging onto the tail gate to be the human anchor if he got too close to the fence. Short list of wives who will chase behind a pickup truck and act as an anchor... Probably with good reason - LOL!
He had no problem making the corners and even did a spectacular burn-off in the grass. Two rows of sod hurled in the air (12 bolt 3.73 posi) like exclamation points to a really good day!
The only downer was that the new coil springs on the rear end are way too high. The rear needs to come down probably 3 inches.
angela
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Who's the guy with the HAIR? :)
~WB
~WB
LOL! - That's Steve's "winter" hair-do. He shaves bald in the spring and grows it back in the fall. He has a great head of hair but I honestly thing he is a spectacularly handsome bald man.
Bald guys ROCK!
angela
Bald guys ROCK!
angela
Will you marry me, Angela!
Awww, you southern guys... Raised to charm the nomex socks right off a gal, aren't you?
angela
angela
You and Steve are like 2 peas in a pod!! It was awfully nice of you to lend Steve your Recaro milk crate seat. Full speed ahead with the project!!
From what I recall, that milk crate has been used before. Wasn't it on your Dad's Monte?
S&A: you guys are TFA! But one question: On any given day, how do you decide which of your 49 different cars to drive? Don;t they just keep piling up in the yard? And where are the two Speedsters? "Gear-heads" does not even come close to telling about you two. Congrats on the progress w/ the truck. Gonna be cool when all done up, like all that went before it.
Danny - I used a catalytic converter (from a 3.2 911) to drive the Monte the first time... I couldn't find the milk crate.
Kelly - we usually only keep insurance on 3 or 4 at a time. Right now we have insurance on the cabby, the Ford crew cab and my little beater Pathfinder. The rest are either completely uninsured projects like the speedsters and the blazer, or they have comprehensive on them. So right now Butters the 911 coupe, the spyder, and Dad's SS all of whom are in storage, have just comprehensive.
We have too many cars.
angela
Kelly - we usually only keep insurance on 3 or 4 at a time. Right now we have insurance on the cabby, the Ford crew cab and my little beater Pathfinder. The rest are either completely uninsured projects like the speedsters and the blazer, or they have comprehensive on them. So right now Butters the 911 coupe, the spyder, and Dad's SS all of whom are in storage, have just comprehensive.
We have too many cars.
angela
No one can have too many cars. One CAN have too small a garage, or even too small a property. That's what aspirations are for.