1988 Blazer Project

[urbanrifleman]

My fiance and I started our relationship based on the fact that she wanted to buy a truck to fix up. We ended up buying a 1978 international harvester scout traveler. That truck will always be near and dear to my heart, but as a project it's just more than we wanted to take on because parts are ridiculously difficult to get and are crazy expensive.

So I suggested that we get a Chevrolet anything. Simply due to the parts.

So on Monday we drove to Mansfield, Missouri, which is east of Springfield, and picked up this 1988 Blazer that originally came from California. It is all original. Now this will be a very fun project. Part of the reason that I built the new shop was so that we could do our projects together.

 

[pdog06]

Awesome! I like them old Blazers!

Back in high school I had a 68 Camaro and my wife had a 72 Nova. They are long gone but we’ve always said we will have another one. Given todays prices we can’t afford one of each, so it’s an ongoing discussion which car we would get if it actually comes to happen.
So in a few years if we get one of them, I will be sure to post some pics of the Nova…lol

 

[Bc'z]

Can't go wrong with a square body.
Looks like it has great potential and should be a fun project.
I'm getting to the end of a 1980 Elcomino myself.
Tintable sray in raptor kit hides a multitude of sins on the floor of bed
all lined out ready to final sand

 

[alf]

Always been a Blazer fan, bought a robin egg blue 72 in 73 with 13K on it, then a new black K5 in 78.

 

[Gary in MD]

I had a Black 87 or 88 K5 with a 350. That was a nice hunting rig, some days I wish I still had it.
The only problems that I ever had was that thing went through rear U - joints like they were going out of style. I kept an extra in the glove compartment and because it happened so many times, I could change it out in 20 minutes.

 

[AccelR8]

Nice! I had a square body 4X4 Diesel Silverado Suburban. Put a 2.5” lift on it. Later, traded it in on a pick-up. I really regret getting rid of that Suburban, wish I still had it!

In reference to that El Camino, I had a ‘79 Malibu (very similar to the El Camino) with a small block V-8. Gave it up in a divorce, and then afterwards somebody ran into it and that was that. It was a great car. I have always wanted to do an El Camino version of that car. One problem is around here they all rusted to pieces years ago. Might have to look in the Pacific Northwest for one.

 

[urbanrifleman]

I had a Black 87 or 88 K5 with a 350. That was a nice hunting rig, some days I wish I still had it.
The only problems that I ever had was that thing went through rear U - joints like they were going out of style. I kept an extra in the glove compartment and because it happened so many times, I could change it out in 20 minutes.

I heard the problem with the u-joints started after people started lifting them. I don't know if yours was lifted.

 

[Evan]

I heard the problem with the u-joints started after people started lifting them. I don't know if yours was lifted.

Lifted and/or oversized tires.

 

[Gary in MD]

I heard the problem with the u-joints started after people started lifting them. I don't know if yours was lifted.

It’s possible but it only had 33” tires and wasn’t driven hard at all. I had taken to a pretty good shop and they checked everything out, drive shaft angle, put in new ring and pinion, etc.
They couldn’t figure out the problem, it didn’t bother me too much I still liked the truck a lot.

 

[Eagle Six]

The best of luck with your Blazer project, and nice looking lady you have. I had a 69' Blazer, great little box truck and a lot of memories in the snow with that beast. Now I have an 81' Caballero.

 

[butchlambert]

My fiance and I started our relationship based on the fact that she wanted to buy a truck to fix up. We ended up buying a 1978 international harvester scout traveler. That truck will always be near and dear to my heart, but as a project it's just more than we wanted to take on because parts are ridiculously difficult to get and are crazy expensive.

So I suggested that we get a Chevrolet anything. Simply due to the parts.

So on Monday we drove to Mansfield, Missouri, which is east of Springfield, and picked up this 1988 Blazer that originally came from California. It is all original. Now this will be a very fun project. Part of the reason that I built the new shop was so that we could do our projects together.

View attachment 1489450View attachment 1489451

I think you bit the butt of an elephant on this one!

 

[urbanrifleman]

I think you bit the butt of an elephant on this one!

I think of my fiance of more of a unicorn than an elephant...

 

[butchlambert]

Not speaking of your lady, just the vehicle that you picked for this project.

 

[alf]

My 78 I gave it a 4" lift, 35" tires, Holly, Edelbrock, and Hookers.

Sometimes gas mileage got down in the mid single digits.

 

[whatsupdoc]

Them old blazers were good trucks except GM had no clue on how to keep
them from rusting out.

 

[ebb]

My Blazer was a 1974 and I had transmition problems with it and so did many others. If yours has a turbo 350 don't spend a penny on it go to a 400 and save yourself the trouble

 

[urbanrifleman]

Not speaking of your lady, just the vehicle that you picked for this project.

The only butt in my world.

 

[urbanrifleman]

My Blazer was a 1974 and I had transmition problems with it and so did many others. If yours has a turbo 350 don't spend a penny on it go to a 400 and save yourself the trouble

This one has the R700 4 speed OD transmission.

 

[alf]

Them old blazers were good trucks except GM had no clue on how to keep
them from rusting out.

I had my 78 undercoated when new, with a 7 year warranty. It started to rust just when the warranty expired.

Didn't matter, I sold it outright, and bought a new 85 K10 4X4.

 

[butchlambert]

I had my 78 undercoated when new, with a 7 year warranty. It started to rust just when the warranty expired.

Didn't matter, I sold it outright, and bought a new 85 K10 4X4.

Undercoating holds the salt and moisture. If you live in a rust belt, keep the underneath clean and spray underneath with a light oil.