The S-10 Blazer is now lowered! We installed the Belltech Stage I Lowering Kit, dropping it down both 3" in the front and rear. The front was a bit difficult to get the torsion bars loose from the lower A-arms....actually we never did get them loose. We beat the hell out of the bars trying to get them to slide forward, but eventually loosened the rear cross member and slid that back to release the keys.
The new keys were a snap to install (you can see the difference between the old, rusty keys and the new ones below), and we then moved on to the rear drop. Cutting off the old U-bolts was easier than getting them off the correct way, then we installed the lowering blocks and new hardware. The stock "truck" tires are just a bit big, but I'm looking for a 17" rim/tire combination that will work cheap.
The 1991 S-10 Blazer finally got a much needed fuel tank today. The old tank could only hold about a 1/2 tank, then it leaked all over the place. I figured it must have been leaking at the seam from the lower to upper half of the tanks. I know someone had been working on the fuel system before, as most of the lines and clamps are not stock, and the plastic cover over the tank was missing. We purchased a new tank online from CarParts.com, and spent the day draining the old gas, swapping out the fuel pump from the old tank to the new one, cleaning up the rear end and the tank straps, and then re-installing everything. We had just enough gas to get to the Sunoco, where we put $40 and a nearly full tank in for the first time since we have owned it with NO leaks. Nice.
Zach and I were quite successful at the 2013 Spring Englishtown Swap Meet. We were not but a few feet into the first row when we came across a pair of rust-free S-10 Blazer fenders, and after a brief bit of haggling, we picked them up for only $20 each! We also grabbed ourselves a Haynes repair manual for the truck for only $10, and a few other small odds and ends.
Since I've already passed the truck through the state inspection, (which means we will be keeping it for a while) I thought we would go ahead and replace the old, leaking fuel tank this weekend. If we have some time, maybe we will also start on the new Belltech lowering kit we also picked up. Zach also found another pic, so I have to post it for inspiration...
This past weekend, we converted the 1991 S-10 Blazer from a 4 wheel drive to a 2 wheel drive. It all started with an innocent first real inspection of the under-carriage of the Blazer....something I should have really done before now. I grabbed the can of rust penetrant, and then climbed underneath. WOW, there was some rust in areas I was not expecting. I swear, someone must have used this truck to launch a jet ski or boat in the marina or spread salt. I knew the doors and fenders were rusted, but the shocks? The passenger side upper A arm had a whole or two completely through it! That was replaced immediately. Since we plan on lowering the Blazer, and since the 4 wheel drive didn't work well, we decided to pull the front drive train out. We removed the front axles, front drive shaft, and even the front differential. There is still one piece there to remove yet, for lack of a better term I'll call it the passenger side torque tube. We also pulled off the skid plates, tow hooks and front valance. Parts should start arriving this week for the new gas tank and suspension, and we will be looking for sheet metal at the swap meet this weekend.
I want to put a bunch of YouTube videos on this blog to help me get some ideas and even some technical insight for our build. We will start with this one...
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Zach
and I have been debating whether we should fix up the 1991 Chevy S10
Blazer Tahoe or not. We both like the body style of the two door, but
recognize that this one needs some work. After racing with our friend
Jay this past weekend and his 1986 S10, and watching a few videos like
the one below... we have made the decision to go for it. We spent a few
hours today going over the plan, and even ordered a few parts like a new
gas tank. I'm thinking of keeping it flat black (like the one to the
left), but with a customs RS ghost stripe and emblems like I have on the
'67 Camaro....we will see. After we get the body done, we are even
considering pulling out the 4.3 V6 and throwing in my brand new 355!
This past weekend, we converted the 1991 S-10 Blazer from a 4 wheel drive to a 2 wheel drive. It all started with an innocent first real inspection of the under-carriage of the Blazer....something I should have really done before now. I grabbed the can of rust penetrant, and then climbed underneath. WOW, there was some rust in areas I was not expecting. I swear, someone must have used this truck to launch a jet ski or boat in the marina or spread salt. I knew the doors and fenders were rusted, but the shocks? The passenger side upper A arm had a whole or two completely through it! That was replaced immediately. Since we plan on lowering the Blazer, and since the 4 wheel drive didn't work well, we decided to pull the front drive train out. We removed the front axles, front drive shaft, and even the front differential. There is still one piece there to remove yet, for lack of a better term I'll call it the passenger side torque tube. We also pulled off the skid plates, tow hooks and front valance. Parts should start arriving this week for the new gas tank and suspension, and we will be looking for sheet metal at the swap meet this weekend.
Zach
and I have been debating whether we should fix up the 1991 Chevy S10
Blazer Tahoe or not. We both like the body style of the two door, but
recognize that this one needs some work. After racing with our friend
Jay this past weekend and his 1986 S10, and watching a few videos like
the one below... we have made the decision to go for it. We spent a few
hours today going over the plan, and even ordered a few parts like a new
gas tank. I'm thinking of keeping it flat black (like the one to the
left), but with a customs RS ghost stripe and emblems like I have on the
'67 Camaro....we will see. After we get the body done, we are even
considering pulling out the 4.3 V6 and throwing in my brand new 355! 