The Wanderers build

[superbuickguy]

while the total isn't done (nor is any part of it), I'm pleasantly surprised at how affordable the interior work is. $500 for carpet, $200 for more sound deadening, $400 for the saggy roof, $1200 for the dash, $1600 for the seats. Seats with leather seating surfaces (and new foam) and the dash with some minor modifications to stock but will be a solid upgrade... of course, 2 months wait time... but it's a lot less than I expected.

not recovering the rear seat. This is getting a camper - thus leaving the area open most of the time.

what isn't affordable is all the exterior parts (like grill) the cars giveth and the car taketh away. Lamentations 30:2 SBG version.

 

[superbuickguy]

a year ago, I bought a box full of squarebody weatherstrips... misc stuff. Finally got around to inventorying it and found I have enough to do the Blazer and probably the 4 door truck's doors with weather seal (channel and glass wipes.

didn't get windwing stuff, but I have like 10 of them and at least 2 with decent seals.
fitting on the pretty stuff, mostly the keep it safe

my 'goal' on this is that someone would think I modified a new Blazer with lift, fender flares and nice seats.... sure, there is a lot more into it but that's the goal - so no painting chrome, no blacking grills or rear trims

probably will tint marker lights but that's about it for that... .again, looks stock but not

and again, the entire point of this build is an overland rig - so the camper, not the truck, is the focus

 

[superbuickguy]

a bit of lens darkening

now darker

and viola

installed

 

[superbuickguy]

parts are arriving....

first install, rubber surround on the doors to keep from the doors being slammed and chipping paint

then some sound deadening in the doors

 

[superbuickguy]

where do you buy these rollers?

yes, badges go back on

 

[superbuickguy]

little bites
problem, the maker is too big for the relief cut

solution, remove the aluminum ring

time to make the badging look better

some cleanup and add the 3rd color but getting there

 

[superbuickguy]

spent WAY too much time getting this hard water/burn off the rear tailgate center

got the new markers, so tinted them

 

[superbuickguy]

Back to the Blazer
I thought the white was jarring

so I blacked out the sun (that would be a cool song title)

bought new K5 badges

then worked on trying to find the holes that the painter conveniently filled and painted over... failed, but I'm gluing it in place so no worries

then started installing the flares

more tomorrow.

 

[superbuickguy]

Installed flares today

about flares.... fiddly but not hard. still have to put the bottom screws in place but I'm going with pop rivets because I'm not a fan of tech screws as they fall out eventually and give someone (usually me) a flat tire....
next up is door assembly

 

[superbuickguy]

then again, I could be working on the tailgate, still, by the time SEMA rolls around... lordy
first, though, attach the rear aluminum strip

then work on latches.... not terrible, but a PITA and fiddly

then work on the switch

oh but wait, more parts

picture for posterity

and the problems... corrosion on the contacts

I'm so glad this never became a thing at GM.... what a stupid way of holding a cylinder together

by now, you probably realize the issue is the switch isn't working

don't have a 4th hand to take a picture of this being tested by the problem is this bit

doesn't hang out on that pin... it allows power through the various contacts (twist the key makes the contact complete the power circuit to the other wire. That copper part should be attached to the top (the back side of this piece via the missing stud)

so my attempt to save $100 failed.... or I I just didn't feel like seeing how terrible my soldering skillz are....
and finally, to make myself feel better, I successfully (and that was fully successfully) attached the new motor to the bracket

anyway, back to waiting for parts.... I have plenty to do...

 

[superbuickguy]

repainted the front... there were 2 more coats after this... it's nice and black

then there will be some assembly required for the rear bumper

and to mention... I ordered a replacement bumper for my Colorado on 6/18. I still don't have it and we're still in the "two weeks" BS that they say. This bumper, I ordered 2 weeks ago.... I'm not saying use Move products but I am saying if you don't, you'll wish you did

 

[superbuickguy]

Just remember, what I'm working on took a high school graduate seconds on the assembly line.... geesh
another one of those high impedance air gaps

time to strip

it's just an empty shell of itself

can someone please explain to me why the English lick paint - you've heard them talk about it "give it a lick of paint"

now with paint

figured I'd give myself a boost by welding this together.... my initial feeling is they overbent a line.... hope I'm wrong

 

[superbuickguy]

time to start the reassembly
first, fix the wiring

then remember I forgot to drill the holes for the wires... oops

difference between factory and aftermarket - see the marks for drilling the holes in the gm one?

a lock on

Tuesday, I have to get this to the glass shop to put in a new front window... did I mention my trailer is 250 miles away?

 

[superbuickguy]

carrying on... other door stripped

drilled the holes

then deburred with these

then put on the aftermarket mirrors. just no

I will probably disassemble them then make them black - aftermarket mirrors are plastic, not stainless, like the originals. kind of a win/lose thing but the win part is it's a lot easier to get paint to adhere to plastic.

I'll use the stock base with the plastic cover and the arm. might even make them heated since I have to take them completely apart.

but that's later. Tomorrow it gets its front window.

 

[ITTOG]

carrying on... other door stripped

drilled the holes

then deburred with these

then put on the aftermarket mirrors. just no

I will probably disassemble them then make them black - aftermarket mirrors are plastic, not stainless, like the originals. kind of a win/lose thing but the win part is it's a lot easier to get paint to adhere to plastic.

I'll use the stock base with the plastic cover and the arm. might even make them heated since I have to take them completely apart.

but that's later. Tomorrow it gets its front window.

It is looking great, except for the mirrors. They seem out of place. Maybe if the arm wasn't so tall?