Im excited, my friends mom gave me her 98 Bravada. Its in bad shape in the interior, and theres most likely some big engine problems but I want a project to work on, and i like the Bravada cause its a unique Blazer :) . I see potential in her and she needs a good home.
I have plans to reupholster the entire interior which will probably be the most expensive part, the engine may possibly need to be rebuilt, new starter. little things here and there.
I also need a new bumper face, i have the old one but its a little messed up, i might be able to reuse it.
Whacha think?
Biohazed
03-29-2009, 08:18 AM
I would say you need a new bumper too, and possibly a Rad support ... also with a hit like that I would hope you have the frame checked for any bending and or other damage before you go and sink money into it. Other than that looks like it could be a fun project
FoxTrota
03-29-2009, 01:39 PM
the radiator support is fine, its the bumper that got pushed up and took the force of the impact breaking the light and warped the grille, doesn't look like the frame took any damage.
swartlkk
03-29-2009, 07:32 PM
I doubt you can pull the bumper reinforcement back into shape to hold the bumper cover properly. I mean, given enough time and money, I am sure you could do it, but it would likely be much cheaper to just get another reinforcement beam from the junkyard to swap in.
Looks like it will be a good project. If the engine needs work, why not just drop in an SCFI v8?
FoxTrota
03-29-2009, 09:51 PM
I doubt you can pull the bumper reinforcement back into shape to hold the bumper cover properly. I mean, given enough time and money, I am sure you could do it, but it would likely be much cheaper to just get another reinforcement beam from the junkyard to swap in.
Looks like it will be a good project. If the engine needs work, why not just drop in an SCFI v8?
Well that's a given, a new bumper is only $50, i mean the plastic bumper face cover, that I'm unable to find. If i wanted to go all out id put a V8 in but im a little tight on money and i like V6's
FoxTrota
07-26-2009, 10:05 AM
Update:
Since i have time i thought I'd make an update on whats going on with my project.
I got the Car to my house back in April, Cleaned it up a bit to make it feel welcome. Then tried to get it started, one of the cylinder's was hydro-locked which was why it wasn't starting. So after spending money on an unneeded starter(s). Replaced the plugs and it ran pretty good w/ the exception of the knock. My friend said it sounded like it could be the camshaft. The AWD doesn't engage so I'm pretty sure i need a new Motor for that. One day i decided to just take it all apart.
Until i get a good income i won't be able to buy alot, but i figured i'll do half of the work which is just cleaning and stripping the thing. I have alot planned for it.
The Entire Album:
http://s63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/
Cleaned it
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/th_IMGP1399.jpg (http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/IMGP1399.jpg)
Detailed Exterior so it doesn't look like crap
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/th_IMGP1495.jpg (http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/IMGP1495.jpg)
Engine Work Time!
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/th_IMGP1457.jpg (http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/IMGP1457.jpg)
Many Parts to clean
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/th_IMGP1581.jpg (http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/IMGP1581.jpg)
Just waiting to take the camshaft out and i'll be able to get a better idea of the extent of the damage. In the mean time i decided why not redo the interior.
Before (yuck)
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/th_IMGP1380.jpg (http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/IMGP1380.jpg)
Removed all the interior panels Dash anything plastic + Vacuumed
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/th_IMGP1380.jpg (http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/IMGP1380.jpg)http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/th_IMGP1520.jpg (http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/IMGP1520.jpg)
After long hours into the late evening i finished
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/th_IMGP1528.jpg (http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/IMGP1528.jpg)http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/th_IMGP1552.jpg (http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/IMGP1552.jpg)
Then while i finished that i started refinishing the panels, Black + Beige interior
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/th_IMGP1509.jpg (http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/IMGP1509.jpg)
Everything stored all over my room
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/th_IMGP1511.jpg (http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/IMGP1511.jpg)
Finished Added new dash board bezel two tone and removed carpet + headliner
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/th_IMGP1736.jpg (http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/IMGP1736.jpg)http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/th_IMGP1737.jpg (http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/IMGP1737.jpg)
Installed panels to see how it will look
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/th_IMGP1756.jpg (http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/IMGP1756.jpg)http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/th_IMGP1753.jpg (http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/IMGP1753.jpg)
Cleaned all the windows and floor, tidied up some wires, drew up some wiring plans for my strobe kit and interior lights plus a few other goodies.
I plan to get the engine out and into my garage by the Fall so i don't have to work in the fricken freezing cold.
I keep ya updated :)
91chevywt
08-10-2009, 12:23 AM
That looks like a good project. I always liked the options the Bravadas came with. Its a shame someone let it get like that. It always bothers me when people don't take care of their stuff and run it into the ground, and I feel like i'm always fixing everyone elses junk. If you take care of it and do it right it will be your baby.
If I can make a suggestion about the engine, it may be worth it to purchase a used long block from the junkyard. It would save you a ton of money, and a huge amount of time, to just drop in something complete vs machine work and parts. Run your costs before you get into it because it can cost A LOT. Ask me how I know lol.
So good luck! hope to see it up and running
wlorton
08-10-2009, 12:31 AM
Man... to strip a car down like that and bring it back up just like you want it... When its completely perfect... your smile wont ever leave.. keep up the nice work...
swartlkk
08-10-2009, 07:09 AM
Nice pictures! Keep up the good work!
c0a8l0v6i8n9
08-10-2009, 08:53 AM
Great progress! I agree good pictures. Doing a great job!
hooah68
08-30-2009, 02:16 PM
you painted the dash panels? what kind of paint did you use?
FoxTrota
09-03-2009, 03:06 PM
The other night i finally got the engine out of the Bravada.
Broke a Universal joint getting the last bell housing bolt out, transmission dipstick popped out and leaked all over my new driveway. Other than that it went pretty well.
Album > Here (http://s63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/UFPpavilion/Bravada/)
Bored when i was done so i did the transfer case shield :)
you painted the dash panels? what kind of paint did you use?
Dupli-color Sandable Primer Black, somehow it matches GM's Charcoal Gray flawlessly i used two coats and it came out nice.
Here's a picture i made on Photoshop of how i want the front seats to look, it may change but this is a basic idea.
with the Oldsmobile Log embroidered in the seat :)
young murph
09-03-2009, 10:04 PM
very nice so far.. i like the seats there gonna look really nice.. they're kinda like mine
wlorton
09-04-2009, 09:03 AM
Wow keep up the good work....
FoxTrota
09-22-2009, 02:26 PM
Finished, the engine is apart and strangely enough it was the front rod bearings which were spun, i could have sworn it was coming from the rear. The two front piston rods were moving a considerable amount.
Looking Good Bud! Kepp up the good work.
Next V8 swap? lol
FoxTrota
01-06-2010, 09:54 PM
Well its winter now so the Bravada is basically on hold till spring
Ive decided probably because alot of my friends have projects (all racing projects) im gonna head in that direction as well, with the AWD traction controlled little SUV like this id most likely smoke them or give them a run for there money
So my ultimate goal for this now is to be a sporty quick luxurious SUV with as much luxury as i can pack into it while keeping it away from pimp my ride.
After the engine ill be able to build the new interior up, all the seats are being reupholstered or replaced, and i'd like to put bucket seats in the rear so it might only be seating 4, but it will seat 4 VERY comfortably with heated seats, cooled and heated cupholders, and more.
Im experimenting with painting and i have a nice scheme going Choarcoal gray trim and green, I tried Black gloss and it was too dark for the bravada's original color.
I'm still browsing for a suitable v8, either a 5.3 or 5.7 SCFI, im not into the carb stuff i need it fuel injected, I was told a V8 from a 98 suburban would be the best way to go. SO... if anyone has any suggestions I'm open or if anyone's selling or see's something point me in that direction i'd appreciate it :)
I need an opinion from some people on here, I've been looking around and and ive been finding LS motors and one in particular is the lY6 6.0L, which gets 360HP. Anyone think that would be a good engine for this application? or would it suck lol. There on ebay for about $2,000-$3,000 i find the price to be okay considering i would spend more than that building a motor.
Oh and apparently these are Brand new never driven motors, seems creditable enough, they have good feedback.
As well as a Bravada bumper cover, It came complete with New Foglights
I only found one new bumper cover online for $370 on a gm parts catalog, i got all of this for a total of $250 including shipping.
no one gave me any suggestions on here for an engine for this so i decided i'd just go with the one i found
Brand New LY6 V8 6.0L 360HP - $2,699.00
bought it Thursday night, its being prepared to ship this week to my house. landed a nice 3grand on my credit card last night, People seem to think im crazy for putting this in a Bravada lol, i just might be...
One of my fire dept buddies thinks the drivetrain won't be able to handle the engine, He's not really an expert but he does mechanics, i did some research online and people seem to think the 4L60e won't be able to handle it, and then others say it can (if built right).
Not that im gonna be driving like a lunatic racing this thing all the time i want it to be able to handle the 400HP and almost 400 lb.-ft of torque.
The Bravada currently has a 4L60e with the transfer case in it as well, i want to keep the AWD. I'm beginning to think the wiring and programming for this is gonna be a nightmare lol.
TripleBlackBlazer
02-08-2010, 04:30 PM
One of my fire dept buddies thinks the drivetrain won't be able to handle the engine, He's not really an expert but he does mechanics, i did some research online and people seem to think the 4L60e won't be able to handle it, and then others say it can (if built right).
Not that im gonna be driving like a lunatic racing this thing all the time i want it to be able to handle the 400HP and almost 400 lb.-ft of torque.
The Bravada currently has a 4L60e with the transfer case in it as well, i want to keep the AWD. I'm beginning to think the wiring and programming for this is gonna be a nightmare lol.
His website is not indicative of the level of work this guy does. VERY knowledgeable and even more helpful. He claims his built 4L60E is good down to 10 sec. 1/4 mile. Worth looking into!
When it comes time I will be looking him up.
Spectreblazer
02-13-2010, 07:00 PM
as long as you build the 4L60E right it should be able to handle it. the stock is not gonna be able to handle the horsepower though. hey if you got the money why not look into a camaro tranny:icon_playing:
like a t56, you'd have to do some fabrication though, i don't know if it would be a direct bolt up to the new engine though
Brianator99
02-13-2010, 10:15 PM
That stock 4l60e will burn up pretty quickly. Unlike what the guy above me said I would suggest keeping it and having it slightly built. It will keep it simple and with a shift kit, higher stall converter, trans cooler and maybe a slight build it would kick ass.
Im sure you could take a few people by surprise!
FoxTrota
02-20-2010, 02:31 PM
Sometime in the summer im gonna buy a new transmission either a 4L60E or 4L80E from a website (monstertransmissions.com) my friend showed me, they have a nice warranty, rated up to 500HP for the 4L60E for $1,725 considering i spent $3,000 on the 6.0L i don't think this is too much.
NOW... my biggest concern which my friend, and his dad brought up is that the rear end in the bravada won't be able to handle the torque produced by the 6.0L, other people have said this as well. I did see a S10 with a 6.0L on another site and i believe he had a stock rear. So how much can it handle? My friend said the rear end out of a 98-00 z28 camaro would be stronger, true? i wanna cover every end of this, i don't wanna blow the rear end.
So stock Rear End stability?
And the front end cv joints?
What size is the bravada's rear?
I found a 8.5 on ebay from a zr5
Spectreblazer
02-20-2010, 03:22 PM
as far as torque goes a camaro would have a slightly stronger rear end. i would look in to something with a 1/2 ton setup, you'll sacrifice some speed though...