The Branch Blazer - 99 Blazer Build
#1
07-16-2013, 08:35 AM
The Branch Blazer - 99 Blazer Build
So, I bought this '99 2 door ZR2 Blazer LS back in January of 2012 with 13x,xxx miles for only $1800 which seemed like a good deal at the time. In fact I thought it was such a good deal that I overlooked the fact that the vehicle had obviously been wrecked and fixed just good enough to sell, this caused problems down the road.
About a month after driving the Blazer and I'll admit I ran it pretty hard, the engine blew up. $4200 later I had a new Jasper engine, motor mounts, clutch, throwout bearing, power steering pump, and radiator. So I started building on it.
About a month after driving the Blazer and I'll admit I ran it pretty hard, the engine blew up. $4200 later I had a new Jasper engine, motor mounts, clutch, throwout bearing, power steering pump, and radiator. So I started building on it.
#2
07-16-2013, 08:48 AM
I've gone through a lot of modifications since the engine replacement, some have stayed some have not. The ones that didn't make the cut were an air intake that I rigged up (cone filter in place of stock air box) and a straight piped exhaust with a stainless tip. (The tip was a little too low and broke off while backing down off of this ramp.)
I fixed the air intake situation by eventually putting on an actual K&N CAI which barely allowed the hood to close because of the PowerAid throttle body spacer I installed earlier on. I also shaved down the lip on the underside of the throttle plate but I really didn't see any gains from the mod.
As for the exhaust, I ended up gutting the Cats and getting a Thrush Welded muffler and had the exhaust system finished at a shop.
I fixed the air intake situation by eventually putting on an actual K&N CAI which barely allowed the hood to close because of the PowerAid throttle body spacer I installed earlier on. I also shaved down the lip on the underside of the throttle plate but I really didn't see any gains from the mod.
As for the exhaust, I ended up gutting the Cats and getting a Thrush Welded muffler and had the exhaust system finished at a shop.
Last edited by ZachC540; 07-16-2013 at 08:56 AM.
#4
07-16-2013, 05:59 PM
Today, I removed the plastic valance from under the bumper because it was damaged anyways and I like how it looks without it. As soon as I get the money I'm gonna bolt on a brush guard and remount the license plate.
Last edited by ZachC540; 07-16-2013 at 06:02 PM.
#6
07-28-2013, 08:23 AM
This weekend I spent a good bit of time in my cousins shop, replacing parts. The passenger side wheel bearing was about done for so I shelled out the cash for a Moog hub assembly.
I also replaced an O2 sensor, the driver side wheel speed sensor (I'm still having ABS issues
), and the fuel pump. She was runnin like a charm after all of that. And wouldn't ya know it I got ran off the road yesterday into a bank and slammed a rock with the side of my right front wheel. I'm pretty sure the rim is bent and it definitely knocked it out of alignment. Needless to say I'm slightly pissed off.
#7
08-01-2013, 06:02 PM
Well, I took the Blazer to a shop to get aligned after my little accident and sure enough it needed an upper ball joint and idler arm before they could align it. So to save money I took it to my cousin's shop and we replaced everything ourselves. I decided to go ahead and put both upper and lower Duralast ball joints on and a ValuCraft idler arm. It aligned just fine after all that so I took it up through the mountains and had a little fun.
These first two pics don't really do this hill justice..
This pic really shows the steepness of it and why I only made it that far..
These first two pics don't really do this hill justice..
This pic really shows the steepness of it and why I only made it that far..
