06 Trailblazer fix ( not so much a Hod Rod )

Maybe this is dumb but thought I'd might as well go through the fixing of my boys First car. It will probably always be a hot rod to him. Got it from the local Salvage yard, an 06 with 120k. It seemed real nice inside for once and he really likes blue so I bought it. The only whoops I did was not check the oil or service on it. Oil was just touching the dipstick and I checked the sticker it was 8000 miles past due. No not 8000 on the change, 8000 past due, 11,000 miles on the oil. I'm sure that's the first time and they were on their way to Jiffy Lube when they wrecked it :( We'll see how that part plays out. Otherwise got it tore apart and no surprises.

Heck, and they wrote that off ? Here in NZ., that would be a bread and butter repair unless the cost of parts are stupidly expensive which surely in America isn't the case. Hope the engine appreciates fresh lubricant and fires right up without no after affect in blue smoke from the tailpipe. I think back to my very first car that I had to work for and save bloody hard for but it also taught me to appreciate and look after my processions, 1952 Hillman Minx, how google that and have a good laugh.

I googled the 1952 Hillman Minx, I think its awesome, it would be a real head turner here :LOL: . We actually drove the Trailblazer 2 1/2 miles home and it seems quiet and doesn't smoke, although it could be 100 turns from a spun rod. I paid $1200 for the Trailblazer and got a whole parts Trailblazer from my neighbor for $400. After the body shop pulls on the fender supports a bit and materials for the paint, I'm hoping to have it done for a little over $2000.

After I got out of the Corps in 66 my cousin moved to Ca. and stayed with me for awhile. Somewhere he acquired a Hillman though I don't remember the year. It was a bear to work on as nothing fit. I later found out most everything on the car was British Standard or Wadsworth or a combination thereof. I used an Arkansas speed wrench on everything I could.

OK I'll bite.

Please define Arkansas speed wrench.

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Originally Posted by NTFDAY

After I got out of the Corps in 66 my cousin moved to Ca. and stayed with me for awhile. Somewhere he acquired a Hillman though I don't remember the year. It was a bear to work on as nothing fit. I later found out most everything on the car was British Standard or Wadsworth or a combination thereof. I used an Arkansas speed wrench on everything I could.

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American threads and English (Imperial) threads differ, and Imperial thread and head sizes differ amongst themselves too, for example a spanner for a 1/2" British Standard = 7/16" Whitworth.
The only threads that are compatible are UNF and SAE, although they too differ (if my fading memory serves me correctly,) in 9/16". (Or is it 7/16"? I forget. It's one or the other.)

...and I too am curious as to what an Arkansas speed wrench is...

These are a couple of examples of what I've known for years as Arkansas speed wrenches.Attachment 67979

Oh the good old adjustable wrench as we would call them " Crescent " but that is a registered trade name we shouldn't as they come from many different manufactures now of totally different quality. Are those left hand ones Ken ?

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Originally Posted by Whiplash23T

Oh the good old adjustable wrench as we would call them " Crescent " but that is a registered trade name we shouldn't as they come from many different manufactures now of totally different quality. Are those left hand ones Ken ?

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Reminds me of a fellow I once knew. I was stationed with this guy when I was on active duty with the reserves. The 1st Sergeant called him into his office and sent him after an axe. The guy left the office to quickly return and left again with a red face. Shortly thereafter the 1st Sergeant came out laughing and explained that the guy came back into his office to ask if he needed a right or left handed axe.

Got the Trailblazer back from the frame machine and got the gaps looking real nice . Welded in the different bottom brace got the coolers back in, went together pretty good. My boy is getting pretty excited to drive it with his school permit. He's using my Cavalier right now and he doesn't seem to like it as much as I do.:LOL:

Thanks for the update with pics too.
I'd agree, it's looking good.

When the AC compressor clutch dies-put a 69 in belt on which will bypass the ac and fit everything else-------

Nice new ride for your son. Hopefully the Level B's don't eat it. Nah, the tractor of a friend will do that pulling it out. :LOL: That will be a nice ride for $2k all done. Good work!

Got some more work done on the Trailblazer, Lucky me found that the bubles on the hood wasn't just paint but body filler that was lifting because of rust under it. I ground all that out and started over on that, thankfully that was the only filler I found in the replacement panels. The doors were pretty rusty on the bottom lip on the inside so I sandblasted the inner lip to buy a little time b/f they rust though. I had the doors in the shed for 2 days without and sealer on them and they were already rusting like crazy again. I wire brushed em up and dug out my por 15 that I used a few years ago and brushed that on the bottom of the doors. I'll shoot some single stage blue over that and hopefully it holds out awhile, It can't be worse. Just in case your curious, this is what a por 15 can looks like after it's been opened once and you try to open it again two yrs later, it seals well.

Good luck with por!

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Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

Good luck with por!

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I'm not sure if your serious or the stuff is terrible, I'm not sure I want to know if its the later. :HMMM:

You might be ok because it'll only stick to major rust. But from my later experiences with it, it doesn't actually stop the rust but encapsulate it. If I were you I'd sand blast that door and then use a rust converter or something that actually stops the rusting process. I've been burned by por 2 times lately. I'm not a fan anymore.

That surface rust on the doors should be stopped with that good dose of aged POR15. It the hood need much in the way of cutting and patching Seth ?

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Originally Posted by Whiplash23T

That surface rust on the doors should be stopped with that good dose of aged POR15. It the hood need much in the way of cutting and patching Seth ?

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I hope the por works, I've found out with that stuff once you put it on, your committed to it. It dries so stinkin hard I'm a bit concerned about scuffing it. The rust on the hood surface was minimal surface rust under the filler. It looked like it must have had moisture on the metal or something, it sanded off completely with the D/A. The hood had one of those stupid bra things on and it was like a stagnant swimming pool under that so I just attributed the paint lift to that, maybe it got through to the steel somehow.It should be good now.I usually like to put down a sealer B/F the filler but I didn't feel like cleaning my gun so I went right over the steel. People used to do it that way for years and I'm sure it will last long enough for this car.

Getting ready to put some color on the Trailblazer and so I thought I'd get everything ready. Guess who forgot to clean the paint gun after varnishing the 53's bed :CRY: I got it cleaned up but it would have been easier right afterward.

OOOOOoooo, that was ugly!

That is never a good deal when you open it up to find set up paint!

Got the underside of the hood painted, I wasn't being to particular with it because it's the underside of the hood on a Trailblazer so I thought this pic was close enough.:LOL:

You sure maintain a clean work space. Maybe someday I'll get there. :LOL:

There's a hood in that picture??? Really???:eek::eek::D:D:LOL::LOL::p:p

Painted the bumper tonight. I just did the bumper because I'm using Omni Paint which is cheap but it doesn't cover as good as premium brands. I want to check the bumper to the rest of the vehicle to make sure I'm getting enough blue on. If something doesn't match perfect I want it to be the bumper not the hood and fender. I will be blending into the door but I still like it to be close. I was pretending I was painting my 71 the whole time.:LOL:

That looks nice. Lots of shine, I can see you in the reflection!

Nicely sized too! HEE HEE HEE.. :LOL::LOL::LOL:

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Originally Posted by 34_40

That looks nice. Lots of shine, I can see you in the reflection!

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Ain't I a looker :LOL: You'll notice there is always a lot of rags on the floor during my painting projects. When I was younger we had a small shed burn down that was attributed to a bunch oil stain and varnish rags in the garbage can. I've been a little nervous of throwing paint rags in a can ever since. I probably wasn't as nervous as the fire dept trying to put out that shed fire though. My brother had over 1500 rounds of .223 ammo in there.:LOL::LOL:

Nice spraying Seth! Your shed story reminds me of when I was welding near my trash can that had several brake clean saturated paper towels in it. When I got out from under the wheel well when I was done welding, the flames out of that trash can were kissing my ceiling which is 12' 2". I couldn't believe it. I have been a lot more cautious since that tard moment....... :LOL:

:lol::lol::lol::lol: Tard! :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

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Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

Nice spraying Seth! Your shed story reminds me of when I was welding near my trash can that had several brake clean saturated paper towels in it. When I got out from under the wheel well when I was done welding, the flames out of that trash can were kissing my ceiling which is 12' 2". I couldn't believe it. I have been a lot more cautious since that tard moment....... :LOL:

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Everyone's made that mistake once, oh wait, no they didn't- it was just you :LOL::LOL:

I set the bumper on tonight just to check out the color match and it's a spot on match. I doubt I even have to blend into the door but I suppose I better just to be safe.

That came out great! Good Job!!

Got the hood and fender painted tonight. I used a medium reducer instead of slow so I got a bit more orange peel in the paint, and a fair amount of dust and bugs. It will defiantly need to be scuffed and buffed. I think this will be the last time I use Omni paint though, it takes a lot of paint to cover something.I'm risking it by not blending the door, but I looked at the bumper again tonight and I can't see a difference in the shade of blue . I'm looking for a problem and can't see it so I think it'll be alright.

looks great from here too!

Great job!
Had to put my shades on : )

Nice work! I haven't heard anyone like Omni after they used it a couple of times.

Well this sucked. I went out to the shed Sunday night to find my clear coat turned milky when it cured. I thought what the crap and wondered what happened and according to google high humidity can cause that. I had the shed floor watered down for dust like I always do but I guess this time it bit me. I buffed it shinny but it's not a match like the bumper, it looks light. I'm going to fold on this one, It has to got the body shop to pull on the frame a bit more and I'm going to have them spray it too. I'm sick of it.

I've had high humidity burn me too! Isn't living in this area great? I just wet sanded it and resprayed it. Yesterday and last night turned muggy fast. It looks like this next hurricane has changed our weather pattern for 3-5 days too.

Well that sucks.. but it happens to us all.
One of the dangers of painting many parts over many days for the same car.