Builds '94 Re-Power | GM 5.3 Vortec L59 - Build Tracker (1 Viewer)

[thatcabledude]

@thatcabledude, Is there a specific year Trailblazer shift cable that works best? TIA. I'm getting close to starting the swap, maybe this summer. I've been collecting parts for the swap.

I don't think there was a difference.... Unless there was a column shift Trailblazer.

It's quite long, but that is actually a good thing. You are able to snake it around from the stock LC shifter location to the other side of the trans.

 

[RexTreks]

It's been a good past few weeks for the cruiser over here!

Went ahead and refreshed the front axle as an ongoing overall refresh of the truck before I get real serious about powerplant transfers. The truck was in some pretty serious need of attention for the steering, braking, and continence...

You know how it goes, the list of "things you might as well do while you are down there" gets progressively longer the more you work on the truck...So this time around in the shop I replaced/serviced:

- Inner/Outer wheel bearings
- Trunion bearings
- Inner axle seals
- Cleaned & repacked birfields
- Cleared debris from axle after past birfield failure damage
- hub assembly degrease
- 4x new front brake lines
- Front calipers replaced
- Front rotors & pads replaced
- Brake fluid flushed
- P/S pressure line replaced
- P/S pump replaced
- 5x Tie Rod Ends replaced
- both steering links replaced
- steering stabilizer replaced
- alignment at the local fire tire.

I started with a teardown of the axles and got everything loaded up onto the partcart, and got real busy with a new HF parts washer.

After reshaping the inner axle housing of some birfield-explosion damage and thoroughly cleaning out the axle of debris, the reassembly process begun. I made use of the Wits End seal overdriver and that really simplified the process for the IAS as well.

Didn't take long to see that most of my tie rod ends needs to be replaced, as well as the rotors, calipers, pads....So additional components were ordered and the rebuild began.

Took a few in progress shots but let's skip to the good stuff. I'm still chasing down a little hissing and air entry into the P/S system. but soon we will be back to business!

 

[RexTreks]

I got some advice to bring in the steering bumpers on the backside of the knuckle. Seems that I am potentially turning to far and when I lock the wheel to a side I get air entering the P/S system. I can go 1.75 turns right and 1.45 turns left as the moment.

 

[RexTreks]

Update: Power steering is resolved with a nose-at-higher-level bleed and a much slower rate of wheel rotation.

Roof rack is repainted, rusty scars in the bumper are touched up. Looking at adding a new carpet in here and building out some of the decking in the cabin too, but all of this falls short of the V8 swap. going to be running some more numbers as the long awaited day approaches...

 

[RexTreks]

did an inspection on the rear axle last night and determined that some new seals are in order, might as well do the brakes while I'm back there to match the new front components. Made some good progress on building up the LM7 as well; ordered some roller rockers and should have that looking good here soon.

stay tuned

 

[RexTreks]

mini-update: Ended up selling the V8 I was building for some extra COVID funds, and I'll be maintaining the 1FZ in the truck AS-IS.
Rear end axle rebuild to be finished this week. Thanks y'all