5-31-12 --- 1999 Blazer Project Continues!
I went to the scrap yard a few weeks ago to find a nice usable piece of steel tubing to make my own hitch
and use a reciever that I had already had.... but instead... I struck the jackpot.....I picked up a used GM Reese style
hitch from the junk yard for free... it has a slight bend in the one side, but no kinks and no cracks / dents / or
broken original welds.......... it has the same tag as the three pictures that I found below when I was
looking up numbers on Google...... It appears that my hitch either came off of a 2005 Tahoe or maybe
even a Silverado... not sure....
I just had to cut off the original frame brackets and trim to length.... then weld it to the frame mount brackets
that I had already made from optional parts left over that came with the Wife's Reese Hitch kit....
This hitch had the perfect curving in it to clear my spare tire, as it did on the original vehicle that
it came off of....(according to the pics & tag that I found) <thumbs up> ...
I also removed the big pigtail plug bracket too..... as I'm just using the 4 pole flat connectors on my trailers...
and use a reciever that I had already had.... but instead... I struck the jackpot.....I picked up a used GM Reese style
hitch from the junk yard for free... it has a slight bend in the one side, but no kinks and no cracks / dents / or
broken original welds.......... it has the same tag as the three pictures that I found below when I was
looking up numbers on Google...... It appears that my hitch either came off of a 2005 Tahoe or maybe
even a Silverado... not sure....
I just had to cut off the original frame brackets and trim to length.... then weld it to the frame mount brackets
that I had already made from optional parts left over that came with the Wife's Reese Hitch kit....
This hitch had the perfect curving in it to clear my spare tire, as it did on the original vehicle that
it came off of....(according to the pics & tag that I found) <thumbs up> ...
I also removed the big pigtail plug bracket too..... as I'm just using the 4 pole flat connectors on my trailers...
I finally got around to getting the hitch welded up and bolted to the frame.....
Here's the pics of the final product and of it installed on the Blue 1999 Blazer.... I also threw in
some pictures of the Wife's pewter colored 2000 Blazer with the Reese hitch that we bought from TSC,
and I installed..... I can't complain with the results! My cut / modified & welded hitch looks
just as good as the purchased one..... granted the wifes was easier to install as there
was no modifications needed, but this was a fun / enjoyable project, and much, much cheaper....
Very happy with the outcome! Yeah!
Here's the pics of the final product and of it installed on the Blue 1999 Blazer.... I also threw in
some pictures of the Wife's pewter colored 2000 Blazer with the Reese hitch that we bought from TSC,
and I installed..... I can't complain with the results! My cut / modified & welded hitch looks
just as good as the purchased one..... granted the wifes was easier to install as there
was no modifications needed, but this was a fun / enjoyable project, and much, much cheaper....
Very happy with the outcome! Yeah!
6-2-12 ---- I decided that I would reset the overhead mileage computer on the top console....
seems weird, including the initial start-up break-in, driving around town, and some idle time
troubleshooting various things, and driving around town a lot.....and a few trips to the airfields,
and a couple trips to the Daughter's college campus........ stats are as follows.......
This is based over the 552 miles since the rebuild.... ( I still have not reset the speedometer trip --- letting that run to 1000 miles)
Average Speed from rebuild to now ==> 23.2 MPH
Average Economy =============> 16.1 MPG overall
Fuel Used since rebuild ==========> 34.2 gallons
seems weird, including the initial start-up break-in, driving around town, and some idle time
troubleshooting various things, and driving around town a lot.....and a few trips to the airfields,
and a couple trips to the Daughter's college campus........ stats are as follows.......
This is based over the 552 miles since the rebuild.... ( I still have not reset the speedometer trip --- letting that run to 1000 miles)
Average Speed from rebuild to now ==> 23.2 MPH
Average Economy =============> 16.1 MPG overall
Fuel Used since rebuild ==========> 34.2 gallons
Now, since I reset the mileage computer, In about 500 more miles or so, I'll do another computer
dump and take pics and post again..... kinda curious on what the computer will say, since the '99
Blazer will be inserted into everyday life..... ;-)
dump and take pics and post again..... kinda curious on what the computer will say, since the '99
Blazer will be inserted into everyday life..... ;-)
6-03-12 ==> I put my new Monroe Rear shock absorbers on today.... I think the orange ones that I just
took off where the original shocks! They have the date code of 1998 on them! "De Carbon" by Delphi Chassis Systems.....
Anyways.... I had one bolt that was siezed permanently into the shock, even after penetrating oil....... had to cut it....
The other bolt actually came loose with a little penatrating oil that I have been spraying on these everyday for the last 4 days......
took off where the original shocks! They have the date code of 1998 on them! "De Carbon" by Delphi Chassis Systems.....
Anyways.... I had one bolt that was siezed permanently into the shock, even after penetrating oil....... had to cut it....
The other bolt actually came loose with a little penatrating oil that I have been spraying on these everyday for the last 4 days......
6-23-12 Just hit 905 miles on the rebuild.....
About a week ago, right around 820 miles on the I ended up replacing the Idler pulley and the tensioner pulley
for the surpentine accessory drive belt..... the old ones were making some unwanted sqeaking and/or noises......
but still....... everything going smooth & the modified Reese style hitch receiver that I installed is
functioning great! Pulls all my trailers with no hassles.... Lovin' it! Yeah!
About a week ago, right around 820 miles on the I ended up replacing the Idler pulley and the tensioner pulley
for the surpentine accessory drive belt..... the old ones were making some unwanted sqeaking and/or noises......
but still....... everything going smooth & the modified Reese style hitch receiver that I installed is
functioning great! Pulls all my trailers with no hassles.... Lovin' it! Yeah!
6-24-12 ... Picture of the dash before pulling out of the driveway with the 6x10 aircraft trailer to go to a fly-in...
Clyde, OH to Galion, OH
Clyde, OH to Galion, OH
Arrived at the Gallion, OH flying field........ '99 Blazer rebuild and modified trailer hitch works VERY NICE!!!! Yeah!!!!