New Member 9194 Tornado

Hello SyTy members. I am new to the Forum but have followed you for many years.

I hope this first post is placed correctly so excuse me if I have incorrectly posted while I learn to navigate my first time contributing to a blog and using this site's controls.

I bought my first 1994 Oldsmobile Bravada in 1999 and loved the AWD experience. I have owned Blazer's & Jimmy's and have been involved in S-10 V-8 conversions as well as show-quality builds over the years. Though I have not, as-yet, owned a Sy or a Ty I hope that one day the opportunity will present itself. Here in Eastern Canada SyTy's are a very rare commodity and I have only seen one of each during many years visiting car shows in our Maritime region.

Currently, I am building a 1994 Blazer 2-door, 2wd I bought from original owners in Arizona and shipped it to my home here in eastern Canada in 2007 to be used as a daily driver to replace my Bravada that was rear-ended and written off - since I couldn't find a clean Bravada. The Blazer was surprisingly clean and original so I couldn't subject it to Nova Scotia winter conditions. I drove it for two summer and commenced a conversion toward an Oldsmobile-themed factory-like 2wd SUV using Olds Bravada exterior grill, side cladding & bumper covers, fog lights and some Olds emblems. I lowered it using Belltech drop spindles & coils, leafs & drop blocks. I improved handling using ZQ8 sway bars - 33mm front & ZR2 rear with new GM links, and, I found full size Olds wheel centers to fit the ZQ8 wheels.
I've converted to Astro hydroboost utilizing diesel Malibu spec'd pressure lines and Astro resevoir tank. I swapped a Dana 44 3.73 rear differential from another 1992 'Mexican' Blazer I own.

I have numerous small project upgrade items, already acquired but not installed, in the queue including 7/8" rear wheels brake cylinders, aluminum brake drums, both Astro steering shaft and Cherokee steering shaft. I'll likely use the Astro steering shaft. I've removed the leaking factory engine oil cooler lines but plan to have them rebuilt through a local hydraulic shop.

I hope I may follow, and contribute, to members diagnosis, troubleshooting and project build experiences over time. I am not building a Syclone or Typhoon type project but my current project is more in keeping with the Sonoma GT since my powertrain was identical to the SGT (4.3L, L35, CPI, 4L60, 2WD, etc.).

Since many projects have monikers, or, "Project Names" I've decided that I'll refer to mine as "Tornado" since that will be in-keeping to the Oldsmobile theme build I've followed and to slightly alter the Oldsmobile "Toronado" namesake by dropping the "O". Since GMC had Syclone & Typhoon, why shouldn't an Oldsmobile "what-if" have a Tornado!
My Blazer came factory painted white with grey bottom but I will keep the white and change to bottom to light gold following Oldsmobile two tone theme.
I welcome all SGT powertrain suggestions from all members as I plan to continue engine, trans & suspension upgrades over time.
Now I have to figure out the photobucket and transfer process to SyTy thread(???)...














 
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TY0618

Member
Re: New Member 9194 Tornado

Welcome aboard. Nice to see a fellow Canuck. Where are you in Nova Scotia?
 
Re: New Member 9194 Tornado

Thanks for the welcomes.
I'm in the heart of Halifax (city).
I've wanted to put an Iroc hood louver segment on something unique for many years. The S-10 hood happens to be sloped gently enough to match with the Iroc hood so they laid flat to one another. I wanted something on the S10 Blazer project but the typical cowl hoods and fiberglass hoods didn't suit my interestsince I'm keeping the 4.3L V6 in factory form. Louvers are suttle, but unique , and, maybe not for everyone but that's okay.

It's been in the paint shop this summer but hopefully will be painted next week. Later in September I'll put all the Bravada cladding back on for final assembly.
 
Re: New Member 9194 Tornado

Finally got the Tornado home from paint. Final assembly required including 1/4 glass. Interior cleaning and re-installation over the winter.
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Static

Member
Re: New Member 9194 Tornado

I like it! Like the colors also. I think if it were mine I would try and shorten that rear bumper about 2"
 
Re: New Member 9194 Tornado

I added the Astro Van Hydroboost unit, Master Cylinder and Resevoir Tank as a matched set. I modified the Astro Van's Proportioning Valve Mounting Bracket so it would adapt to the Resevoir Tank with a clamp and mount at the Master Cylinder mounting studs.

Additionally, I welded a 3/16" metal wedge, following the contour of the firewall sheetmetal, to the top of the Hydroboost Mounting Plate.

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Re: New Member 9194 Tornado

In response to post #16 by "jeepruby04":
I don't have any information on the Dana 44. I came from a "Mexican" 1992 4-door 2WD Blazer. I tried to research the VIN, which started with "3G" (verses the North american S-Series that start with "1G") and all the local dealers couldn't provide a breakdown on the VIN except to say it was South American built S-Series GM.
It was factory installed with 3.73:1 gearset open differential. The length overall was the same as 2WD S-Series and brakes were identical so no issues with the swap. The Dana 44 yoke is larger and required a larger universal joint (I forget the number, maybe 1350?) so I had the Mexican 4-door driveshaft shortened and balanced - problem solved!
 
Re: New Member 9194 Tornado

In response to post #14 by "STATIC:"
I agree those Bravada bumper covers do appear bulky-looking as compared to the SyTy designs. I'm not sure that the effort to 'tuck' the bumpers and bumper cladding would have been worth it. I wasn't trying to re-invent the wheel as I do like the factory Bravada molding design. My efforts to re-design bumper cladding may have resulted in something a bit tacky to purists.

However, one area I would like to re-configure is the rocker cladding. I'm trying out (mocking up) different ideas to bring the rocker cladding lower to hide more of the chassis - similar to what your SyTy's have successfully done.
 
Re: New Member 9194 Tornado

I just checked this post and to my surprise the photos from the photobucket have disappeared(?)...

Can someone suggest to me what might have happened, and, if I might be able to replace the photos without having to go through the whole transfer process again?

Many thanks, Pete
 
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