The Neutered Jimmy (4X4 to 2X4)

[beonkey]

I had started a thread on this Jimmy when I first signed up to the site. I didn’t really keep a log of what I was doing to it and didn’t realize that I should put a build thread together…just kind of dove in.

So, let me start over.

I bought this Jimmy with my Dad in April of 2011. My Dad has had his 1970 Blazer since 1972! I was born in 79 so I have all of my childhood memories surrounding this truck. He just recently found proof that this was Steve McQueens Blazer prior to him owning it, The blazer was used for towing his race Baja Truck….thats a different story.

4WD Jimmy
Manual with granny gear
Came with 20's and they were not the look I was going for...wanted a smaller rim. so ditched the body molding and got new wheels. here are before and after pics




after




I started doing whatever I could do to improve this Jimmy that didn’t cost too much. I am married with two young kids, so money is as tight as time. I pulled the motor to clean it up and reseal some things, I replaced the steering gearbox and body mounts, replaced passenger side rocker.

[beonkey]

I then started prepping for Als Liner. I will carpet it eventually, but the top will remain on the side yard hopefully forever!


[ATTACH][/ATTACH]

Over time I started sanding on it in a spot where some bondo was……Don’t do this until you are ready to commit to doing it all. I then took the majority of it to bare metal. The only good thing about this is that I found out there is hardly any rust.


[ATTACH][/ATTACH]


I will try to keep up with the story and get to the conversion part asap. I have work to do in the garage before I can get on this computer. Updates to keep coming....

[beonkey]

I sprayed it with a sandable primer as I didn’t want it to flash rust. That’s why you see the color change. After I got the Jimmy running and was driving it on the occasional weekend on errands by myself, I thought about the reason I got it which was to take my family in it and make memories like I have. I was going to get a cage built for it (wifes permission included) and just couldn’t bring myself to do it.



I then changed it to an automatic, so I got rid of this beast


I am a lowered truck guy. I have always loved the look of the 2WD blazer. Went to cruise for the cure with my son and my dads blazer was in the show. I saw Member John Oro's blazer there and made up my mind.


I also Love the 4WD with the cage like my brothers 69 (member name dustinU) but it just wasn’t me. In my brothers kind words…I set out to Neuter this thing!

Then bought this from Jeremiah and Jenn King (forum members and great people)



to be continued soon..

[beonkey]

Lol! Thanks notsolo. I actually have it back on the ground. I haven't had time to post so I am catching up.
I did trailing arms in the rear with a 5 inch drop spring. I like your spring perch and I made a similar one. In the front it is cpp OE 2" spindle and 3" spring. The rear is trailing arms and I bought a trailing arm rear with a open 373. My original rear has a 373 posi in it that I will remove someday. I will post pics of rear soon. Also the rear shock crossmember that I think everyone should buy that if you don't have the skills or patience to fabricate one.
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[beonkey]

Notsolo,
Sorry I could use pics of e brake cable solution if you hooked yours back up.
Also motor and Trans are just staying the same. 350/th350 for now. Someday an LS and Porterbuilt drop member.
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[beonkey]

Let’s start this next section of details on the process with a fair warning. This is not a simple bolt in the cross member from a 2WD and you’re good to go as some members have stated. Well it is not for my personality anyways. I want to clean and make everything right while doing it on a budget. I bought a 2WD front end off of member Jeremiah King (awesome couple and my go to resource for parts).

A lot of cleaning of parts and learning from this site, I followed LIVRAT’s process of sectioning the frame to line up where the bolt holes go and referenced those with measurements from other members.







Also put in 2nd row escalade seats before I started conversion.




I bought all new ball joints, tie rod ends and lowering kit from CPP (thanks to member John Oro for the intro). Obviously I needed to fund this project and of course it started with that money my wife said I could spend on the cage. Then I started selling parts that I was pulling off. This gave me the opportunity to not only pass them on to other board members, but have met some great people on the way. I referenced everyone possible on the conversion. Spoke on the phone with LIVRAT, ORTEGAMOTOR and BIGBLUTHG(bought some fenders) I have been back and forth with GRINGOLOCO on his trailing arm conversion..(his work on that blazer is out of my league)! Keep in mind it is a long process, but you can get it done. I am on a mission to prove it to myself now and I am not a welder or mechanic. Just have played with a couple cars in the past. The lists of parts is where you may fool yourself on the conversion. I read everywhere that you need the x member and trailing arms, here is where I am at so far.

Front Cross member with upper and lower arms, Drop spindles, springs, shocks, brake lines, 2WD throttle cable(motor moves far forward), 2WD fan shroud, 5 lug wheels, trailing arms, trailing arm bushings, trailing arm drop crossmember, rear shocks, rear shock mounts, rear Springs, C notch kit, Upper shock mount, New 2WD e brake cables rear section, 2WD trans cross member, coil spring rear axle, new brakes all around, ANOTHER new redhead steering gearbox, Centerlink, Front CPP sway bar with lowered brackets, Pan hard Deluxe CPP adjustable bar, 2WD exhaust manifolds, 2WD front body supports...obviously you can do without a lot of this if you use a flip kit for the leaf rear.

[Wasted Income]

Cool project. How hard was it to spray the Al's liner, and how is it holding up?

[beonkey]

Thanks! The ALS Liner is super easy and holding up well so far. It's all in the prep work though
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[bigbluthng]

wow. i'm jealous with your progress! i kicked my camaro outside so i could work on the blazer frame that i pulled out in in december and have yet to finish what i started. looking good. did you get the bracket you needed? if not send me a pic i might be able to help you out with that.

[beonkey]

Thank you. That is motivating and needed. I am getting to the point where I am putting everything back in and it is getting frustrating. Looked in the gas tank and that looks like a stucco wall texture but with rust. So looks like a new tank but that is a project in itself it seems with the neck on a repop. Hang in there it starts to come together after a while.
I haven't gotten any response in the bracket. Link is below. Thank you so much

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=562606

http://http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=562606
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[bigbluthng]

hey what side is that? i got both still attatched to my frame. mine have bolts, your look like they are riveted on.

[beonkey]

That is the driver side. Not my frame just a pic. They are riveted at the factory but could've been changed. What are you doing with them? Re-using or taking off.
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[bigbluthng]

heres the on i got. not using them. using the cable mounts on the trailing arms. if you need it, it's yours.

[beonkey]

I appreciate it, but those are a little further back than the bracket I am looking for. The front cable mounts to the bracket at about where the transfer case would be. Thank you though!
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[gringoloco]

Keep the progress coming- this is cool!
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[beonkey]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Keep the progress coming- this is cool!
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Thanks Gringoloco and thanks for your help before when we were PMing back and forth. Love your new rig as well and glad you're back in the club.
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[beonkey]

Ok so after I figured out the front and referenced every measurement possible I was ready for the final test which is the centerlink. I feel I got it as far forward as possible with no rub issues.



Here is a pic of too small of wheels on the front after everything was in place, OH and 33" tires with a 2" lift in the rear....Not quite the hot rod rake I was going for.





Moving onto the rear trailing arm set up. As you know these need new spring mounts fabricated so I got some metal and gussets and had a buddy weld them up. As for the trailing arm crossmember placement I referenced Gringoloco and Bigbluthng conversion. I moved it forward then back then forward and back about 30 more times until I had the rear wheels centered. I actually utilized the holes that Gringoloco started with for the e brake cable support on the driver side that I hacked off and now need. It centered the wheels. I will give a side shot later.



Here is how it sits now. I think I mentioned that after everything I have tried this is sitting with just a 5" drop spring in the rear, NO blocks. I want it lower, but don't think there is any solution for me to drop the front as of now and I love how level it is here.




Thoughts, advice and experience is all welcomed, just yell if you have any for me.
Thank you

[bigblock68]

looking good....you're making it look easy!!

[beonkey]

Originally Posted by bigblock68

looking good....you're making it look easy!!

Well thank you. It looks like it is going fast, but it has been since November. Just started posting pics. Now moving on to new gas tank which looks like fun with the filler tube issues.

Your blazer looks perfect! Very nice. I am jealous. What rim/tire size is that?

[gringoloco]

Spring perches look good! Front can always go lower; 3" spindle, 3" spring, 1" kick up on the 4wd framerails, and a 1" crossmember section would net an 8" drop. Are you c-notching the rear? If not, you're prolly pretty close to the limit as is. Keep up the good work
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[beonkey]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Spring perches look good! Front can always go lower; 3" spindle, 3" spring, 1" kick up on the 4wd framerails, and a 1" crossmember section would net an 8" drop. Are you c-notching the rear? If not, you're prolly pretty close to the limit as is. Keep up the good work
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Yeah think it will someday be bagged with a drop member. For the meantime I want to get it driving then do the fine tuning.
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[JOHNORO]

Just found this thread
Looks great... subscribed
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[beonkey]

Thank you John! Hope to drive it soon.
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[beonkey]

OK, Earlier I stated how the rear shock crossmember is where most have said you need to fab something. I started with that route and basically copied the upper rear shock mount from CPP as it only fits in a actual 2WD frame. I cut it all to size, then a buddy welded it together and welded the shock mounts on.....I still didn't like it. The crossmember didn't look or fit correctly and I felt that the shocks were still laid down too much. I scrapped the whole idea and crossmember then called Rob at No Limit Engineering and for $169 and a days wait this 30 minute install was at my front door. What a relief. Definitely a great solution out back and shocks are at what seems to be a great angle.






I also cleaned up the splash apron and started mocking up the new face...4 headlights to 2!





I got it running for a split second, but it has no exhaust. Next stop is the Exhaust shop and then someone to swap in my Posi from the old 4WD axle. Maybe I will get this thing on the road for a year or so in its underwear(primer).

[gringoloco]

Nice fix on the shocks. Will be curious to see how it rides. Keep it up!
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