first time Jimmy owner

[pkz71]

Hi All,
Bought this 70 Jimmy from my uncle a few months ago who was the original owner. I'm new to the forum and thought I'd post a few pics. Still thinking through how much work I want to put into it. It's mostly original with the stock 350 still in it. 102k miles. Has not rusted through. Top had never been off. I like the idea of keeping it stock but I also like the idea of customizing it. Let me know your thoughts.

[Special-Ed]

Originally Posted by pkz71

Hi All,
Bought this 70 Jimmy from my uncle a few months ago who was the original owner. I'm new to the forum and thought I'd post a few pics. Still thinking through how much work I want to put into it. It's mostly original with the stock 350 still in it. 102k miles. Has not rusted through. Top had never been off. I like the idea of keeping it stock but I also like the idea of customizing it. Let me know your thoughts.

do what your heart compels you to do! opinions are like a$$holes....everyone has one!

seriously there is no right or wrong way... they look awsome slammed and they look awsome lifted... even factory looks good... i just cant stand the "patina" look

i like slammed with lsx 6l80e 2 wheel drive.... tricked out with custom everything...

[DeadheadNM]

Nice buy and welcome! A slight lift but otherwise stock look is what I like. A K5 with a history like yours if kept close to stock will certainly increase in value. There's a lot of really nice K5's here on the board to gain inspiration from. Any pics of the interior? Pete

[YBNORML]

I would make it safe then drive the freakin wheels off of it. At least for a few years. Find out if you truly like it before dumping any real coin into it.

[boonedogs72]

Keep it stock it's to nice to modify to much from stock little lift and original steelies is my vote..... But it's yours and do what makes you happy!!

[Tom Vogel]

Originally Posted by boonedogs72

keep it stock it's to nice to modify to much from stock little lift and original steelies is my vote..... But it's yours and do what makes you happy!!

^^^^^^x2

[jaros44sr]

Its only original once, and that seems to be where the money is, jmho. Dont do anything that cant be undone......more pics, looks really clean

[68panelman]

Beautiful truck, I had a 2wd '70 jimmy that same color, Another one I still kick myself for selling.

[briank]

Another vote to keep her stock. Especially with the family ties. Jimmys are also rarer than their Blazer counterparts.

[67swb72klb]

first welcome to the site!
that looks realy nice it would be killer with some white steel wheels and some stainless caps imo
have fun with it

[pkz71]

Thanks everyone for the input. I will post more pictures. My goal is to keep it stock but I do like the idea of a small lift maybe 3-4". Does anyone know what lifts are out there? As for the wheels, I was thinking of going back to steel wheels, I have both sets of hub caps. One is what I think came stock (small diameter) and the other set is the optional caps that cover the whole wheel.


As for Documents - I have the owners manual, protect o plate, window sticker, order form, GMC truck brochure, a paint color page out of some sort of ordering manual, along with several other pages that also look to be out of an ordering manual that show specifications, options, and pricing.

A few things I'm interested in:

Stock air cleaner, I don't believe mine is stock....anyone have a pic of a stock engine compartment? I looked through several pics but wasn't sure if there are differences between 70-72's.

Door Mirrors, I would like to go back to the stock door mirrors. I'm going to try and find out what mirrors came with it originally. It seems like there are several different versions out there. Of course this will require some refinishing of the doors where the current mirrors are mounted.

[pkz71]

OK...here is some interior pics. Not the best shots but it should give you an idea.

I currently have the radiator out for repair....it lasted 43 years though!

[DeadheadNM]

Here's a pic of my close-to-stock engine compartment. As for the mirrors, GM offered two styles - one small and standard, the other large and optional. If you post a pic of the decal on the inside of the glove box (SPID) we'll know which yours came with. Basically, if the SPID does not list "Camper mirrors" you had the small, standard type.

EDIT: Forgot your was a 1970, the mirrors differ from 72. I do believe camper mirrors were available in 70 as an option though. Pic below shows the standard mirror mount for a 70 K5 - I believe it has a round mirror head.

I don't mean to hijack your thread with pics of my K5 but this pic shows the optional hub caps you were asking about. The lift IMO is a little too much at 4", those are 15 x 8 steel wheels.

[Yukon Jack]

That's a really nice K5! Love the interior. I'd stick with minor changes like mentioned by some above since that is such a clean, unmolested vehicle. It definitely has some extra value with all of the info you have on it. Enjoy it!

[IronCanine]

That interior is amazing. Super jealous. Good luck.

[pkz71]

DeadheadNM,
Thanks for the pics....nice 72 you have and the engine compartment looks spotless. That's the air cleaner I think came stock on the 70 but I'm trying to verify that. Wonder where I could fine one.

As for the mirrors, the SPID doesn't mention camping mirrors. The 3 hole mount is on the doors and covered up by a thin plate. Unfortunately my uncle said he got rid of the stock ones a few years ago not thinking he'd ever use them. He towed a boat back in the day and converted to these to see better. I think I will ask him for pics of the Jimmy when it was new to see what it came with and then try to find them.

[Chulisohombre]

Nice truck you got there awesome it stayed in the family. You can get repop mirrors from lmctruck.com . I vote stock or 2-4 inch lift on 33s. Perfect look on these old trucks. That interior looks well taken care of as well.

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by pkz71

DeadheadNM,
Thanks for the pics....nice 72 you have and the engine compartment looks spotless. That's the air cleaner I think came stock on the 70 but I'm trying to verify that. Wonder where I could fine one.

Thanks! You got a real gem there. Is that original paint?

In your pic it looks like your air cleaner is the correct one, it's just pointing to the RH rather than LH side. There's a metal pipe that conducts warm air off the LH exhaust manifold where it connects to a shroud up to the undersurface of the air cleaner snorkle. There should also be a metal "spacer" between the bottom of the air cleaner and the top of the carburetor, which elevates the cleaner off the carb and has a metal tube brazed to the side that connect to a rubber hose coming from the PCV valve on one of the valve covers, LH I believe.

[DeadheadNM]

If your after the OEM parts and based on your pic above it looks like you may need the carb spacer with PCV hose, the 4wd correct exhaust manifold shrouds, and the metal pipe that conducts up from the LH exhaust shroud...

[pkz71]

I took off the air cleaner and I have the spacer you mentioned although the hose routes to the RH cover. So I guess I need the pipe that connects the air cleaner to a shroud that fits over the LH ram horn? Here's a few pics. Still wondering if its the correct air cleaner...looks longer than yours and the pipe connection is in a different place.

[viking427]

I don't think you're going to need any more lift than what you already have there now to run stock 16" steels with 32-33" tires and look great. Its not like you'll be wheeling off road with a Jimmy in that nice of shape, that also has family ties value. I think you'll miss those mirrors, but if you remove them you can remove/fix the whip antenna and dual tank filler at the same time. Just another opinion.

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by pkz71

I took off the air cleaner and I have the spacer you mentioned although the hose routes to the RH cover. So I guess I need the pipe that connects the air cleaner to a shroud that fits over the LH ram horn? Here's a few pics. Still wondering if its the correct air cleaner...looks longer than yours and the pipe connection is in a different place.

The spacer looks correct and is correctly mounted. You are right, the air cleaner looks different. I believe (but may be wrong) that the 72 air cleaner shown above is the same for 70. Yes, you need the heat riser shroud for the ram horns (4wd specific) and the metal pipe - when you're ready, post a WTB on the truck parts board and you may be able to get a hold of all these parts. The 4wd heat riser shrouds will be the toughest to locate. You can see a pic of the pipe and shroud on a 4wd motor if you see post #3 on my K20 build thread linked in my signature below.

[70gmcjimmy]

Originally Posted by pkz71

Hi All,
Bought this 70 Jimmy from my uncle a few months ago who was the original owner. I'm new to the forum and thought I'd post a few pics. Still thinking through how much work I want to put into it. It's mostly original with the stock 350 still in it. 102k miles. Has not rusted through. Top had never been off. I like the idea of keeping it stock but I also like the idea of customizing it. Let me know your thoughts.

That's a beautiful Jimmy! It doesn't look like you have to work on it much at all! Like many others I'd do the stock steelies or rallyes for wheels. That and the lift or any other customization is up to you. It's your truck, have fun with it!

I am refurbishing a '70 Jimmy that has never had the top off too. Not near as nice as yours but almost rust-free at least. I know that it still is all original since my Mom bought it in early 1971. If you need pics of the air cleaner I can do that, just it will be the parts, as the engine is out right now.

At my age a lift ain't happening and I like the stock ride hight anyway.

Thanks for the posts on this great Jimmy!

Oh yeah the original mirrors on my Jimmy were rectangular with the same single arm pictured above. Mine is also the "Custom" like yours and on the spid lable it should call it "custom sport truck".

DAC

[obsesive23]

Looks like a nice ride! I would run a set of stock steel wheels with hub caps, but that's me. Either way enjoy it

[pkz71]

DAC
Thanks for the reply. I will definitely take you up on the pictures. I want to make sure I get the right parts. Sounds like I will have the most difficulty in getting the heat shroud for the ram horn. Any other pics of your 70 would be great too. I don't see that there is too many 70 Jimmy's around...must have been a low production year since it was the first for the Jimmy. If I get some time I will take a picture of the SPID and post it.