New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter

[snowblind]

Hi everyone.

I bought a 72 Jimmy a couple of days ago. My first GM truck!

I'll be doing sort of "rolling restoration" over the next few months. It's not my daily driver but I do need to use it 3 or 4 days per week. The end goal is a smooth riding pavement/gravel road truck to cruise around town, take short highway trips and drive up to go snowboarding 20-40 times per winter.

Currently sitting on 33x1250 BFGs and a 2" lift with HD springs on the front and 2" square pipe blocks at the back. It needs a tune up to pass emissions but after that I'll be getting busy with rust repair and bodywork...

Here are some pics from the PO.






Matt

[big dump]

Cool, should make a nice driver. Welcome to the board!

[NTR72GMC]

Welcome to the board!! I think I might have an upper grill trim for you if you need one. but it looks like you have a pretty solid rig.

[vtblazer]

Welcome to the board, check out those torsion boxes, looks like it had saddle tanks once upon a time.

[truckster]

I think that's one I was looking at on KSL. My wife said my Blazer doesn't need a brother right now.

It looks like you did pretty well. Welcome to the board.

[snowblind]

Originally Posted by NTR72GMC

Welcome to the board!! I think I might have an upper grill trim for you if you need one. but it looks like you have a pretty solid rig.

Thanks but I already have an extra grill and that trim piece.

Originally Posted by vtblazer

Welcome to the board, check out those torsion boxes, looks like it had saddle tanks once upon a time.

Yep. The tanks are gone but that whole area is rusty. I'll be ordering repair pieces this week.

Originally Posted by truckster

I think that's one I was looking at on KSL. My wife said my Blazer doesn't need a brother right now.

It looks like you did pretty well. Welcome to the board.

It was on KSL. It has some good points and some bad... I just found out that the trans is leaking fluid into the transfer case so that would be a bad point.

Are there many Utah owners on this board? I'ld love to get together and share ideas.


Matt

[NTR72GMC]

There are a few of us here in Utah.

[ChadGiles70]

I'm up in Logan but would love to share Ideas.

[snowblind]

Good to see some Utah folks. I'm on the lookout for a GMC stamped tailgate and a few other things if you guys know of any parts stashes...

I ordered some custom springs today from Alcan Spring. Based on the project goals I went with stock height and an "EZ-ride" spring pack. Alcan recommended Bilstein shocks so I think I'll give them a try.

In other news my mechanic got it to pass emissions but he had to tune it on the dyno to just barely pass. I might be looking into fuel injection when inspection comes around next year... Then on the drive back from the test the throttle cable broke and we can't get another until Friday afternoon!


Best regards,
Matt Crawley

[swyfor5]

Welcome aboard and good luck! Keep us posted, and remember we love pic's!

[Big J]

Looks like a great start. That'll make a classy rig to haul your snow boarding gear in.

[71 TopCat]

Welcome Aboard!
When something breaks... Remember that it can always be worse...(what ever that supposed to means)

[Gary 70 Jimmy]

welcome from another jimmy owner

[70gmcjimmy]

Welcome Snowblind, also from another K5 Jimmy owner. That tailgate looks repairable in the pics. Is the bottom rusted out? Around here you just cant find half way decent GMC tailgates and Chevy ones are getting harder to find all the time. Cool project and a rolling restoration is the way to go in my opinion.

Later---DAC

[NTR72GMC]

Your tailgate looks pretty clean whats wrong with it?

[truckster]

I wouldn't worry too much about the trans leaking into the transfer case unless it's really bad. The transfer case can apparently operate with dexron in it.

[Sacramento70]

welcome to the board, lots of good info on here, great looking Jimmy you got there

[AJs72K5]

Originally Posted by truckster

I wouldn't worry too much about the trans leaking into the transfer case unless it's really bad. The transfer case can apparently operate with dexron in it.

The rear tranny seal leaking is pretty common. Tranny fluid won't cause any harm to your 205. However, keep in mind that if the tcase is fully of tranny fluid, then the fluid that's supposed to be in the tranny isn't there. In other words, keep an eye on the fluid level in your tranny.

And nice choice on the Alcans. I love 'em when my rig is together long enough to drive it. Hard to go wrong with Alcans and Bilsteins.

[snowblind]

Originally Posted by NTR72GMC

Your tailgate looks pretty clean whats wrong with it?

You can't really see in the pics but the whole middle of the tailgate is dented in and there are a couple of splits around the handle. It's definitely repairable but I figured I would ask the locals first.

Progress Update: New front Bilsteins are in. The interior is stripped of everything but the seats, instruments and heater. I have new calipers, pads, u-joints, ball joints, steering box seal kit ready to install this week. I need to order patch panels today in hope of getting into the body shop next monday. I'll post an update and more photos soon.

[jaros44sr]

if you do decide to scrap the tailgate, cut out the GMC embossed logo for me! All I have is a crappy chevy logo

Nice project, Im subscribed

[NTR72GMC]

Originally Posted by snowblind

You can't really see in the pics but the whole middle of the tailgate is dented in and there are a couple of splits around the handle. It's definitely repairable but I figured I would ask the locals first.

Progress Update: New front Bilsteins are in. The interior is stripped of everything but the seats, instruments and heater. I have new calipers, pads, u-joints, ball joints, steering box seal kit ready to install this week. I need to order patch panels today in hope of getting into the body shop next monday. I'll post an update and more photos soon.

What body shop are you taking it to?

[snowblind]

Originally Posted by NTR72GMC

What body shop are you taking it to?

I'm talking to the Maaco in SLC right now just because no one else would touch it. The Maaco guy I met with was pretty cool and will willing to work with me to keep the costs down.

I'm buying all the patch panels and doing a lot of the prep. Maaco will do the welding and paint. Do you have any other body shops that you would recommend?

[snowblind]

Here are some pics of the rocker areas. I'm no expert but it looks like there might be something missing... The PO had some leaky, rusty "saddle tanks" and I'm guessing that the frame/body supports were cut to fit them.

Does anyone have any photos of what a healthy Jimmy rocker area looks like?

Passenger side:







Driver side:




Matt

[NTR72GMC]

If its the maaco on 300 w and just off 3300 s they are ok. Its true theirs not a lot of body shops that will touch these trucks in Utah but Russ's in sandy will but not for cheap. Where are you getting body panels from?

[snowblind]

Originally Posted by NTR72GMC

If its the maaco on 300 w and just off 3300 s they are ok. Its true theirs not a lot of body shops that will touch these trucks in Utah but Russ's in sandy will but not for cheap. Where are you getting body panels from?

That's my Maaco. For panels I just bought some inner and outer rockers and two bed patch panels from a board member that are originally from Classic Industries. For the remaining parts I was thinking Paul's GMC.