Junkyard Jimmy Super Low Buck Build Thread

[67chevy1series]

this is a nice build glad to see progress now get that jimmy in to the garage

[NTR72GMC]

This build is one of my favorites. Just one question though, are you using anything from the original jimmy that started this thread???? J/K keep up the good work.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Putter

Wow. I just found this thread and read every single page. Lots of work going on. Very inspiring, to say the least. Keep hacking away at it. I will keep following the progress. Getting closer to that finish line!!!

Thats a lot of reading. Glad you like it.

Originally Posted by 67chevy1series

this is a nice build glad to see progress now get that jimmy in to the garage

Probably be Sunday or monday, depending on weather.

Originally Posted by NTR72GMC

This build is one of my favorites. Just one question though, are you using anything from the original jimmy that started this thread???? J/K keep up the good work.

Not really, funny isn't it? Not at all what I expected or planned. The core support, it still has the wheels and tires I originally put on the first one, the rear seat (but that all depends on which one I decide to use), the hood is on my other blazer, maybe the cowl cover. The rest was parted out and the 2nd Jimmy really became the build once I got that.

Looks like selling one of the tops is out of the question until spring. No way to get to them now with all of the snow we've had already. It's snowing now again.

[67chevy1series]

well i know how it feels to have yor project out in the elements and tarps that dont seem to work

[RCbowtie69]

nice work, keep pictures of progress coming

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by 67chevy1series

well i know how it feels to have yor project out in the elements and tarps that dont seem to work

The tarp actually did quite well, except for being frozen to the truck. We had a few freezing rain storms earlier this winter. I had to let the truck warm in the garage a bit before I could get it unstuck. You can see the tarp still on in one of the pics below.

Originally Posted by RCbowtie69

nice work, keep pictures of progress coming

Thanks, here's "sort of" progress...



Parked by my C-10. I believe this is the only time I've had 2 trucks of this body style together in the garage. Just for a few days though.

[67chevy1series]

well glad you got it in the garage

[1956cameo]

It is starting to shape up! I think you are turning that corner that is in every project where tasks seem to take forever to where they start going really fast.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by 67chevy1series

well glad you got it in the garage

Me too.

Originally Posted by 1956cameo

It is starting to shape up! I think you are turning that corner that is in every project where tasks seem to take forever to where they start going really fast.

I wish. Seems for every 2 steps forward I take 1 back.

Like today, Heads are installed, valve train is installed, intake installed. Unfortunately, I had to remove the headers, and the driver side one couldn't really come out because of the oil dipstick. I tried to hold it out of the way, but just as I was finishing the torque sequence, it dropped and busted the dipstick tube. I'm hoping I can get the stub out with out having to take the oil pan off, but I'm not holding my breath.



Checklist (at least what I can think of now):
prime oil pump
Distributor
carb
valve covers
headers/exhaust
spark plugs/wires
power steering pump
water pump
alternator
fan/pulleys
fuel line
radiator hoses
temp sensor
throttle
gas tank filler hose
tranny cooler lines
plug un-used holes
vacuum lines
ground straps

I'm probably forgetting something. If anyone spots something I missed, go ahead and give me a reminder.

[spike38]

It's looking good!

But just a watch out item for you.
In the past several months, I've seen
a few engines with these heads,
Having water leaks in these weak areas
front and back. Of coarse, All of them
where on stock motors. Original gaskets.

Spike

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by spike38

It's looking good!

But just a watch out item for you.
In the past several months, I've seen
a few engines with these heads,
Having water leaks in these weak areas
front and back. Of coarse, All of them
where on stock motors. Original gaskets.

Spike

Thanks, I 'll use thread sealer and I think I have a good bead of silicone front and back. Looked like quality gaskets also.

And for anyone wondering... I did clean the overspray off the gasket seating surfaces before the intake went on.

I remembered something else for the check list too, prime oil pump. I added it to that post.

[hgs_notes]

Sometimes, very rarely, I even amaze myself.

Remember I said the oil dipstick was busted off in the block? I fixed it without having to pull the oil pan.

The mess (I did try to punch the side of the tube in to loosen it, it didn't work:


First, you need the right tools. In this case, a set of ear plugs (foam with the attached lanyard), a 27/64" drill bit, a drill (either small enough to fit between the block and steering column/shifter linkage or an angle adapter to get you in there).



Squeeze the ear plug down so it fits into the dipstick hole.


Push the plug down using the dipstick or whatever, without pushing it all the way into the pan. Cut the string off a few inches from the top of the hole. Push the string down the hole at least past the stub that needs to be removed.

Then get your drill set up so you can drill out the stuck tube. I chose to use a 27/64" bit because it will not jam as bad in the hole or bore it out at all and it's big enough not to really leave much of the tube inside.


The drill worked great and the tube was cleared out. Then I used a fairly strong magnet to get as much crud out as possible. I put a smaller diameter bolt on the magnet, which is then magnetized, and put it down the hole a few times to clean as many shavings out as possible. When the bolt is removed from the magnet, most of the filings will drop right off.


Then I used a small hook or probe to fish out the string.


Then slowly pulled out the ear plug and all the rest of the grit with it (there wasn't much)


That's it, job done. I think I am done using that style of dipstick. This is not the first time I had one bust off. They make tubeless style dipsticks that fit directly into the block that I think I will use from now on, depending on how they fit around the headers. Like this one from summit:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-G290/

[67chevy1series]

wow you are pretty good with jerry rigin!

[VA72C10]

nice work!

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by 67chevy1series

wow you are pretty good with jerry rigin!

Thanks, I think...

Originally Posted by VA72C10

nice work!

Thanks

Look! All done!

Not really, the only other thing I really got done yesterday was mounting the headers. The carb and valve covers sure makes it look more complete though.

[coloradosean2009]

Did you make a decision on the distributor? I would go with an HEI. The performance upgrade over points will be well worth it. You won't have to worry about setting dwell, float or wear for points; you will have a hotter spark giving you better burn and the cost increase is marginal.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by coloradosean2009

Did you make a decision on the distributor? I would go with an HEI. The performance upgrade over points will be well worth it. You won't have to worry about setting dwell, float or wear for points; you will have a hotter spark giving you better burn and the cost increase is marginal.

I never intended to keep it a points type distributor. They make adapter kits to convert them to electronic ignition, similar to HEI without the ginormous cap. But considering the price, it may be cost effective to just buy a small cap distributor with electronic ignition.

Like this one:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ACC-2010/

Or a dizzy like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

They have a matching coil for $20.

[Tynee]

Boy, wouldn't some billet valve covers look nice on there with that aluminum intake and that Edelbrock carb?

Edit:...or are those? They look chrome from here. Admittedly, I'm not very good at know the difference in photographs.

[hgs_notes]

Just cheap chrome ones, $20 from amazon.com.

[hgs_notes]

The story of a water pump.

Once upon a time, there was a nice shiny new 1972 GMC Jimmy K-5. It had a 350 V-8 engine, which was a good engine, but over the course of many years of wear, tear, use and abuse, it bit the big one and died. The owner, who dearly loved his Jimmy, replaced the engine with a nice big, somewhat used, 400 cubic inch sbc. Eventually, this engine also died. And because the years had been long and hard (hee hee, head in the gutter there), the Jimmy had seen better days. So the owner sent the Jimmy to an appropriate resting place, where maybe it's bits and pieces could be used to help other old Jimmys make their way through more years of use.

Some years later, a fool came along that was looking for parts for a Jimmy. A LOT of parts. He talked the nice (stoner) automotive rest home manager into selling hime the entire she-bang. The fool was thrilled, because he knew not what a mess he was getting into. He did manage to complete (sorta) his goal of having a running driving Jimmy for a meager amount of money. And he had a good time overall working on his Jimmy.

Another engine was installed, which had just enough life left in it to frustrate the fool. He came to learn his lesson and so built another fine engine, which he installed. He worked diligently to make the Jimmy into something better than it had been for many years. The engine was treated with nice new shiny stuff and upgrades using the newest head technology GM had for the first gen sbc.

By now, you are probably wondering what this story has to do with a water pump. Well finding a water pump is not that hard, and really isn't that expensive either. A nice shiny new water pump for a 1972 GMC Jimmy K-5 with a nice shiny new 350 cubic inch V-8 can be had for a paltry $15 at O'reilly's. Unfortunately, that pump will not work with the unknown style or vintage of alternator brackets. As it turns out, alternator brackets can be the limiting factor in many engine accessory set ups. The automotive resting homes routinely pull the engines and subsequently, the alternators and brackets as soon as a new resident is brought in. When they can be found, they can be quite expensive. So the best alternative is to have a set of brackets that work and have a water pump that allows them to be used.

Unfortunately, that pump had to be ordered and will have to wait until tomorrow.

I guess the story could have been titled, "About an alternator Bracket, Who did Not Play Well With a New Pump".

Next I can tell a story about an intake manifold vacuum hose adapter...but that's for another day.

To make a long story short, the water pump was bad, replacement not immediately available, which means waiting for the accessories to be mounted, which means no significant progress.

Thanks for reading.

[VA72C10]

sorry for the setback...but that was an entertaining read at least

[1956cameo]

Good job on fixing the oil dipstick dillema.

[67chevy1series]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

Thanks, I think...

Thanks

Look! All done!

Not really, the only other thing I really got done yesterday was mounting the headers. The carb and valve covers sure makes it look more complete though.

you thought correct! it was a compliment ,nice work on the engine! valve covers.....ooooohhhhhhh shiny!

[Tynee]

So, what did you wind up having to go with, instead of the $15 O'reilly's special?

BTW, I have a 1YO, and a 3YO. I just printed this to read at bed time. I'm calling it, "Ode to a Water Pump and an Alternator Bracket."

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Tynee

So, what did you wind up having to go with, instead of the $15 O'reilly's special?

BTW, I have a 1YO, and a 3YO. I just printed this to read at bed time. I'm calling it, "Ode to a Water Pump and an Alternator Bracket."

Excellent! Even a 1YO would get bored with that story quickly I'm afraid.

They ordered a $20 special for me, cross referenced from the old pump I returned for a core. The O'reilly store is brand new and I had never been in it before. The manager was a young guy (early 20's), but very helpful and knew more than I had hoped.