1971-72 Differences

[Classics Fan]

Can anyone tell me the differences that distinguish a 1971 Jimmy from a 1972? Trim, mechanical, structural, etc.? TIA!

[truckster]

Easiest way for me is the rear view mirror. On the 71, it's screwed to the headliner. On the 72 it's glued to the windshield.

[richard2717]

72 frame in the rear comes out far enough for bumper to bolt to. 71 requires brackets.
72 has metal ferrules and screws under the wing window on the door 71 is plastic
72 has plastic molded door panels 71 down has metal door panels

[CK5]

Front disc brakes new for 72
Rear seat went to only 2 rear legs in 72
I believe single wall hard top came out mid year 72

[Classics Fan]

Originally Posted by CK5

Front disc brakes new for 72
Rear seat went to only 2 rear legs in 72
I believe single wall hard top came out mid year 72

I believe front discs came out in 71 for Jimmy. Mine has them and I read somewhere that’s correct.

[Orange71shorty]

Originally Posted by CK5

Front disc brakes new for 72
Rear seat went to only 2 rear legs in 72
I believe single wall hard top came out mid year 72

Front disc brakes came standard in 1971

[Classics Fan]

Originally Posted by richard2717

72 frame in the rear comes out far enough for bumper to bolt to. 71 requires brackets.
72 has metal ferrules and screws under the wing window on the door 71 is plastic
72 has plastic molded door panels 71 down has metal door panels

My Jimmy has both the plastic ferrules and plastic molded door panels. One thing I was trying to figure out is, were the entire doors replaced or only the panels? The more I dig he more I’m convinced it was only the panels and not the doors. Thanks!

[CK5]

Didn't realize Jimmy got disc brakes a year earlier than the Blazer.

[68panelman]

Originally Posted by CK5

Didn't realize Jimmy got disc brakes a year earlier than the Blazer.

All C and K series truck had disc brakes standard for the 1971 model year.

[1rippen6]

Originally Posted by Classics Fan

My Jimmy has both the plastic ferrules and plastic molded door panels. One thing I was trying to figure out is, were the entire doors replaced or only the panels? The more I dig he more I’m convinced it was only the panels and not the doors. Thanks!

A 71 door will have nuts along the bottom for the door panel, the door panel attaches with 4 screws along the bottom. 72 only have holes, the panel attaches with the Christmas tree push pins and 1 screw mid way up the back side. Door relay and window cranks are longer for a 72, to accommodate the thicker door panel. If you are trying to determine whether is a 71 or 72, the easiest way is look at the tail pan under the tailgate. 72's have notches above each frame rail, guess for clearance since they extend out to the bumper, 69-71 doesn't have this.

[Blazerowner]

Yes the single wall top was a mid year change in 72. I wasn’t aware of the rear seat only having two legs in 72.

Originally Posted by CK5

Front disc brakes new for 72
Rear seat went to only 2 rear legs in 72
I believe single wall hard top came out mid year 72

[1rippen6]

I believe DeadheadNM has a thread started trying to figure out the exact date for the single wall top, if I remember correctly, they were only installed at 1 assembly plant. The thread will have the info but I believe it's associated with the under dash speaker also.

[Classics Fan]

Besides wanting to generally know what to look for to distinguish between the two years, I had a more specific reason. My Jimmy has what appears to be 1971 doors with 1972 panels. That seems odd given (if I understand correctly) the window regulator would also need to be changed to update the panels to 1972. I had entertained the thought the doors had been replaced or even the whole body had been replaced (the VIN plate was secured by non-rosette rivets when I purchased it). It seems now everything is likely original except the panels.

Thanks for everyone’s input!

PS: how the heck do you rotate uploaded pictures so they aren’t sideways?!

[1rippen6]

Here to you, get a picture of the latch area, a blazer door should have a reinforcement plate from factory.

[Classics Fan]

Originally Posted by 1rippen6

Here to you, get a picture of the latch area, a blazer door should have a reinforcement plate from factory.

I’ll post a pic of the latch area. How were you able to rotate this one?

[1rippen6]

Saved it to my computer, rotated it in paint and reposted. You maybe able to rotate them on your phone but haven't tried.

[Classics Fan]

Here are both the door and body latches. Look correct?

For the life of me I can’t get my pics to load correctly!

[1rippen6]

Yes, looks correct

[richard2717]

According to the vent window screw it appears to be a 70-71 door with a 72 panel made to fit. 72 should look like this

.

[dagnabbitt]

I am not an expert and maybe I am misunderstanding, but it appears to me that those are 72 doors with 72 panels.

[richard2717]

70- 71 has this style which is what it appears to me to be in the picture op posted. It is hard to see in his pic but appears to be black. if it is actually like the pic I posted in #19 it is a 72 door only.

.

[Classics Fan]

Originally Posted by richard2717

72 frame in the rear comes out far enough for bumper to bolt to. 71 requires brackets.
72 has metal ferrules and screws under the wing window on the door 71 is plastic
72 has plastic molded door panels 71 down has metal door panels

Mine has plastic ferrules (the bezel around the reinforcement screw under the vent window. I guess the only way to tell for sure is to pull the door panel and see if it has the nuts for a 71 panel as these could have been brought over from 71 doors if they had been changed. Am I missing anything?

[john deere]

Since your VIN plate has been tampered with I would see if the VIN stamped in the frame matches it. It is located on the drivers side top of the frame near the power steering pump. Also the blue tag on the drivers door should give a build date on the very top, right side if it is still readable. Does your title and everything else mentioned above indicate it is a 71?

[Classics Fan]

Originally Posted by john deere

Since your VIN plate has been tampered with I would see if the VIN stamped in the frame matches it. It is located on the drivers side top of the frame near the power steering pump. Also the blue tag on the drivers door should give a build date on the very top, right side if it is still readable. Does your title and everything else mentioned above indicate it is a 71?

My curiosity about this rig started soon after I bought it. This thread I started then provides more detail.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=759924

Both the SPID and the blue door tag shown signs of “possible” tampering (note the edges) but the frame VIN matches. The rest of the truck looks and feels genuine and untampered. Just trying to be a detective I guess.