What to watch out for when looking for 69-72 4x4 Blazers / Jimmys

[71elect]

Hello everyone!

I've started watching for the 69-72 4x4 Blazer \ Jimmys that are for sale once in a while in my area and i've determined that I need some advice on what to be aware of. I've owned the 2wd & 4wd pickups but never a Blazer \ Jimmy. What problem areas should a guy be watching out for when out searching for a 69-72 4x4 rig? I've found on this forum that there are 2 types of hard tops (single wall & double wall), how do ya tell the difference & which is more desireable? Any problem areas on the fiberglass tops that need to be watched out for? What about the doors, any way to tell if it's a hacked down pickup door? Are the windseild frames prone to rust out easily? What areas of the tub need to be watched for rust? Roll bars, did they come from the factory as an option or standard equipment?
Sorry for all the questions, but I would rather have knowledge up front to know when to buy & when to walk away.

Any advice you can give will be greatly appreciated,
Thanks,
Josh

[LUV2XCLR8]

Rockerboxes, Windsheild Frame, Firewall are 3 pretty major ones
*Doors are the same as P/U's, just have to cut them down to fit.

*Single walls are more desireable, they bolt from the top down &
have dome lights in them, value of them is 3x that of the double.

*Roll bars where optional, the OE looking ones are harder to find.

Hope this helps as I'm sure others will respond with much more

[vtblazer]

Areas to find rust are:
*Torsion boxes, qiute often missing all together.
*Rockers, both inner and outer.
*Kick panels, pretty much always find some there.
*Floors, depends on the life they were treated to.
*Rear bed sills, yep look there also.
*Wheel wells, same story.
**Windshield frame** < nuff said, make sure to check 'em.
*Firewall behind brake booster.
*Cowl, can't really see it until you remove the fenders.
*Lower door pillars both front and rear.

Blazers/Jimmy's have an uncanny nack of hiding the rust, so if you do find rust and you will, it's typically only the beginning.

Take your time and find a nice one, it'll be well worth it in the end.

They seem to be all over out west, be prepared to make a road trip for the
right one.

Good luck and welcome to the board, enjoy the ride.

[jhow66]

Biggest thing to look out for is --aww it will not take "much" to fix it.
Define "much" as meaning $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Ask How I know this.

[71elect]

Thanks guys!
I had an idea where to look for rust on the pickups, but that blazer tub looks like it can hide a few spots i'm not used to looking in. Any areas that are prone to cracking or should be watched out for on the shell? I guess we do have it a little better out here in the west as far as rust goes. Still I've come across some nasty flaky swiss cheese metal out here.

Thanks again guys for all the advice,
Josh

[LUV2XCLR8]

Originally Posted by jhow66

Biggest thing to look out for is --aww it will not take "much" to fix it.
Define "much" as meaning $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Ask How I know this.

or "It's basically finished, just add paint"

[jaros44sr]

Check and make sure the steering box is secure. pretty beefy plate from the factory, but one never knows...

[OLDCHEV4X4]

Check the hatch for cracks around the hinges. They are hard to find, a good one anyway. And the top around the hinges too. My top had a roof rack added to it and now has holes in it. The rear hatch handle area cracks out too. Good luck!