Junkyard Jimmy Super Low Buck Build Thread

[hgs_notes]

I finally picked up the tires for the jimmy. The seller contacted me last week asking about a windshield frame, I had one, so we worked out a trade. I got a set of 4 32x11.5x15 tires with good tread, a pair of turquoise door panels (for my C-10) and he got the windshield frame I paid $35 for. We were both happy. I also bought an inside heater box. Not realizing this tub didn't have one, I probably sent 5 of these to scrap. About $20 for that part. I'll probably just cut some sheetmetal to blank off the heater hole for the summer, then install a heater later.


Anyone need some ford 5 lug wagon wheels, cheap!?

Now that I had tires, I figured I better start cleaning up the wheels. They were nasty. Heres a pic of an uncleaned one by one I worked on a bit.


And a pic of 2 cleaned ones.


I still need to work on all of them, and will probably continue to clean and rub the whole set as I have time. For now though, they are ok. I need to find center caps. One surprise was that it is not a matched set. There are 2 ansen sprints and 2 shelby 500's. There are very small differences in the overall look, but one set has a larger center hole. I should get them mounted up this week.

Also got underneath to try and identify the source of leakage. It's possible it's the tranny pan gasket. I thought I did a good job on it, but there was definitely some leakage there. I tightened the bolts a bit, and I'll just have to keep an eye on it, see if it keeps dripping.

Oh yeah, I measured the hieght difference front to back using the top of the wheel well and the rear is about 3.5" lower. The guy I got the tires from might have a set of 4" lift blocks, or I'll find another set. I was not expecting that much drop or sag. The lift blocks will work until the springs get replaced some time down the road.

[VA72C10]

Those will look nice and tough on there.

On the rear sag, probably is sagging about 1.5" more than stock. My blazer had new parts on it and a 2/4 lift kit which made it sit perfectly level. So the rear is typically 2" lower from the factory....

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Those will look nice and tough on there.

On the rear sag, probably is sagging about 1.5" more than stock. My blazer had new parts on it and a 2/4 lift kit which made it sit perfectly level. So the rear is typically 2" lower from the factory....

Yes, they should look good. I was aware of the 2" drop, but wasn't expecting nearly 4". Trying to decide how I want to tackle the problem. I could just get some 4" blocks and new u-bolts to jack up the rear, or look for 2" lift springs (which may be difficult), or new stock hieght springs with 2" blocks, or just install some air shocks. I'm not really looking to lift it anytime soon. I only have 32" tires, which I believe will look very proportional at stock hieght.

The solution will eventually present itself in what becomes available at the right price.

Got an hour or so out in the driveway tonight. I was bolting in the passenger seat. The interior has always had the smell of pee, I always assumed it was from mice. I had cleaned out the side vents and cowl last fall, but the smell didn't go away. So it was probably in the seats. Anyway, small bits of foam were falling out of the seat back while I was working on it, so I decided to pull off the back cover.



I vacuumed out the hole, which by the way included the remains of the industrious little bastard, and was left with this...


So I'll have to get a piece of foam to carve into the correct shape and glue it back inside the hole. I'll check the other seat out in the next couple days. If they continue to smell, I have another set I can use in similar condition sans the odor.

One of my new tires did not hold air, so before I spent a bunch of cash remounting the set to the slot wheels, I brought that one in to find the leak. I told them if it was good to swap it to the slot wheel I brought in with it. It was just leaking at the valve and on the bead, so I have one mounted now. The other threee should be done and mounted by this weekend. I was putting on the glove box door, but found it was missing the stop that keeps it level when open, and the latch on the dash was gone. So a couple little doodads to scrounge at the yard tomorrow.

I was in a yard monday and found a straight chevy tailgate for $125. Just needs sandblasted and primered. Now I have 2 good chevy tailgates and I really want a good GMC gate. Looking to trade if anyone has one, PM me.

[VA72C10]

removing the remains might help with the smell I've also found the automotive version of febreez does well to remove odors including animal urine that a cat had "watered" a mat I keep in the garage...it took two applications but did the trick....

nice find on the gate. If i run across a nice GMC one I'll pm ya! big or small letters?

(or you could always do a gmc band on the nice chevy one )

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

removing the remains might help with the smell I've also found the automotive version of febreez does well to remove odors including animal urine that a cat had "watered" a mat I keep in the garage...it took two applications but did the trick....

nice find on the gate. If i run across a nice GMC one I'll pm ya! big or small letters?

(or you could always do a gmc band on the nice chevy one )

We might have some of that febreze around here somewhere. After cleaning I'll try that too. As far as the gate goes, I don't care which letters as long as they spell G-M-C.

When I get some time and cooperative weather, I want to try out the new deadmans valve I got for my sandblaster and clean up both tail gates. Then spray 'em with the epoxy primer. Then I can put an ad in the classifieds for a trade or sell one to buy another.

[hgs_notes]

Got the other tires mounted and balanced today. Should be bolting them on this weekend. That cost $48, plus the $46 I spent for the tires and heater box. Also found a glove box latch and stop today, as well as the shift indicator. Total spent $3345.

[hgs_notes]

It's a cold wet spring so far and kind of miserable to work in the driveway, but yet I do. Nothing big, but got the glove box door installed, with latch, etc. Put on the transfercase shift knob, installed the pointer for the shift indicator.

The smell has greatly improved since cleaning the seat out. There is an uphulstory shop here in town that I think can help me repair the foam.

I just ordered shocks from rockauto.com. Got a great deal. Rear air shocks, $23 for the pair (gabriel 49162). That will take care of some of the sagging problem. And the front shocks were a bargain too at $31.50 for the pair (gabriel 61516). They were so cheap I bought a set for my C-10 while I was at it.

[VA72C10]

there's a gmc gate on the parts board for trade for a chevy gate right now...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=460584

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

there's a gmc gate on the parts board for trade for a chevy gate right now...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=460584

Thank you for spotting that and posting the link. Lets see if something works out.

Progress, new shoes installed.

[VA72C10]

No problem....and the new shoes look great!

[71swb4x4]

That thing's looking really good!!

[GmtGmt]

Man i love this build, im picking up a old 77-80 shorty stepside in parts rolling frame and crushed cab, this is what i plan to do with put somthing that was destined to the scrapyard into a good working truck might not be pretty but atleast it saved

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

No problem....and the new shoes look great!

Don't they though?

Originally Posted by 71swb4x4

That thing's looking really good!!

Yep, itcoming together.

Originally Posted by GmtGmt

Man i love this build, im picking up a old 77-80 shorty stepside in parts rolling frame and crushed cab, this is what i plan to do with put somthing that was destined to the scrapyard into a good working truck might not be pretty but at least it's saved

Good luck on your project. The fun and challenging part on this build was trying to use the cheapest route possible, but still be worthy of use. There were a few splurges and mistakes along the way, but that was expected. What wasn't expected when I started out was finding such good parts for good prices, which allowed me to step up the goals for the build. The great part was being able to take my time, no stress, just obsession. (gotta find this, gotta find that) By next year, this truck will not be recognisable from where it is now, which is unrecognisable from where it was last May. What a ride it's been. Really looking forward to that first cruise with the top off. Shocks next week, and maybe brakes adjusted, etc.

MN has an odd law on the books concerning windshields. Apparently, they are not required. The rule is if you have one, you must have wipers. See where I'm going with this...

[hgs_notes]

Did some work sunday, which was kinda unexpected, but a nice treat (to go along with my dove truffle eggs). The weather was perfect and I just didn't want to be inside. I started by swapping out the rear bumper. I had found a better one in my stash. I think I have the outer brackets in the garage somewhere.


Then I was vacuuming out my wifes truck, and decided to see how the pee smell was going in the jimmy. Still bad, so I started spraying febreeze around, etc. But came back to the nest hole in the seat, took a sniff, and found that it was a completely different smell than the pee. I decided to see if there was anything in the passenger door (driver side was open, no panel)...


Yep, and man was it ripe. The rain has been washing through the nest and depositing the odor throughout the door. I hosed out the door, still stunk. I sprayed it down with simple green, better but still stunk. Hand wiped out the inside as far as I could reach, then hosed it again, much better now. Still sprayed febreeze in it again anyway. Then lubed up the window mechanism as much as I could, cleaned the panel and arm rest and put it back together. I think I got it cleaned out now.

I wiped down the seats and dash. Pulled out the console for cleaning, and decided to swap it for one that has cup holders. I had enough parts around to put one together. Still needs more cleaning and/or paint, but it'll do the job for now.


Monday is supposed to be another great day, so I am planning to use part of it in the driveway. Maybe I can get started on the e-brake cables or tail lights.

[propanemudtruck]

Very cool build! Good luck finding any more homes in your rig!

[VA72C10]

yeah....that would make a lil stink Glad you chased that down. It's fun being able to swap out nice parts like that. I can't wait till I can afford to keep a truck around and do the same with my parts stash again

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by propanemudtruck

Very cool build! Good luck finding any more homes in your rig!

Thanks. Let's hope I'm done with that.

Originally Posted by VA72C10

yeah....that would make a lil stink Glad you chased that down. It's fun being able to swap out nice parts like that. I can't wait till I can afford to keep a truck around and do the same with my parts stash again

I don't want to compare parts stashes. Mine is all used beater stuff, with a few nice pieces thrown in. Yours? Well, a couple of those parts would probably be an even trade for everything I have.

As for the bed side, finally, SUCCESS! The local yard has 3 67-72 trucks. I have looked them over half a dozen times at least. I knew there were parts there, but just took what I thought I needed at the time. Took another look today and found the bedside I needed. It's from a longhorn, but will work just fine as a patch panel. Just surface rust and minor dings. And it only cost me a couple hours of my time plus $50.


Another member has a taillight section for me. No hurry to put it on, but I can breath a sigh now that it's in hand. I'm going back later this week to get a 67 grill for my 2wd blazer ($45) and another manual throttle set up (can't believe I missed it before, thought it was a choke) and some red interior parts.

[VA72C10]

nice score on the bedside! And sounds like some good scores still waiting for you for next time! I need to find a semi-local yard to me or move....all the ones i've found focus on late model stuff and simply crush anything older than the 80's...

[Tynee]

Man, the progress is amazing. I've got to find the time to check in more often.

[hgs_notes]

The new shocks came yesterday, so I started installing them and thought it would be a fairly quick easy deal, but it never is. I started with the rear air shocks because I wanted to see it leveled out once. Spent about $16 in new grade 8 hardware. The shocks mounted up easy enough, the problem was the airlines. I hooked it all up, but couldn't get air into them. Nothing. I thought it might be the valve not sticking out far enough for the air nozze to engage, and ended up over tightening the cheap plastic tee and it broke off. The local napa (the only open part store) did not have any air shocks on hand to get a new valve out of. I looked through my hardware drawers and found a tire schrader valve extension and was able to get it on the broken stub and with a little silicone it actually sealed up ok. Still no air going through the tubing. pulled the tubes out ofthe fittings and blew threw them, actually attempted to blow through them, and nothing. No kinks in the lines I could see. I'll pull them ut today and run a wire through to find the blockage. And I might have to find a new valve tee anyway, but I want to see them work once.

The fronts will take like 5 minutes to install. Pics when it works.

[hgs_notes]

I got some time to play outside and the weather cooperated. So the front shocks got bolted in, but not before I made another quick trip to the hardware store for bolts. Two were just a bit short for the top shock mount.



I called rockauto.com yesterday about the air line problem and they are shipping a new hose kit. So I should be able to pump them up next week.

As I thought, I had a manual choke cable in the corner of the garage, and after about 10 minutes, had it installed. Works great. The pic also shows the glove box door installed. I realized I had the wrong shift indicator on, but found the correct one in a box the other day, so I'll swap that out soon.


My battery charger has an alternator test feature I never used before today. I've had problems with the battery draing, so I tested it and it says the alternator voltage is low. Oddly enough, I had it tested at the napa store before I installed it and it checked out ok then. Oh well, replacements are not hard to find.

Not much else to say, except that I had to try a burnout with the new tires and it'll roast the 32's just fine. Got a nice long smokey one on the street. I am trying some tranny leak stop to see if that helps. Tightening the pan bolts a bit helped also. Need to do something with the transfer case leaks though. The driveway is looking rough under there right now. Will probably work on the rear brakes next and then the lights.

[VA72C10]

nice progress! I can't wait to get back to a build. (mine's on hold pending a new donor truck) I want my next one to be like this one is now where I can drive it and make improvements as I go...

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

nice progress! I can't wait to get back to a build. (mine's on hold pending a new donor truck) I want my next one to be like this one is now where I can drive it and make improvements as I go...

I can't wai to drive it legally!

Todays progress, worked on the rear sat. Why? Hellifiknow. Actually there is a reason. The seat was taking up valuable space in the garage and I needed to make room to pull the bed off my C-10. So rather than stuff it into another corner, I put it where it belongs.

Strted by welding the re-inforcing strapon he right seat mount back down to the bed floor.I had cut it last year in order to get the odd size bolt out of the hole. Then I ran a tap through all of the seat mount and seat belt mount holes.


While I was doing that I soaked the belts in the kitchen sink in hot soapy water. Once the jimmy was prepped for the seat, I went in and scrubbed the hell out of the belts. I think they turned out pretty good.


So the rear seat mounts are bolted in, the seat belts are bolted in, but I need to find the front mounts. I think they are in the garage attic.



And then, just out of curiousity, I set the push bar in place and used some wire ties to hold it up. I'm undecided on whether or not to use this. If I did, what color should it be? Seems odd to have a black bar and white bumper. Give me some opinions please.

[VA72C10]

nice progress! Those belts look great!

[nightmare]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

And then, just out of curiousity, I set the push bar in place and used some wire ties to hold it up. I'm undecided on whether or not to use this. If I did, what color should it be? Seems odd to have a black bar and white bumper. Give me some opinions please.

I think that it looks good on there. Are you planning on using a different (i.e. chrome) bumper on there? If not, I'd say leave it black. Black would still be a nice color for it. Maybe paint the mounting tabs the color of the bumper so that it looks like it is just floating there.