Lks Dcvn: 70 2wd GMC Jimmy Conversion Project

[smbrouss70]

Just found this thread, You know I love the '70 508 Dark Blue!

Keep up the good work!

[lks dcvn]

Thanks guys - appreciate the feedback! Still working down my list of stuff before this thing sees some road time.

[lks dcvn]

Now that I have all but one set of body mounts and bolts replaced (the ones under the radiator are still pending) - I took some pix of how the doors align with the bedsides. These doors appear to still be the stock doors so it's amazing how from each side they are not aligned with the side of the truck.

The driver side is spot on while the passenger side is a bit off in the door shape to bedside contour.

[lks dcvn]

I also mocked up the chrome bumper that came with the truck and have decided that I'm going to go with the white GMC bumper look instead of chrome for the time being. They are easy to swap if I decide to make a change down the road.

I will also need to adjust the rear driver side bumper bracket as it seems to have drooped a bit over time.

A few minutes with a level and some tools should fix that right up.

[twp1]

Looking Good!

[lks dcvn]

Spent a few hours today getting some odds and ends done-

• installed the passenger side mirror arm
• installed new mirror heads on both doors
• swapped the chrome bumpers for a set of white patina ones (thanks again RaggedJim - they look great with the white top)
• obtained a clean set of 2wd manifolds to replace the headers - this will require new exhaust/mufflers so putting that on my list as well down the road

I just picked up a white patina license plate bracket from MI so that should complete the look. I'm checking to see if it comes with a light housing/bulb so I can cross that off my list as well.

There are still several items I need to check out and haven't had a chance as I haven't had time to spend a full weekend on it (or drive it anywhere yet).

• radiator leak
• check water pump/thermostat/heater core
• power steering = leaking bad
• steering gear - swap to RedHead box
• swap s10 column for 69-72 stock blue column and comfort grip wheel - can you use an auto column in a manual truck? Any mods needed?
• swap current gauge cluster for stock replacement with tach - keeping odometer intact
• find a better shifter boot (that won't tear) for the Muncie M-22
• replace broken windshield

[litebulblsc]

White bumpers look great on it.

[raggedjim]

Looking good, glad they worked out for you.

Rg

[lks dcvn]

A few more parts came in today and already installed them. Thanks jimmy70 for the license plate holder and working light housing... Looks right at home on the truck.

[twp1]

Looking good.

[lks dcvn]

Still making my way down the list of repairs on the Jimmy. Yesterday was new windshield and precision gasket day. One more thing off the list...

I used a glass repair chain with local service and the tech called in a co-worker to assist in the job. Little during/after shots.

[lks dcvn]

Been trying to get a few of the items on the list done over the past week while I had some time before the holidays.

• radiator leak - replaced with Champion EC-369 - fit in the stock mounts without issue or any mods needed
• check water pump/thermostat/heater core - replaced bad thermostat and upper & lower rad hoses - we have heat in the truck again
• power steering = leaking bad - replaced pump brackets to OEM and swapped in an original chimney style pump and added new stainless lines from Frank (PICKMUP) to the gearbox - not leaking any longer
• swap s10 column back to stock column - ordered a 4 speed column painted in the matching 508 Dark Blue Poly from Les (70shortfleet)
• swap in dark blue dash pad - pending

Yesterday, I went out to start the truck and got a crank/no start scenario. I'll add that to the list to diagnose when I get more time.

[lks dcvn]

Truck came to me with a S10 tilt column/wheel that were fully functional and installed well - no cutting under the dash for it to go in. I wanted to go back to stock with a period correct steering wheel.

The truck now has an original 4 speed column rebuilt by Les (70shortfleet) color matched to the 508 Dark Blue poly and a comfort grip wheel I picked up last summer. Install was pretty simple and looks great in the truck. It is the nicest part of the truck right now.

I figured out the wiring for the reverse switch with the Muncie (M-22) - just need to find the time to install the switch bracket and retest for any additional concerns.

One more thing done.

[lks dcvn]

A few more updates-

Reverse lights work now - purchased a ~$40 bracket/switch for the reverse lights that bolts onto the Hurst shifter on a Muncie manual trans - Amazon link

Rebuilt the dash cluster over the holiday weekend and installed a factory tach - replacing the S10 one that was in the dash when I purchased it. New surround added, LED 194 bulbs added for better lighting and removed the crud from the spare 'large truck' cluster I had with tach/air pressure using non-gel toothpaste (just abrasive enough to not damage the lens). Painted the speedo, tach and fuel gauge needles with fluorescent paint to get back to the factory look. I went with Rustoleum spray paint on the needles. Amazon link.

While the dash was opened up, cleaned up some wiring, and installed a new dark blue dash pad as the old one looked painted at some point.

Need to fix the fuel gauge still...

Next up -

• route the heater vents to the dash outlets
• install new glovebox insert
• get driver side courtesy light door pin functional (passenger side works)
• install rebuilt hatch latches (thanks 1rippen6)
• locate light blue escutcheons to replace broken ones in doors
• locate shift boot and surround that can accommodate the Hurst shifter
• locate and install rear light and tailgate trim
• install/update inner door felts/seals
• paint door mirror heads white
• install OEM AM radio
• refinish the sill plates and install

[harrisoncole4]

Cool build, love the one year only paint codes!

[Heydanl]

Hey there, I was just looking through your thread and think I might have an answer for the poor fitment at the top of your passenger door. I have a 72 Blazer I'm in the process of rebuilding and I bought a 67 C10 for parts. The C10s doors were much better than the Blazer's so I cut them down, thinking all C10/Blazer doors were the same. Well, they're not. When I put them on I had the same mismatch between the top of the door and the quarter that you do. If it appears that your door is the original, then you have a factory mismatch. Maybe that was the year of the changeover between profiles and some assembly line worker just thought "ah, what the hell" and stuck it on. Or maybe your truck got hit at some point and that was the replacement door that was installed. Anyways, in the photo, the orange door is from the 67 C10, the other is my factory Blazer door. You can see the difference in contour at the top of the door. (Not sure why the picture loaded sideways)

[lks dcvn]

right side up pic - I'll have to take a look and see. Good catch!

[DeadheadNM]

Good info. It may be that 67 doors are unique - the 67 beds are unique and slightly different and the door handles are unique. It would be worth comparing the contours of K5 doors vs pickup doors for 69-72. Somewhere there is GM literature posted that details how to cut down pickup doors for a K5 for I suspect for these model years the contours are similar.

[lks dcvn]

Drove over to see a fellow Blazer enthusiast today and picked up a door reinforcement screw that I was missing. Yet another part of the puzzle completed.

Thanks again rayray767!

I've been looking for a 'period correct' radio for the Jimmy and found an old Audiovox C-977 AM/FM/8 Track that was still in the original box with everything but a few bit of install hardware - hex nuts, etc. Original paper instructions and product registration card were included as well. I'm going to call them (now Voxx Electronics) to see if they can share what parts I am missing for my install and see if I can still register it. A few others on the forum have this style radio and they look right at home in the dash of these old truck IMHO.

[lks dcvn]

Found the same model radio on FB marketplace with the hardware I needed so I scooped that up and found out it works after testing with a make-shift speaker set up.

I installed a new telescopic antenna and ordered a replacement under dash speaker to have in the truck.

I also crossed a few more items off my list:

• removed the seat belts and gave them a proper cleaning - they are blue (faded) again (although I didn't get any after pix) - may need to update these when I get the carpet, console and bucket seats installed
• fixed the squeak noise in the heater controls (metal on metal noise)
• while I was in there, I removed all the heater cables, lubed them and fixed the bent wires/levers for easier operation (way better now)
• installed a better set of interior color-matched door handles I picked up on the forum over a year ago
• modified and installed a NP205 shift boot and ring for my Muncie M22 by using a Hurst adapter to prevent the boot from tearing

[DeadheadNM]

Nice work!

[lks dcvn]

Finally have some tunes in the Jimmy.

Ordered a 4x10 replacement speaker and used the factory brackets to install it under the dash (this is a 1970 model so it goes above the gas pedal (not under the heater controls).

The radio sounds pretty good even though it channels both R/L into one speaker with two tweeters. No real bass though with this setup. Oh well - it's nice to have something to listen to now.

Also got the heater air tubes installed to the defrost vents - another reason why I can see why they changed the speaker set up in later years - what a pain to install with all that stuff.

Ordered a a pair of rear splash shields and a lighter element with wiring.

I'm wondering if I should order/replace the fan high speed relay now before I get the glovebox in there...I don't know how old this one is.

[lolife99]

Great progress!
Love this build.

[lks dcvn]

Thanks - always stuff to tweak here and there.

[aotte1]

Thanks for sharing your build on all your progress, what you are doing.
Watching.

Les