Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom

[tristan]

Here is a first set of interior paint pics.

[tristan]

More interior shots.

Next steps are to:

1. Clean up everything else on the firewall that is below the level of the bottom of the dash - pedals, vents, etc.
2. Clean up and paint all of the ochre small parts like the AC vent housings, side panel retention brackets, tailgate stuff, etc.
3. I'm going to have all of the interior and exterior chrome items from the rear bumper to the door handles evaluated to see what needs to be sent out for replating.
4. Remove, clean up and repaint the rear bumper brackets and the trailer hitch. I have a couple of Hickey tow hooks that I think may be able to be mounted to the trailer hitch with a little modification.

This is relatively small stuff but I need to slow down for a while for financial reasons. I'm mulling over the next big job which may be an engine compartment teardown and makeover but that decision is still in the future.

[tristan]

The repairs to the top are also complete and it will be painted soon. It turns out that U-Pol Raptor underliner appears to exactly match the original texture on the top although it is the wrong color. No problem, it will just be oversprayed with Plain Old White. The inside will be POW without the texture. Those sliders that I whiffed on a few weeks ago on the Parts board would have looked nice in those side openings, oh well.

[67Steven]

Man, I love that color. Almost wish I would have gone that route, but the family would have revolted.

[tristan]

Yeah, I have this strange urge to have a couple of hot dogs with Heinz mustard on 'em for lunch today. :-)

[warbucket]

That is a awesome color, one of my favorite . I used raptor bed liner on my top and painted it General Motors Corp 40A white. Here's a link to see if the color and texture is right for you.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=459891&page=7

[tristan]

Thanks Warbucket, I am following your lead both on the Raptor base coat on the exterior as well as the GM 40-A white on both the inside and outside of the top.

I had a visitation today to see progress on the paint on the doors as well as progress on the small interior and exterior parts. I have another shopping list for the HVAC ductwork, radio, cowl and front corner panel seals.

Here are some pictures of the small stuff. Thank God my carpet strips, side panel retainer strips and door panel retainer strips are in great shape and just need buffing out. They have a little rust on the back side as they all do but are not bent, dented or rusty on the exposed side. The door sill plates are punky and I will most likely buy repops since they are available unlike the other interior chrome parts.

The window regulators have been media blasted and will soon get a coat of primer. I picked up a replacement steering wheel off EBay that needed just a bit of TLC and its cracks have now been epoxied up. My door handles are peeling and I think I will look for NOS replacements.

[tristan]

The bumper is heading off for replating soon and the doors and tailgate are now painted.

[tristan]

A few more door and tailgate shots. My jerry can for the Hickey spare tire holder (up on the counter) has been media blasted but is still waiting for paint. I kind of like the artistic look of the small ochre parts hanging on the paint rack.

[tristan]

The next step is to remove the pedals and repaint their mounting assemblies as part of a general interior firewall cleanup. The deluxe pads are in good shape chrome and rubber-wise. The heater core is coming out for a clean and check and I will need to replace all of the plenums and ductwork for the heating and A/C.

Here are a few overall pictures of the truck. I feel a big bill heading in my direction.

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

Looks great! Keep up the good work. What is your plans for the window regulators?

I was thinking of sand blasting mine and then have them have them plated in zinc chromate.

[tristan]

Thanks for your kind words. The shop plans to paint mine with epoxy primer which is OK by me since they will be hidden and will be protected by my new door fuzzies.

[mx289]

Making great progress Dave.

That paint looks so good.

Maybe mine needs to be Ochre ? Lol

Looks like you will be ready for a very enjoyable spring/summer cruise.

[tristan]

Another month, another shop bill but some progress to report although it is still teardown progress. The front clip is now off the Jimmy and I have both bumpers, the grille and the associated front end trim ready to send out for replating. I hate the black trim paint they put on the 1971-72 Jimmy grilles and am not going to redo it.

[tristan]

Here is the nekked GMC without its front end. I don't know if I've shown the SPID before but you'll see why I think this particular truck deserves the time and money that I've invested in it so far.

[tristan]

The top has had some additional challenges hiding under its rotten gaskets. There was a fair amount of lip loss, a crack or two and some delamination along the edges. As I've mentioned before, this restoration shop does a lot of Corvette work so the top is in good hands. There is probably a few more days of fiberglass work before it is ready for paint.

The shop still has quite a bit of paint and interior chrome part buffing to do but they have cleaned up and repainted the bumper brackets and trailer hitch which is a morale booster. I have asked them to start tearing down the radiator assembly and core support as well as the heater core to begin the engine compartment cleanup.

I have also learned that my 350 is a 1986 GM crate motor replacement but I'm not terribly concerned about it at this point. The market doesn't seem to punish replacement engines all that much and this one has excellent compression, vacuum and oil pressure. Finding the right "Fireball Red" GMC paint for it has been a b!tch though.

[IronCanine]

Progress looks great. I'm getting excited for you. That is one stout SPID! More than worthy of the TLC she's getting.

[tristan]

Here are a few of the front-end teardown. Today the heater core, AC equipment, core support, radiator and AC radiator (or whatever they call it) came off. The core support is sound with just a few dings and the usual crud around the battery bracket. My truck came from the factory with dual batteries which might be neat if I can figure out what the 2nd one powered. The A/C radiator is dinged up but sound although I don't like the bent vanes. I'm going to have the core support blasted and painted semi-gloss black.

I bought an original deluxe Delco AM radio per the SPID and also bought an underdash speaker assembly on the FS ads here. I shipped them off to an antique radio specialist for rebuild. I have also located a source for GMC "Fireball Red" engine paint and had a devil of a time finding it. You'd think there would be more demand for it but GMC-only stuff is usually very troublesome and expensive to get.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by tristan

I have also located a source for GMC "Fireball Red" engine paint and had a devil of a time finding it. You'd think there would be more demand for it but GMC-only stuff is usually very troublesome and expensive to get.

Was your engine originally red? I wasn't aware that the Jimmy's had different color engines. I assumed that they were orange just like the Blazers. Here's a pic of an original 20K mile '71 Jimmy engine bay...and it looks pretty orange to me...though it may have been re-touched. I'm sure it would look cool regardless, but would be interested to learn more about this. Experts please chime in.

[Chulisohombre]

My buddy had a 67 305 v6 that was red. I thought the v8 was orange.

[tristan]

Here is the color I'm talking about off a current EBay Jimmy auction. It is also shown in a 1971 factory sales brochure I have that pictures an "Invader 350 V-8." It is definitely not the same color as Chevy's engine orange although many make it so as that paint is easy to find.

[tristan]

Here is one more of the engine paint which is a red-orange color. The difference between it and Chevy orange is subtle but real.

[Chulisohombre]

After 40 years I'm sure the red dulls some as well. Never noticed except my buddy's. But his was redone and painted as well.

[mx289]

How's it going over here Dave ?

[tristan]

Hi Tom, Very little action over the past few months as the shop is concentrating on getting cars done for people who actually want to drive them this summer. The top is getting close to completion but not much else. I hope things are progressing with your Jimmy. Hopefully I can post some updates in a month or two.