Junkyard Jimmy Super Low Buck Build Thread

[Maddoxdb]

This build is turning out far better than I ever thought when ya started. Looking very nice!!!! My first 72 I bought had a 67 hood on it. All they did was shave some off the front and weld some sheetmetel back in to tie it back together. Whoever did the bodywork was terrible!!! But the hood mod actually looked pretty decent. I've always been partial to the 67-68 trucks. Wish I had some pics of the work done.... Here's the only pic I have of the truck
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[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by RatRod68

What a read! I am loving this build!

Thanks.

Originally Posted by Dale99

I like the idea on the hood. Ive always liked the more slopped look of the 67. Never knew why they were different and couldnt be swapped. Now I kinda see.

The 67 style is about 1.5" longer. Unfortunately for me, the reproduction 67 hood has a different shape to it also. They put more crown in the middle. The braces in the middle going front to back actually have about 1/2" of a arc in it from end to end. The OEM braces are straight. I think this is actually messing up my fitment of the skin to the OEM frame work.

Originally Posted by Maddoxdb

This build is turning out far better than I ever thought when ya started. Looking very nice!!!! My first 72 I bought had a 67 hood on it. All they did was shave some off the front and weld some sheetmetel back in to tie it back together. Whoever did the bodywork was terrible!!! But the hood mod actually looked pretty decent. I've always been partial to the 67-68 trucks. Wish I had some pics of the work done.... Here's the only pic I have of the truck
Posted via Mobile Device

Yeah, this build did not go in the direction I originally intended. Probably a good thing. You see, my wife was all kinds of pissed when I brought the first one home from the junkyard. She didn't want to see it, hear about it, acknowledge it existed, etc. She has slowly come around. She has always loved my C-10 though. Anyway, this morning before she left for work she came into the garage and I was able to show off my progress. She actually said that now we have his and hers trucks. I seriously did a double take and asked "what are you talking about?" She said, "Well you can drive your truck to the shows and I'll drive this." Blew me away.

Maybe I'll regret having done the hood my way rather than just cutting off the front and filling it in. We'll see how it goes. If I can get this part to look good, the next part should be a piece of cake.

[NTR72GMC]

Love the hood idea! But if your not going to use the trim on your fenders you can just switch out the trim piece on the top of your grill with one from a 67-68 GMC grill and you can just bolt on a 67-68 hood without any cutting or welding on the hood.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by NTR72GMC

Love the hood idea! But if your not going to use the trim on your fenders you can just switch out the trim piece on the top of your grill with one from a 67-68 GMC grill and you can just bolt on a 67-68 hood without any cutting or welding on the hood.

I knew that, and its another good way to do this. I planned on using the eyebrow trim though. Thanks for sharing though because I'm sure others would like to know.

I really could not have asked for better weather this week. Day before Thanksgiving and I worked in the garage with the doors open in a t-shirt. Supposed to cool off this weekend, but I'll take every day like this I can get.

As for the Jimmy, I have doors that latch now. Bonus!



And I worked on the hood some more. Here's the beginning of stage 2. The smooth look.



I made some relief cuts on the front sides, which helped it lay down better.


Upside down...


Lets see if it fits...



So this mod may be anti-climatic for some (many?), but its something I wanted to try and I can't recall seeing it done before. It will give it a smoother sleeker look and most people won't even notice the ridgeline is gone. I still have a long ways to go before I'm spraying paint on it. Its held together with self tapping screws right now. For those wondering why I didn't just cut the ridge out and fill it in, this was at the advice of a few different body professionals. They said the seams would show up in the sun when it gets hot. I figured if my edges were at the natural body lines I will eliminate most of that.

All this mod cost me was 2 hoods I couldn't sell (believe me I tried), about 6 cutoff wheels, $34 for the new sheet of steel, and a bunch of my time. Hopefully I don't have any major issues getting everything bonded/welded together and the finish body work goes well.

This toy is where my inspiration came from...

[NTR72GMC]

Hummmm??? Interested in how the hood turns out.

[wild one]

WOW!!! I just finished reading ALL 33 pages, what an amazing transformation! Not only have you taken cast off pieces of other vehicles and turned it into something to be proud of, you've accomplished something far greater. You were able to do what most married men strive for but seldom achieve - you managed to gain not only your wife's but your entire families approval for the project AND desire to be seen in it! My hat is off to you sir, keep up the good work! Subscribed!

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by NuBomb

Spent the day (lazy day here) reading all 33 pages of your build. Very impressive work and a great read. Now I want to take mine back apart and do it again. Not really. At least not yet.

Thanks. Don't do it. Just drive the snot out of it.

Originally Posted by NTR72GMC

Hummmm??? Interested in how the hood turns out.

Me too.

Originally Posted by wild one

WOW!!! I just finished reading ALL 33 pages, what an amazing transformation! Not only have you taken cast off pieces of other vehicles and turned it into something to be proud of, you've accomplished something far greater. You were able to do what most married men strive for but seldom achieve - you managed to gain not only your wife's but your entire families approval for the project AND desire to be seen in it! My hat is off to you sir, keep up the good work! Subscribed!

She laughed when I read this to her. Thanks a lot.

Today started out slow. I was mostly working on cleaning up the garage, added some lighting, insulated the door to my attic pull down stairs, hung up more stuff, built a small shelf between the work benches to hold tools in cases so I could use the cabinet they were in for a bunch of cordless tools so I could quit tripping over them, etc, etc,...

New lights...


The front part of the garage was kinda dark and I needed to mount lights direct to the ceiling so the garage doors would not hit them. Kind of a pain because I had to take the lights apart to mount, then put them back together. Well worth the effort though. Much better lighting in the whole garage now.

Then the jimmy got some love. I'm not ready to finish the hood yet. Needed a break from it. So I started doing what needs to be done to get the dash back together. I found a better bezel for the gauge cluster, so I got that put together.


The steering column and top of the dash needed to be painted satin black. After what seemed like hours of taping, they got sprayed.



Looks much better with the tape removed.



During the morning I was digging through the parts boxes, attic, bed of the jimmy, where ever and found most of what I need to get the dash back together. But I might have to wait a few days so I can order some black vinyl paint for the dash pad, and a glove box. Probably won't get much time tomorrow because it's the wifes birthday. We'll be doing what ever she wants to do.

[hgs_notes]

I did manage to get some more garage time today. Not a ton got done, but hey, progress is progress. I got my ignition switch, wiper switch, light switch and lighter in. The hardest part of this was just finding it all.


I started to weld the hood together also. I had planned on using the panel adhesive, but after seeing how much work it was going to be to get a good fit, drill all the holes for rivets, countersink them all, glue it and rivet it, I had second thoughts. So I welded the back middle, where I had cut out the ridge, back together, and left the screws in place there to hold the position. Then I welded the front middle down to hold the center line. I ran out of time but I did start welding one side.


The front half of each side is where the most problems with the fit are at. I may have to add another relief cut or 2, or extend ones I have now on the front corners, but I think it will be alright. Just going to take some time.

Oh yeah, bonus of the day. I sold a tailgate on ebay and the guy came to pick it up. He also needed a windshield frame for his blazer. I had the one I cut off the very first jimmy tub that started this whole project. So another $100 comes of the total. Now at $4099.

[Dale99]

I know what you mean on finding everything. Been having that issue the past few days.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Dale99

I know what you mean on finding everything. Been having that issue the past few days.

Still haven't found the switch knobs. I might have sold them all by mistake.

I just ordered some more paint supplies (just to be sure I got enough to finish it), and a carb rebuild kit, and dash pad paint, and heater (water) hoses. Still need to order the glove box and heater vent hoses.

Going to get the kick panels painted this week I hope. Then spray the liner on the front floor half (need to remember to get the tint). Maybe get the dash back together by next weekend. Need to keep rolling along on the hood. Get the windshield down from the attic to see if it's really worth keeping and using.

[hgs_notes]

Snuck out to the garage for a few minutes to do more tack welds. Both sides of the hood are tacked in except for the front 5-6". I need to do more cutting and hammering there. Then I'll need to trim more off the front edge of the skin before I tack that down. So far so good though.

[Dieselwrencher]

It's been a long time since I checked in on this build. Holy cow you're doing a bang up job! (Pun intended) Keep up the great work. This Jimmy looked as bad as they get and you've gotten it to the point most people only dream of. Nice job sir!

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

It's been a long time since I checked in on this build. Holy cow you're doing a bang up job! (Pun intended) Keep up the great work. This Jimmy looked as bad as they get and you've gotten it to the point most people only dream of. Nice job sir!

Thanks! Keep checking in. I've been getting busy!

Wife is video chatting so I slunk back out to the garage. Just kept working my way around the front tacking the 67 hood skin on. Still need to do the rear, but might change directions on how I have that since I have the new sheet going over the top and flush with the rear.

Anyway, it fit up surprisingly well. Just lengthened a couple of the relief cuts, a few taps with a hammer, clamp, tack, clamp, tack, etc. I'll keep welding as time permits and should be able to get the top sheet on soon enough.

[RatRod68]

looking real good buddy.

[Dieselwrencher]

The hood will be sweet when it's done. But I foresee a lot of blocking in your future.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by RatRod68

looking real good buddy.

Thanks. I hope the wiring diagram I emailed you helps you out.

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

The hood will be sweet when it's done. But I foresee a lot of blocking in your future.

Blocking?! Ick! I'll just spray it like it is.

Didn't work on it today, but picked up the glovebox and heater hoses from daburb for $37. And my order from summit came to $121 for a carb rebuild kit, black vinyl paint and other paint supplies. Total spent now up to $4257. There really shouldn't be much I have left to buy.

[Dieselwrencher]

I really did keep a good job keeping track of how much I dumped into my 72. But once I got to $8500 with out the powertrain being done, I just quit keeping track.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

I really did keep a good job keeping track of how much I dumped into my 72. But once I got to $8500 with out the powertrain being done, I just quit keeping track.

Time for some progress there dude.

[hgs_notes]

Woke up early so I figured I would weld some more. I got the relief cuts welded up and ground down. And the little holes from the self tapping screws along the sides also. I also added tack welds between each of the existing tacks on both sides. They are about an inch apart now and I'm wondering if that is enough. I don't think I should have to weld the whole thing solid. Opinions?

[RatRod68]

I think it is really preference. I like mine to be welded solid, but i also flap wheel mine down until the weld is almost completely flush. I know it makes the metal very thin, but i usually add a skim coat of body filler (just enough so a magnet will still stick to the metal) to help with strength. I know i have seen many patch panels done the way you were talking about though

[87Jimmy4JP]

I would go one more round....its amazing what a tiny bit of flex will do later after its painted...all that work and your paint develops little cracks later.....or maybe it wont?

I would rather have the peace of mind.

this hood looks great. cant wait to see the final transformation....

JP

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by RatRod68

I think it is really preference. I like mine to be welded solid, but i also flap wheel mine down until the weld is almost completely flush. I know it makes the metal very thin, but i usually add a skim coat of body filler (just enough so a magnet will still stick to the metal) to help with strength. I know i have seen many patch panels done the way you were talking about though

Originally Posted by 87Jimmy4JP

I would go one more round....its amazing what a tiny bit of flex will do later after its painted...all that work and your paint develops little cracks later.....or maybe it wont?

I would rather have the peace of mind.

this hood looks great. cant wait to see the final transformation....

JP

So far I have one person each telling me 3 different things. ( I posted the question in the bodywork board too) One says I could probably do it like this, one says one more round, one said weld it 100% or it will look like poo (paint and body section).

So who will be the tie breaker?

I kind of expected this. It seems there are more opinions on the right way to do body work than there are cars to work on. I would say the best way is welded 100% or close to it. I think I could get by doubling up what I have now and I already started that on one side. I'll probably just keep tacking away until its pretty much 100%.

I ran into welder issues today though. Got a snarl at the wire drive, not unusual, but when I looked at it there wasn't much wire left on the roll. I finished it out anyway, about 10 more tacks. So I change the roll out but the new roll is a different mfr and it is spooled like crap and I have to tighten down the drive wheels to get it to feed steady, which means its a snarl waiting to happen, which came about 5 minutes later. I need a new roll of wire cause this will drive me nutz.

I got the black vinyl paint today and sprayed the dash pad. It looks great, pics to follow later.

And I'm going in circles deciding how I'm going to do the main flat sheet attachment, and just thought of another option there.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by RatRod68

I think it is really preference. I like mine to be welded solid, but i also flap wheel mine down until the weld is almost completely flush. I know it makes the metal very thin, but i usually add a skim coat of body filler (just enough so a magnet will still stick to the metal) to help with strength. I know i have seen many patch panels done the way you were talking about though

I have always done mine this same way. If you don't weld it all the way around,there's a good chance the filler will crack from cracking due to flex of the hood being pushed up and pulled down.

On edit..... I posted this before going to the next page so I didn't see your post about the tie breaker.

Another option would be to use an epoxy and fill it in with that. I know a lot of body shops that do this. Usually never on vertical joints, but always on horizontal. They tack the corners and here and there and then glue it together.

[turp mcspray]

Back in the 80's, it was common practice to weld it that way, and then break out the Duraglass. I personally would weld it solid, and try to get the weld seam as smooth, consistent and invisible as possible, before applying any mud. Just my 2 cents.

[hgs_notes]

Alright, the votes have been tallied and the weld-it-outs have got their mandate passed.

Here is my painted dash pad. It's a reproduction and fits like crap. None of the screws or bolts are done because they are not lining up very well. But I'll persuade it into place eventually. But I'm happy with the how the color turned out.

Before...


After...


And my tack progress...