What did you do to your Blazer/Jimmy today?

[Austinjay]

Did some raptor liner and painted the inner side panels on my 70 Blazer. I love that factory color. Napa paints did a great job matching it.

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by Austinjay

Did some raptor liner and painted the inner side panels on my 70 Blazer. I love that factory color. Napa paints did a great job matching it.

Very nice! Rg

[mortoyz]

Went by the shop today, getting some color on 1972 factory 2wd Jimmy. Decided to go with Terrace Blue.

[mcmlxix]

I installed some American Billet tail light bezels. If you're not using factory trim, these are awesome...

https://allamericanbilletstore.com/1...-btl-6772-c10/

[mcmlxix]

Installing an American Autowire builder harness... I decided to install some flange mount Deutsche connectors on the firewall for the front and rear light harness ...
* picture is sideways for some reason

[litebulblsc]

Hooked the sending unit up and seen my gas gauge works. Kind of want to go get some gas just to watch the needle go up.

[Moreyel]

Made progress on my floor removal and rebuild project

[simicrintz]

Washed and waxed for fall!

[ochre1971]

Installed double wall top for the winter.
Not sure if others have done this, but it's usually an all day job getting bolt holes to line up and to get everything to thread properly.
This year I cut down some bolts and essentially pre-installed studs into the top. Dropped the top and everything was lined up in one shot.
Major time saver. And I didn't have to worry near as much about cross-threading a bolt into an ancient captured nut.

[Chulisohombre]

Originally Posted by ochre1971

This year I cut down some bolts and essentially pre-installed studs into the top. Dropped the top and everything was lined up in one shot.
Major time saver. And I didn't have to worry near as much about cross-threading a bolt into an ancient captured nut.

I thought about doing that but was thinking it would be just as hard to line up and drop at the same time without scratching the paint on the bed pretty badly. Plus I already have like four or five bolts broken off inside the top that I can’t get out already. So I only have to line up four bolts per side right now. But my top is on for winter as well.

[Green Monster]

Originally Posted by ochre1971

Installed double wall top for the winter.
Not sure if others have done this, but it's usually an all day job getting bolt holes to line up and to get everything to thread properly.
This year I cut down some bolts and essentially pre-installed studs into the top. Dropped the top and everything was lined up in one shot.
Major time saver. And I didn't have to worry near as much about cross-threading a bolt into an ancient captured nut.

Can you elaborate on how your system of cutting down bolts and pre-installing studs into the top works? I agree that trying line up the bolts with the capture nut without cross threading is challenging.

Is there is a more efficient way to reinstall the tops on these Blazers/Jimmies?

Thanks!

[litebulblsc]

Top partially on for the winter

[3757chevy]

I installed my winter tires and wheels. Those 32-11.50x15 look good but that last snow storm was a little squirrely.

[ochre1971]

@GreenMonster -
I picked up a dozen 2" SS carriage bolts that fit the captured nuts. Ran them through all the nuts in the top and chased any that needed it. Then cut the heads off of the nuts and ground a taper on one end of each. This is the real benefit, being able to easily access each nut while the top is in the air and being able to thread them properly.
(In retrospect, I'm not sure that grinding the taper on each was necessary. The thought process being it would allow the bolts to find the holes more easily with a little play to get them started.)

I installed a bolt into each nut in the top with loctite. I used blue, but would probably use red if I did it again. All of them held, except for one. I think my threads weren't perfect from the grinding process on that one and the nut ended up turning the bolt. Still worked, but better to make sure your threads are tip top, and red loctite would help. Come spring, we'll see if any of the bolts come out when removing the nuts. Even if they do, it'll be easy enough to reinstall them.

On my lift set up, the top sits on 2x4's which I lower on to the bed rails. Then get inside and lift the top with my back while I, or a helper, removes the 2x4's. Then gently lower the top into the holes.

FWIW, this is the lift set up I wish I had the tools to make, a much slicker system and would work with a roll bar.
From BobbyK:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=398105

I then worked from the back to the front adding a washer, lock washer and a nut to each bolt.

I would say it easily cut the time frame down below half of the previous method, and if I remember correctly, I'm not sure there was even one cuss word involved. The old way involved several.

Let me know if that explains it sufficiently, or if you were looking for anything else specific.

[Green Monster]

Originally Posted by ochre1971

@GreenMonster -

I picked up a dozen 2" SS carriage bolts that fit the captured nuts. Ran them through all the nuts in the top and chased any that needed it. Then cut the heads off of the nuts and ground a taper on one end of each. This is the real benefit, being able to easily access each nut while the top is in the air and being able to thread them properly.

Let me know if that explains it sufficiently, or if you were looking for anything else specific.

Thank you for taking the time to explain your setup and provide photos. I agree, the setup in your link is nice would work well with a roll bar.

If I understand this correctly, the carriage bolt is longer than the stock bolts allowing you to get your fingers in to line up the capture nuts. Do you have a photo of the carriage bolt from inside the cab with the top on?

I see you don't have the CST panels on and don't have a roll bar. The roll bar and interior CST panels on make the process of reinstalling the top more challenging.

[ochre1971]

No problem. Here are a few pictures. You could certainly use longer bolts so they'd hang lower and be a little easier to install nuts on if you wanted.
The PO had 6x9's cut into the CST panels and the install was janky. I still have them, but they're in rough shape and I didn't see the need to keep putting them on and off every time I did the top.
I ended up making home-made "panels" that allowed my speaker install, cup holders for the rear seat occupants and storage compartments. It comes in and out pretty quickly with a couple of screws when I'm dealing with the top.
Functional, but I'd make a few tweaks if I did it again.

A roll bar is on my wish list.

[Green Monster]

Ochre1971- thank you for following up with photos. I can see how your setuonis an improvement and makes reinstalling easier. Nice work and thanks for sharing.

[PDXk5]

I did the tailgate cable mod. It’s a great mod and super easy to do. Nothing permanently modified!

[BIG BLOCK JIMMY]

Nice, never even thought of that mod. What is the highlighted bracket called?....anyone

[DeadheadNM]

Rear top to bedside brackets. I think these were added after the 1969 model year.

As an aside, the examples painted body color seem associated with Flint assembled K5s whereas St Louis builds were painted white I assume in conjunction with the top.

[BIG BLOCK JIMMY]

Thank you, interesting aside info too

[Hagendog]

In the last two days finished preparing the top and today sprayed the Raptor liner. It’s the tintable and mixed Wimbledon White into it. The color is very similar to the parchment seats. One more coat and it’s done, probably 6 qts to finish.

[DeadheadNM]

How did the hatch turn out?

[Hagendog]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

How did the hatch turn out?

So far so good. Wanted to fit everything with hardware but ran out of time. I know it fits with the hinges. We’ll see more next week; vacation time

[Hagendog]

Got the top on minus the hatch and I’m happy with the way it turned out. Now have to do some adjustments since the windows aren’t really lining up with the seals. Learned a lot about fabrication and assembly on this build. Always fit everything prior to paint 🤘🏻 The hatch looks good though I’m not using the original glass; too many flaws/scratches. New one will be in this week, using the stock side hopefully Get to tint and final assembly