Junkyard Jimmy Super Low Buck Build Thread

[Low Elco]

Hey yeah, you didn't let the cowl beat you after all this, didja? Anybody home?
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[Dieselwrencher]

More nice work here man! I have to agree, aligning the front sheet metal is always fun. I have to remove the cowl on mine and redo the LH fender some day. I'm not that worried about it for now though.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by TennesseeZ

Wow! Wow, wow, wow!!!! Took me like 6 days to read this whole thing, but once I got started I just couldn't stop. About 1/3 of the way thru, I figured you'd be done in another third, and the last third would be minor mods and a bunch of driving shots. Then 2/3 thru I was sure you'd be thru at the end, and realized you should have named this thing TENACITY X 100! You've really impressed me with your junkyarding/ parts trading/ deal waiting on skills, how far you've come on such a relatively small outlay of cash for what you've got, learn as you go with the welding, patch making, rust repair and bodywork, double especially on the sanding, sanding, sanding, ...........

And then you throw in a custom hood. I was sure you'd give up on it and it would go to the scrapper, but you kept after it and made it look great, I mean absolutely stunning! the factory could learn some stuff from you. You taught yourself to paint, not just how to spray something, but how to adjust the gun, and to figure out what's wrong when it's not working right. Whether you know it or not, your windshield frame repair/rebuild is right up there with the Coddingtons, Fooses, all the real custom fabricators. And you just jumped in there and did it, and got it right the first time, not the 21st like it would have taken me. Yeah, I'm impressed. And subscribed.

But it's been like 5-6 summers that the furthest you've driven it is around the block, (and I'm not sure that was even the same truck, maybe the frame), time to jump back in there and get it painted and drive it some, reward yourself and finish it up over the winter. Then you can decide who to give it to, wife or one of the kids. They all will be wanting it.Personally I think you should keep it and tell 'em like Bobby Allison told Davey when he said he wanted a racecar when he was around 16: You know where the garage is, right? Get out there and build yourself one. Which he did. You've done an absolutely stunning, inspiring job all around, and BTW did I mention that I'm real impressed with the color, and the price you're paying for it, and also your ability to go thru all the hassle selling parts on ebay and I assume CL? I finally gave up on that, (for now) because of all the hassle packing and shipping. I'll have to get back to it eventually, kicking too much stuff out of the way now just to get around in my modest little shop.

But back to your build, I'm just really, really impressed with the whole thing, and (not so) patiently waiting to see it all in color. Just hope you don't make it too nice where you're afraid to drive it, after all, it was supposed to be just one step above a beater, more like a low level driver that you carry tools in to fix what breaks on the road, right? Kinda like my DD. That light at the end of the tunnel has got to be pretty bright now, it should be pulling you towards it now. kinda like a moth to the porch light. Can't wait to see you driving it, you won't be able to get the grin off with a jackhammer! Outstanding build Mike, and I haven't even mentioned your writing, photographic, and record keeping skills. You've got me hooked, now give some more, man, more!

Uuuuh, thanks.

Glad you like it. And yes the light at the end of the tunnel is bright enough to burn my retinas, but some things came up. Might not of mentioned it in this thread, but the wife and I separated a few months back. I have the kids and the house and all of the responsibilities that go with them. Not complaining, but it does cramp the garage time. So if you want more, please be patient. It's coming I swear. Or you can spend a few days going through my C-10 build thread. I need to finish the re-do on my dining room (finished the painting and 95% done with the laminate flooring install), get through the last week of the kids softball season, and I should be able to go sand some more and re-adjust the front sheetmetal. Then it's taping time.

Oh and I forgot to mention that I got another summer time-stealing toy with a fishing boat. It was my dads last big gift to himself before the cancer took him. My sister has had it since, but rarely used it and needed the money, and sold it to me. And because it was sitting so long without use it had some issues to fix, which stole my evenings last week.

And about those changes in plans through the build, it all happened by circumstance and a severe chronic case of the might-as-wells, when I kept finding better parts. During all that build time I was also building my C-10, which was painted 2 years ago, and I drive the snot out of it. And trust me, this will be no trailer queen or special for sunday kinda rig. Its still just a prettied up beater. Just a better looking beater than most. That's why I straightened the bedside when it should've been replaced, and used paint that costs less than $100/gal.

I did learn a lot and have never really been afraid to try new things. Which is what this project is all about. After paint, its bumper building time, and maybe some nerf bars or what they call rock sliders now, and future plans to do suspension and roll cage tubing work. Lots more to learn and try. But I'm not exactly a novice when it comes to some of this stuff. I've been working with cars and building stuff with metal since Jr high. I was a nuke machinist mate on submarines in the navy (6 yrs), and was the ships welder and machinist at sea. I once qualified as an ASME code welder for TIG on 1" pipe in the 6G position (qualifies all positions) just cause I was bored one day, I'm an authorized inspector for ASME code fabrication shops and have the endorsement to supervise other inspectors in that. I've been a boiler and pressure vessel inspector for almost 20 years and was a maintenance supervisor for a couple years before that, after I got out of the navy. If I haven't done something myself I have probably watched some good people do it before and I'm a quick learner.

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Hey yeah, you didn't let the cowl beat you after all this, didja? Anybody home?
Posted via Mobile Device

Nope. No one here but us chickens. See above. Forgot to mention I'm going to see Godsmack tomorrow night, and gonna try to go to the the Car Craft Nationals show on friday in St. Paul. Then its the state ASA softball tourny for my youngest (she's 16 and the team capt) this weekend. And the family reunion the following weekend. Sheesh, never ends does it.

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

More nice work here man! I have to agree, aligning the front sheet metal is always fun. I have to remove the cowl on mine and redo the LH fender some day. I'm not that worried about it for now though.

Thanks. I think I need a couple brothers to come help me thrash mine to the finish.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

Thanks. I think I need a couple brothers to come help me thrash mine to the finish.

Yep, you sure do. It's about time I get some work back from them for all their projects.

[Low Elco]

Dude, if I was there I'd be on it like a rat on a cheeto. Just glad you're kickin, radio silence was makin me worry. Enjoy the summer!
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[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Dude, if I was there I'd be on it like a rat on a cheeto. Just glad you're kickin, radio silence was makin me worry. Enjoy the summer!
Posted via Mobile Device

Always kicking. Like a one legged man at blah blah blah. Didn't make it to the car show in St Paul. But spent some good time with the wife. Some days I think we have no chance. Other days I think it's a sure thing. Reality is somewhere in between. Everyday that goes by where we can enjoy each others company is another step in the right direction.

But there is another show tonight that is closer.
http://www.hazardouswastecarclub.com/

And also a local cruise tonight, so I have auto related options. Or I could go shove sheetmetal around on a project truck.

[Bomp]

Glad things looking better for ya.

Now go sling some paint

[hgs_notes]

Alright you needy bastages. Your higher maintenance than my wife. But you managed to harrass me out to the garage and yank sheetmetal around on the Jimmy.

First I lined the hood back up to the cowl edge. Then closed the hood and Figured I needed about 1/8" movement of the tub to get it to shift over enough. The tub mount bolts were loosened and my son and I tried just shoving and pulling at the windshield pillar to move it. No Luck. So I went the mechanical advantage route.

I anchored a come along to the garage wall sill plate on one end and the windshield pillar on the other. And started cranking it up.


It had some tension on it...


I shoved it a bit, shook it around, let it know I meant business and I was not to be trifled with. Then let it rest like that to really think about what a PITA it was being and there are consequences for that kind of behavior. After I got done stewing, I went back out, tightened the front tub mount bolts down good, and let up the tension. The Jimmy seems to have learned its lesson and the front end was behaving itself again.




And I'm not gonna sand on it tonight no matter how much you guys goad me. I'm getting the dining room floor done. Maybe. If I don't go for a cruise instead.

[TennesseeZ]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

Alright you needy bastages. Your higher maintenance than my wife. But you managed to harrass me out to the garage and yank sheetmetal around on the Jimmy.


And I'm not gonna sand on it tonight no matter how much you guys goad me. I'm getting the dining room floor done. Maybe. If I don't go for a cruise instead.

That's good news! Hope you didn't take my post above wrong, I wrote it immediately after reading what, 5 yrs and 45 pages worth of thread, always waiting for the payoff in the form of finished truck pics, and may have been a mite disappointed. All meant as a compliment of the highest order, I could have written more but didn't have room, time, or the inclination to give you TOO big a head. Real impressed with what you've done.

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

Didn't make it to the car show in St Paul. But spent some good time with the wife. Some days I think we have no chance. Other days I think it's a sure thing. Reality is somewhere in between. Everyday that goes by where we can enjoy each others company is another step in the right direction.

But there is another show tonight that is closer.

And this is better news. Pullin' (and praying) for you more here than on the Jimmy.
Enjoy the show if you decide to go.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by TennesseeZ

That's good news! Hope you didn't take my post above wrong, I wrote it immediately after reading what, 5 yrs and 45 pages worth of thread, always waiting for the payoff in the form of finished truck pics, and may have been a mite disappointed. All meant as a compliment of the highest order, I could have written more but didn't have room, time, or the inclination to give you TOO big a head. Real impressed with what you've done.

And this is better news. Pullin' (and praying) for you more here than on the Jimmy.
Enjoy the show if you decide to go.

It's all good. I was just playing and wasn't offended by anything anyone has written. And thanks for the kind words and support. Didn't go to the show, but took in the local cruise. It was the first time I went and my son got to drive home, which made his day.

Didn't take many pics...




The softball tourny didn't go too well, and the season is over. The good news is that opened up my sunday and I'm thinking about heading back to St Paul and going to the Car Craft Summer Nationals I missed friday.
http://www.carcraft.com/2013/summer_nationals/

Or just stay home and work some more. Dining room is almost done, but it was just 1 item out of many on my to do list.

[swamp rat]

Ribs turkey and Godsmack, better have a barley pop with that!

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Ribs turkey and Godsmack, better have a barley pop with that!

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

That works!

[hgs_notes]

I had a pretty dirty work day today, and pretty much finished up the indoor projects I had started, sooooo.... I sanded. Its as bad as I remember it being. Blech.

Looks no different, but its fresh pics from tonight.



There are a couple small bare metal spots I need to touch up, then wipe it down with a wax/grease remover again (been sitting in a filthy garage for months with me touching it all up and rubbing against it with greasy mits) then wet sand this side, the tailgate and the cowl.

I'm trying to find the motivation for this again. Something that's building it back up now is that my son will be getting senior pics taken soon. He asked about taking some with my C-10, but I just don't like the idea. I don't think I'm the only one that thinks it's odd when I see the sr pics and the kid is sitting by someone elses car/truck. Back when I graduated my classmates that got pics with a car had their own car in the pics. And the C-10 just seems to be too much mine for me to share it like that. Is that weird? Probably is. I don't care. I accept my weirdness for what it is.

But the Jimmy, even though it's being built entirely by me, just seems different. Somehow it's more okay to share it. So I would like to get the paint on it and get it on the road fairly soon so he has it as an option for pics this fall.

And I do really want to drive it and enjoy it some before the snow flies. Cripes it's almost August already.

[Dieselwrencher]

Looks like you're having a great time man! Keep on keeping on. Snow balls will be hitting us in the azz sooner than we think.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Looks like you're having a great time man! Keep on keeping on. Snow balls will be hitting us in the azz sooner than we think.

Regardless of what happens in my personal life, I still have a great family, a great job, a nice place to live, a garage to play in, the skill to keep myself entertained and I know in my mind and in my heart I'll be alright.

I had some time to kill before a softball game the other day and saw a sign for a garage sale at a storage unit nearby. Checked it out and left with this nifty jerry can for $10. Should look good painted and mounted on the jimmy somewhere.

[Dieselwrencher]

That's a nice can for $10. I saw one at an antique store this weekend and they wanted $45 for it. I was out.

[Low Elco]

That'll look cool painted to match and mounted on the custom spare rack on the back. Good score!
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[Dale99]

I just picked one of them cans up. But I dont have a nozzle for it.

[TennesseeZ]

Nice can. It'll give the Jimmy a real tough look, fit right in with the roll bar and front bumper, etc. Can't wait to see it progress some more, but of course you gotta do what ya gotta do, family first, job second, Jimmy where it winds up on the priority list.

[Low Elco]

Doesn't sound crazy to me... I kinda like the sentiment. You get in the sanding mode, it goes pretty quick. Tough getting in the mode, though, I'm fighting it myself. Progress!
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[TennesseeZ]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Doesn't sound crazy to me... I kinda like the sentiment. You get in the sanding mode, it goes pretty quick. Tough getting in the mode, though, I'm fighting it myself. Progress!
Posted via Mobile Device

He said it,I gotta agree.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Doesn't sound crazy to me... I kinda like the sentiment. You get in the sanding mode, it goes pretty quick. Tough getting in the mode, though, I'm fighting it myself. Progress!
Posted via Mobile Device

Figured I wasn't alone in that. Being weird you know.

Originally Posted by TennesseeZ

He said it,I gotta agree.

That makes 3 of us.

Didn't do much today on it, but got it started for the 1st time in months. Charging the battery. I ordered a new kickdown cable, new aluminum tranny pan, and hopefully I have the right O-rings in my kit to try and seal the tranny as much as possible. I don't think the guys at the body shop want an oil slick in the paint booth. Also ordered a few extra supplies for the paint job. I got it all through summit racing, so I can't run out during the job and just get more. It's cheap enough to just order an extra quart. Might need it for touch ups down the road anyway.

Should get the wet sanding done this weekend. Work on the tranny next week and clean everything up to start taping it. Paint soon my friends.

Here's the pan I ordered...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/140828632919...84.m1497.l2649

Kinda spiffy, I know. But I think I will get a better pan seal with it.

[hgs_notes]

Went to a family reunion today. Took the C-10. 300 mile round trip. But before that, when I went out to the garage to get it ready to go, I was hit in the face with a pungent odor and the sound of a charger on high power and the site of steam wisping out of the jimmy battery. YIKES!

I pulled the plug and terminal clamps off quick like. And left if to cool. The sides of the battery were ballooning out, vapor leaking and dripping below. Didn't have the time to mess with it. Got home about 9 hours later and that battery was still warm, but the swelling had gone down. I removed it and set it out side. Doesn't look like the casing cracked so no major spillage. Doesn't look like any damage to anything other than the battery. The positive cable was off during the charge. I checked it last night before bed, no problems. The draw was down to 10 amps, the charger maxes at 25 amps. Went to bed and almost blew that sucker up. Close call. Battery was less than 2 years old.

Need to see if I got a warrantee or not. Dura-Start battery, which I think I got at a K-mart, but they are now part of sears and selling diehards. Hopefully I have the receipt somewhere.

[TennesseeZ]

Close call, coulda burnt the house down with everybody in it. Try not to use it (your luck) all up, OK, we kinda like you around here!