Junkyard Jimmy Super Low Buck Build Thread

[Dale99]

Very good!!

Now the fun part, remembering where all the hardware goes(or where you placed it)

[71swb4x4]

That looks awesome Mike, great job!!!

[TennesseeZ]

I may have said this before, but I'm gonna say it again: I am IMPRESSED with this build. I look at it in this state, look at the shiney paint, and I remember hey, this is his first, maybe second paint job ever?. And that hood, didn't he cut apart a 67 hood and graft it onto a 71-72 frame cause he just liked the look better? The front fenders, IIRC he cut off the front lower part cause he plans to build a super-duper whooptedoo bumper and all that old rust was just gonna be in the way anyhoo? The windshield frame, he went thru a couple and still didn't have a good one, so he spent a lotta hours building a basically new one. That rear passenger quarter, wasn't that crushed beyond recognition at one point?I could go on and on, but I hope that helps get my point across. Saved a couple demolished Jimmys literally from the scrap yard, and built that shiney, beautiful truck outa them, and all for way. way less than than any restorer would have in it, even before the markup. Wow, Wow, Wow, Wow, repeat that a couple hundred more times and you'll be getting kinda close.

Great job Mike, you've showed us all how it can and should be done.

[Lifetime Project 72]

Mike,my truck & I have been very patient,whats another 4-5 years lol!!

This Jimmy has been my favorite build on this site,has been very inspirational.You have a lot to be proud of!!

Chris

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by 71swb4x4

That looks awesome Mike, great job!!!

Thanks, man. Come over and see it sometime.

Originally Posted by TennesseeZ

I may have said this before, but I'm gonna say it again: I am IMPRESSED with this build. I look at it in this state, look at the shiney paint, and I remember hey, this is his first, maybe second paint job ever?. And that hood, didn't he cut apart a 67 hood and graft it onto a 71-72 frame cause he just liked the look better? The front fenders, IIRC he cut off the front lower part cause he plans to build a super-duper whooptedoo bumper and all that old rust was just gonna be in the way anyhoo? The windshield frame, he went thru a couple and still didn't have a good one, so he spent a lotta hours building a basically new one. That rear passenger quarter, wasn't that crushed beyond recognition at one point?I could go on and on, but I hope that helps get my point across. Saved a couple demolished Jimmys literally from the scrap yard, and built that shiney, beautiful truck outa them, and all for way. way less than than any restorer would have in it, even before the markup. Wow, Wow, Wow, Wow, repeat that a couple hundred more times and you'll be getting kinda close.

Great job Mike, you've showed us all how it can and should be done.

Making me blush. But thank you very much. Speaking of cost, I need to update that. Haven't really spent much on it, but there are probably a few things to add.

Originally Posted by Lifetime Project 72

Mike,my truck & I have been very patient,whats another 4-5 years lol!!

This Jimmy has been my favorite build on this site,has been very inspirational.You have a lot to be proud of!!

Chris

Plenty of time then for you to learn to do it yourself. I'm out of your price range.

If I inspired anyone, or just got anyone at all to go out and work on their junk and try to do new things, got them out of their comfort zone, it makes the time/effort keeping this build and thread moving worth while. Because honestly, that's what a lot of the other builds/projects and people on this board have done for me.

Still a long ways to go on this project though. For now, it's time to slap some glass in it, throw lights at it, fix what still needs fixing and beat it around town while I can still enjoy the weather in my fresh convertible.

[TennesseeZ]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

For now, it's time to slap some glass in it, throw lights at it, fix what still needs fixing and beat it around town while I can still enjoy the weather in my fresh convertible.

You've sure earned that, enjoy it some now!

[hgs_notes]

I've been waiting for months to see how my grill is gonna look with this gold paint.

I wasn't disappointed.




I started installing lights too. Didn't get far and I will be chasing down electrical issues for a while I think. Had to do the same thing with my C-10. Mainly fixing and adding ground wires to light fixtures.

I might rebuild the carb tomorrow. Doesn't do me much good to have working lights when it runs kinda crappy. I was adjusting the idle mixture screws the other day and 1 of them had zero effect on the idle. So there's part of my problem right there. I bought the carb used and never did a thing to it. I have done holleys plenty of times and a couple rochesters, this will be the first edelbrock for me.

Wish me luck.

[swyfor5]

Yes Sir, Jimmy looks awesome! Great job man!

[Dale99]

looks alot better then mine!

[Vintage Windmills]

Paint turned out great, got to be a huge relief to get that done. Like cresting the mountain I suppose!

[Bomp]

Okay,,,, I finally got home. Went to the GoodGuys show in Spokane.
I've been checkin' in the whole weekend but my stupid smart phone would lose connection or drop signal every time I spent 20 or 30 minutes using my fat fingers to tap out a message.
You totally Killed it on flingin' that paint. TOTALLY!!!!!!!



You IS daMAN



and then rebuilt a carb too. snap

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Vintage Windmills

Paint turned out great, got to be a huge relief to get that done. Like cresting the mountain I suppose!

Thats a pretty good analogy right there. The rest is easy stuff, although it can get frustrating, like tracing out the electrical gremlins, or re-installing the vent windows. PITA.

Originally Posted by Bomp

Okay,,,, I finally got home. Went to the GoodGuys show in Spokane.
I've been checkin' in the whole weekend but my stupid smart phone would lose connection or drop signal every time I spent 20 or 30 minutes using my fat fingers to tap out a message.
You totally Killed it on flingin' that paint. TOTALLY!!!!!!!


You IS daMAN

and then rebuilt a carb too. snap

Thanks Greg. I are da man. I haven't figured out what you are yet, but fearless and entertaining come to mind. I haven't been to a good guys event since Puyallup back in the late 80's. There was a vendor there that would air brush t-shirts. He had a selection of plain white Tees with decals/silkscreen of dozens of different car/truck styles. He had a 72 chevy C-10 so I bought it and had him spray it turquoise like the color that was in my head. Still have the shirt around here somewhere.

Found it...

[Low Elco]

The mountain analogy is about the closest I've heard. Glad it's going well.
Posted via Mobile Device

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

The mountain analogy is about the closest I've heard. Glad it's going well.
Posted via Mobile Device

Exactly, right?

Mostly had to work my paying job today, but I got it out of the garage. Played with the timing a bit, set the idle again, timing some more, etc. All seat of the pants tuning. Its getting better. It's a total blast to drive. I had it up to 55 for a few seconds but I'm one of those people that gets watery eyes in if theres a slight breeze, and with no windshield the wind is blasting over the hood pretty good. So I pulled off and turned back into town, grinning like the cheshire cat on speed. Oh and I threw an old rear bumper on so I had a place to mount the license plate, and got the seat belts all bolted in. The front lights all work, but I need a couple new headlights. If I can get the tail lights to work, get the windshield in and a front bumper bolted on, I think it will be all legal. Or as legal as it needs to be for beating around.

The windshield isn't required by law, but for comfort, so I can see where I'm going without the tear ducts working overtime. But if I do have the windshield in I'm required to have working wipers, so I gotta get that stupid part I can't find. Have to look in the attic again.

Man this thing is fun.

[Dieselwrencher]

First off I'm sorry to hear about your friend. Cancer isn't anything to mess with. Second, I hope your marital issues don't drain you too much, and finally, like everyone else has said, you knocked out this paint job! It looks amazing! I love that color and your grill looks perfect on it. The dark chrome and black you're going with it will look amazing together. Are you still planning on a black stripe or something on the hood and down the sides? If you do that, you may be able to do the windshield frame too if you're not happy with the color matching there. Congrats on a job well done!!!!

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

First off I'm sorry to hear about your friend. Cancer isn't anything to mess with. Second, I hope your marital issues don't drain you too much, and finally, like everyone else has said, you knocked out this paint job! It looks amazing! I love that color and your grill looks perfect on it. The dark chrome and black you're going with it will look amazing together. Are you still planning on a black stripe or something on the hood and down the sides? If you do that, you may be able to do the windshield frame too if you're not happy with the color matching there. Congrats on a job well done!!!!

Yep, cancer sucks. As for the wife, I will be ok, regardless of what happens. And thanks for the kudos. Much appreciated. The windshield frame is close enough. No need to mess with it. I doubt I will go with a body side stripe. The black hood is still a possibility, but not likely. It looks too damn good to mess with.

[TennesseeZ]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

It looks too damn good to mess with.

Thats what I was thinking

[hgs_notes]

Just coming in from a quick drive around the neighborhood. Been working on tail lights all evening. Got some progress, but still a couple problems.

First off, I had power back to the plug for the tail light harness. So I plug it in and turn on parking lights. Left side works, right side doesn't. Bad bulb, both sides work.

Right turn signal works. When I hit the left turn all lights blink like I got flashers on. WTH? Unplug tail light harness, hit left blinker, it all works normal including power for left blinker at the rear plug. Hmmm, Try again, jiggle wires cuz that almost always works. Same crap.

The plug on the tail light harness is grounding out to the other lights. So I pull the hole harness out and tail light assemblies and replace it with 1 I found in the attic. I looked it over and remember it's the one I fixed waaaaaay back when I had the black body on here. It worked then, should work now right?

Well, in theory anyway.

Now theres no power to the right blinker, even at the plug. Its dead. WTH again. I hadn't done anything to change power to the plug, so whats the deal. Not even power for the parking lights. So I go jiggle the plug under the dash. Aaaah, there we go. Power to the parking lights. Push and pull and jiggle some more and then all the wires are powered up again.

Cool! plug in the tail light harness, put bulbs in, lights on. Yes!

Blinkers left? Yep. Blinkers right? Yes.

While I'm scrounging around the attic for a harness, I find the wiper part I need (Bonus!), and the side mirrors, and the box of all my lights/assemblies/lenses that I've been searching for since last week, and I haul the windshield down.

I had promised my youngest a ride in it today, so I call her out to the street for her turn in the wind tunnel. But asked her to check my lights out, cuz I couldn't check brake lights without some help or rigging the peddle down, and frankly, I was as fried as some of my wiring by that point. Anyway, no brake lights. Swell. Must be something with the brake pedal switch or something under the dash. I'll find that gremlin eventually.

Oh, and the rear side marker lights are dead. Could be the ground, or whatever. That's not really that important. Lower on the priority list than brake lights and windshield.

And my baby girl (she's 16) loved her ride, which made my day.

Windshield ain't perfect, but it'll do. As long as I can get it in without breaking it. Once it's installed, it's insured and I can hope for a well placed rock.

I also took one of the vent windows apart and then realized I don't have the rivet kit to finish it. So I checked with da burb and I might be able to get that tomorrow, and a couple other things I might be needing.

So overall, a productive night, but not without some difficulties. My end of the evening cruise helped sooth my mind and cool me off from this oppressive heat and humidity we were nailed with the past couple days.

[Bomp]

A little frustration makes the good things even better.

You probably already know this or have a tube layin around but I use di-electric-grease on the light bulb sockets and other places. (only in small quantities). It has saved me a time or two.

I always do a victory dance and feel as though I won something when I find that one thing I've been looking for. Or Im amazed I actually remembered. No need for Geritol yet.

Can't wait for the video of this monster rolling down the Blvd.

[Low Elco]

Dude, I'm stoked for ya. Just terrific. Good to see momma over there as well. Enjoy, you've earned it.
Posted via Mobile Device

[TennesseeZ]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Dude, I'm stoked for ya. Just terrific. Good to see momma over there as well. Enjoy, you've earned it.
Posted via Mobile Device

Couldn't have said it better so I'll just second that. You've done a great job and it's really good to see you enjoying all that hard work.

[hgs_notes]

Funny, I didn't drive it today. Drove my C-10 instead. It needed some love. This evening I got the 1st vent window back together, epoxied the rear view mirror to the windshield, sprayed the door window frame thingies black, got all the light lenses on (still no rear side marker power) and prepped a few other parts for spraying later.





The spring and nut are on it now too...


My glove box door is the one from the chevy tub, but I'm all GMC elsewhere. I have the black GMC glove box door. Any opinions on whether or not I should swap it? I could paint it gold too if the emblem doesn't transfer.

[swyfor5]

Looking real good dude!

[hgs_notes]

I had to go back several pages and about 6 months in time to find my last punch list and cost update. Yikes! I was at $4322, and bought a new kickdown cable (16), tranny pan (42), paint supplies (didn't use them, but whatever 62) and vent window rivets and filler neck grommet (16). I also gave $50 to the body shop for the use of the booth. I would have offered more, but money is tight right now and Lowell said he was thinking $50 anyway. Can you believe that? I had the booth tied up for an entire day, used their plastic to mask stuff, more tape, on site help and guidance, etc. It's good to make friends!

So my total spent is now $4508. Any other parts I've used so far are ones I had from parting out the various trucks, swap meets and junkyard hauls over the past few years. I just keep fixing up and cleaning old stuff and re-use it as much as possible.

Punch list (in no particular order, * for priority items):
still too damn long

*Finish roll bar install
*kickdown cable to carb
*change fluid in both differentials
*make sure wire for gas gauge is hooked up to sender
Al's liner inside of tub (half way done)
inner fender tubs, paint, install
rebuild vent windows (half way done)
door glass, handles, locks, mirrors, etc.
Fab front and rear bumpers
electric fan install (got it)
plumb vac and oil gauges
seat bracket spacers, built, need to install
replace rear lift blocks with taller ones (need new u-bolts)
heater control cables and vents
heater install (half way)
wiper washer pump
manual throttle
door panels, visors, etc. (have them, need paint, cleaning, etc.)
stereo (radio in, need marine speakers and antenna)

Future plans, as time and money and ability permit:
Long travel link suspension front and rear
lockers
rock sliders
roll cage
skid plates

[TennesseeZ]

Keep pluggin away HG, you're gonna have issues but I'd say you're closer than you think, judging from the quality of your work.
Seems like most of your latest problems are from the parts you re-purposed without knowing if you could trust it?
Hang in there you'll get it worked out soon then move to the fab work this winter to stay busy. Or if you're like me it's relaxing to get out in the shop and build something.