1972 GMC Jimmy Build.

[Tekamah72GMC]

Long Story short I finally got my Jimmy bought last winter. Had it for less then a year and this is where it sits.

We have removed the body, removed the engine, removed everything from the frame.

Sand Blasted the frame painted it black, rebuilt a Chevy 350 bored .030 over installed Vortec Heads and a Jegs Dual Plane intake. Bought a rough Edelbrock 650. Rebuilt it. It ran really well on a test stand.

Was going to attempt to rebuild the TH350. Decided against it and took it to a shop here in Nebraska. 700.00 later with a new torque converter it is mated up and in the Jimmy.

I did rebuild the Transfer case, finding a broke fork, and a stripped gear. Thank you to this message board and the wonderful write up here on this site for walking me through it. Pictures and all.

I traded my stock springs and shocks for a 4 inch lift, even across. I think it was a good deal. He wanted stock ride height I wanted lift.

I bought all new brakes from my Local NAPA store. Ran all new Brake lines and fuel lines. Trying the Nickle Copper Brake Lines. Boy did they flare nice. Running some right now as a test on my 2005 Tahoe. That year Tahoe's have the issue of rotting out. So far so good with the those lines.

Bought some aftermarket rims 18 inch. I have to run an extended lug on them but I think they look good.

Rebuilt the Steering box and replaced all the Front Steering Components.

Bought Corvette style rams horns manifolds, and ran a true dual exhaust, and Thrush Chambered exhaust. I ran all 2.5 Inch exhaust tubes. I thought I was getting a different muffler but I am ok with these for now. It is not going to be a daily driver...YET!

The I feel like the chassis is done. now for body work....

[Tekamah72GMC]

How do I rotate the pictures?

Sorry that is annoying to me.

[Tekamah72GMC]

More Pictures.

Made a huge mistake not welding in supports before the body came off.

oh well. Some day everything gets replaced.

[Tekamah72GMC]

delete a message?

[Tekamah72GMC]

Well got the body back on the frame. Going to put the top back on, in the morning.

[raggedjim]

Looks like a good project. I'd get the top on and hang the doors and adjust them to the rear pillar before I started replacing and welding anything.

Good luck, Rg

[lks dcvn]

Completely agree with the top being on first.

[Tekamah72GMC]

I was thinking the same thing. I have two new(to me) doors would you hang the old doors or the new doors? I put the new body mounts under it today, saw a thread on here about the right bolts to buy. I am going to get the top on then tighten everything down. I have been spending most of my free time reading about other builds and doing a lot of research on the board for about the last year.

I can get lost in this board with all the info.

[DeadheadNM]

Off to a great start. Any before pics? What are your plans for the remainder of the build?

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by Tekamah72GMC

I was thinking the same thing. I have two new(to me) doors would you hang the old doors or the new doors? I put the new body mounts under it today, saw a thread on here about the right bolts to buy. I am going to get the top on then tighten everything down. I have been spending most of my free time reading about other builds and doing a lot of research on the board for about the last year.

I can get lost in this board with all the info.

I would mount the doors that you're going to use, make sure the doors have the reinforcement plates, as these will be blazer specific

Know what you mean about reading, I lose about an hour and a half each day, by reading and not working

Looks like you have a great start to your build

[Tekamah72GMC]

Originally Posted by jaros44sr

Know what you mean about reading, I lose about an hour and a half each day, by reading and not working

I spent about a day and a half reading through yours still not done

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by Tekamah72GMC

I spent about a day and a half reading through yours still not done

thanks for stopping by, I can use all the support I can get

Cool to see the little man behind the steering wheel, that's where the dreams start

Keep up the good work, the one thing I would change is, use the one piece rocker backing plate, still have to do it to mine

gotta luv working with the copper nickel tubing, found mine by the roll in Washington state

[raggedjim]

I would bet I have had my doors off and on 10 times each! I stripped them down so they don't weigh as much so that helps.

Good luck, Rg

[Tekamah72GMC]

I have a wonderful job that allows me to work on this every morning if I want from 8 to 11 AM basically.

Got a lot of help putting the top back on, got it bolted up, Decided to fit the Front fenders up as well.

Here are the pictures:

[Tekamah72GMC]

Got the door latch put on as well.

[Tekamah72GMC]

Got both doors cut down and installed on the tub. The passenger side looks good most everything lines up. Small Adjustments really.

The divers side has a huge gap in the door jam. Kinda wondering where to start shimming the body, and or door to close that gap. I have read that you can close the gap by shimming the Body mounts. Others have shimmed the door.

Ordered a kit to replace the hinge pins, The passenger side is rough opening and closing. The driver side is not as bad. Really not interested in replacing the entire hinge.

Parts are coming in today. Rocker Boxes - RH rocker Panel. I have three left's no idea why? I also have three single rocker backing plates. Again not a clue why. When I bought the truck there were boxes of parts in the back.

Here are the pictures: (i am just going to start holding my camera, sideways from here on out)

[Tekamah72GMC]

Parts!!!!

[raggedjim]

New parts are nice to have, but if that is supposed to be one side only then you really don't need the parts circled. I know LMC shows a rear support for the blazers but you won't find anything like that rear support on a blazer, it's a truck support (maybe it's the other front support?). The flat piece with 2 holes on each end are redundant with the outer pieces you have.

There are a couple of things you may be missing, if I can find pics I'll post them.

Good luck, Rg

[lks dcvn]

You are missing the B-pillar components to pull it all together at lower door jam.

[Classic Heartbeat]

We make the rear Blazer Floor Supports... http://classicheartbeat.com/catalog/...%20support.htm

WES

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by Classic Heartbeat

We make the rear Blazer Floor Supports... http://classicheartbeat.com/catalog/...%20support.htm

WES

Thanks Wes, for making those and others available to us. I'll give you a call on Monday to place an order for them

While you're hanging sheet metal, might as well hang fenders, cowl, and hood, so you can see where the front gap of the doors come to. I didn't, and now I have to go back and readjust every thing
Might want to drill a 1/8" hole for future reference in the sheet metal....
gaps look great at the back of the door, well done

[Tekamah72GMC]

Thank you to all of you that are posting and helping with ideas and opinions. It is nice to have people that have done this a bunch help.

@raggedjim the Previous Owner had bought a crap ton of parts, as I look at it now he bought parts for a truck cab not a Blazer/Jimmy. The only things in that picture I bought were the rocker boxes, and that rocker panel. I have four left (drivers) rocker panels as well as a cut up rocker box for the drivers side.

The parts that are circled I have three and five of respectively. They were in the bed of the Jimmy when I bought it. It is nice not having to pay for it all, maybe I will head to a swap meet and sell them. Or keep them and buy a similar year pick up down the line.

Thanks!

[Tekamah72GMC]

I did not plan on using any of these parts. I have another set of the Fender Brace bolt hole replacements.

[Tekamah72GMC]

This is the what is left of what Wes at Classic Heart beat is selling correct...

[raggedjim]

That's actually another piece, I had to make mine but I think you can buy them now... I'll do a quick search...