Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

Interior paint prep completed and primer is going down! The doors are off for seam sealing and priming also as I have decided to get the door frames and door edges done while everything else is apart. I placed a large parts order with Wes last weekend for the new heater/AC control unit, center AC vent, glove compartment liner, and various gaskets and grommets needed for the windows and interior. The shop is going to rework all of the heating and AC ductwork also as it is a complete mess.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

Super jealous of that NM tub. Everything is looking great.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

I've decided to replace all of the window gaskets as long as everything is apart so the windshield is also coming out. During the week the shop removed all of the top glass so that the window gaskets can be replaced. All hinges, lift gate and tailgate hardware, catches, latches, bumper strips, weatherstripping, etc. are now out of the door and gate frames to leave a clear field for primer and paint. The doors have been stripped of their glass, lifters, scrapers, fuzzies and vent window assemblies and all of that stuff is apart. I'm springing for new rubber, scrapers, fuzzies, etc. since everything is torn down.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

Here are some views of the top with all glass now out and the fiberglass repair nearing completion. Anyone have a paint code for the top? I keep telling them "white but not too white" but they say that one doesn't show up in their PPG book.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

Just found this thread!
I like the way you are doing this project.
Subscribed!

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

A few more of the door frames and edges. I'm glad that I had the windshield removed as the shop found a few spots under the gasket that had some rust damage. Those places were welded up yesterday and the entire windshield frame was seam sealed and primed. The rear bumper is off and I am strongly tempted to send it out for a makeover. It is in pretty good shape but the chrome is faded and it has a couple of minor dings and dents that need to come out.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

I'd be interested in a top paint code too. I'm in the beginning stages of getting my top redone as well. Fiberglass is beyond my skills, so the pros are doing it. They are using a product called Zolotone for the texture. Then a clear coat with UV protection. I'm going with a satin finish.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

The windshield frame and dash are now taped up and primed and finish paint should be going on the interior soon. I am so grateful that I didn't have to replace the windshield frame. Those pictures of the new replacement ones with their 25 extra (and partially misplaced) holes, or the rather weary-looking salvaged ones that come up occasionally on the parts forum, scare me to death.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

Looking great. Attention to detail is great. These guys are doing a awesome job. I wish I had the cash to do this.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

A great leap forward this past week - interior paint!

I also want to give a shout out to the great work done on my instrument panel and steering column by board members Tom Garris at Classic Gauge and Cluster and Les Boatright respectively. They look better than new, were packed with great care and the work was done expeditiously. You can't go wrong with either of these fine gentlemen. Here are some befores and afters which really don't do justice to their work.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

Here is a first set of interior paint pics.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

More interior shots.

Next steps are to:

1. Clean up everything else on the firewall that is below the level of the bottom of the dash - pedals, vents, etc.
2. Clean up and paint all of the ochre small parts like the AC vent housings, side panel retention brackets, tailgate stuff, etc.
3. I'm going to have all of the interior and exterior chrome items from the rear bumper to the door handles evaluated to see what needs to be sent out for replating.
4. Remove, clean up and repaint the rear bumper brackets and the trailer hitch. I have a couple of Hickey tow hooks that I think may be able to be mounted to the trailer hitch with a little modification.

This is relatively small stuff but I need to slow down for a while for financial reasons. I'm mulling over the next big job which may be an engine compartment teardown and makeover but that decision is still in the future.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

The repairs to the top are also complete and it will be painted soon. It turns out that U-Pol Raptor underliner appears to exactly match the original texture on the top although it is the wrong color. No problem, it will just be oversprayed with Plain Old White. The inside will be POW without the texture. Those sliders that I whiffed on a few weeks ago on the Parts board would have looked nice in those side openings, oh well.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

Man, I love that color. Almost wish I would have gone that route, but the family would have revolted.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

Yeah, I have this strange urge to have a couple of hot dogs with Heinz mustard on 'em for lunch today. :-)

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

That is a awesome color, one of my favorite . I used raptor bed liner on my top and painted it General Motors Corp 40A white. Here's a link to see if the color and texture is right for you.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=459891&page=7

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

Thanks Warbucket, I am following your lead both on the Raptor base coat on the exterior as well as the GM 40-A white on both the inside and outside of the top.

I had a visitation today to see progress on the paint on the doors as well as progress on the small interior and exterior parts. I have another shopping list for the HVAC ductwork, radio, cowl and front corner panel seals.

Here are some pictures of the small stuff. Thank God my carpet strips, side panel retainer strips and door panel retainer strips are in great shape and just need buffing out. They have a little rust on the back side as they all do but are not bent, dented or rusty on the exposed side. The door sill plates are punky and I will most likely buy repops since they are available unlike the other interior chrome parts.

The window regulators have been media blasted and will soon get a coat of primer. I picked up a replacement steering wheel off EBay that needed just a bit of TLC and its cracks have now been epoxied up. My door handles are peeling and I think I will look for NOS replacements.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

The bumper is heading off for replating soon and the doors and tailgate are now painted.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

A few more door and tailgate shots. My jerry can for the Hickey spare tire holder (up on the counter) has been media blasted but is still waiting for paint. I kind of like the artistic look of the small ochre parts hanging on the paint rack.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

The next step is to remove the pedals and repaint their mounting assemblies as part of a general interior firewall cleanup. The deluxe pads are in good shape chrome and rubber-wise. The heater core is coming out for a clean and check and I will need to replace all of the plenums and ductwork for the heating and A/C.

Here are a few overall pictures of the truck. I feel a big bill heading in my direction.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

Looks great! Keep up the good work. What is your plans for the window regulators?

I was thinking of sand blasting mine and then have them have them plated in zinc chromate.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

Thanks for your kind words. The shop plans to paint mine with epoxy primer which is OK by me since they will be hidden and will be protected by my new door fuzzies.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

Making great progress Dave.

That paint looks so good.

Maybe mine needs to be Ochre ? Lol

Looks like you will be ready for a very enjoyable spring/summer cruise.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

Another month, another shop bill but some progress to report although it is still teardown progress. The front clip is now off the Jimmy and I have both bumpers, the grille and the associated front end trim ready to send out for replating. I hate the black trim paint they put on the 1971-72 Jimmy grilles and am not going to redo it.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

Here is the nekked GMC without its front end. I don't know if I've shown the SPID before but you'll see why I think this particular truck deserves the time and money that I've invested in it so far.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

The top has had some additional challenges hiding under its rotten gaskets. There was a fair amount of lip loss, a crack or two and some delamination along the edges. As I've mentioned before, this restoration shop does a lot of Corvette work so the top is in good hands. There is probably a few more days of fiberglass work before it is ready for paint.

The shop still has quite a bit of paint and interior chrome part buffing to do but they have cleaned up and repainted the bumper brackets and trailer hitch which is a morale booster. I have asked them to start tearing down the radiator assembly and core support as well as the heater core to begin the engine compartment cleanup.

I have also learned that my 350 is a 1986 GM crate motor replacement but I'm not terribly concerned about it at this point. The market doesn't seem to punish replacement engines all that much and this one has excellent compression, vacuum and oil pressure. Finding the right "Fireball Red" GMC paint for it has been a b!tch though.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

Progress looks great. I'm getting excited for you. That is one stout SPID! More than worthy of the TLC she's getting.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

Here are a few of the front-end teardown. Today the heater core, AC equipment, core support, radiator and AC radiator (or whatever they call it) came off. The core support is sound with just a few dings and the usual crud around the battery bracket. My truck came from the factory with dual batteries which might be neat if I can figure out what the 2nd one powered. The A/C radiator is dinged up but sound although I don't like the bent vanes. I'm going to have the core support blasted and painted semi-gloss black.

I bought an original deluxe Delco AM radio per the SPID and also bought an underdash speaker assembly on the FS ads here. I shipped them off to an antique radio specialist for rebuild. I have also located a source for GMC "Fireball Red" engine paint and had a devil of a time finding it. You'd think there would be more demand for it but GMC-only stuff is usually very troublesome and expensive to get.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

Was your engine originally red? I wasn't aware that the Jimmy's had different color engines. I assumed that they were orange just like the Blazers. Here's a pic of an original 20K mile '71 Jimmy engine bay...and it looks pretty orange to me...though it may have been re-touched. I'm sure it would look cool regardless, but would be interested to learn more about this. Experts please chime in.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

My buddy had a 67 305 v6 that was red. I thought the v8 was orange.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

Here is the color I'm talking about off a current EBay Jimmy auction. It is also shown in a 1971 factory sales brochure I have that pictures an "Invader 350 V-8." It is definitely not the same color as Chevy's engine orange although many make it so as that paint is easy to find.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

Here is one more of the engine paint which is a red-orange color. The difference between it and Chevy orange is subtle but real.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

After 40 years I'm sure the red dulls some as well. Never noticed except my buddy's. But his was redone and painted as well.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

How's it going over here Dave ?

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

Hi Tom, Very little action over the past few months as the shop is concentrating on getting cars done for people who actually want to drive them this summer. The top is getting close to completion but not much else. I hope things are progressing with your Jimmy. Hopefully I can post some updates in a month or two.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

Hi Dave.

I hear you on the slow progress, same here.
But perfection takes time right ? And that pesky $ !

Me and Justin are about to finally tear into Jimmy #1 and get it mechanically road ready.Been tinkering and parts collecting for too long.

In a few weeks I should have a build thread started as well.


Take care.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

After four months of inactivity due to shop issues I am back among the living and this has been a big week.

Having been infected by an expensive and incurable disease known as "undercarriage envy" by the vector known here as Iron Canine I've decided to take it all-the-way as Howard Cosell used to say. This week the tub came off the frame for a frame-off makeover. Here are a couple of pictures of the frame, which looks very solid.

I'm not planning to go to the incredible place IC went on the frame components. Since my truck came from a dry climate (NM/TX), the springs, spring shackles and bolts and other frame and suspension components aren't corroded enough to have to remove and replace. I'm going to have the frame and suspension media blasted and painted satin black. There is U-POL Raptor undercoating on the frame and I don't like it so that will be replaced with POR 15. Same thing for the T-case and gas tank skid plates.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

The engine and drivetrain are also coming out for cleanup and repaint. The wiring harness is brittle and patched so I am going to replace it. I'm going stock on the paint schema for the drivetrain - GMC Fireball Red on the block, natural aluminum on the tranny and Chevy Orange with natural aluminum on the access doors for the T-case. Axles and differentials will be satin black except for the original Hickey diff covers which will stay their original aluminum finish.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

Here is the tub up on the lift. The interior paint is completed. The underside was U-POL'd and I don't like it, but have decided to leave it on the bottom of the tub. I'm going to have it removed from the wheel wells, rocker boxes and lower firewall in favor of POR or some other smoother, satin black finish. The lower firewall will be painted the same ochre as the rest of the truck down to the breakline with the bottom of the tub.

The shop and I are refining the timeline and workplan for the remainder of the restoration. The tentative thought is to aim for completion next spring although both of us realize that many unforeseen variables affect such things. Money is also an issue as all of this won't come cheap. However, after paying so much money to have the truck torn down to the tub and frame I knew it would always bother me if I didn't go to this one further step to do things all-the-way.

Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom
 

Looking good. I wish sometimes I had the time and money to make that jump. I'm just happy line is on the road legally this summer after 6 years of work and time on the old girl. Always nice to see one go all the way. Lol. Cheers.