1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

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....

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

How do I rotate the pictures?

Sorry that is annoying to me.

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

More Pictures.

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

oh well. Some day everything gets replaced.

delete a message?

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

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

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

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

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

Completely agree with the top being on first.

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

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.

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

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

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

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

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

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

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

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

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

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

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

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:

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

Got the door latch put on as well.

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

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)

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

Parts!!!!

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

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

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

:agree:

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

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

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

WES

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

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

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

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!

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

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

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

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

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

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

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

That part is this...

http://www.classicheartbeat.com/cata...%20support.htm

I think I have one I made laying in the back of the jimmy but it won't be as nice as Wes'

If I can find it I'll send it to you, Rg

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

Does this look even close to what it should look like

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

Check this thread, he's working in the same area. The whole thread is a good reference.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=341224&page=6

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

That was a good thread. Thank you for the link. I searched B Pillar repair last night as well.

I am going to move a head with my patch panels that I am going to make. see how that works.

After the start of the new year maybe I could justify spending another 400 to 500 dollars on those patch panels.

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

Did you look at page 5,6,7 on my build, might give you some ideas of what is store for you, JMHO, but I think "B" pillar is the most difficult area

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

Ok I have looked in a bunch of threads. How did you guys get out the bolts that are circled on the picture below.

Then did you reinstall or weld them in?

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

A tough decision. You can cut into the b pillar and hope you can turn the bolts out and replace them (See the pic of the holes from the top side inside the b pillar) or you could weld it (I'll never tell...)

Good luck, Rg

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

Well decided to remove the Pillar Panel. Used the Blue wrench to remove the two bolt heads.

So this is an attempt to remake a part that Was just a bit too rusty for my liking.

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

Nice work, you did it the right way.

Rg

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5474/3...e58528e3_c.jpg

I think mine are still in there, pardon the rust, just surface, ordered parts from Wes, should be here in a week

Nice work

this was still some of the PO's work, I'll have to get in there and freshen things up

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

Well this is my first attempt, Just trying to take a good long look at what I want. This is bolted in, the piece I made. It does not have the breaks and I am still thinking about ordering the parts. But this is 16 ga. and right now has 4 bolts. In a bit it will have five then the three along the rocker box end cap.

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

Frustration, nothing but frustration today...

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

LOL, don't worry, you'll have plenty more of that, but then there is the fun part when all the pieces fall in place

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

Cut out some more rust and moved to the front A pillar. Really it is in pretty decent shape only about the bottom three inches are going to need to be replaced.

Feel free to give me any pointers on these pictures. I think that the gap between the rocker and the backing plate are close to right. I didn't have much to go off of besides page 23 of the assembly manual. It looks like there should be 3/8 inch gap.

I will put the door back on this week and see how my gaps are lining up.

Re: 1972 GMC Jimmy Build.
 

Forgot the pictures.