ParB's 72 Orange Jimmy
 

Hi all,

I figure I'll post my restoration of my Jimmy right here.
I found the truck on Craigslist September 2017 in Reno, NV.
A friend checked it out and told me it was a solid deal so I bought it over the phone.
It started and ran but first thing I did was taking it to a mechanic to check over the engine, drive train and transmission. All was okay which was surprising to me as the truck had seen minimum use over the last decade. Fresh fluids, spark plugs and other minor items and a new battery was installed. Tires was awful so I put on a new set of tires.

Took her out for a drive and got stranded with a broken fuel pump. Fixed that.
Also replaced the AC compressor which was broken.

Pics of the day I got her attached.

Re: ParB's 72 Orange Jimmy
 

Got new tires installed.
Pics of the major items that needs to be fixed.
Rust on rockers. Passenger door dented
Bumper and rear panel dented.
Rust on front quarter panel.

Re: ParB's 72 Orange Jimmy
 

Got the car smogged and registered. Those who know me knows what the license plate means... It's amazing to me that Washoe county in Nevada requires smog and CA does not... Ultimately this is going from Reno to mountain view in CA but I've decided to restore the truck up there.

Next week the car is going into the body shop.
I removed all interior and will send that to an upholstery shop tomorrow.
Almost no rust on the floor pan, one tiny spot with a bit of surface rust.
Sucked to be in the middle of the snow coming down and work on the truck but it had to happen...

Pics of the floor and interior.

Got the dash pad out. Took 4 hours and honestly my friend Alan did all the work. I had to work on Sunday. Was super happy that the dash wasnt cut up for the modern radio.
Need new air hoses and new glove box...
Need new rubber everywhere, especially the side windows are leaking.

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And the front pic

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The grille is pretty worn. Debating if I can clean it up myself or just replace it. Bumper is likely to have to be replaced to match the rear bumper which was bent/dinged to the point it had to be replaced. I already purchased the rear bumper so getting a new front and the grille seems like a logical next thing to do.

Need to restore the small emblems on the side. I assume people just clean up the metal and fill in paint with a fine brush? Or is there a different technique I should consider? While the truck is in the body shop in figure I will work on minor stuff just to get it done.

I decide to keep the original camper mirrors. Need to clean them up. Elbow grease and metal cleaner?

Keep that grill! Get it rechromed by a Good chrome shop. It will actually fit, as co
 

Re: ParB's 72 Orange Jimmy
 

Keep the original grill! It will actually fit, as compared to a repop which will not fit without a lot of work. Get it rechromed by a Good chrome shop, it will cost you, but trust me, it is the best course of action.
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Re: ParB's 72 Orange Jimmy
 

Thanks, i appreciate the advice! I'll do some elbow grease and a metal polish to start with, if that doesn't work then off to a replating shop it is!

Re: ParB's 72 Orange Jimmy
 

Saw you had it in the driveway this morning when I went to work, what body shop did you decide on? Let me know if you need any help, I'm just down the street.

Re: ParB's 72 Orange Jimmy
 

Thanks!

I'm back in the Bay for work (using my good friends house to do a bit of the work).
The truck is at the body shop today (a gentleman called Chris from new Zealand who is right next to spraycraft). The interior is at Steve's custom auto interior to be reupholstered. Should take three weeks according to Chris. The upholstery shop has a few months to do their magic.

Wanted to get going with spraycraft in Reno for paint but had such a negative experience on Friday that I am looking elsewhere. Was there trying to drop $15k for a paintjob and the guy told me ha was too busy to talk to me!?! I tried to engage but he was just rude.

I'm considering Paramount auto body for paint. The seem knowledgeable and like they would do a good job. Thoughts on them?

I think I have found another trustworthy paintshop. Hope to finalize a plan with them in the next few weeks. Up in red Rock again on the 7th for my friend's mom and dad's 50th wedding anniversary. Let's catch a cup of coffee if you're around?

Re: ParB's 72 Orange Jimmy
 

Never heard anything bad about Paramount, people I know that have gone there for accident repairs have always been happy and the ones I’ve seen looked great. Good choice. Give me a shout when you’re back.

Re: ParB's 72 Orange Jimmy
 

If you are in the Bay Area, you may wish to get in touch with 72K5CSTDarkOlive. He has a build on this forum and just recently went through the paint process. It might be a good idea to get his advice on a local shop for paint.
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Re: ParB's 72 Orange Jimmy
 

Great advice!

I have been chatting with him and I visited the shop he was using. If I can't get a good shop up in Reno then the shop in Bay area is my fallback plan. The Bay area ahop have a bit of a wait untill they can begin the work so I hope I won't have to do that.

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Hey I just seen your photos..That is a really nice jimmy

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original engine? Auto or stick?

Re: ParB's 72 Orange Jimmy
 

All original, 80,000 miles on the odometer. Auto transmission.

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Just found your build. MY Blazer is currently at the same shop in Santa Clara that 72K5CSTDarkOlive used. Great shop to work with.

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Super cool. That is my backup plan.

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Very cool Jimmy. Love the color!

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thanks, restoring it back to former glory. keeping it as stock as i can!

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That will look sharp when restored. Orange, white top and parchment interior...

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so my shop is telling me that im so close to the cost of doinga frame off restoration that i should consider that. the paint shop is quouting me $5k extra for putting the body on a rotisserie and powder coating the frame. i have to get the engine out and the body off the frame. i would have my mechanic take the engine and trans out and remove the body. im sure he will want another 20 hrs of labor at $80 per hour for that. lets figure an extra $10k between the mechanic and the paint shop and the extras im sure to add like brakelines etc.

what do you think, is it worth it? its right at that price point where im wondering if its really worth it... will i get an extra $10k for thw car if i sell it after ive done a frame off resto?


thoughts? opinions?

Re: ParB's 72 Orange Jimmy
 

If you're looking to recoup costs on a restoration...you're already asking the wrong questions.

If you're trying to flip this then put the least ammt into it. Just do paint and interior.

If you want to keep the thing for a long time - frame off. go for it.

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:agree: nailed it

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It's not a flip. I think you've crystalized the question well.

Thanks, it was very helpful to me. Off frame it is.

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Good :-) save it. We need more on the road! :metal:

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A small progress update. Rocker panels on passenger side before and after pictures.
I'm not doing the work, I have a body shop doing the body work (I don't have welder for the garage space for this).

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The drivers side had a bit more severe cancer in the bones. Will be sorted during the upcoming week.

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Next up...

I have a serious hole(!) In the passenger side door. It was caused by someone backing up too close to a concrete pole in a garage and ripped out the camper mirror. The bolt holes for the mirrors ripped out of the door skin leaving three big holes with the metal expanded ouward. Basically I need to replace the outer door skin.

I ordered a skin from lmc truck, but I didn't get a door skin, I got a new floor tub for the truck... Ordered a new skin as I needed it urgently and I'll either send the floor back for a refund or try to sell the floor tub. Didn't set me back too badly, but a bit irritating... I should have done an inventory on what was inside the box and not just checked the label on the box.

After that I have a dent in the driver side rear quarter panel. The body guy tells me he can massage that out.

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Sweet jimmy... I look forward to watching the build but I gotta be honest with you. I know the inner rocker will never be seen once finished and if you were the one that pathched it and was happy with it I'd cheer you on. However I would not be paying a shop $80 an hour for that. And if dropping $15k on a paint job is in your cards I'd expect much better work out of the shop.

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This is not the shop doing the paint, it's only a body shop. I am for sure no expert, what do you think should be done differently?

I picked this shop because he comes highly recommended and I've seen the end result of a bunch of high end cars which I thought was really well done. But I am for sure open for suggestions. The labor rate is spot on.

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Personally I would have butt welded the patch in and ground the welds smooth so you wouldnt know the repair was even there. I go overboard on some things though.... That patch looks like it's partially butt welded on the sides and lap welded at the top... If I was going to lap weld it I would have at least cut out an even rectangle. Also what's with the runs?.... Again I know this will never be seen but doesn't look professional to me. My inner rockers were in much worse shape and I patched them in my driveway... I'm just a hobbiest so I'd expect at least the same quality if I took it to the professionals.

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Time for an update. The rust had been repaired and a new door skin has been welded on the passenger door. Started the repairs of the fiber glass. Started sand blasting the body. On Monday the engine and transmission gets pulled.
Some pictures.

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And another picture. Interior.

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Nice progress. Thanks for the update. How did the door skin fit? What are your plans for the motor?

Could you post a detail pic of the rear of the rear wheel well driver side when possible? It looks like there are remnants of the jack decal and another decal that I suspect is where the positraction decal was placed: I'm trying to confirm where GM placed the posi decal.

Re: ParB's 72 Orange Jimmy
 

The skin for really well. It was from lmc and I'm quite happy with it.
Here is a picture of the decal. confirming that they put the jack decal on the driver's side rear wheel well.

Do you know where I can get those decals btw?

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Removed post, consolidated into previous post.

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Thanks! That confirms it.

Most place that sell repro parts for our trucks carry the posi decal. There's only one place for the jack decal and that from member and all around great guy Ironcanine (Brad) and here's link to his sale thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=678462

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I just posted a message asking if I could get my hands on a decal when his new batch gets printed. Thanks for letting me know!

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Does anyone know where I can get new hinges for the hatch (the hinge for the fiber glass rear door on the double walled top). The hinges are a bit loose and I should replace them. Couldn't see them in any of the usual places.

Thankful for a lead!