My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

As it sits on day 1, see pics:
1971 Jimmy 4x4
350 CI v8
RV Cam
Edelbrock Intake
Edelbrock Carb
2001 Silverado front buckets
Rust in pans and rockers
New turbo 350 tranny
Factory Roll bar
Primer gray
2" rancho spring lift
265/75R16's

Build items:
New pans and rockers, Fix all rust
New Full Wiring / fuse box
Fab full family cage / frame tied
Winch Hvy Front bumper
Rear hvy duty bumper, Hi-lift mounts
Recovery pts at each corner
3" body lift with new body bushings all around
6" suspension lift
Dana 60 Front / Corp 14 rear
Approx 37 x 13.5 mud tires
Rear Tahoe seats all shoulder integrated
Rear Seats on "Riser" box to get seat off floor and recess tahoe mounts
Riser Box will double as Speaker/amp holder and tools
Rhino line the entire inside and rockers
Paint color to be determined (likely the factory 71 OEM copper color)

Here is post #1, with progress pics to be forthcoming as progress unfolds.

Building this thing to be a weekend warrior basically for camping and running around on jeep type trails in the Wilderness of Idaho

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

Ideas or thoughts welcomed. :metal:

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

Sounds like a decent build plan. If you're going to actually wheel it, you may want to drop down to 35's or get more lift. 6" of lift might not be enough for 37's. You'll want at least 4.10 gearing to run the 37's without lugging the engine.

I'm not a big fan of the liner on the interior. If I were looking to buy a truck, I'd lean toward one with out liner that may be hiding something. From a practicality standpoint, it is a good idea.

Are you going to wrap the seats in leather or something less prone to dirt than the cloth?

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

Looks like you have a great starting point. If your not going to do any intense wheeling you should be safe using the stock running gear. I have those same seats and center console going into my blazer. Could you post up some good pics how you mounted them up?

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

Love those Jimmys

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

I will have 9" of lift with the 3" body and 6" suspension. I think Im going to rebuild the 1-ton axles (got them already) with 4.56 gears. I will make sure 37's dont rub....seems like 9" would do it. Trimming isnt out of the question either.

Not sure about the seats yet...maybe go neoprene covers? I hate leather and vinyl with a passion, especially in idaho. Cold and cracky in winter, hot and sticky in summer. Need to be Hose-able or washable though.

Dont have the rear seats mounted yet, but will post pics when I do. Fronts are simply sat in the floor and bolted down with backing brace. Probable re-do all that in the following build up

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

It sounds like it will be real nice.

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

Missed the 3" body lift. You should be fine for clearance.

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

Gotta love those 4x4 Jimmy's! Good luck on the build.

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

Looks like you have a soild foundation to start with..

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

I'd add fuel injection to your list, you'll be glad you did.

Some kind of 'real' seat mounts for those seat's with the three point belts.

Why the body lift?
6" lift with basic trimming will clear the 37's.

4:56's or lower, depending on where you want the best performance.

Thinking at all about cross over steering set up or hydro assist?

How far do you want this truck to go in reality?
Back roads, woods roads, trekking kinda stuff?

Looking forward to watching this one morph. :cool:

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

Nice ride! I've got one myself. Doing a similar build, but mine will be a daily driver as well as a weekend warrior. Dunno if I'll upgrade to 3/4 or not, but will have a selectable locker front & rear as well as fuel injection. I figure better mpgs & more relible wheeling in the mountains. Looking forward to more progress pics. I should get to work on mine!

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

6" suspension, 3" body w/37's.....exactly what I have....good call. :)

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

With my body lift on my K20 I went with a borgerson u-joint for the steering and went with one of their collapsable shafts. That with my van tilt took care of the steering shaft issue associated with my body lift. Your build sounds like it will be fun to follow.

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

Awesome rig :c2:

What part of Meridian are you in?

I'm in Boise.

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

I'm in boise as well. Looks like a great plan. Good Luck.

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

Thanks everyone. Good to see some other Idaho owners. Im real close to Boise out here in Meridian off of US 20-26 (Chinden).

vtblazer....after seeing your wheeling pics and your Morp build I would love to hear all the suggestions you have because it looks like you've troubleshooted alot of the probs im going to have already.

I will start researching Electronic injection and the hydro or crossover steering.

As for your "How far do I want this to go" question.....I want the most Off-road capability that I can get without sacrificing being able to go on the pavement as well. Not talking cross country highway trips, but maybe 100 miles radius to get to the trails and around town for gas. It will be for fun, mudding, camping, exploring, and in Idaho there are alot of huge rocks in the road to traverse.

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

It's a thin line but doable.
I've gone a wee bit past the 100 mile radius capabilities but thinking about reining it back some just to drive it more.

Feel free to ask away, like the build direction and happy to help. :)

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

Ok my last axles didnt work out (d60F C14R), but Ive found another truck thats wants to donate its axles to my jimmy. Actually Im gonna get the whole Truck for $500, but the cab caught on fire and the motor is gone. Basically Im buying it for the drivetrain.

Its an 1987 Chevy 1ton Dually crew cab long bed. It has a Dana 60 Front and a Dana 70 dual rear w/4.10's. Also the driveline will be perfect to cut down after I get my lift on. Its from a crew long of course..

Any comments or advise on this? I know a D70 is similar to a corp 14 and Im getting it all for $500 and they are in good condition. What am i going to run into converting the DRW to SRW?

Also we have all the tubing to start the Roll cage, and a body and suspension lift coming to grab 9" lift to start with

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

Ok I now own a 14bff from a 78 3/4 ton 4wd suburban, its in the back of my truck ($150).

I also own a D60 drw front and D70 drw rear, both for $500. Didnt want the D70, but it was all or nothing.
Guess it will go up for sale on Craigs. It dwarfs the Corp 14 bolt in all areas, but I dont want to run a Hummer wheel nor try to find gears and lockers for it.

The build begins.....I also ordered front and back 6" lift Springs, a 3" body lift, and Uruthane body bushings.

Pretty soon were gonna have a big set of axles under the jimmy sitting on 9" lift, and 4.56 gears

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

Ok, bet you thought you'd never hear of this build thread again haha.

Progress has been painfully slow up to this point.

Body lift and polys are in...tires are purchased...rust is almost taken care off.

6" suspension lift next with 8 lug axles and 36x14.50s on centerlines

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

The old mounts were pretty bad id say

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

what are you doing on the steering intermediate shaft? thanks I bought blazer with body lift installed and shaft angle is off beyond what it designed for i think.

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

I drilled out the plastic screws in the slip portion of the shaft and lengthened it about 2 inches before I started. Seemed to work well.

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

Why the need for a 3" body lift?

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

Well, I tend to like body lifts as part of an overall lift.
They dont raise the center of gravity as mush as a equal size suspension lift.
They dont change steering geometry or driveline angles.
The truck needed new polys anyway, and the body lift kit w/bolts is cheaper to buy than trying to just find the right size bolts alone for the poly.
Im having tube bumpers made and this way they wouldnt need moved up later if I decided to someday do a body lift.
The 36's are temporary as rollers while I work, I just ended up with them when I bought the rims, so I figured I needed more than just the 6" suspension lift.

Is there something wrong with BL's?

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

Are you running a D60 or D44? In this thread you say D60 but in your other thread you have a rebuilt D44 from a 71 K20. What are you going with??

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

A BLift that is installed properly will work fine.
There is a buzzz out there in the off-road community that sends negative vibes out to the body lift gods...not sure why?
Center of gravety issue? Mee think No, I have been in many 'pucker factor' angles on the trail and survived from tippin over..
All I know is I have been wheeling with a BLift on my K5 for hmmmmm 16yrs now. I have never ever not even one time had an issue with them :chevy:

More :mm:
:lol:

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

Center of Gravity stays lower with a body lift.....

Rather than moving the whole truck, motor, tranny etc up with a spring, you are only moving the body up....which has to be like 1/3 the weight or less.

The real downside is you dont gain any ground clearance on the running gear other than the tire size change you can now clear will gain you a couple inches on the ground.

My axle story is convoluted I know...I have access to several sets that Ive decided on one way and changed my mind the next.

Im really tempted to drop that dana 44 into it from the 71 k20 due to the myriad of other things like ease of steering and cost...but I keep thinking I'll kick myself later if I dont just do the D60 front. Im not sure I will wheel it hard enough to break things on the 44 if I build it right and mostly use it as a daily driver and camping rig. My max tire size will be 37 x pretty wide.

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

Some like em, some don't.

Was just curious about all that uneeded lift to run 36's but you explained that, so now I understand more better...;)

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

No prob!

In your experience VT, how much lift could flex out 36x14.50's without trimming?

Right now I think im at 5", because it looks like the PO has a 2" suspension lift under it, unless rear blocks are stock.

If you know anyone who wants to trade me a set of 4" springs for a new set of four TC 6" springs Ive got, let me know :-)

-RMK

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

The general consensus is, if you wheel with 35/36 inch tires you'll need and be fine with a 6" lift.

Our year trucks have their demons though, that 'fang' on the front fender can really get in the way.

Are you going to move your front axle forward?
Another point of contact is the rear of the front fender while turning/flexing.

Only thing now is...will those 36's look lost with 9"s of lift? :lol:

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

Thanks VT...

Yes they will look lost on 9", you bet. My original plan (when I was ordering parts) was to go much bigger on the tires, but now I just don't want to take away the daily driving fun i could have with a smaller set-up...similar in idea to your orange one Ive been seeing you build. Realistically (95% of time) im just going to be having family fun in the hills camping, mudding etc.

Option 1:
I think If I could find someone to trade me a set of 4" springs for my new 6" springs, Id be happy at the 7" lift mark (3 body 4 susp).

Option 2:
Ive contemplated a set of those Rough Country add-a-leafs, that you can add front and back for about 2"...Would give me a total of 7" in conjuction with my 2" rear block

Option3:
Is it possible to remove a leaf or 2 from a new 6" spring pack and get a 4" lift thats pretty soft and flexy?

Regards and much appreciated-RMK

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

Weekend Progress

Pulled the PO's 2.5" Rancho lift and got the 6" TC springs in.

Awaiting the new perches and u-bolts for the 14 bolt to go in the rear.

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

So far Ive got an extra 12 bolt rear and 2.5" Rancho lift thats not very old (maybe 2 years and literally no miles).

See the 14 bolt close up pic....PO cut the rubber brake line hose. How do I fix that? All new brake kit?

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

New brake line is in order. Aftermarket has all kinds of stuff available like stainless steel lines and what not.

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

On the 14bff...installed Perches and shock mounts.

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

A truck lift would be worth alot to me at this point....using some axle jacks and a hydraulic floor jack and shop crane, installed the 14bbff....whew my measurments were correct!

Here is the 36x14.50x16.5 SS truxsus rollers installed, on the rear w/ 9" lift

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

My good digi camera got smushed in the airplane overhead on my last trip....hence the 2mp cell pics, sorry. Hurts me more than you.

Re: My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4
 

looking good!!