72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

Hi everyone.

I bought a 72 Jimmy a couple of days ago. My first GM truck! :new:

I'll be doing sort of "rolling restoration" over the next few months. It's not my daily driver but I do need to use it 3 or 4 days per week. The end goal is a smooth riding pavement/gravel road truck to cruise around town, take short highway trips and drive up to go snowboarding 20-40 times per winter.

Currently sitting on 33x1250 BFGs and a 2" lift with HD springs on the front and 2" square pipe blocks at the back. It needs a tune up to pass emissions but after that I'll be getting busy with rust repair and bodywork...:waah:

Here are some pics from the PO.

http://celadonstudios.com/jimmy/jimmy_1.jpeg
http://celadonstudios.com/jimmy/jimmy_2.jpeg
http://celadonstudios.com/jimmy/jimmy_3.jpeg


Matt

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

Cool, should make a nice driver. Welcome to the board!

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

Welcome to the board!! I think I might have an upper grill trim for you if you need one. but it looks like you have a pretty solid rig.

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

Welcome to the board, check out those torsion boxes, looks like it had saddle tanks once upon a time.

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

I think that's one I was looking at on KSL. My wife said my Blazer doesn't need a brother right now. :(

It looks like you did pretty well. Welcome to the board.

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

Thanks but I already have an extra grill and that trim piece.

Yep. The tanks are gone but that whole area is rusty. I'll be ordering repair pieces this week.

It was on KSL. It has some good points and some bad... I just found out that the trans is leaking fluid into the transfer case so that would be a bad point. :cuss::cuss::cuss:

Are there many Utah owners on this board? I'ld love to get together and share ideas.


Matt

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

There are a few of us here in Utah.

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

I'm up in Logan but would love to share Ideas.

Springs and things
 

Good to see some Utah folks. :metal: I'm on the lookout for a GMC stamped tailgate and a few other things if you guys know of any parts stashes...

I ordered some custom springs today from Alcan Spring. Based on the project goals I went with stock height and an "EZ-ride" spring pack. Alcan recommended Bilstein shocks so I think I'll give them a try.

In other news my mechanic got it to pass emissions but he had to tune it on the dyno to just barely pass. I might be looking into fuel injection when inspection comes around next year... Then on the drive back from the test the throttle cable broke and we can't get another until Friday afternoon!


Best regards,
Matt Crawley

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

Welcome aboard and good luck! Keep us posted, and remember we love pic's!

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

Looks like a great start. That'll make a classy rig to haul your snow boarding gear in.:metal:

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

Welcome Aboard!
When something breaks... Remember that it can always be worse...(what ever that supposed to means)

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

welcome from another jimmy owner :gmc2:

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

Welcome Snowblind, also from another K5 Jimmy owner. That tailgate looks repairable in the pics. Is the bottom rusted out? Around here you just cant find half way decent GMC tailgates and Chevy ones are getting harder to find all the time. Cool project and a rolling restoration is the way to go in my opinion.

Later---DAC

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

Your tailgate looks pretty clean whats wrong with it?

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

I wouldn't worry too much about the trans leaking into the transfer case unless it's really bad. The transfer case can apparently operate with dexron in it.

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

welcome to the board, lots of good info on here, great looking Jimmy you got there :metal::metal::gmc2:

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

The rear tranny seal leaking is pretty common. Tranny fluid won't cause any harm to your 205. However, keep in mind that if the tcase is fully of tranny fluid, then the fluid that's supposed to be in the tranny isn't there. In other words, keep an eye on the fluid level in your tranny.

And nice choice on the Alcans. I love 'em when my rig is together long enough to drive it. Hard to go wrong with Alcans and Bilsteins.

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

You can't really see in the pics but the whole middle of the tailgate is dented in and there are a couple of splits around the handle. It's definitely repairable but I figured I would ask the locals first.

Progress Update: New front Bilsteins are in. The interior is stripped of everything but the seats, instruments and heater. I have new calipers, pads, u-joints, ball joints, steering box seal kit ready to install this week. I need to order patch panels today in hope of getting into the body shop next monday. I'll post an update and more photos soon.

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

if you do decide to scrap the tailgate, cut out the GMC embossed logo for me! All I have is a crappy chevy logo:lol:

Nice project, Im subscribed

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

What body shop are you taking it to?

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

I'm talking to the Maaco in SLC right now just because no one else would touch it. The Maaco guy I met with was pretty cool and will willing to work with me to keep the costs down.

I'm buying all the patch panels and doing a lot of the prep. Maaco will do the welding and paint. Do you have any other body shops that you would recommend?

Where did my metal go?
 

Here are some pics of the rocker areas. I'm no expert but it looks like there might be something missing... :eek: The PO had some leaky, rusty "saddle tanks" and I'm guessing that the frame/body supports were cut to fit them.

Does anyone have any photos of what a healthy Jimmy rocker area looks like?

Passenger side:
http://celadonstudios.com/jimmy/rocker_1.jpg
http://celadonstudios.com/jimmy/rocker_passrear.jpg
http://celadonstudios.com/jimmy/rocker_passmid.jpg
http://celadonstudios.com/jimmy/rocker_passfront.jpg
http://celadonstudios.com/jimmy/rocker_passfull.jpg


Driver side:
http://celadonstudios.com/jimmy/rocker_2.jpg
http://celadonstudios.com/jimmy/rocker_drivefront.jpg
http://celadonstudios.com/jimmy/rocker_drive_full.jpg

Matt
:gmc2:

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

If its the maaco on 300 w and just off 3300 s they are ok. Its true theirs not a lot of body shops that will touch these trucks in Utah but Russ's in sandy will but not for cheap. Where are you getting body panels from?

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

That's my Maaco. For panels I just bought some inner and outer rockers and two bed patch panels from a board member that are originally from Classic Industries. For the remaining parts I was thinking Paul's GMC.

Re: Where did my metal go?
 

Hate to break it to you but that tub is in need of some fairly involved repairs.

What does the door hinge area look like?

Pic of the pass. outer rocker area:
http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/u...PassRocker.jpg
http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/u...PassRocker.jpg
http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/u...PassRocker.jpg

Torsion boxes:

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

This pic makes it look like the body is sagging in the middle, I wish it was just the picture but I'm thinking all those years without the torsion boxes have taken their toll. :(

http://celadonstudios.com/jimmy/rocker_2.jpg

Re: Springs and things
 

In other news my mechanic got it to pass emissions but he had to tune it on the dyno to just barely pass. I might be looking into fuel injection when inspection comes around next year...

Matt;
Which county are you in? We have seriously been wanting to move up that way, but being from Ca. where these things are smog exempt, I am worried about smogging mine (there isnt a C.A.R.B. legal part on my Jimmy). Its kind of a bummer because Ill bet it would show numbers that were better than stock original... it just would in no way pass the visual.
Thanks,
Tom
ps... my son lives in Syracuse.

Re: Springs and things
 

I'm in Salt Lake County. I think Salt Lake and Davis County require smog and I think all counties require safety. Not sure if any other counties require safety. There are minimal "visual" inspections to pass and then a run on the dyno. No need for CARB stickers or anything like that. If it passes the emissions sniffer you pretty much pass.

They are tougher on more modern cars. I have been denied for not having a charcoal canister on a 91 Toyota but my '72 has no EGR or canister or anything like that and passed fine due to the "age requirements". On the smog test my truck blew 1200ppm and is allowed up to 3000ppm of NO. Our 08 VW passat blew 2ppm!


Matt

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

Cool I was just wondering that maaco likes to use a lot of cheap crappy made in Taiwan parts ( I know because I use to sell them ).

Re: Where did my metal go?
 

I sort of planned for it but it's still a little disappointing. The last pic you embedded shows me perfectly what's missing - pretty much the whole "rocker box" as paulsgmc likes to call them...
http://www.gmcpauls.com/pictures/blazerrockerbox.jpg and all the other stuff has been either corroded or cut. I think I'll need inner/outer rockers, front cab supports, rear cab floor supports, rocker box reinforcement assembly plates and rocker box end caps on both sides.

There is actually very little corrosion other than directly around the old saddle tanks. The only reason the outer rockers and rear 1/4 has rust is due to mud and dirt packed around the tanks.


Matt

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

For sure the old girl is sagging a little but I'm hoping that a lot of that is due to HEAVILY corroded body mounts. The driver's side is pretty much non existent!

Matt

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

Sounds like your onto everything.

Time to start up another thread maybe...;)

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

LOL. Not by a loooong shot! And I appreciate the tips. If my repair ends up any where near as nice as some of yours I'll be happy. :metal:


Matt

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

Thanks for that, we're here to help where we can.

Bilsteins
 

A friend had some Bilsteins laying around from an old 77 4x4 that he no longer owns so I grabbed them from him. The fronts fit fine but the rears won't as the mounts are different. (I suppose many of you knew this already)

Anyways... up front the Billys replaced some very old coil-overs and the change in ride quality and control is HUGE. Even with the old shocks in the back there is a major improvement in handling and bumps are much less harsh and minus all the po-going afterwards.

Part number for the front is F4-B46-0923-HO - This is one of their "heavy duty" shocks, yellow with a smooth blue boot and with slightly more aggressive compression valving than some of their other models.

I won't know for sure exactly how I like these front shocks until I get the new springs but if I keep them then for the rears it looks like I will be going with either Bilstein 4600s or 5100s as not much else fits.


Best regards,
Matt Crawley
:gmc2:

Re: Springs and things
 

Weber and Utah Counties also require emissions tests. Statewide anything over eight years old requires an annual safety inspection as well.

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

Good looking blaze I think I saw that one on ksl before. Nice to see others reppin Utah good luck on you build keep us posted how it comes.

2002 Silverado Leather Seats
 

I scored a pair of these on ebay. Seller said they came from a 2002 Chevy Silverado but I think these seats are the same throughout the Chevy/GMC truck/SUV range. I went with these due to the shoulder belt being included in the seat.

They have the full package of power adjustment options and hopefully heaters also but I don't know for sure on the heaters yet. Color is called "shale" and depending on the light looks everything from light beige to medium gray.

http://celadonstudios.com/jimmy/seat_driv.jpg

Here's a photo of the wiring connector for the passenger seat. I'm guessing the main power and ground are the big orange and black wires. I'm hoping that the other slightly smaller orange and blue/black wires power the seat heaters. Have any of you guys worked with these seats? I'll ask around in the "interiors" forum also.

http://celadonstudios.com/jimmy/seat_wire_pass.jpg


Matt Crawley
:gmc2:

Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter
 

I test fit the driver's seat today at lunch. Whoever said these were "bolt-in" may have been exaggerating a little... :smoke: I can't see how I could use any of factory holes without fabricating some adapter tabs/brackets.

Because every adjustment on these seats is power I can't even check seating position until I get them wired up. I'll put power to them tonight and try and move them into a position that will make the mounting easier.

I'm not sure how I'll mount the passenger seat. It doesn't look like it has any way to tilt forward so I may adapt it to work with some of the original forward tilt hardware. After I get the driver's mounted hopefully I'll have a clearer picture.


Matt