The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1969 - 1972 Blazers and Jimmys Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-07-2009, 03:00 PM   #1
snowblind
Registered User
 
snowblind's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SLC, Utah
Posts: 164
72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter

Hi everyone.

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

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...

Here are some pics from the PO.






Matt

Last edited by snowblind; 11-16-2009 at 02:42 PM.
snowblind is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-07-2009, 04:17 PM   #2
big dump
Registered User
 
big dump's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Gilbert, AZ
Posts: 179
Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter

Cool, should make a nice driver. Welcome to the board!
big dump is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-07-2009, 04:32 PM   #3
NTR72GMC
2wd FTW!!!!
 
NTR72GMC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SLC UTAH
Posts: 673
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.
NTR72GMC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-07-2009, 04:47 PM   #4
vtblazer
Registered User
 
vtblazer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Central Vermont
Posts: 8,538
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.
vtblazer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-07-2009, 05:09 PM   #5
truckster
Senior Member
 
truckster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Orem, Utah
Posts: 7,761
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.
truckster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-07-2009, 05:24 PM   #6
snowblind
Registered User
 
snowblind's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SLC, Utah
Posts: 164
Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter

Quote:
Originally Posted by NTR72GMC View Post
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.
Thanks but I already have an extra grill and that trim piece.

Quote:
Originally Posted by vtblazer View Post
Welcome to the board, check out those torsion boxes, looks like it had saddle tanks once upon a time.
Yep. The tanks are gone but that whole area is rusty. I'll be ordering repair pieces this week.

Quote:
Originally Posted by truckster View Post
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.
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.

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


Matt
snowblind is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-07-2009, 06:46 PM   #7
NTR72GMC
2wd FTW!!!!
 
NTR72GMC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SLC UTAH
Posts: 673
Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter

There are a few of us here in Utah.
NTR72GMC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2009, 04:16 PM   #8
ChadGiles70
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Logan, Utah
Posts: 45
Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter

I'm up in Logan but would love to share Ideas.
ChadGiles70 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2009, 05:38 PM   #9
snowblind
Registered User
 
snowblind's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SLC, Utah
Posts: 164
Springs and things

Good to see some Utah folks. 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
snowblind is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2009, 06:18 PM   #10
swyfor5
Registered User
 
swyfor5's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Marion, Mi.
Posts: 2,429
Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter

Welcome aboard and good luck! Keep us posted, and remember we love pic's!
swyfor5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2009, 09:52 PM   #11
Big J
Its lookin' like a Blazer!
 
Big J's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Gods Country, KY
Posts: 1,773
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.
__________________
BAZINGA!

My Build
Big J is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2009, 01:23 AM   #12
71 TopCat
PLAY HARD.....OR DONT PLAY!
 
71 TopCat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: So Cal
Posts: 57
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)
__________________
IF YOU DONT HURT..........YOU NOT TRYING HARD ENOUGH.

71 CST BLAZER 4X4, 1 TON, 496 STROKER/TH400, NP205, D44/14BOLT LOCKER, 35" BFG'S,...
68 C30 292 LB (POP'S BOUGHT IT BRAN NEW)
05 2500 4X4 DURAMAX CREWCAB
79 FLH HD 95CI EVO
:b69

Last edited by 71 TopCat; 10-09-2009 at 01:24 AM.
71 TopCat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2009, 08:30 AM   #13
Gary 70 Jimmy
Senior Member

 
Gary 70 Jimmy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Burghill, Ohio 44404
Posts: 3,401
Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter

welcome from another jimmy owner
__________________

1972 GMC Jimmy 1/2 4X4 4wheel camper
1970 GMC Jimmy 1/2 4X4 350
1969 Chevy Blazer 1/2 4X4 307
1967 chevy LWB 3/4 396
Gary 70 Jimmy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2009, 07:35 PM   #14
70gmcjimmy
GMCDAC
 
70gmcjimmy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Rapid City, SD
Posts: 837
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
__________________
1970 GMC K5 Jimmy Custom 4X4 Mom's driver from 1971 to 2001!! Under rebuild!
1972 GMC C2500 Pickup owned since 1979 Needs a rest and refurbish!
1955 GMC 100 2nd design driven almost daily!

Rest In Peace Mom. "Dolly" 7/15/23 - 5/18/09
GMC driver for 30 years!

70gmcjimmy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2009, 07:51 PM   #15
NTR72GMC
2wd FTW!!!!
 
NTR72GMC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SLC UTAH
Posts: 673
Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter

Your tailgate looks pretty clean whats wrong with it?
NTR72GMC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2009, 09:38 PM   #16
truckster
Senior Member
 
truckster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Orem, Utah
Posts: 7,761
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.
truckster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2009, 09:12 PM   #17
Sacramento70
Blazer Fanatic
 
Sacramento70's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Sacramento, ca
Posts: 249
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
__________________
1970 Chevy blazer
Sacramento70 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2009, 09:34 PM   #18
AJs72K5
Senior Member
 
AJs72K5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: South Tx
Posts: 1,083
Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter

Quote:
Originally Posted by truckster View Post
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.
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.
__________________
- AJ

Gray Matter Build - 1972 K5 with some stuff

Last edited by AJs72K5; 10-10-2009 at 09:35 PM.
AJs72K5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2009, 11:23 AM   #19
snowblind
Registered User
 
snowblind's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SLC, Utah
Posts: 164
Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter

Quote:
Originally Posted by NTR72GMC View Post
Your tailgate looks pretty clean whats wrong with it?
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.

Last edited by snowblind; 10-12-2009 at 11:31 AM.
snowblind is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2009, 11:31 AM   #20
jaros44sr
Registered User
 
jaros44sr's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Philadelphia, Pa. 19454
Posts: 9,409
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

Nice project, Im subscribed
__________________
Semper Fi...Uncle Sam, you da man

All parts offered to help are free, unless otherwise noted

Dont try this stuff in my build thread, unless you have 55 years of mechanical OTJ training
SAFETY FIRST

AS usual, off topic

They say your mind goes second, can't remember the first


Jim
jaros44sr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2009, 02:22 PM   #21
NTR72GMC
2wd FTW!!!!
 
NTR72GMC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SLC UTAH
Posts: 673
Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter

Quote:
Originally Posted by snowblind View Post
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.
What body shop are you taking it to?
NTR72GMC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2009, 06:53 PM   #22
snowblind
Registered User
 
snowblind's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SLC, Utah
Posts: 164
Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter

Quote:
Originally Posted by NTR72GMC View Post
What body shop are you taking it to?
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?

Last edited by snowblind; 10-12-2009 at 07:01 PM.
snowblind is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2009, 07:00 PM   #23
snowblind
Registered User
 
snowblind's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SLC, Utah
Posts: 164
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... 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:







Driver side:




Matt

Last edited by snowblind; 10-12-2009 at 07:09 PM.
snowblind is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2009, 08:10 PM   #24
NTR72GMC
2wd FTW!!!!
 
NTR72GMC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SLC UTAH
Posts: 673
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?
NTR72GMC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2009, 09:50 PM   #25
snowblind
Registered User
 
snowblind's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SLC, Utah
Posts: 164
Re: New Member - 72 Jimmy: Project Knuckledragger mountain commuter

Quote:
Originally Posted by NTR72GMC View Post
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?
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.
snowblind is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:23 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com