New to me 89 California Jimmy

[russgt]

My brother in law needed some money, so I was able to talk him out of his 89 Jimmy that came to wisconsin from california a couple years ago. The truck is very clean underneath, has never seen salt, but does have some minor issues that I need to address before driving it much. He made the bumpers that are on it, but I plan on putting the originals back on and getting some 33s for it.

Stats:
about 140K on the clock
reman 350
700R
3.73s with G80
4 inch lift.
headers/ dual exhaust
You would cry if you knew how cheap I got it.


My first project is to power wash the underside as its pretty dirty. It has some dings but it is one of the cleanest/ rust free trucks I have ever seen.

[Billy81]

Good looking Jimmy.

[MalibuSSwagon]

Whats the rear sway bar off of?

[russgt]

Its an aftermarket addition

[y5mgisi]

Super nice!

[Keith Seymore]

Looks like it was build sequence number "58" down the assembly line...



K

[andrewmp6]

I'm shocked that 58 is still on the frame.

[Chevy3+3]

Great looking jimmy! It appears that the pinion angle is a little off. May just be the angle of the pic. It looks like the lift blocks used may not have been tapered blocks.

[68Timber]

Nice score. How is the interior?

[russgt]

Originally Posted by Chevy3+3

Great looking jimmy! It appears that the pinion angle is a little off. May just be the angle of the pic. It looks like the lift blocks used may not have been tapered blocks.

The blocks do not seem to be sitting flat on the axle. I have to take a better look at them and the steering box (dead spot) before I am going to drive it much. I will most likely loose the blocks and do a shackle flip if I keep the lift on it.

[russgt]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

Nice score. How is the interior?

Its complete and stock but dingy. The dash has some cracks too but everything works, even the cruise and AC!

[Hankster]

Looks solid! I like it!

[motornut]

looks like a real clean,solid truck

[bnoon]

What's the thing on the rear hitch? Is it like a small tool box for trailer bits or what? And that's a dirty frame?!?!?! Hahahaha! It's like that thing has never seen a gravel road let alone some real off-roading. Clean truck!

[Irish1941]

Pretty cool! My '89 Blazer was #50 the day it was built.


I even have same Hellwig sway bar outback.

[russgt]

Wow that is clean...
This truck came out of Fremont, I have the original owners name but no luck in finding him.

[Irish1941]

Ah...Fremont, that explains the paint looking so good. Bay area trucks are almost always in good shape if away from the coast. SoCal trucks the paint just burns right off and/or they've beat into the ground. Looks like you got a good one.
And good thing AC works. Cost me over $400 to get mine back in shape.
Let's see what you got on the inside!

Thanks for compliment. Yeah mine is pretty clean in and out.
Drive it everyday!



And I do off road it a lot but in the desert so never really gets that dirty.

Sounds like it's gone to a good home and gonna get the little attention it needs.
I just did the steering box for 4th time in 5 yrs so I can tell you avoid anything that has "Cardone" on the box. Lifetime warranty for a reason.
I can shoot you the part number for BBB Industries box or get a RedHead from Seattle.

[russgt]

The carpet is shot and its missing the pulls on the door panels, otherwise its all there. I didnt include a shot of the confederate flag headliner though. (lol)

I'd love to get the part #s on those boxes too.

[Irish1941]

Sheet..that ain't bad. Carpet kits are cheap enough and I might have NOS door straps in gray for ya.
Driver's seat looks near perfect. Foam isn't crushed and broken. I see crummy seat belt though. Those are really hard to find. Might have a good used LH for you on that too. Parted out ALOT (40 or so) Blazers/Jimmy plus owned 18 or in my name so I got some stuff laying around.
Anywho, the PS box you want you can get thru NAPA but order ONLY this number:
391090 Should be about $160 exchange out the door.
Anything else is Cardone.
You will know if it's right one because BBB bead blasts and wrinkle paints them super clean and puts them in a plastic bag sealed up. If it looks like it was painted by a 5 yr old with a bucket and tossed in a box, send it back.
My last Cardone piece O crap, right from the box, looked like this:
P.O.D old grease & rust. (POD=paint over dirt)
Dirt and metal junk in pressure ports
Flithy "test" fluid dumped out.



Wasn't happy and told them so. I got a "oh well sorry"
Red Head is easy. Send in your old one, get a reman one. About $250 but you'll never replace it again. Google Red Head steering and you'll see what I mean.
And they fit in flat rate USPS box but your postman will be hating it!

[russgt]

Good to know, the truck came with a new box that my brother in law bought, I get to install it though. I will be in touch with on the pulls, K5s in the boneyards around here are very thin.

I really do not have any intention of "restoring" it, I still have my 76 for that, we are just going to clean it up and use it as a weekend cruiser that may see some occasional mud.

[russgt]

I swapped in the steering box today and did a full tune up. While under the hood I noticed a retractable light. I have seen this style on the 88-98 trucks but I'm not sure I have ever seen this style on a square. Common?

[Ski-me]

Yes, common on the 89+. Don't know if it went into 88 and earlier.....

[russgt]

Swapped out the dash pad for a little better one

[Irish1941]

Nice!
Dash can make all the difference. You spend all your time inside, might as well make as nice as you can. Good interior makes you forget about all the other screwed up things