Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom - Page 6 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**Tom Vogel** · 12-11-2016, 10:18 AM

[QUOTE]. It was a true (and expensive) ordeal finding someone who could/would work on an aluminum piece this big.

Unless your truck is different than mine, that grill is stamped mild steel.

hemi43 · 10-21-2016, 10:17 AM

Wow !! I can only imagine what that cost to plate.Is it re anodized or is that actually chrome? You will have to handle that grille like egg shells if it's chrome. Let us know how it fits after all that work has been done to it. Looks great !!

Chulisohombre · 10-21-2016, 01:12 PM

That's pretty. It's a great addition to the work
Already done.

tristan · 12-10-2016, 10:57 AM

It's alive! Went over this AM and heard it run for the first time in 1 1/2 years. The doors have been hung and are being gapped and the HVAC installation is now complete. The guys in the shop ran it around the yard this week to test steering and brakes and all went well. The radiator was sent out for pressure testing and reinstalled along with the new R-134 compliant AC condenser.

tristan · 12-10-2016, 11:00 AM

Here are some under-dash and glove compartment shots. While these are not areas that are highly visible, there is a ton of detail stuff shoved up in there.

tristan · 12-10-2016, 11:03 AM

Here are some of the dash pad, defrosters and cowl area.

Tekamah72GMC · 12-10-2016, 06:14 PM

Cool Build. Love the pictures of the engine. Didn't have any accessories on mine when I bought it gonna have to change some stuff around in the engine bay.

tristan · 12-11-2016, 10:55 AM

Yup, I was misinformed. It is steel.

tristan · 12-23-2016, 02:51 PM

Now that painting is imminent (!) I am moving on the interior of the Jimmy. It was a big day today - I stopped by the restoration shop and picked up the front and rear seats, door panels, console and visors. They are now all at the upholstery shop where teardown will soon begin. My original rear side panels are a mess and I am going to replace them.

I got prices on replacement seat covers, door and rear side panels and carpeting from the board vendors as well as a couple of big catalog vendors. Prices are all over the place so I am still mulling over where to order.

My one do-it-yourself piece of the interior is making over my leveling mats. I had one or two reusable ones in the Jimmy and got 3 others from Harry Huda. All of them were filthy and cracked to varying degrees. I scrubbed them down, glued the cracks up with airplane glue and contact cement, and then gave them two coats of hand-rubbed Armorall. No one will ever see them again once the carpet is in place but I tend to fixate on even hidden parts. Here are a couple of before and after shots.

**72 tigger** · 01-20-2017, 09:18 PM

Your Jimmy is/going to be sweet! It's a lot of work & expense but, you'll be glad you did it right in the long run. Hopefully you can cruise in it this summer- take care

**GR8-68** · 01-21-2017, 08:47 AM

Looking good Tristan, look forward to seeing more updates

tristan · 03-18-2017, 09:43 AM

I am still inching forward, although very slowly. The shop just put in a new paint booth so hopefully (he said) the Jimmy and its top will be "under the gun" relatively soon. This has been delayed for a long time by the business moving its shop so we shall see. In the mean time, the top and fenders are back in place and all of the door and cowl gaps are now set.

I have cleaned up the center console and it is ready for a new coat of parchment. The chrome pieces are in good shape except for the top plate that holds the seat belts and ashtray so that is getting sent off on Monday for replating. The upholstery shop has received my new carpet and door panels and the seat skins should be in house in a few more weeks. Finally, thanks to some help from board members I found a place that is making me a new stainless dual exhaust system which should arrive in a month or so.

**72 tigger** · 03-18-2017, 10:15 AM

Hope they get it painted soon- looking forward to seeing it coming together!

**IronCanine** · 03-18-2017, 10:54 AM

Thanks for the update...progress is progress, inching or not. Looks very straight. You're getting very close. Keep up the good work.

tristan · 07-29-2017, 03:39 PM

Paint!

After months of delay my GMC finally made it to the paint booth on Thursday. They reshot both the inside and outside after an extensive redo on the paint prep. The top, doors, cowl, hood and tailgate are being painted next week.

These pictures are before any final sanding and buffing and the paint is single stage. It came out nice and flat as-is with very little nibbing or orange peeling. The paint crew is going to do a first round of sanding to move the paint up to what they call "cruise" quality. Next weekend I will inspect that level of finish and decide if I want to commission a final round of finish sanding and buffing that would move the paint up to "show" quality.

Here is the driver's side.

tristan · 07-29-2017, 03:41 PM

Passenger side.

tristan · 07-29-2017, 03:44 PM

Here are the other parts waiting their turn to be painted.

tristan · 07-29-2017, 03:51 PM

I always enjoy seeing the other patients in the car and truck hospital. The percentage of trucks in their work flow has steadily increased in the years that my Jimmy has been in restoration due to the increasing interest in, and value of, collector trucks. In another realm of collector vehicles, this stunningly beautiful 1931 LaSalle convertible coupe preceded my truck in the paint booth. It is off to a concours next week.

**IronCanine** · 07-29-2017, 08:58 PM

Looking great. Congrats on the milestone.

Chulisohombre · 08-01-2017, 09:21 PM

Looks great. Someday I will do the same. For now indid mine homemade with industrial blue paint.

**72 tigger** · 08-02-2017, 06:22 AM

Very nice! Glad they finally have it painted- keep the pics coming

tristan · 08-03-2017, 04:51 AM

Kirk, are you going to Truck Carlisle? Please let me know if so, I would like to say howdy.

**72 tigger** · 08-14-2017, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tristan

Kirk, are you going to Truck Carlisle? Please let me know if so, I would like to say howdy.

Didn't make it- shooting for 2018. Did you find any treasures?

nds1968 · 08-13-2017, 09:50 PM

I'm in for the rest of the restoration...

tristan · 08-18-2017, 05:43 AM

Yeah, a good haul this year. Picked up a previously purchased Blazer/Jimmy jack set and a bucket seat frame crossmember from one board member, and then purchased a Soft-Ray windshield, a nice PO1 wheel cover and a few other doodads from two others. It was nice to visit with several prominent board members on a beautiful PA August day. See you next year maybe?

12-11-2016, 10:18 AM	#1
Tom Vogel 2WD Jimmy Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Davis County, Utah Posts: 2,563	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom [QUOTE]. It was a true (and expensive) ordeal finding someone who could/would work on an aluminum piece this big. Unless your truck is different than mine, that grill is stamped mild steel.

10-21-2016, 10:17 AM	#2
hemi43 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 1,500	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom Wow !! I can only imagine what that cost to plate.Is it re anodized or is that actually chrome? You will have to handle that grille like egg shells if it's chrome. Let us know how it fits after all that work has been done to it. Looks great !!

10-21-2016, 01:12 PM	#3
Chulisohombre Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Bangor pa Posts: 1,223	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom That's pretty. It's a great addition to the work Already done. __________________ 72 3/4 ton blazer. 5 inch lift on 35 inch tires. 355 corvette engine with crane roller rockers, rv cam, edelbrock carb and intake with one inch spacer. Thrush Headers with flowmaster 40 duels. 4speed sm465 manual. 4 wheel disk brakes with Inboarded rear shock prerunner style mounts and shocks.

12-10-2016, 10:57 AM	#4
tristan Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Western PA Posts: 1,295	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom It's alive! Went over this AM and heard it run for the first time in 1 1/2 years. The doors have been hung and are being gapped and the HVAC installation is now complete. The guys in the shop ran it around the yard this week to test steering and brakes and all went well. The radiator was sent out for pressure testing and reinstalled along with the new R-134 compliant AC condenser. Attached Images

12-10-2016, 11:00 AM	#5
tristan Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Western PA Posts: 1,295	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom Here are some under-dash and glove compartment shots. While these are not areas that are highly visible, there is a ton of detail stuff shoved up in there. Attached Images

12-10-2016, 11:03 AM	#6
tristan Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Western PA Posts: 1,295	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom Here are some of the dash pad, defrosters and cowl area. Attached Images

12-10-2016, 06:14 PM	#7
Tekamah72GMC Registered User Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Tekamah, NE Posts: 42	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom Cool Build. Love the pictures of the engine. Didn't have any accessories on mine when I bought it gonna have to change some stuff around in the engine bay. __________________ 1972 GMC Jimmy - The wife HATES it! 1973 Chevy Camaro - The wife HATES IT MORE! 1994 Chevy Suburban - Never getting rid of it. 2005 GMC Yukon Denali - That's the wife's. 2012 Chevy Silverado 1500 Z71. 2005 Chevy Tahoe (May use this for a 5.3 Swap)

12-11-2016, 10:55 AM	#8
tristan Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Western PA Posts: 1,295	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom Yup, I was misinformed. It is steel.

12-23-2016, 02:51 PM	#9
tristan Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Western PA Posts: 1,295	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom Now that painting is imminent (!) I am moving on the interior of the Jimmy. It was a big day today - I stopped by the restoration shop and picked up the front and rear seats, door panels, console and visors. They are now all at the upholstery shop where teardown will soon begin. My original rear side panels are a mess and I am going to replace them. I got prices on replacement seat covers, door and rear side panels and carpeting from the board vendors as well as a couple of big catalog vendors. Prices are all over the place so I am still mulling over where to order. My one do-it-yourself piece of the interior is making over my leveling mats. I had one or two reusable ones in the Jimmy and got 3 others from Harry Huda. All of them were filthy and cracked to varying degrees. I scrubbed them down, glued the cracks up with airplane glue and contact cement, and then gave them two coats of hand-rubbed Armorall. No one will ever see them again once the carpet is in place but I tend to fixate on even hidden parts. Here are a couple of before and after shots. Attached Images

01-20-2017, 09:18 PM	#10
72 tigger Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Berne IN Posts: 3,213	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom Your Jimmy is/going to be sweet! It's a lot of work & expense but, you'll be glad you did it right in the long run. Hopefully you can cruise in it this summer- take care

01-21-2017, 08:47 AM	#11
GR8-68 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Belews Creek , NC Posts: 4,220	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom Looking good Tristan, look forward to seeing more updates __________________ Larry It is easily overlooked that what is now called vintage was once brand new. "Project 68" paypal.me/ldgrant

03-18-2017, 09:43 AM	#12
tristan Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Western PA Posts: 1,295	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom I am still inching forward, although very slowly. The shop just put in a new paint booth so hopefully (he said) the Jimmy and its top will be "under the gun" relatively soon. This has been delayed for a long time by the business moving its shop so we shall see. In the mean time, the top and fenders are back in place and all of the door and cowl gaps are now set. I have cleaned up the center console and it is ready for a new coat of parchment. The chrome pieces are in good shape except for the top plate that holds the seat belts and ashtray so that is getting sent off on Monday for replating. The upholstery shop has received my new carpet and door panels and the seat skins should be in house in a few more weeks. Finally, thanks to some help from board members I found a place that is making me a new stainless dual exhaust system which should arrive in a month or so. Attached Images

03-18-2017, 10:15 AM	#13
72 tigger Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Berne IN Posts: 3,213	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom Hope they get it painted soon- looking forward to seeing it coming together!

03-18-2017, 10:54 AM	#14
IronCanine I'm trying.... Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 2,538	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom Thanks for the update...progress is progress, inching or not. Looks very straight. You're getting very close. Keep up the good work. __________________ 1970 Blazer http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=645076 1969 K10 SWB CST http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...52#post8520352 1971 K20 Z84 https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...90#post9047290 1946 B.F. Avery Model A Tractor http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...55#post8292555 "Sometimes I wonder if zander208 was even real..."

07-29-2017, 03:39 PM	#15
tristan Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Western PA Posts: 1,295	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom Paint! After months of delay my GMC finally made it to the paint booth on Thursday. They reshot both the inside and outside after an extensive redo on the paint prep. The top, doors, cowl, hood and tailgate are being painted next week. These pictures are before any final sanding and buffing and the paint is single stage. It came out nice and flat as-is with very little nibbing or orange peeling. The paint crew is going to do a first round of sanding to move the paint up to what they call "cruise" quality. Next weekend I will inspect that level of finish and decide if I want to commission a final round of finish sanding and buffing that would move the paint up to "show" quality. Here is the driver's side. Attached Images Last edited by tristan; 07-29-2017 at 03:51 PM.



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07-29-2017, 03:41 PM	#16
tristan Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Western PA Posts: 1,295	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom Passenger side. Attached Images

07-29-2017, 03:44 PM	#17
tristan Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Western PA Posts: 1,295	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom Here are the other parts waiting their turn to be painted. Attached Images

07-29-2017, 03:51 PM	#18
tristan Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Western PA Posts: 1,295	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom I always enjoy seeing the other patients in the car and truck hospital. The percentage of trucks in their work flow has steadily increased in the years that my Jimmy has been in restoration due to the increasing interest in, and value of, collector trucks. In another realm of collector vehicles, this stunningly beautiful 1931 LaSalle convertible coupe preceded my truck in the paint booth. It is off to a concours next week. Attached Images

07-29-2017, 08:58 PM	#19
IronCanine I'm trying.... Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 2,538	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom Looking great. Congrats on the milestone. __________________ 1970 Blazer http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=645076 1969 K10 SWB CST http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...52#post8520352 1971 K20 Z84 https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...90#post9047290 1946 B.F. Avery Model A Tractor http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...55#post8292555 "Sometimes I wonder if zander208 was even real..."

08-01-2017, 09:21 PM	#20
Chulisohombre Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Bangor pa Posts: 1,223	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom Looks great. Someday I will do the same. For now indid mine homemade with industrial blue paint. __________________ 72 3/4 ton blazer. 5 inch lift on 35 inch tires. 355 corvette engine with crane roller rockers, rv cam, edelbrock carb and intake with one inch spacer. Thrush Headers with flowmaster 40 duels. 4speed sm465 manual. 4 wheel disk brakes with Inboarded rear shock prerunner style mounts and shocks.

08-02-2017, 06:22 AM	#21
72 tigger Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Berne IN Posts: 3,213	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom Very nice! Glad they finally have it painted- keep the pics coming

08-03-2017, 04:51 AM	#22
tristan Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Western PA Posts: 1,295	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom Kirk, are you going to Truck Carlisle? Please let me know if so, I would like to say howdy.

08-13-2017, 09:50 PM	#24
nds1968 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 1,694	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom I'm in for the rest of the restoration... __________________ Nate 1967 short fleet Project Blue Goose 'If it don't bounce back... heeheehee you go hungry!" Blues Brothers

08-18-2017, 05:43 AM	#25
tristan Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Western PA Posts: 1,295	Re: Project Checkbook - 1971 Jimmy Custom Yeah, a good haul this year. Picked up a previously purchased Blazer/Jimmy jack set and a bucket seat frame crossmember from one board member, and then purchased a Soft-Ray windshield, a nice PO1 wheel cover and a few other doodads from two others. It was nice to visit with several prominent board members on a beautiful PA August day. See you next year maybe?

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