1972 Jimmy Build

[audaciousduo]

Well, this, like most old vehicles has turned into more of a project than I had wanted but it's still a great find. I thought I'd throw together a quick build thread. The plan is to have her on the road for the summer, which comes in June in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and paint her in the fall. So far I've run into; rodents living in the cowl, a silver dollar sized rust hole under the passenger seat the previous owner fixed with duct tape, a very tired 350 and toasted TH350.

I've done; ORD 4" rear shackle flip, 4" fron spring lift with flush mount frame bushings, extended brake lines, yanked the old power train and started the color change.

The to do list fix what rust I do have in the floor, replace the once already poorly replaced rocker panels, get the new power train in and drive it for the summer. I'n the fall I'll take a week off and knock down the wonderful paint job the last owner did and spray the new color. I'm sure there will be more surprises but here it goes. The project, as I bought it .... good from far but the paint job is terrible.

 

[audaciousduo]

New Hart

I went with a crate engine as I just can't rebuild the old 350 cheaper than the GM crate motor. I'm waiting on a TBI system as carburetors work but are never ideal off road. If I'm going to pay $600 for a new holley TA I may as well go the extra mile and go TBI. I've got the fire wall painted in the new GMC only Terrace Blue from the 1972 factory color choices. I've always liked either the turquoise terrace blue or the light metallic green.

 

[audaciousduo]

Today

I've ripped the rockers off that got tacked on and was surprised to find the inners intact. I've two quarter sized holes right where the chrome screws holds on the carpet edge molding. The upper door seals are gone so water pooled in the compost bin in the doors, caused some rot and eventually kept the carpet under the doors damp enough to rust the floor edges. All in all, thats it some minor floor patching, door bottoms and I'm off to the races. I've got the door bottom patches but am still holding out and trying to find a decent set of doors before I commit to patching the sheet metal. Seeing some of the other undertakings some very talented members are fixing I considering myself very fortunate with what little rot I have. The under carriage is the dirtiest I've seen but when I pressure washed the hell out of it I found that the truck had been undercoated early on. Whatever they used back then is starting to chip off as its drying out but underneath is new looking factory black paint with an oily residue from the undercoat. I'd like to know what they used because it sure worked. Well thats it for today, I'm off to patch floors, treat surface rust with a gallon of Picklex 20 and hopefully have it ready for a spray in box liner to protect the top side of the sheet metal.

 

[NorCalTank]

You look to have a decent tub to start. The more you look the more you will find and end up like me...four year project. It is neat though to look back at where it started and the finished project. They are a blast to drive!

 

[audaciousduo]

Door Braces

So I've written off my doors after closer inspection they are both cracked near the hinges and fixing the rust on the bottoms would be a waste of time. I'm searching out a set of truck doors to cut down. Only the driver side door has the extra blazer only brace and nether side had the brass striker. Anyone know where you can source these I cant find a re-pop of the brace or the brass striker listed. If anyone has these kicking around and wants to sell them I'm buying

 

[sponsoredbydad]

I've got that black undercoating on the 69 as well, 90% is still in very good condition. It does nothing for heat and sound dampening thou. Doors ya mine are shot too, if you cut truck doors before I get to it please post pics along the way.

 

[NorCalTank]

Not sure if you are a member of the 67-72chevytrucks site, they have a parts forum for our year blazers. There are also a few members over there that collect parts from parting out multiple rigs. They will have the brass door alignment pieces

 

[audaciousduo]

Thanks a ton .... will be a member soon.

Not sure if you are a member of the 67-72chevytrucks site, they have a parts forum for our year blazers. There are also a few members over there that collect parts from parting out multiple rigs. They will have the brass door alignment pieces

 

[mac907]

So I've written off my doors after closer inspection they are both cracked near the hinges and fixing the rust on the bottoms would be a waste of time. I'm searching out a set of truck doors to cut down. Only the driver side door has the extra blazer only brace and nether side had the brass striker. Anyone know where you can source these I cant find a re-pop of the brace or the brass striker listed. If anyone has these kicking around and wants to sell them I'm buying

I wish my Jimmy doors looked that nice.

 

[audaciousduo]

I wish my Jimmy doors looked that nice.

Rotted out along the bottoms and cracked near the hinges and vent windows. I could fix all of it but the cracks on the hinges are tough .... I may still try if I can't find a decent set of truck doors.

 

[mac907]

Rotted out along the bottoms and cracked near the hinges and vent windows. I could fix all of it but the cracks on the hinges are tough .... I may still try if I can't find a decent set of truck doors.

Defiinitely don't discard them, just the vent window assembly alone in those doors is around $250 per side if you end up needing a replacement. Plus the interior trim panels is another couple hundred.