1989 Diesel Jimmy. What do we have here hmmmm

[blazinzuk]

So not totally sure the trans issues are all sorted out but pretty sure I will be good to go to take it on a trip. Been driving it quite a bit and no changes at all in the way it shifts. Feels pretty good overall

So on to new things

This coming week I am going to Daves house (76zimmer) to help him out for a week.

I need to pick up some stuff in SLC so the decision was made to take the Jimmy. I hate taking trip when I can't listen to the radio. I already have a stereo that I got for Christmas along with a Crutchfield installation kit.

Wow the install kit is awesome for the wiring, if your factory harness is intact it takes all of 10 seconds to do all the wiring. I was not running to the factory speakers so that took a couple minutes but the Jimmy already had speaker wires run I just had to re route a bit.

Now the install kit for the dash was not bad. With some mods I got them to fit really well.

Now remember I have an 89 so I have the din dash, but it doesn't matter as I had to cut a bunch out anyway.

I trimmed the dash just a bit on both sides got the main piece to fit pretty nice, but had no idea how to attach it.

None of the pieces they sent me would work in their current from so I modified them

So the main piece from the install kit has these little tabs on it

These pieces are supposed to snap into them.

The above piece is after I cut it all off. Just trimmed it so that it would sit tight against the back of the dash bezel when it was snapped into the main mounting bracket. Both sides are different so they need to be trimmed differently. I used dykes and a file.

This is what you end up with

Got them to fit pretty tight. Still need to figure out where to mount the metal strap for the rear of the receiver but I didn't really have time too.

Here is the finished product

Streaming music from my phone on that one. Bluetooth capable receiver

Mounted the microphone above the sun visor. The stupid clip is not big enough so I will figure that out later.

Now I got tunes for my trip to Salt Lake

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Doh! Wish you had said something earlier, could have saved you the hassle with that Scoshe brand kit Crutchfield sells. I was unimpressed and found a Metra brand kit that fit perfect. Scoshe and Crutchfield assume the 89-91's have the exact same radio setup as the 73-88 trucks.

Not running a rear support on mine. I frankly never do on any vehicles. Just make sure the adapter sleeve is in there tight and solid and you should be good.

Nice stereo. Love my Duals. I can't entirely make it out, what model is that? Does it have HD radio? The Blazer's is an older model and I want to get a newer one with better HD radio reception.

 

[Fife]

Let me know how that DUAL works out for you. I had the same exact one and I HATED it, signal faded in and out, hardly powered the speakers even after re wiring EVERYTHING. I upgraded to a cheap $80 JVC head unit, 6 1/2 door speakers and 6x9 rear speakers. Sounds great, gonna get 2 12" subs and a custom box with a decent amp this summer.

 

[blazinzuk]

AJ its the XDMA6415 no HD radio but has bluetooth which is the main reason I got this one. One of the few that had a wired mic for the blutooth too. Good to know about the Metra kit. Got a part number for it?

I am sending Crutchfield an email in the next week or so, telling them their kit sucked and I had to heavily modify it.

The head unit was a Christmas present and Crutchfield sent the install kit free. The wiring part of their install kit was a snap though. First time I have ever used something like that. Very nice.

Cody, so far so good. You can definitely tell its a cheaper unit though, just the feel of the thing overall. I am pretty happy though. I could not hook up the radio though because my antenna wire was shot. So I need to get a new one of those.

I have it running to a pair of 6x9s right now that are pretty old but they do alright. Later on this Jimmy will get a couple 10s and some kick panel speakers and a couple amps but not for a while

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Not off the top of my head but I can maybe find it at home. It's not the latest kit they offer that fits but it was what the guy I found locally in Michigan had. Worked great though. Made to fit a variety of GM's with the big head units but you snap and cut a couple tabs off and works great for us. THINK I put a pic in my build thread on here but you can't see it right now anyway. Has a narrow pocket underneath the stereo and you don't need the big cover plate that Crutchfield has.
One thing I noticed is a lot of the smaller, non-chain install and car audio places use Metra stuff.

I'm a fan of Crutchfield but the stereo stuff for our subset of these trucks sucks. I noticed in the reviews no their page a few complaints about that Scoshe kit. Obviously no one at Crutchfield read them.

I had to get about a 6" antenna extension cord as well. Same guy had one on hand so I bought that too.

I got a higher end Dual when I got my first one. It's HD radio capable, iPod control, MP3, and Bluetooth capable with a built in mic. Love it and actually moved it to The Tracker when that became my DD. The one I have now in The Blazer was what I thought was a deal but later found out it was their first generation HD capable radio and it's reception isn't wonderful. Still, not bad for the money.
I like Duals. Lots of features for the price and good customer service. The first one I had was giving me trouble with the display so I called them up and complained. Sent it to their warranty address and had a new faceplate back within a week. Works great now.

 

[KansasTwister]

the connector that snaps into the factory wiring makes everything a breeze! my k5 had the previous owner cut the wiring, so that made it a pain, but I have everything wired with male spades on the radio harness end so I can effortlessly swap the radios between cars if I need to.

 

[COCHEV]

AJ its the XDMA6415 no HD radio but has bluetooth which is the main reason I got this one. One of the few that had a wired mic for the blutooth too. Good to know about the Metra kit. Got a part number for it?

I am sending Crutchfield an email in the next week or so, telling them their kit sucked and I had to heavily modify it.

The head unit was a Christmas present and Crutchfield sent the install kit free. The wiring part of their install kit was a snap though. First time I have ever used something like that. Very nice.

Cody, so far so good. You can definitely tell its a cheaper unit though, just the feel of the thing overall. I am pretty happy though. I could not hook up the radio though because my antenna wire was shot. So I need to get a new one of those.

I have it running to a pair of 6x9s right now that are pretty old but they do alright. Later on this Jimmy will get a couple 10s and some kick panel speakers and a couple amps but not for a while

So explain how the blue tooth works with the deck? Does it have a Mic built into the deck that your phone will recognize?

I have the aux cable port on my ghetto deck, but it allows me to stream pandora through it. Also when I use navigation the voice comes through the speakers. That is so long as my ear piece is turned off. I'd like to be able to play pandora but have incoming calls go to my ear piece instead of over the speakers. Is that possible?

 

[blazinzuk]

So explain how the blue tooth works with the deck? Does it have a Mic built into the deck that your phone will recognize?

I have the aux cable port on my ghetto deck, but it allows me to stream pandora through it. Also when I use navigation the voice comes through the speakers. That is so long as my ear piece is turned off. I'd like to be able to play pandora but have incoming calls go to my ear piece instead of over the speakers. Is that possible?

I have been listening to pandora the last 200 miles works awesome, my calls come through the speakers but it pauses pandora while I am on the phone, on my phone i just hit the blutooth button on the call screen if I want it not to come through the speakers, not sure how you would do it what kind of phone do you have

 

[COCHEV]

I've got a droid 2. Mine pauses the music too when I get a call. I love pandora. Hardly use my pod unless i'm at the gym. I'll have to look into the blue tooth decks

 

[blazinzuk]

So I rarely get before shots when I start modding a rig. Since the Jimmy is going to stay this way for a while I got the chance to get a little wheeling in today.

Not much but double checked how much I was going to have trim and just generally screwed around.

Here are some pics

The fenders need trimmed in the front, they rub pretty bad. If everything works out I should have all the bushings I need to link the front and do coils. Going to use some stock bushings I have laying around. Now just need to find some free coils, should have enough plate laying around to make brackets out of.

Going to try to do coils in the front for less than a hundred bucks. We shall see.

Probably won't happen till next year anyway got alot going on this year and Horton is getting some much needed suspension attention but it will happen here pretty quick

 

[lectric80]

Nice to see it out getting some work done.

 

[yellowK20]

looking good!!

 

[blazinzuk]

So I may have just changed directions again.

Originally I was looking for a 14b semifloat didn't want the rear 10 bolt, for the mere fact that its so weak and I did want a rear locker.

Well sounds like I am going to pick up a Dana 60.

Yep going to help a guy link the front of his dually (77) we already linked and bagged the rear.

He has a Dodge axle he wants to use. He is never going to wheel it. So he doesn't care about the disconnect and no hubs (its out of like a 98) has 3.55 gears and he wants that for when he puts a cummins in it.

I have done stuff with this guy before and he is stoked its not going to cost him any money to have my help.

So the final plan may be happening sooner than I thought.

 

[yellowK20]

Still go semi-floater and get some 6-lug 60 hubs........... of course 1-tons and locked would be fun @ blazer bash

 

[blazinzuk]

Still go semi-floater and get some 6-lug 60 hubs........... of course 1-tons and locked would be fun @ blazer bash

LOL not going to happen that fast, but faster than the 5 or 6 years I was planning.

My favorite blazer ever had 38s on it. More lift than this one is going to have but I loved driving it. 38s is a great tire size if you want a big tire but still retain alot of street reliability.

Since they still make the 38x15.50 swamper radial in a 16.5 I am thinking stock 12 bolt hummer rims and spacers for a full float rear end.

Or I may just try to find some SRW hubs. Who knows haven't even got the 60 in my hands and I am planning this

 

[yellowK20]

well if time is not pressed I have some SRW's I'd trade for your DRW's

 

[stumpjump]

You know eventually you are going to stuff a 60/14b combo in there... and there's no time like the present Just messing man, but if I were a betting man I'd say within the next 5 years that thing with have tons and 40s at least...

I posted this on 12-13-2010 09:53 AM Looking forward to seeing the progression

 

[blazinzuk]

I posted this on 12-13-2010 09:53 AM Looking forward to seeing the progression

LOL I knew someone had posted that I just didn't bother looking.

The thing pretty much fell in my lap. Talked to him a little more about it today, I more than likely won't have the 60 till this fall but it sounds like a done deal. Of course till I have it it won't be a done deal

 

[blazinzuk]

So today my water pump/fan/pullys decided to have a come apart.

Haven't torn into it yet to look at it but every thing is loose and there is coolant everywhere it shouldn't be. Had to be towed home

 

[kgblazerfive]

warranty is expired