'83 Jimmy 6.2 Resto/Build thread

[CALopez]

Figured I'd start a thread documenting what all I am going to do with my Jimmy. Suggestions are as always more than welcome! I picked her up for $900 with less than 95K on the odometer from the original owner's son. After his father passed his brother had taken care of the Jimmy. After his passing the guy I bought it from had had it sitting up since '07. Little juice to the batteries and some fresh diesel and she fired right up! After driving her 45 mins home I got down to business. I ordered new glow plugs, a new windshield, grabbed some new batteries and am now messing with various small, but very livable nuisances. I've dubbed her "El Himmy". Once i get her starting consistently I'm going to use her as a work(I work in the chemical plants and am tired of getting over spray on my nice truck)beach, camping,fishing, amd hunting rig. I'd like to pick her up using ORD 4" shackle flip kit and 4" front springs and run some 36" military surplus tire and regear to 3.73's. I know what you're thinking...this thread is useless without pics, well here you go!

I have a thing for white GMCs

Can anyone tell me what this doohickey is?

 

[Cili]

Could be some sort of cold start system. But I have no idea

 

[diesel4me]

Radio antenna signal amplifier??..

 

[82355]

Are you in California?

Martin

 

[Deuling]

I'll watch

 

[82355]

Oh, and skip the 36" Hummer take offs. They are junk. The 37's are much better.

Martin

 

[CALopez]

Nope, Texas Gulf Coast southwest of Houston. I've seen the 36's in action and can get them for a good deal so I'll be ok with them. Radio attenna amplifier? Sounds about right considering the attenna is in the windshield.

Put 2 optima red tops in today and installed the A/C belt too. The PO had the belts goatf***ed so I just redid them all.

 

[82355]

Ah, I wasn't sure what the CA stood for. Is that much rust common down there?

You've seen people have success with the 36's??? I have a couple sets. They've been terrible in my experience.

Martin

 

[CALopez]

Ah, first 2 initials. It is when the previous owner usedit as a beach ride without washing it off well. Yup, most recently on a 2002 cab and a half F-250 4x4, that dadgum thing would roll through slop like the tank it was.

 

[83 BLZR]

Ah, I wasn't sure what the CA stood for. Is that much rust common down there?

You've seen people have success with the 36's??? I have a couple sets. They've been terrible in my experience.

Martin

Take it from another south east texan, rust is a huge deal here. There is a lot of salt in the air and pretty much year round the humidity is outrageously high.

 

[SETXK5]

Yeah, between the salt from the coast, humidity, and bad roads, you have to hit these old trucks with a good bath on the regular.