K5trs
1/2 ton status
I feel like I'm the only new guy here haha. My dad doesn't know anything about cars but he is a machinist so you think he would..haha. I'll just fix her up and do big stuff later!
CK5
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83 Jimmy build, what to do first?
- Thread starter K5trs
- Start date
dirtygoat
1/2 ton status
Well said...
Spend a few weekends fixing little things that need attention... Once you've tackled all of those, then step up to bigger projects one at a time as money permits...
The knowledge will come with experience...
K5trs
1/2 ton status
I will be doing that. Most of the stuff I say in this thread is questions for the future when I get the blazer back from the shop I will start fixing it up!
smier
1/2 ton status
In all seriousness, don't underestimate your blazers ability in stock form. Get it running good and make sure everything works, then get some good tires on and it just might surprise you how capable it already is. It may already meet most of your goals.
Here's a great thread to learn a lot from, Colby ran his in mostly stock form on 33's for a bit:
http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=287250
He also has an older build thread on the 73 full vert that he pulled a lot of parts from that you might enjoy as well.
Here's a great thread to learn a lot from, Colby ran his in mostly stock form on 33's for a bit:
http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=287250
He also has an older build thread on the 73 full vert that he pulled a lot of parts from that you might enjoy as well.
smier
1/2 ton status
Oops, that's my truck on 31" street tires versus 32" mud terrains...
Martin
Judging from those pictures, your truck has been messed with somewhat. I am not sure of the engine. Can you clean off the back of the block, behind the head, in front of the transmission bellhousing? There will be a casting number there, and that will tell us what size engine you actually have. The serpentine belt setup is off a newer rig, and is not original to that Jimmy. Do you have emissions testing where you are?
Also, is there a sticker inside your glovebox with a bunch of 3 digit codes on it? How about the driverside door jamb, is there a sticker on it that says what size of tires it was equipped with from the factory? Can you get us some pictures from underneath? Of the axles, transmission, transfer case, etc.
Martin
Also, is there a sticker inside your glovebox with a bunch of 3 digit codes on it? How about the driverside door jamb, is there a sticker on it that says what size of tires it was equipped with from the factory? Can you get us some pictures from underneath? Of the axles, transmission, transfer case, etc.
Martin
I was pretty damn green myself when I started. Only wrenches I ever turned was for my quad, heavily modified though. No friends with knowledge or helpful family. Check out my build thread, everything I did was a first for me, never attempted before. It was my second truck, first 4x4.
Just keep asking lots of questions and dont let being the "new guy" bother you. Thats what this website is for. Just dont get way in over your head because you listen to every opinion everyone here has. Sit back and take it all in and decide what stuff you NEED to do and what your wallet can afford. 
That serpentine setup is the reason your AC lines are gone. I did the same thing to my Suburban, but I bent the lines so they would still work.
This is what a stock 1988 V10 Suburban 350 looks like. Your factory belt setup should look similar to this, although I don't believe it would have had the small serpentine belt on the alternator.
I later swapped a serpentine setup off of a '91 Camaro RS with a 305 TBI. I wanted to keep my AC so I just slightly bent the AC lines.
Martin
This is what a stock 1988 V10 Suburban 350 looks like. Your factory belt setup should look similar to this, although I don't believe it would have had the small serpentine belt on the alternator.
I later swapped a serpentine setup off of a '91 Camaro RS with a 305 TBI. I wanted to keep my AC so I just slightly bent the AC lines.
Martin
K5trs
1/2 ton status
So does anything look bad about the engine, or the Jimmy in general? I'll post more pictures pretty soon. I'll check behind the block and let you know what it is. Maybe it's a 350 haha.
No id say it looks fine to me. No big rust holes. Hows it running?
K5trs
1/2 ton status
No that I have that fuel line replaced it starts right up! I think it runs good it doesn't die anymore or anything! 
Well if it starts and runs good and gets your from A to B without shakes/vibrations/transmission slippage and doesnt leak gobbs of various oils all over id say its good to go
K5dreamer
1/2 ton status
dont even think of yourself as the new guy... ive been on the forums for years, and i still learn from guys on here every time I post, and hell, you're truck at least runs, mines wrecked in the driveway, so you're more of an "active" member than guys like me anyway
Ps. My blazer with stock 3.73s, 700r4 (and ok i put a 408 sbc in) goes up the dunes all day long in 4lo 2nd gear. That 305 will power it around just fine. If you gotta drop it down in first, so what. Work it till she blows then you get an excuse for a new motor 
K5trs
1/2 ton status
dont even think of yourself as the new guy... ive been on the forums for years, and i still learn from guys on here every time I post, and hell, you're truck at least runs, mines wrecked in the driveway, so you're more of an "active" member than guys like me anyway
Haha alright. I like posting to this forum everyone is so helpful! And dueling, it does leak a little oil. Is that really bad?
and how quick should I blazer feel? Mine feels sort of sluggish? Would my carb problem contribute to that? (PO just slapped a new carb on without adjusting it which caused my engine to die while I was driving) and what should the max speed of my jimmy be?
It's a small block Chevy, if it's not leaking oil, it's out of oil.
Martin
Martin
Hhahaha. Hey mine doesnt leak! Yet
. Nah its not that big a deal if its a small leak you can keep an eye on. Just keep some extra in the console or something. My 305 wasnt a tire smoker by any means, but it would get me where i wanted to go. But the bottom end was shot and it started knocking pretty bad. Pblaze has a 305 in his rig and he wheels the crap out of it!
Haha alright. I like posting to this forum everyone is so helpful! And dueling, it does leak a little oil. Is that really bad?
As mentioned before, axle gears. The early 80s trucks were commonly equipped with high (numerically low) gears like 3.08s. There is a chance you have 3.42s or even better 3.73s but unlikely. You want to be sure? Buy some black RTV, a can or 2 of brake cleaner (to clean the gasket surfaces), and some gear oil (6 or 7 bottles, cheap stuff nothing special). You will only need some basic tools like a ratchet and socket set, a drain pan, and a gasket scraper, oh, and some rags. Pull the diff covers, read the numbers on the ring gear, spin the driveshaft and visually inspect what's inside, look for broken/chipped teeth, cracks on the diff housing, inspect the spider gear teeth. Take a pic of the spider gears or G80 unit so we know what you are working with. Seal up the covers and reinstall, fill diffs with fluid. This will start you off with some new oil in the axles and the knowledge of what's in there. Plus it's a simple repair/maintenance item you can check off the list of things to do.
