Building "Nightmare" (78 GMC Jimmy)

[the_blaze]

Engine #4 “golden boy”

After much debate I opted to go with a roller cam ( I’ll snag part numbers later) we bored the engine 40 over. The machine shop reworked the heads one more time just to make sure they were good. I got a new crank, and new pistons (do to the bore), the machine shop balanced it... boom this thing is tight and since one guy built it from start to finish and he was likely OCD about it given the history I knew there wasn’t going to be an issue and if there was I now have a warranty***

One bug I ran into is with all the mods this engine had I was able to put a more aggressive cam in it which I thought was a great idea (more power is always a great idea) this lead to me needing to get a stall converter for the trans because the power band of the new engine was 2,200 to 5,500 RPM-ish.

This lead to another great debate and hours of research to figure out drivability and reliability factors.

I found a stall converter that seemed to fit the ticket the guys from crane said it would work.

The shop installed this engine and new torque converter and it fired right up and drove for a while. Then that pump seal went out on the trans again…. Yup had to pull the trans out to replace that… now starts the transmission issues…..

 

[lamberthkp]

Brother, you definitely have more patience than me. That engine would probably be laying in the back yard with some brass on the ground around it and the blazer would be supporting a junkyard 350. Your a good man

 

[the_blaze]

Brother, you definitely have more patience than me. That engine would probably be laying in the back yard with some brass on the ground around it and the blazer would be supporting a junkyard 350. Your a good man

Lol I try.... there's more lol

 

[78K30]

I know your feeling completely and admire your patience. My 78 is the same way it pretty much refuses to be driven before something else fails. I'll be watching

 

[the_blaze]

Ok I'll try to hurry through the rest of the bs I went through so we can get to the fun stuff like mods.

So they pulled the transmission and replaced the seal then packed it up and said "it's finished come get it" I drove it 5 mins and could tell something was jacked up.... under hard acceleration or at specific RPMs this thing vibrated like i was driving over a washboard. I spent the next three weeks trying to figure out if it was an out of balance engine, bad torque converter or a bad transmission. I had 3 shops look at it and no solid answers. Everyone had a different opinion. I said **** it and just figured I'd start replacing stuff. First target was the torque converter. That brand new stall converter was the problem.... we replaced it and the problem was solved. So now the engine has been out 3 times and the transmission has been out 3 times.... I drove it a couple weeks and it sprung a couple leaks....

 

[the_blaze]

The little leaks that kill you.
My power steering pump started leaking. I opted to let my friends shop fix it while he was finishing some other things. He finished I picked it up drove it 10 miles down the road and the power steering went out 100% it was a bitch but I got it back to the shop. Turns out the pully fell off the brand new pump.... lol
They fixed it is drove it a couple days and brought it back because the valve covers were leaking. He fixed this and said ok it's good now....

That night I start driving it and I can smell electionice burning behind the dash. I tore it apart and can't find it. I finally caved and had my friends shop fix it. It was the brights switch burning under the carpet. They fixed it! Yay I can drive it now!!

Well except that someone left my lights on all day so both batteries were dead and would not hold a charge I couldn'the start or drive it so i had to go buy two need batteries but hey at this point im used to it.

Those damn valve covers started to leak again a week before blazer bash and my wonderful procomp drag link died on me so literally the night before blazer bash I was installing new valve covers and a drag link.

So 4th engine, 3rd transmissions new batteries new power steering, new dimmer switch, 2 torque converters, a drag link, new valve covers, countless leaks and over 2 years of it being torn apart and it's finally running strong I even towed my buddies truck through hells revenge. So far I love it but you can see why we call it a nightmare.

 

[blazinzuk]

Amazing what we do for these trucks.

Those who stick with it usually end up with sweet rides though

 

[max 02]

Yeah sounds like you picked the right name for it!

Glad its working the way you want it now, looks great too!

 

[the_blaze]

Yeah sounds like you picked the right name for it!

Glad its working the way you want it now, looks great too!

Crédit for the nickname goes to @kgblazerfive lol

Thanks everyone for the compliments means a bunch from fellow Chevy people.

Now we can get into the fun stuff I've done to it, not because it was broken but because I wanted to

 

[lamberthkp]

Hope it keeps going strong! Im really liking the bikini top on Nightmare is that bought or homemade?

 

[72gmck5]

Hope it keeps going strong! Im really liking the bikini top on Nightmare is that bought or homemade?

Those are mad homemade skillz

 

[the_blaze]

Hope it keeps going strong! Im really liking the bikini top on Nightmare is that bought or homemade?

Home made! I actually made it a few days before BB16 I'm going to add that to this post when I have time.

 

[rayfin]

I'm only on my 8th starter, 4th battery, 4th flexplate, 2nd trans and 2nd motor. Chevys rule!

 

[rayfin]

I'm only on my 8th starter, 4th battery, 4th flexplate, 2nd trans and 2nd motor. Chevys rule!

and 3rd converter...

 

[lamberthkp]

Home made! I actually made it a few days before BB16 I'm going to add that to this post when I have time.

Sweeeet looking forward to it! I have the same rollbar set-up in my K5 and figured it would be less expensive than full soft top. I did some hardware shopping and went by the fabric shops for material & price's a few weeks ago. I just need enough to keep the kids from frying.

 

[Eric Adams]

Can you show a picture of the custom interior panels??

 

[the_blaze]

Can you show a picture of the custom interior panels??

Yes I'll try to snap some pics in the morning

 

[the_blaze]

Do it yourself safari top: (I will add more pics and measurements later but this would get a handy person started) (note: would build for $)
Step 1: waste hours online doing research trying to find one for sale.
Step 2: go to a fabric store and purchase a good outdoor fabric or "boat cover" material. The stuff I purchased was called "top gun". You will need it to be 60" ×64"
(1"seams on the sides and back and 1.5"seam up front for metal rail to slide in.) I want to say 15+yards of straps or "webbing" and 9 strap connectors/clasps/buckles (name escapes me currently)

Step 3: get a piece of angle iron that's 58" long. And a piece of aluminum strap that's 1"wide and 58" long. (I got two smaller pieces of aluminum)

Step 4
Cut slots in the ends of the angle iron so you can bend it to match the roof line.
Bend it and check it multiple times to make sure it's looks right. Then weld the slots.

Step 5:
match up the angle iron with the factory mounting position on the back of the roof and mark the holes for the factory bolts. Then drill out the holes

Step 6: paint the bracket you just made.

Step 7
Fold 1" on the sides and bottom of the fabric and sew it.

Step 8 take the aluminum strap and lay it in the top of the cover and fold the fabric over it so you can make a snug sleeve for it to sit in then sew the sleeve

Step 9. Add the straps.
Run the webbing the entire way front to back and leave 4-5' on the ends (I ended up doing 5 straps front to back.

ignore this pic a little this only had 3 straps and some other straps for rolling it up but the general idea is here.

finished with the 3 middle straps and side straps so 5 straps total

Step 10 insert aluminum strap in top and run self tapping bolts through the fabric and strap and secure it to your angle iron

I skipped a step but it's optional and you can find your favorite way to do it, if you want to roll it up add straps for that or velcro, or wire or don't have the option your call.

Step 11.
Mount it! Use the factory bolts for the sides of the hard top and secure the bracket to the factory mounting holes

Stretch it over the roll bar

I already had tie down points in my bed so I hooked the outside straps to those. You can add those or tie it to the bar.


Make sure it's tight!

Then cut off any unnecessary webbing and use the cut off webbing to attach the webbing retainers/clasps/ buckles

Go enjoy your top.

I have had this on a couple weeks, hours of freeway driving, sun, a little rain and zero issues. It's silent and seems durable.

 

[the_blaze]

I'm only on my 8th starter, 4th battery, 4th flexplate, 2nd trans and 2nd motor. Chevys rule!

Yeah batteries and starters should be stocked at the grocery store. Lol I have done 4 starters over the years and had to warranty 5 optima red tops until I figured out my truck has a power drain that kills batteries. Now I plug it in with a charger each night and i went back to regular batteries (I have two it was a kit I did because of the drain) and so far it's been better and I swear it's helped my starter also* these things are money pits but I love them

 

[the_blaze]

Can you show a picture of the custom interior pannels in the rear.
I wanted to hide my amp, power cap and all wires. My factory bed pannels were junk I made these with a removable pannel and a window to view the cap.
(I usually have my back seat in I just haven't put it back since blazer bash)