New to me 91

[pmpski_1]

Thanks to everyone who weighed in on this thread and helped me figure out whether to go 73-75 Full Vert or 87-91 TBI\700R4.

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=282523

As much as I wanted the full vert, I went with a late model. The more I looked at the 73-75s, the more I realized that I needed more than my budget would warrant to get what I wanted.

So I ended up with a 91 Jimmy. It already has a soft top and 33's. Rebuilt engine, rebuilt auto trans, and rebuilt rear end. 3:73s. It needs some work, mostly interior, power windows, and cosmetic issues, but the price was right and the hard work has been done.

Plans are to drive it. I'd like it to be a daily driver, but with a toddler and a soft top that may be a stretch. I'm more of a mall crawler than rock crawler type, so no hardcore build, just a nice utility vehicle. So here's the plan:

1. New windshield
2. New steering box and alignment
3. Power windows won't go down. Need to figure out whether they need care or to replace the motors. Motors chug, but they don't go down more than a centimeter or so.
4. Go over the switches, handles, shifter, etc, and adjust or replace where necessary. This thing has been driven and it shows.
5. Rip out the carpet and get bedliner put down - I don't plan on using the hard top much and it rains here. So I want something to protect the inside.
6. Roll bar\family cage for the back. Like I said, this will do more mall crawling than off road, but I'd like to have some protection in back for my wee one if anything ever happened.

I guess that's all for now. But since this thread is worthless without pics....

Sorry, it's dark already. I'll have more this weekend when I do the "I have a new toy" process of cleaning, changing the fluids, changing what needs to be changed, etc.

 

[CUCV2]

Looks like a nice choice.

On your windows, try pulling the door panels and lubricating the moving parts. Usually helps, if not cures, the window's up and down capabilities. You might have to help it the first few times by having someone else run the switch and you opening the door and persuading the glass with your hands. Watch your fingers.

 

[pmpski_1]

Thanks for the tip! I figured that the cheapest thing to do will be to clean and lube. The door panels need to come off for some cleaning and restoration anyway. This thing is u s e d.

This weekend I changed the oil and removed about 60 pounds of wet carpet and padding. Luckily all I found was mud and some sasquatch hair glued to the floor - no visible rust. Looks like there's a serious leak somewhere though. This thing will probably be outdoors all the time so I'm going to see about some bedliner sooner than later.

So, is the dreaded glue usually on the wheel well carpeting? I haven't gotten there yet. And I haven't decided whether to put bedliner on the sides or redo the panels and put sound deadener on the interior body panels. I'm wondering if it defeats the purpose of putting sound deadener with a bedlined floor and a soft top.

 

[snotrocket71]

nice score, sharp looking truck. as far as sound deadener, how often do you plan on driving it? does road and drivetrain noise bug you? i'd say screw sound deadener, its just extra weight. i'm not 100% sure but i dont think theres sound deadener on the bed sidewalls from the factory.

 

[jeff in co]

Yours looks to be in better shape than mine for the Seattle rain! Mine was over there for a good 15 years and there has been some rust that appears....

Anyways, nice looking base. I'd first start with your brakes and be sure they are in good working order. I junked all of mine and replaced with new rotors, calipers, pads and bearings. Flush out the brake fluid too. Being in the rain a lot, you want some good brakes. If you are feeling adventurous, change out your upper and lower ball joints.

Mine had rhino liner in the back with no carpet. Man that was loud back there! I've since installed a new carpet set and some jut matting. Definitely helps the sound out. The PO used some foam insulation board behind the back panels. I've left them there and think they do help somewhat. Cheap sound insulation.

Window motors were about $35 each at Napa. Fixed mine wonderfully!

Find a good junk yard (south end, Puyallup maybe??!!) I find that a lot of good parts are found out there without buying new. Trim pieces, nuts and bolts, etc. Great resourse for sure.

My back end wasn't sealed up too well and I'm sure sat in the rain most if it's life. Leaked down and rusted the back end a little. Just be sure you don't have any major leaks that make that water stay on the floorboards for weeks.

Congrats and nice looking rig. I like the idea of a roll bar.....keep us posted on this idea. I like to keep my kids safe too. My 3 girls LOVE this truck! Especially with the top off.

 

[pmpski_1]

Thanks! Plans are to drive it regularly, and I don't know if the road noise will get on my nerves. I saved the rear carpeting but the front was too far gone. I figure that the rear can be cleaned up and laid down in the back if I want it for something.

I keep thinking about dump runs,swap meets, and trips to the hardware store, but I do have another truck, a 71 C20, for that purpose. This rig should be a bit more DD friendly (comfortable), but the main thing I'm concerned with is water. I'll probably end up bedlining the entire thing.

PO put new brakes on it recently, but you're right - I'll want to go through it anyway.

 

[496truck]

I took the carpet out of mine and don't miss it a bit. It was all water logged and moldy, smelled nasty. Once that stuff is gone there is nothing there to hold on to the water from whatever leak you may have (soft top most likely). Any water that now leaks in will roll out the tailgate opening or out the door openings. I even hose out the inside a few times during the summer to clean it out, top is off pretty much 6 months out of the year and I have no soft top for it. Just took it off this past weekend and won't go back on till turkey day.

I also threw out my cargo side panels, don't miss those either. I Herc'd the front floor and it helped with the noise, the bed and sides are still just painted steel. Been driving it on a daily basis for months now with MT tires about 30 minutes on the highway each way to work and can still hear the radio at a moderate volume. Anyone driving these trucks with MT tread tires and worrying about noise needs to man up, it's not a Cadillac.

 

[scottsdale86]

If you want to make this a family friendly rig and utility vehicle then put the hardtop on and keep it on until summer. I have seen too many rigs ruined because someone left off the hardtop or ran a soft top and it leaked and created rust. Bedliner isnt a waterproof guarantee. Water can and will get in there then you have it trapped under the bedliner and it will rust out fast after that. If you must have a rubber like floor look into a rubber floor mats that came in the CUCV blazer. But beware if they get soaked they can make a rust bucket too.

 

[pmpski_1]

If you want to make this a family friendly rig and utility vehicle then put the hardtop on and keep it on until summer. I have seen too many rigs ruined because someone left off the hardtop or ran a soft top and it leaked and created rust. Bedliner isnt a waterproof guarantee. Water can and will get in there then you have it trapped under the bedliner and it will rust out fast after that. If you must have a rubber like floor look into a rubber floor mats that came in the CUCV blazer. But beware if they get soaked they can make a rust bucket too.

How does it get under the bedliner?

 

[scottsdale86]

It just does. It isnt a 100% guarantee of waterproofing. If there is a spot that s uncovered water will get in there. More like moisture but that is all it takes

 

[jeff in co]

It just does. It isnt a 100% guarantee of waterproofing. If there is a spot that s uncovered water will get in there. More like moisture but that is all it takes

I'll echo this point as well. When I bought mine, it had the top off and it sat next to the side of his garage. I can see where the rust started forming in the passenger area but also the rear tailgate. The PO rhino lined on top of the rust for what, I don't know. Must of been cool and he thought he was saving the back end......who knows. All I know is that I will eventually have to cut it all out to fix it. This is in the Seattle environment where it take a LONG time for things to dry out. Especially with the moisture in the air. Heck, why do you see moss growing on the roofs and sidewalks there?!? It will do the same thing to your truck.

Seattle can be harsh on your vehicles.....especially if they are sitting outside all the time. I would also recommend a hard top and then perhaps some pulley system in your garage for quick removal on those sunny, Seattle days (yes I know it's probably starting to get REAL nice over there)! The only thing I miss about Seattle is the summers....so green and sunny.

Great time for a drive with the kids!

 

[82355]

I have a K5 with an interior, and one with out. I wish I had two K5's with interiors in them.

Martin

 

[pmpski_1]

Jeff - it's not going to be nice until June Last year it didn't get nice until July. We had a really short summer. And there is moss growing on the truck. PO had it under a tree up on the side of a mountain in Issaquah. He drove his diesel all the time and the Jimmy had been sitting for a couple of months this winter. I wanted to get the damp interior out so I skipped washing it. I'll do that this weekend.

Martin - what's does "one without" mean? Bare? Bedlined?

I drove around today with no interior but the drivers seat and it wasn't too bad. I think the soft top reduces the echo quite a bit.

Got a new steering stabilizer, steering box adjustment, and tie rod ends from the shop down the street. They told me the steering shaft is just about brand new, and the brakes _are_ brand new. Looks like I lucked out there.

I sold a 76 K5 (my first) a few years back and really missed it. Now that I have this one I feel complete again. (Is it wrong that a 20 year old truck gives me that much satisfaction?)

 

[jeff in co]

Nothing wrong with that feeling at all! I sold my K5 13 years ago in Seattle and then stumbled acrossed it again about 7 months ago on craigslist. Bought it back sight unseen and have been restoring ever since! It stayed in the Seattle area the whole time but changed owners proably 5 times. It's fun to play with and drive my kids around for sure.

For around $300 you can get a whole new carpet set.....take a look in the "interiors" section. I've got some pics and a write-up on my new install. Sure cleans up the interior! Also just bought OEM dash and dash bezel. Hope to install this weekend....