The Hillbilly ragtop build-my 74 jimmy

[bigtim44]

In a moment of financial weakness I put my K5 Jimmy up for sale,luckily I sold a couple of other stalled projects first,now its game on modifying the Jimmy which is no longer for sale.
Plans are pretty standard stuff for now,4 inch tuff country ez rides up front with a shackle flip out back with a set of zero rates.It just so happens that ORD are 10 minutes down the hill from me,so grabbing parts is a bit easier.
Last week I picked up a Dana 60 single wheel front axle with a 4.11 diff, and grabbed a 14 bolt full floater with 4.11's ,the rear is from a 3/4 ton so the spring pads are the right width saves some time and $$ .
First on the to do list today is clean and degrease the the new heavy axles and get them ready to receive some black enamel paint.

I know you guys like the view from my place so I've added a view shot.

 

[fear_nothing]

Looks like you have several projects going. And yes you have a great view!

 

[sponsoredbydad]

MAN!!! I would love to wake up to that view. Those mountains are bitchen. O- The build, Glad you did not sell the 74 you will love it

 

[hillbilly deluxe]

One ton axles, hard to f%$ that up!

 

[bigtim44]

Here's a couple of photos,after too many hours scraping and wire brushing degreasing,I managed to get some shiny black enamel on the axles.
Going to order the tuff country 4 inch front springs today unless someone has a set laying around they want to sell.

 

[bigtim44]

Got home early yesterday and decided to start on the 1 ton axle swap,so I pulled the GMC in front of the garage,by the time it got dark the old front axle was out and the new 1ton axle was in along with the new tough country 4 inch springs. also managed to get the old rear axle out and on the ground,turns out it had some sort of locker in there.
Today I'll get the old shackle hangers hacked off and bolt up the new shackle flip brackets,putting in a zero rate also,as the rear spings were a bit tired.
Does anybody have 'napa' or equivalent part numbers for longer front brake flexi's?
Here's a few pics

 

[bigtim44]

Managed to get the 14 bolt slotted into its new home along with the zero rates and shackle flip,also threw on the tuff country shocks.
Last night I started fitting the softopper and finished it off this morning.
Loaded the Jimmy onto the trailer and we are ready to head down to Moab for the weekend .
Here's the 14 bolt in its new place.

The softopper went on fairly easy.

Picked up some used 35 inch tires off craigslist,they fit perfect!

All loaded up ready to leave for Moab this afternoon I'll post a couple of pics from the trip when we get back.

 

[chalet2506]

Nice work. Truck looks good.

 

[max 02]

That looks great man!
Have fun!!!

 

[fear_nothing]

Its amazing what a new set of tires does for the look of a truck. The top looks great too

 

[bigtim44]

Some pictures from memorial day weekend in Moab

We went down to Moab for the weekend and managed to trail test the improvements made to the GMC,we messed around in the BFE play area on Saturday but it was so windy and dusty it was short lived,went out to BFE again on sunday and went around the new trail called dropkick and a good chunk of green day,with the help from the guys I was with I managed to get the GMC over / through the various obstacles.
Sunday we had a go at 'behind the rocks' where the GMC aquired some more dents and scrapes.
From the various trails here's a short list of stuff that needs fixing/sorting out in no particular order.
1. Shave the bottom of the 14 bolt diff housing,it managed to get hung up on various rocks and ledges.
2. Remove stock bumpers and throw as far as possible into the bushes!!
3. Trim off the lower 6 inches of the rear 1/4 panel behind the rear wheel.
4.Find a locker for the front diff.
5.Fit a winch.
6.Trim front fenders.
7.find some 37 inch tires
8.crossover steering would be nice!
9. heavy duty diff covers,the stock front cover already looks like it had a fight with a sledge hammer.
Anyway here's some pics from the trails.

 

[Cancleaner]

yup.. that's it. I'm moving to Colorado. Just gotta convince the wife now.
Oh and Sweet rig, I'm still learning how capable they are

 

[colbystephens]

That's a real nice looking truck, and Moab looks like a real nice time. Sure would like to wheel there sometime.

 

[Mooski]

We went down to Moab for the weekend and managed to trail test the improvements made to the GMC,we messed around in the BFE play area on Saturday but it was so windy and dusty it was short lived,went out to BFE again on sunday and went around the new trail called dropkick and a good chunk of green day,with the help from the guys I was with I managed to get the GMC over / through the various obstacles.
Sunday we had a go at 'behind the rocks' where the GMC aquired some more dents and scrapes.
From the various trails here's a short list of stuff that needs fixing/sorting out in no particular order.
1. Shave the bottom of the 14 bolt diff housing,it managed to get hung up on various rocks and ledges.
2. Remove stock bumpers and throw as far as possible into the bushes!!
3. Trim off the lower 6 inches of the rear 1/4 panel behind the rear wheel.
4.Find a locker for the front diff.
5.Fit a winch.
6.Trim front fenders.
7.find some 37 inch tires
8.crossover steering would be nice!
9. heavy duty diff covers,the stock front cover already looks like it had a fight with a sledge hammer.
Anyway here's some pics from the trails.

I've been to moab as a spotter and it is incredible. Can't wait to take the blazer there.

That list looks just like mine.

 

[BlazerFarm]

I love your truck with the cool '70s paint job. '73 - '75 Jimmys are just cool and you don't really see that many of them.

 

[bigtim44]

Bout time I updated this.
Picked up some goodies from ORD just down the road from me,grabbed a high steer cross over steering setup. Also picked up a set of their tubular doors,they are still at the body shop getting some Imron squirted on them. A steering box brace was purchased along with an ARB diff cover.
Spent a couple of hours on the high/crossover steersetup yesterday and today.I had a good used 2wd steering box laying around so I swapped that out and fitted the steering box brace at the same time.
It's a nice kit,with no grief putting it on.
Here it is all back together

I started trimming the fenders and wheel openings to give a wee bit more wheel clearance,I would like to get some 38'' boots on there if I can.

 

[82355]

Do a 1" body lift. That'll give you as little more clearance, and make it easier to work on it underneath.

Martin

 

[Deuling]

Good update. Love the rig

 

[bigtim44]

Yup! planning on the 1 inch pucks from ORD,I have a poly body mount kit to throw on there at the same time.
Still need to give the bottom of that 14 bolt a haircut, and finish trimming the body.
Looking at a 'Spartan Locker' for the front axle, not sure if they are any good? durability may be an issue?

Do a 1" body lift. That'll give you as little more clearance, and make it easier to work on it underneath.

Martin

 

[bigtim44]

The latest update on me K5,over the winter I hunted down some used 17 inch KMC beadlocks ,and some nearly new 37" Nitto terra grapplers,had to use spacers due to the modern offset of the wheels.
The week before spring break I fitted the poly body mount kit along with a set of ORD 1 inch body pucks.
The stock bumpers went away,on the front I put an old winch brace between the frame horns to stop some of the flex for now.
On the rear bumper I sliced up a chunk of 5"x3" heavy wall square tube and tapered the outer ends, with the 1 inch body lift the bottom of the bumper is flush with the bottom of the frame.I cut off the original frame ends to keep the bumper tight against the bodywork.I still have shackle eyelets and a receiver tube to fit to the bumper.
I tested out the improvements down in Moab last week during our spring break trip, everything worked great plenty of clearance during flex and with approach angles.
Here's a couple of pictures from the trip.
Fins n Things

In Mirror Gulch on Metal Masher

Steelbender

The 'Fall'on Steelbender

Tight Squeeze headed into Mirror Gulch on Metal Masher