Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

After a year of working on this thing i am finally going to start a build thread! After looking for a blazer for 6 months i found this Jimmy in Colorado on craigs list. I went to pick it up and was impressed with the condition for what i paid. Just rust in the typical places like rockers, B-pillar area and the back of the bed on both sides. My avatar picture is when i just picked it up and was on my way home with it. The plan is to be a real nice driver with a 5.3 and 4l60e. Here is where i am at today with it. I fixed all of the rust last summer and have been working on the frame and engine all winter and blasted the body a couple of weeks ago. After i blasted it i dropped it off to my body guy for epoxy primer and to paint the dash and fire wall. I plan on putting raptor liner on the underside of the tub and anywhere there is going to be carpet on the top side this week end. The first picture is when i loaded it up to take it to blast (that sucked by the way). The second picture is when i dropped it off at the painter. The third picture is when i brought it back home and the last picture is where its going to end up.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

More pictures!

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

More pictures!

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

More Pictures!

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

Looks great, but where's the lead up pics?

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

yea, i know. I will post more pictures. I wasn't sure if any one would want to see more of the same old demolition and rust repair pictures.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

Looks like it's actually pretty far along and you're back filling. Did you make the tank? It looks great.

...and it's not the same old thing, it's a Jimmy, Jimmys are better:metal:

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

Yes, i made the tank. It was a lot of work, but i think that it came out alright.

Here is some rust repair pictures.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

More rust repair.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

More rust.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

lots of work, looks good.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

Yes, it has definitely kept me busy the past year. Thanks!

Here are some pictures of the rust repair on the rear of the bed. After buying a chunk of some rear bed patch material it was obvious that the profile was not even close and the material was a quite a bit thinner i decided to form up my own pieces. It took forever and a lot of wasted material but in the end i am glad i went this route.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

More rear bed pictures.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

More of the same.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

You drove from Michigan to Colorado? Thats quite a tow!

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

I searched for one closer but every one i went to look at was too far rusted for what i was willing to tackle. Plus, every one here in the rust belt wanted 3X what i thought they were worth! I got lucky. The guy i bought my Jimmy from was a real good dude and he described it accurately. He sent a ton of pictures. After i agreed to buy it i sent him a paypal deposit and he said he would hold onto it for as long as i needed him to until i could make arrangements to get it. About a week after i sent him the deposit my boss at work told me that we got a job in Colorado and wanted me to run it. Perfect! I elected to drive instead of flying. I ended up leaving to pick it up about 3 weeks from when i made the deposit on it. I spent a week getting the job going and then picked it up on my way back home, so bringing it home didn't cost me a dime! I guess me and this Jimmy were meant for each other.

Here are some pictures of the transfercase rebuild.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

I blasted and painted the front and rear axles. I also installed a 4" Tough Country EZ ride lift kit.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

More Pictures.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

I mounted the transfer case with the advanced adapters NP205 to 4l60e kit. I was told by advanced adapters that they did not make a kit for the 10 spline NP205 and i had to piece it together from several different parts. I ended up having to cut about a half of an inch off of the coupling. After i got the output shaft in the transmission and measured about a thousand times i figured out that the output shaft was going to bottom out on the transfercase input shaft! I called advanced adapters and the guy i talked to this time wondered why i just didn't buy the kit?????? Really? Needless to say advanced adapters tech support really sucks and they are no help what so ever. The so called tech support people do not even know what they sell. Anyways, i used the chunk of the coupling that i cut off as a straight edge to cut an 1/8" off of the transmission output shaft. I am still a little nervous about the VSS signal wheel not being clamped to the shaft perfectly square. Oh well, i will see what happens!

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

Time to install the engine and build a crossmember! I didn't like the looks or the price of the Pacific Fab crossmember so i made my own. I mounted the engine and trans to the transfer case and blocked it up to obtain the correct pinion angle and started fabricating from there. I used 2" schedule 40 seamless pipe and mitered some 2" butt weld 90's to get the correct angle of the crossmember. I knocked down the welds and blasted and painted it. I made it so in case i ever needed to pull the oil pan i could do it with out removing the engine.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

I guess the next thing on the list is a fuel tank. So i made my own. I formed up some 14ga stainless steel and welded baffles and a fuel sump tray in it. Then of course pressure checked it!

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

The top oil canned a bit when i welded the pump hanger and the level sender, but nobody will see it when the body goes back on.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

Next up is the exhaust and fuel lines. For the exhaust i used 2 1/2" stainless steel tubing and stainless Borla mufflers. I am also using the Trailblazer SS exhaust manifolds. For the fuel lines i ran them is 3/8" stainless tubing and used Swagelock compression fittings up to where i ran them up the back side of the engine then i used russell proclassic hose and fittings for the ease of routing.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

More pictures.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

A couple more.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

Nice work. Really smart way to get that shaft cut straight! I need a mentor check... lol. Nobody ever showed me that one. Now I'm realizing it's the way to cut bolts, etc. Now you've got me feeling dumb. :)

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

Nice build!!

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

Thanks! It was the only way that i could come up with to cut the shaft some what straight with out having to take it back out.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

Thanks! Your blazer build is pretty sweet too. Sorry about the engine. I'm not putting turbos on this one, but i have a 51 5 window that will get them someday. I will be looking for a build thread on your 69.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

Thanks! I'm watching this build for ideas for the '69 :lol:

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

A few pictures of the fuel lines and fuel pump hanger.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

I installed a Entropy radiator. I called Tony at Entropy and he built me a standard radiator and changed the inlet and outlet pipes to the ls sizes and installed a steam port connection. I liked the standard radiator over their ls swap radiator for a couple of reasons. I could use standard 2003 truck hoses, the tranny cooler is on the passenger side and it made it easier to route the lines and the radiator cap is not hanging right over the battery. I tapped the water pump for the temperature sender like many have done. I also stole an idea from ls1nova71 on this board and cut the battery tray apart and swapped the sides so it essentially made a mirror image of itself and could be mounted on the drivers side. I still need to fit the inner fender to make sure it clears before i blast and paint it.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

More pictures.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

Nice build, enjoying the info.

Im getting ready to run fuel lines, and could use some help, info. Did you say they are earles fittings and fuel lines

Are using a tip over vent?

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

I stole another idea from crash on this board and mounted the computer under the dash like he did. I also fit the harness to the firewall and mounted the DBW pedal.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

Thanks. No, i am using Swagelok style compression fittings and stainless tube for the main runs and Russell AN fittings and proclassic hose for the flex connection up the back of the engine. You can get a 20' length of tube at a piping supply house for like $20.00 and the fittings are a couple dollars a piece if you get Bilok or Parker brand (SwageLok brand is expensive). They are good for alot of pressure. I have personally used them on high pressure steam and lube oil systems. The hard part is bending the tube. I suck at it. lol. I am using a roll over vent it is in the top of the fuel pump hanger. Let me know if you have any more questions. I would be glad to help.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

I hope you're being sarcastic, it's like tubing artistry.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

Yeah, im familiar with swageloc, used to work for a small company that built cats for diesel engines...cool stuff

Thanks for the info., ill check it out

Your welding skills are impressive, you may be bad at bending ( looks good to me )but, i really suc at welding:lol:

Did you buy the roll over vent from someone?

Does the fuel line fray like ss braid?

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

Thanks for the compliments!

The roll over vent came with the fuel pump hanger which i got from Tanks Inc. I also got the Walbro pump and level sender from them as well. If i was going to do it again i would either find a pump hanger that was a little higher quality or build my own. I am sure that it will work fine but the flange part that mounts down to the tank is a little thin and flimsy and the lines are just soldered in to it.

I have never used the Russell SS stuff before but i have heard horror stories about it. The proclassic hose is just rubber hose with a fabric braid around it. It will not rub on the frame or other painted surfaces and take paint off. It will fray if you are not careful when you cut it. I wrapped teflon tape around where i was going to make the cut and then i cut through the center of the teflon tape with what i call "reed" cutters. Then took the rest off the teflon tape back off of the hose and installed the ends. The reason i used teflon tape is because it is not sticky so when i pulled it back off it would not unravel the fabric braid. I hope that this makes sense.

Re: Project "It's a Jimmy Thing"
 

[quote=skorpioskorpio;6118374][QUOTE=JJH Jimmy;6118234] The hard part is bending the tube. I suck at it. lol. I am not sure about that but it will get the job done. Thanks.