1972 Build thread.
 

Hi,
My name is Shon; I have been a long time lurker. I want to tell you that I love this site, the people here are some of the most generous and informative individuals I have ever come across while dabbling in this hobby. I am glad to say that this last summer I purchased a 1972 Jimmy from another forum member. This has been a long road to get here. My first vehicle was a 1974 Blazer that I sold after I graduated high school… Regret is what I have felt for 19 years. Somehow my wife had a moment of weakness and allowed this to enter our home... no going back now!!! I have begun a frame off restoration. I will take any advice I can get as I go along.
I am restoring this back to its original orange color… and that is about all that will match its original state. I plan on doing a 4” lift with 35’s, a Cheyenne trim package… saddle interior and a… 383, th350/205. So here goes!

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

I do not know a lot about the history of the truck. I do know it is about 90% rust free, awesome!!! I was told it had been in an accident… hence the non-original front clip & frame… ground rotor, and bent spindle – lol. The positive is that it was pretty easy to take apart since it had been slapped together and then garaged for 12 years in eastern Washington. Here are some pics of the rig coming apart.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

I found that the motor was a 1976 van motor, 4 bolt main… score! Behind the motor was an SM420 and Rockwell T221 transfer case, year 66 on the tranny and 69 on the transfer case, weird. I just got everything sorted and taken to the powder coater, finally lol. I was able to store the tub at a buddy’s house, it is nice having friends with plenty or storage room.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

More powder coating!!!

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

I got my frame back from the powder coater!!! So happy to be to the non-greasy part of the build! I’m still waiting on the axles and about 70 other pieces from the coater so I can start assembly. I’m planning on 4.11 gears and Truetrac carriers front and rear. Has anyone had good or bad experience with these types of carriers?
Question…. Is this a stock item? It looks to be a shackle stop? Also, what is this on the driver front spring perch? It looks like some sort of a guard? Looked like factory spot welds so I left it rather than cutting it off. The passenger side does not have it.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Yes that's a factory piece put I don't think the front of the frame horn should have that many holes I will have to look at mine today.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

X2. Off to a great start. I'll follow along. Are you keeping the steering wheel, mirrors, and the dash pad?

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

I'm in for the ride. Good to see another build starting. Friends with shops are the best!

That plate in front of the spring hanger and the bracket behind the spring shackle on the drivers side was to help prevent the front leaf spring from being driven back in to the driver in a front end collision. I guess they didn't care about the passenger.

Decent sheet metal is such a bonus on these things !

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

I agree with Dwayne, someone has added a few extra holes around the factory tow hook holes in the front of the frame rails. Maybe they had added some aftermarket tow hooks at one time or ? I doubt it was a plow bracket if the body is in good shape.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

I thought I read somewhere the brackets in front of and behind the leaf springs were there in case of a spring bolt failure, allowing the truck to veer onto the berm of the road instead of on coming trffic

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Jim you could be right. I had read somewhere about the accident scenario on the Internet a number of years ago.
Everything on the Internet is true isn't it?

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Thank you for the explanation on the extra brackets, makes way more sense!

Yeah, the frame horns are shreaded, but I can still mount the stock bumper and brackets so I figured I would be OK leaving it. The PO have a huge front bumper mounted. It looked to be made from some steel girder material.

I traded the dash pad, steering column and some other stuff to another guy, I got a nice auto tilt and he has an original back seat for me, sorry man! The dash pad was.in great shape suprisingly except for one little crack. The steering wheel needed some TLC, but the horn button looked perfect, like it time traveled, lol.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Sorry if my posting is a bit choppy, I am learning the post & reply process while on my phone. ;)

Thank you all again for looking, I had spent a lot of time on Google Image search trying to figure those brackets out.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Cleaning parts today. My hands hurt. Lol

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Second attempt with pics. I'm phone challenged.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

I picked up the rest of my powder coating today and my Off Road Design order showed up as well. It has been a good day! Almost time to order up my Tru-Track differentials and gears for my axles. After that we are on to the major assembly!

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Making quick work! Reminds me that I need to start thinking about springs for my build.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

It seems like I am making some quick headway... but man, when I look at pics of finished rigs it feels like I will never get there. I love being in the accumulate mode, but i'm dying to start bolting this thing together. ;)

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Just standing in the garage making motor noises... Kids and wife think I'm crazy, lol! Ordering more parts tomorrow, and hopefully I will have my new springs painted up this week. I bought TC EZ-ride springs and they showed up looking like they had been shipped with wet paint. Nothing a wire wheel on an angle grinder can't fix. I'll paint them up with a little rustoleum satin black and we will be ready for install. Not super excited about the wire wheeling since my hand is still tingling from last weekend.

I wonder how much lift the ORD heavy duty shackle kit will add to the lift springs... should be interesting. They seem quite a bit longer than the originals... but I tossed the originals so I can't compare. Cross that bridge when we get there.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

I think generally the difference is minimal. Doesn't the shackles just deflect further.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Nice to see fellow Washington blazer coming along, taggin along for this one!

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Not to be a smart arse, but there are better ways to clean parts. I hate the thought of those wires flying around

looks like a great build, maybe consider moving to the projects and build side?
anyway, I'll watch

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Agreed, that is what they should do. Looking at their site and reviews I assume I am good, but this wasn't an experience I had when deeling with the same type of a shackle on a jeep cj. I ended up gaining an extra inch in the front... it made a difference on the jeep, not very worried about this set up... It just suprised me how much bigger they look.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Thank you for jumping on board!!!

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Lol, agreed - I hate wire wheeling, but I didn't have that much to do. So I bit the bullet and got it done. It took longer than I expected, I should of used the old man's blast cabinet... but that is a drive and I'm not going to let him trick me into cleaning his garage work area anymore. :)

I'm very excited about the build, i have been saving my pennies! How do I move the thread at this point? Sorry if I put it in the wrong area.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

We'll contact a Mod., and see if he can move it. No problem, most of the new projects start off in the message area. Sheesh, we don't have a Moderater

great to see you're making progress

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Awesome, thank you sir!
The progress is coming in spurts. I don't feel like I am rushed this time aroud, that is very nice... Such a fun hobby,addiction.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

I have been keeping an eye out for certain items that I will need down the road. Today fed ex dropped off a set of door panels that I am excited to refurbish in the near future. They even came in the color I wanted... well at least the back side is. Any tips on repairing the wood grain inserts? They are nice with out any dents... just worn. Ten years ago I touched up the scratches on another set with various brown & black colors of testers model paint then clear coated them on another truck. They came out decent, but not perfect. Most people said the looked great, they drove me nuts everytime I looked at them. I have heard that the re-pop wood inserts are good. Does anyone have any experience with those inserts? Recommend them?

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

This truck came with a front swaybar that the PO installed. I think this is good. Since this will be street driven most of the time I was thinking of adding a rear swaybar. I have read some opinions on this site for and against, but nothing regarding the rear sway bar with a 4" lift. I am looking at the Addco rear sway bar. Has anyone have a rear swaybar on a lifted Blazer? Feel any difference.? Waste of money?

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Picked this little fella up off of ebay, $100 plus shipping.
I'm pretty happy with it. Looks like it received a crack during shipping, but nothing a little epoxy and sanding can't hide. Unfortunately the lower portion of this console will lose most of its texture during the refinishing process.
It even came in the color I wanted, lol.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

The reproduction aluminum woodgrain inserts aren't too far off the mark - these use a pinstripe of paint where the originals have bare exposed metal but otherwise look the part. I'd go that route before I'd try to refurbish an OEM set. Cheyenne Superman sells refurbished inserts on eBay that are also nice.

Good buy on the console.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Good information! Exactly what I was wondering about the inserts. Thank you sir! I was amazed at what the consoles were going for on Ebay when they were in poor condition. I have had an eye out for a few months locally and had not come across anything worthwhile. I figured I would jump on this one. I am excited to get to the wiring stage, I want to hide some charging ports inside of the console. I may try to cut the bottom of the ashtray out and then hide a USB port under the ashtray lid.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Purchased all of my brake parts last night. I was suprised to find that my local parts shop did not have a hardware kit with the brackets that hold the shoes in place. When i tore the rear end down i found that both axle seals were bad in the rear end so I just dumped all of the drum brake brackets in the scrap pile at work, I didn't want to deal with the mess. Lol, I had to go and fish them out & then clean them up tonight. I got one side painted... waiting for it to dry to coat the other side. This is the first time I have done brakes on a loose backing plate. Might be nice... might be a PITA. Looking forward to next week, my brake lines from inline tube should arrive along with my gas tank. Hopefully my gears and differentials show up as well. Fingers crossed.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

I haven't had time to do the brakes, the wife's honey'do list ramped up.
I did receive my hubs though. I went with the superwinch hubs because the remind me of the old Spicer hubs. I have to finish the brakes this week so I am ready to assemble the axles once my gears and differentials show up. Hopefully I will have some progress by the end of the month.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Superwinch

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

My Truetrac differentials and gears showed up today! Hoping I can get my axles together by next weekend... Feels like I am starting to move forward again!

I also received my Brake lines from Inline tube today. You would think that they would have a simple diagram showing where the lines go on the vehicle... This is a 10 line kit, maybe have each one numbered 1-10 & then have a 8-1/2 x 11 sheet of paper showing the frame with each line designated numerically where they go. They obviously know what each piece is since they have to package these kits for shipping. Makes my eye twitch. Some of my old brakes lines were just hammered so I tossed them. Thankfully I took a million pictures. I should have done a better job labeling.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Update... two pairs of lines are coupled together and marked with a part number. From there I can figure out the rest without much trouble. Still odd that they would not mark them all. The brake lines appear to be very high quality, hopefully I do not have any fitment issues like others that I have read about. Overall I am very happy with what I have. I wonder what the difference between Inline tube and Classic tube is. I paid $200 for the stainless kit after shipping. The same kit from Classic was 60 - 80 dollars more after shipping.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

This is a great thread to follow! Great progress! My Jimmy is the same color! Where in Washington are you located?

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

Thank you!
I'm located in Vancouver, Wa.
I love your Jimmy, it makes me second guess changing mine over to a Cheverolet!!!
Also my favorite color. :)

Doing a build thread is nice because it forces me to keep track of the process... otherwise I would take a fraction of the pictures and not have anything to look back on. I wish I would have done something on the Jeep CJ5 I put together a couple of years ago.

What size lift and tires do you have on your Jimmy? It has a great stance, very proportioned. I have had a heck of a time deciding on lift, wheel & tire size. I am limited to a 7' garage door opening.

I will never have a top on it again, so I think I can get away with a 6" lift and 35's. I am going to run a 4" lift with the Offroad Design zero rate add a leafs. 35's and 5" of total lift.

I love the look of polished slotted mags, The US Mag U101 wheels are what I am leaning towards. I think mine would sit pretty close to the ochre Blazer in the first pic. I already own a set of Alcoa 15x12 wheels that look to be the same style as the Orange Blazer... The truck has my favorite stance, 35x14.50 Pitbull Rockers with a 5" lift. The problem is that I don't want to run bias ply tires. Believe it or not, options for 35" tires on 15" rims seem to be becoming less and less as people move to 17" or larger wheels... or so the fella at the tire store tells me... I also don't want to run 12.50 tires on 12" wide wheels, I would probably be fine doing so, but I don't want to risk popping a bead on a hard turn. It would be my luck to do so.


Lol, first world problems.

Re: 1972 Build thread.
 

I looked long and hard for a few years for a orange Jimmy custom. Bought mine in Portland last July. Just don't see Jimmy's very often. I believe the lift on my Jimmy is 6 inches, put on by the previous owner. Has 35x12.50R15LT tires on it. Ok with the lift, maybe a little too high, front tires rub when making sharp turns into a parking spot. But I learn to adjust and live with it for now. USmags are what I was thinking of going as well! They look killer! Keep up the good work!