Full convertible blazer\jimmy

[c20pickup]

Im sure this question has been asked already, but what was the last year of the full convertible blazer/jimmy? From what i can find it was 73-75 but maybe 76 also? What were some other differences between the 73-75 and the 76+?

[thefraze_1020]

Yes, you are correct. 1975 was the final year of the full convertible top, and also the matching doors without frames.
1976 was the first year of having a partial top and full door frames. Thus, from 1976 onward, the Blazer/ Jimmy used the same doors as the Suburbans and C/K pickups.

[DREAMER1]

Let's keep this going....by simply cutting the window frame off the door of a truck they'll fit the blazer/jimmy correct ( of course transferring over the end caps also)? Or are there other modifications that need to be done?

[68Timber]

The full-convertible models have the rocker boxes that keep the body from sagging in the middle when the top is off. I don't think anybody is reproducing them yet for squarebody's.

[Am3rican]

There is a brace inside the door where the window frame is cut off near the outer door handle, this strengthens the door and adds a place for the cap to screw too. Also I'm pretty sure the rear window channel is different (shorter) and has a support brace near the top. There maybe something extra on the top of the door where the window frame is cut by the wing window but I can't recall specifically other than the special rubber seal.

Here is a write up from coloradok5.com on a conversion that was roughed in by some guys in about 5 hours. It shows a picture of the door braces and the window channel support along with other good info.

I hope its ok to post the link, if not please feel free to delete it.

http://coloradok5.com/full-convertible-conversion.shtml

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by Am3rican

There is a brace inside the door where the window frame is cut off near the outer door handle, this strengthens the door and adds a place for the cap to screw too. Also I'm pretty sure the rear window channel is different (shorter) and has a support brace near the top. There maybe something extra on the top of the door where the window frame is cut by the wing window but I can't recall specifically other than the special rubber seal.

Here is a write up from coloradok5.com on a conversion that was roughed in by some guys in about 5 hours. It shows a picture of the door braces and the window channel support along with other good info.

I hope its ok to post the link, if not please feel free to delete it.

http://coloradok5.com/full-convertible-conversion.shtml

That's a good write up, and I've seen it before, but it's the only conversion article I've seen that implies the rocker boxes aren't necessary. I'm not knocking them, that's a good website. But notice he does say he's noticed no significant flexing, leading you to believe some flexing is there and metal fatigue and cracks are in the future without the rocker boxes.

[mpierce9]

Cool link. I did just buy from LMC the inner and outer rocker panel. However under both driver and passenger side seat there is a double floor of sorts that I suppose is that extra support. IT's nice to have but i recently replaced my seats with those from a Silverado and this extra floor has made adding bolts to the underside to support the new seats very difficult.

[Jonboy]

It will flex significantly without added support in the rockers. I had a 2wd '77 that had been cut and the quarters almost touched the doors going down the highway. Seemed significant to me. However, on the doors of the same truck the "artist" who performed the top surgery used a long sheet rock screw to attach the rear door cap through the rear window channel, and it seemed to hold it just fine. The rear of the door did not deform without the plate in there. It seems like you would have to really butcher up a set of original doors to get the reinforcement out. I was told that the replacement 73-75 doors from GM had a pickup door, cap, and template of where to cut the door.