Jimmy's Going 3/4t

[special-K]

The time has come. I finally found the time this week (came home early cuz of 100+ degree heat) and started the swap. I'm parting out my '91 Suburban and using the axles/lift/trans/t-case/tilt column on my Jimmy. I hated to do it,but it has sat for 5 years and I found this Jimmy last year. I didn't see this Suburban getting back on the road. Maybe another one in the future.
It's so original,it was hard deciding to go ahead with this. It all began when I found out that 11.50/32s are getting hard to find. I wanted to keep it stockish. I have nice 8x15 wheels so I figured I'd do a 2" lift and put 12.50/33s on. With money being tight and seeing how tire prices have taken a ridiculous jump lately I decided to use what I have.Here's the before shots:



Here's a few shots of the swap so far:

[cochino12]

Good luck with the rest of the swap. I'm debating going 3/4 on my new stock K5 also.

[special-K]

The front always comes out the easiest. I got it all bolted in this morning and the 8-lug axle is under the 'Burb waiting to go in (halfassedly). On the rear I'll need to move the back spring hangers for the longer springs. So,it'll be more work either way. At least when I put the lift on the 'Burb in '03 I used all new hardware with a good slathering of anti-seize. I only had to cut one forward spring eye bolt on the Jimmy so far. I'm figuring the rear drive shaft will need shortening for the 14-bolt.

[68Timber]

Cool project. Does that Blazer have a bench seat?

[special-K]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

Cool project. Does that Blazer have a bench seat?

No,it has vinyl buckets. I believe it was ordered for a local county park service and not taken. They use Doeskin Tan. It has an antenna plug in the cowl on the driver side. Options are a/c,am/fm,p/w,auto hubs,and that's about it. I bought it from a farmer who was the original owner.
I got the front done after work last night:

[Davidmichael]

nice job so far!

[russgt]

Looking good

[special-K]

Man,I got the rear jacked up and got to looking at removing/relocating the rear hangers,since the Suburban springs are 56"ers. What a pain! I hadn't thought about how much more is involved than on a pickup. The tank,bumper,and hitch all need to be removed and then the hitch would need modification to go back on. I'm just not into all that,along with hacking the hangers off the frame and drilling all those holes. I'm getting rid of the Suburban springs and ordering up Blazer springs. Oh well,longer springs would be cool but...
I'll get everything off the two trucks and the Blazer stuff up under the 'Burb while I wait.

[russgt]

The ride quality is suppose to be a little better with the longer springs, but I am not sure if its worth all the work.

[special-K]

Yeah,that's true. But,it would just be the way GM designed it to be. The EZ-Rides give a good ride anyway. That being said...I looked into ordering the 52"ers last night an "fogetaboudit". Looks like I'll be dropping the tank,grinding rivet heads,drilling holes,and modifying the hitch. I just can't see spending $500 for a pair of springs. I'd probably only get a couple hundred for the 'better" 56" springs and probably have a tough time finding anyone I don't have to ship them to. For years (decades) the cost of a pair of springs was compatible with the cost of a trip to the spring shop to have a pair overarched and leaf added...about $200. I know steel has gone up but holy smokes! It must have gone up again! I spent $600 on all four springs in '03. I've been lifting trucks and buying big wheels & tires for 35 years and never seen prices jump until the past 5 years. The whole theme here is using what I have and low budget. I gotta stick with the plan.
I've done longer springs on '72 K/20s and it was a snap compared to these later rigs and especially a K/5. Oh well,I'll stop gripin' and get into it. I'm sure I'll end up enjoying it as I always do. Just the thought having more to deal with got to me with all the other projects planned for this summer. I wanna drive this thang ASAP while I tear into my '72 suspension/axles/trans/t-case swap

[special-K]

I took the weekend off to put some time into this swap. Hopefully I'll get to where the rear is in and I can get a shot of the Jimmy on all 4s. I'm figuring I'll need to do some rear driveshaft work before it can drive...Can't wait!!

[special-K]

I've been off this project until last weekend. I decided to go ahead and buy 52" springs,which showed here on Friday. The Jimmy's brake line wouldn't come apart,so I had to cut it. I'm doing the splice now,so I can get the axle installed. I'm thinking I'll just modify the Jimmy driveshaft and roll with that for now. At some point later on,like this winter,I'll swap the other transmission/transfer case in and modify the Suburban driveshaft when I do. I don't want to spend the whole summer on this.

[special-K]

It's all up under there now. I just need to torque everything down and hook up the e-brake cables and adjust,then bleed the brakes. It's looking like the drive shaft will bolt right up. I have it stuck in place now and the slip yoke is slipped out of the snout a bit,as expected with a lift. I'll check it all out carefully once it's on all 4s when I torque it all up.

[special-K]

It's on all 4s now:

[l79m20]

That thing looks fantastic. I am getting ready to start this swap on my 84. Looks like you had a fairly easy time at it. Was the only change you had to make buying the 52 inch springs?

[special-K]

Thanks! Other than the springs I had to buy a conversion u-joint for at the rear axle. The rear is a 14-bolt semi=floater and I have the Precision bearing number if you're doing the same swap. I was surprised the rear driveshaft length is perfect. I guess by the time you lift 4" it makes up for the larger rear. Future plans are to swap the 4L80E/NP241,which is a couple inches longer (trans),so I'm told. I'll have the Suburban shaft shortened and use the Suburban front shaft. I was afraid I'd be shortening two rear driveshafts. The e-brake cables work out perfect,exactly the same.
So far I have about $3,500 in it with buying,new batteries,glow plugs,soft top,and lift. I don't expect the trans/t-case swap to cost anything,I have the tilt to go in from the 'Burb,and even a nice Alpine AM/FM/CD,dash adapter,and great speakers from my wrecked '95. I'm stoked! I haven't put anything fun together this cheap in many years.

[l79m20]

You said the 3/4 running gear already had a lift kit on it. What company did you go with? Were there blocks in rear and springs in front?

[special-K]

Yes,I had the lift on my '91 3/4t Suburban. It's a 4" Tuff Country EZ-Ride all spring lift.

[48cj2a]

Looks Great!

Noticed you have hub caps before on the K/5. Are you interested in selling those?

[l79m20]

ive read that tuff country is pretty good, not so much for rough country. How do you like it?

[special-K]

Originally Posted by l79m20

ive read that tuff country is pretty good, not so much for rough country. How do you like it?

I haven't driven this one yet. I can't get the u-joint out of the rear shaft and have to wait till Monday to take it to get pressed out. I've only ever had one other need that before. It's soaking. Maybe before Monday it'll "POP" (or I'll devise some way to use a jack or something).
Anyway,I really liked the ride in the Suburban. I used 6" springs in my '72 K/20 I sold and really liked that ride. I have another 6" set for my '72 GMC K2500. I've used several brands over the years and these are the best I've had.

[thirdstreettito]

Purdy purdy purdy!