Jimmy restoration thoughts ...

[stingray72]

Well.. I seem to be having a lot more interest in my 70 these days on the For Sale market and I kinda picture it being gone in a couple of weeks.. Which got me to thinking I'd like to keep my Jimmy and give it a resto (mainly b/c I HATE red and it's entirely red).

What I would "like" to do, I don't know if it's feasibly is to be able to take the body off and get to the body/paint folks and let them go to town while I handle drivetrain stuff and get the frame cleaned up and powder coated.

Things i've thought about

1. I don't really have the ability to get the body off in my driveway and safely get it to the body shop. I'm sure I could handle front fenders and hood and everything but the body is a little too big to handle safely. ]

2. The body is in pretty good shape so it wouldn't need a TON of work, I just want it all the same color and would like to have the underside protected from the elements. I"m pretty sure I'd be better off having the body shop put the body back on once painted. I think I can handle the fenders and hood and such

Am I way off here?? Would i be better off to give the body shop the whole truck and let them handle it and then do drivetrain stuff when I get it back? You folks that have gone through this process what kind of "order" did you go with.

BTW.. It will still be for sale up until I start this process which would probably be after summer

[LUV2XCLR8]

Hmmmm, it would have been gone last year except I thought it was already gone
when I bought the one I have now, I 2nd the red thing, not my favorite color either.

[davesamnesia]

I would make a call to the body/paint guys you are gonna use, and feel them out. It sure comes out alot nicer if you can set a fresh body on a complete chassis. The most nerve wracking part of it is having to do alot of stuff after that new paint is on. One little chip and........ well you get the idea.
Dave

[vtblazer]

First thing I'd check would be to find out if your body shop has the capacity to handle the tub by itself.
Another thing to think about being the body would be apart is...all the parts may or may not be painted at the same time, making a perfect match between panels a crap shoot.

IMO separating the body from the frame
opens up an entire new 'can-o-worms'.

[LUV2XCLR8]

Originally Posted by vtblazer

IMO separating the body from the frame
opens up an entire new 'can-o-worms'.

Agreed, Blazers / Jimmys are a pain to get right once they have been offed

[stingray72]

Well.. the paintjob is the thing I'm most concerned about and I don't want to have a red interior where the exterior is a different color. I thought that stripping it down to just metal would be the easiest way. I don't think the engine bay is red (thank goodness). Also thought it would be a good idea to treat the underside of the truck somehow

[70gmcjimmy]

Hey Stingray and all-
It's really hard to say what you should do, but if your body shop can take off the tub to do thier work, then just haul your frame back after the removal. Don't know what a shop would want dollar wise, parts expenses, your labor etc etc might add up to more than you can get out of it, since selling it is the goal.
I have elected to do more of a preservation on mine, but I have to lift the tub just enuff to put new body mounts as they are pretty bad. really trying to disturb it minimally.
Good luck!

Later---DAC

[stingray72]

Oh.. let me clarify.. If I start any kind of paint/restoral. It won't be for sale anymore. I'll just keep it.

[special-K]

I`d locate the right body shop and see if they can handle an immobile tub.They`d have some sort of carriage devise.They could pull it and you haul the frame off.They could do all the work and paint the underside,interior,and cut in,including painting the backsides of fenders and doors.Brimg the frame in,making it clear they need to avoid overspray on detailed frame.They could actually set the body on with plastic layed over the frame to the floor,assemble,adjust,paint,lift off enough to remove plastic,remount,and final adjust.