1971 JIMMY factory original 2 wd (need a lot of work)

[Big Block]

Well she's back home again. I bought it here in NC in 1994. Jimmy was originally purchased in Virginia by an older couple. They bought it to pull a camper. I found it on a job site I was working at. I saw it in the parking lot and could not believe my eyes. I had been looking for one for years. I waited until quitting time and waited until I saw the young owner getting ready to leave. I ran over and asked the question! IS IT FOR SALE? He said with a sad look in his eyes, "yeah, I need the money." Then I asked "How much?" To my suprise he sad, "$1500." I could not believe my ears. I told him I would bring him the money that Friday. I couldn't wait til Friday. Friday came and I drove it home. Over the next 4 years or so I did some cosmetic work and drove it very little. In 1998 I got the bug to buy a short bed truck. I had a friend that had been wanting the Jimmy to pull his boat to the lake. So like a fool I sold it. (It was in need of some rust repair to the windsheid post, floors and rockers. That is the only reason I sold it. I though I would find one in better condition.) Well fast foward to 2010. The friend I sold it to drove it for a couple years and decided to do a frame-on. He did the body mounts, lowered it, rebuilt the front end, went through the engine and installed an auto trans. Then on to the body work. That is where the trouble started. He has never done body work. He used a stick welder to put the floors and rockers in. He pulled the doors and front clip off and started welding in the rockers. Well I guess you can figure out what I'm about to say - The Damn Doors would not go on without hitting the rockers!!!!! He just welded them in without fitting them with the doors or fenders!!!! So that being said, they will have to be replaced again!!!! I used a 2 lbs hammer and 4x4 and did a little body work of my own to get the doors on for now. I just put the doors and the front clip on. It is missing a lot of parts. It has been sitting for the last 4-5 years. You can see in the pictures some of his handy work, he was going to remove all the trim off the body and fill all the holes. Oh, he did fill the holes! He used that stick welder again. He blobbed welding rod in the holes and the took a grinder to it. It's not pretty. My plan is to put the trim back on to cover the grinder marks. Body work should be left to a professional. I will have to pull the gas tank off and clean it or replace it. The gas went bad from sitting for so long. So here are some pictures of my progress. More to come as I go along.

[Big Block]

More pictures.

[VA72C10]

Looks like a decent starting point even with your friend's work

[69-72]

Looks decent. Same color as my 4x4.

I thought 2wd's would have all come with the non removable hump, did it have a 4 speed?

[SOON2BLAZE]

Me likey! Better start than some I have seen.

[Yukon Jack]

Glad it's back in your hands - don't go selling it again!! Like said, even with the prior owner's handy work, still looks like a solid foundation to build off of. Congrats!

[1956cameo]

That is a good looking project vehicle. Even with your buddies handywork it looks like it is a great foundation for a project.

[PHAT TONY]

Sweet, you know how rare a Jimmy is right? Good luck; we're watching.

[Big Block]

Originally Posted by 69-72

Looks decent. Same color as my 4x4.

I thought 2wd's would have all come with the non removable hump, did it have a 4 speed?

Yes it was an original 4 spd. The ones with low non removable hump were factory autos or 3 spd on the column.

[CheyenneShop]

Great story - can't wait to see what you do with her!