Project - Rags to Riches - 74 Jimmy

[zimmstoy]

Hey everyone. I have decided to move forward with my 74 Jimmy build. The truck is currently a 4WD and I am converting it to a 2WD. I purchased a 2WD Frame from a 74 so hopefully this swap will go easily.

My good friend and bodyman / painter is helping me out with this project. He did some great stuff for me on my 87 Monte Carlo SS and even though that project is not done yet, it is time to get this one started since he has an opening in the schedule.

I don't know where I am going with this yet. First step is to swap frames and then begin repairing the sheetmetal. As you will see from the pictures that follow; there is a lot of mud and rust on the truck. Even though nothing is rusted through, I can't see getting this back on the road in bad shape.

I was able to secure used quarters and a tailgate here locally. I also found a fellow Jimmy enthusiast who ditched his project and sold me all of his LMC sheetmetal for a really good deal. I got complete floor pans, rockers and kick panels from him. I have a pair of LMC fenders on the loft and still need to figure out what I want to do with the doors. I have LMC aftermarket doors and a pair of doors from a 75 pickup that could be cut and made to work.

I will try to keep this as updated as possible. Enjoy!


Before Pictures:









Deconstruction In Progress:





















Up next - Prep the frame:



Stay Tuned.......

[GMC91]

Nice start, Subscribing to this one.

[zimmstoy]

Making some more progress:

The body comes off:










No longer 4WD:






Getting the 2WD Frame ready:




Next up - POR 15 - 2WD Frame / Drop Body on Frame

[spudz]

awesome work so far! keep it up!

[centexan]

I was wondering who got all of that floor pan stuff. If its the same guy I'm thinking of, I got his top! Glad to see you moving forward on this one. I will be subscribing. I'm a little jealous, your floors are in better shape than mine.

[zimmstoy]

don't be jealous - these floors are getting replaced. not rusted through yet but definitely not great. Got part of the 2wd por-15'd tonight. Going to drop the body down tomorrow with any luck. Once that is done, the body work will begin!

[GMC91]

Heck yeah man

[zimmstoy]

It's official - We are 2WD now! I gotta tell ya. The LMC body mount kit is very nice. Pleased with the fit and the way the parts were labeled. Getting pretty excited. Metal work will start this week!!

I partially POR15d the frame to get the body back down. I need to finish up detailing the frame when I do the underside of the truck. All in all - things went real smooth, holes all lined up. Not bad for a few half days of work!!

[joe231]

I happy you have chosen to keep it!
Nice work!!

[PRattenbury]

Do you have a private shop with a lift in it?? I'm jealous.

[zimmstoy]

Joe - I too am glad I am keeping it.

PR - Guilty - I sure do.

[centexan]

Looking good, keep it up. I can't wait to see how it comes out.

[zimmstoy]

I can't believe how many projects we have going on here. I fell to page 2 in just a week! Here is where we are at on the Jimmy as of today:

Windshield is Out:


Drivers Quarter and Rocker is Off:








Inner Wheels Wells are Out:




Tranny Hump Out:


Passenger Rocker is Out:


NEXT STEPS:
I picked up a media blaster and I am going to get to town on the inner quarter and tub floor. I ordered the inner rockers (which as you can tell I need badly). Once the blasting is done, I will POR15 the inner quarters. We are also toying with the idea of chopping and capping the windshield frame. Does anyone have some experience with this? I am planning to keep the truck as a roadster. I don't think we will ever run a top again!!

[spudz]

I am glad its getting built and your moving right along!

[Jonboy]

Wow, that is flying. I think the crossmember out of the '87 will work perfect. Good job!

[Da88burban]

Any updates?

[zimmstoy]

in a holding pattern. I got the inner quarters sanded down and POR-15d. Waiting on my body guy to get the new metal hung. We have a few other projects in front of it that need to go through first.