My Build Thread (year+) on 71 Jimmy 4x4

[RckyMntnKng]

Its not my fault....as soon as I see a wrench my mouth starts to water. Must be genetics

[RickBost]

Would you be able to use a 203 from a th 400 and a 205 from a ford to do that? What would i need to buy if i could?


thankx

[RckyMntnKng]

Not sure on that one Rick. I had to do alot of reading to see what parts were correct on mine.

My first thought on the 205 from a Ford is the output locations.
I would think the ford 205 has the front output on the driver side, opposite from a chevy version passenger side drop. Maybe it could be mounted upside down with a cable shifter....but Its pretty easy and inexpensive to just find the chevy 205 somewhere and probably worth all the savings in fabrication, working out kinks, and headaches.

As far as the 203 goes, any of them from a GM will work as long as the adapter plate you use is correct for your tranny....a th350 has a 27 spline male output and the adapter has a female 27 sleeve that couples them. A Th400 has a 32 spline female output etc.

If you go looking for a chevy 205 to do a doubler....make sure you get one with a 32 SPLINE female input. All the adapters ive seen require this version. you can change a 27 spline 205 from a 1/2 ton into 32 spline from a 1 ton if you change the shaft and mill out the case for the 3/8" larger bearing it takes.

Good luck - its a fun process and im glad mines almost over.

[RckyMntnKng]

Prep and Paint - My favorite

Cage is being delivered soon.....so I better get the interior ready.

Cleaned out the rear end, sanded it all down by hand, sprayed out the dust with compressed air, wiped out every nook and cranny with Mineral spirits so it has a nice scratched up non-oily surface for some primer and bedliner to stick too.

Added a coat of spray primer....and then the first thin coat of Bed liner.
Second coat will happen this weekend.

[Burt4x4]

Sweeeet! When you heading South to do mine too? hahaha
Keep us posted!

[RckyMntnKng]

Thanks Burt. How far are you from the Rubicon? It would be a blast to run that trail and camp out for most of a week. Looks like its only an 8 hr drive from me to the trail-head on the east end

PART 1 of the FAMILY CAGE Story:

I went through Broncobob for my cage bending. First thing for me was some custom setup and measurments to send over.

(a) I prefer a good angle on the rear hoop, instead of straight up and down. Also wanted to leave room behind my tool-boxes for tube. I needed a measurement of where to start the "bend" towards the front from vert...that would allow the box's to open un-obstructed and still look good. Decided to use 27.5" up from the floor, to start the forward tilt/bend.

(b) I hate it when I cant recline my seats and the bar blocks movement...so I decided to set the middle hoop back a few inches to where it can sit wider inside the rail angle. Gained me about 3" on width and 3" on setback to move it here - Perfect. Decided on 65.5" width out to out.

I want it tall enough to clear heads and mount things on (Hi-lift) -and I dont plan on a hard top ever. I decided to add 3" to the stock broncobob height overall, and can easily modify it down if needed by trimming, when I see it being fit to the rig.

Cage showed up yesterday and so I threw a couple of the tubes in to get a feel. The boxes will open perfect, clearing the rear hoop bend by about 3/4" or more. Looks a bit too tall, but not bad - can trim the height to whatever I want. It came with feet pads to weld on so I can bolt it in when I get it set

More to come soon......

[Burt4x4]

Well the West side Loon Lake/Ice House Rd. is about 2.5hrs North of me.
2011 I would like to hit the Con. I haven't been up there sence I went 1Ton

[RckyMntnKng]

Ive never been there at all...but that can be fixed. All you have to do is say a date in 2011 and I'll mark my calendar and take it off

Do you have any pics from your last trip? How difficult are the run(s)?

I'm leaving room in the back for my bottomless cooler and a sleeping bag

[RckyMntnKng]

The doubler was still on the bench so put that SOB in the truck. Still needs some paint, cross-members, and installing the sticks....but the drive lines are now measured!

Decided to try a Winch from Recon - not a warn but similar specs/warranty and look very well built. This is the Grandaddy 17,500lb model with wire-less remote and took some coaxing to make her fit but she is home now. Cant wait to try it.

Also I decided to use bear-claws on the door latches. Just finished one side minus clean-up and paint but they slam and open like butter. The release is on the inside bed you can see in pic. Just pull up on the pin and she pops open about 6 inches.

[Burt4x4]

What? Tell me again what you did to the tube doors? Bear claws?

[RckyMntnKng]

Getting there.....

[RckyMntnKng]

Yep Big ole bear claws with cinnamon and sugar

[Burt4x4]

Ahhhh ok I see now, so your Jimmy doors are never going back on I take it?
I was talkin with VT about how he did his tube doors and he used latches from a spare set of doors and was swaping the doors between winter and summer..
Oh as for pics of the Con, I was there in um 2002 I think and I made it about 100 yards or so then I busted a front D44 axle ujoint. Then while try to "pull over" to fix my busted joint I ripped off the rear driveline..no front and now no rear wheel drive...dead..I had a bad hangoveer too..just a bad morning...so I finnaly got the front axel repaired, turned around and with my winch and front wheel drive I made it out back to loon lake and setup camp. Didn't stop drinking beer till the morning Then drank some more stareing at my broken junk and hanging out at the lake.

[RckyMntnKng]

This is true - Dont even have Jimmy doors anymore, sold them to a guy doing a resto here locally....Although I did receive a set in trade here recently and Im going to try and implement a skin swap system to where I can keep the tubes on permanently and be able to add a door cover when wanted. We will see

This weekend warrior project has kinda morphed into something beyond that at this point, so not sure it will be a daily driver in need of doors, although Im going to make an attempt to keep her manners somewhat nice on pavement.

Wow 100 yards is all a 44 u joint and drive-line is good for in the con? No wonder everyone says D60 or nothing, and then upgrade that some more to make it last. Even a bad day camping and wrenching beats a good day in the office.

[Yukon Jack]

Sweet latches!

[RckyMntnKng]

Picked up my D-lines yesterday. Got some nice heavy wall tube and 1350's all the way around. Milled the np205 Front output to change over from the GM
3V type stocker. The D60 front and np205 Rear changed from 1310. The 14bff had a 1350 on it already...

The cage has been the side project inbetween other things. BroncoBob sent me eight 4x4 x 1/4" plates to use for the feet pads, so just getting the 32 holes drilled in that thick stuff was a job. I am making my own underbody backing plates for everything with the same bolt pattern but about 1/2" different around the edges so it doesnt try and scissor through the sheet metal as much.

Bob made all the hoops about 3" taller than stock for me so I could set it the way I want...which means I get to do some tube cutting. I decided to rake it about 2" overall from back to front, which is just noticable - Dont want nothing looky saggy out back :-) Gives the back seats more headroom as well

When you start this job, a handfull of c-clamps, a couple levels, and especially a Laser is the way to roll im convinced. Marked everything with a sharpie via laser line and then tacked the tube on the marks and checked angles. So far so good!

Will have a bunch done after this weekend to post up....

[Burt4x4]

Groooovy
You earned yourself a few Brews!!

[JHT67]

If ever I built an off-roadn' Blazer, my friend, I'd want it to be your trucks twin. Without all the technical drivetrain detail (more than I could manage to do),your Blazer is what I've always had pictured as a cool ride to own.

[RckyMntnKng]

Thanks man! I've had alot of fun making her just the way I pictured in my mind as what I thought was cool.

Ive learned a hell of a-lot about how things work and go together since I started too, which has already turned out to be pretty valuable in real life other than just my rig....The drivetrain detail is a long hard process, but you cant make a rig "look" this way and still function day to day without it

[RckyMntnKng]

Just about finished the cage this weekend. Couple more backing plates to build and some gussets to add - but looks like this after primer/bedliner and a couple Kicker Wake-tower speakers for good measure. I really like the way it turned out.

[RckyMntnKng]

In-between paint coats drying got the 1350's and D-lines in. Moved the side support for the 205 down frame to the right spot, made a pair of shifters, and added the gear oil. Few more details but 99% wrapped up with the doubler.

You know how you are always hunting a place to set or find your beer when wrenching? Chevron has magnet koozies! Actually work well and wont budge or tip - 4 strong magnets

[RckyMntnKng]

Just started on the wiring - this part will take a few beers I bet.

Out with the old - in with the new - Autowire Painless style

[Burt4x4]

You are my HERO!!!!!!! Beer cozzie is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! hahahaa

[RckyMntnKng]

Dang right

[madkmart]

wow awesome build