73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Members Rides => Topic started by: 1981lt1 on June 24, 2024, 04:16:22 pm
-
It's been a while since I've posted but I have started another project. I picked up this 84 Jimmy a couple of weeks from a local guy who wasn't going to be able to finish it due to the large amount of metal work it's going to need. I knew from the start it's got a lot of rust in the typical areas, and I've done this before so I'm not worried. Right now, the priority is rust repair. Both inner/out rockers are gone, both kick panels are gone, both front floor pans need to be patched, the firewall is rusted at the seam, and the roof needs to be replaced.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53814045720_ffaf2b2b6a_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53812681447_c04dbb2bfe_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53814045725_e2ccf3c4c6_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53813607066_25e1a5a7bc_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53813606971_c91ba2a4c1_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53813606926_ac3832e83e_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53812681247_03e9daf08b_k.jpg)
-
I'm starting at the top, and since they don't make a roof panel for the Jimmy/Blazer, I'm going to have to get creative and modify the truck roof. Luckily, the back header panel is still solid so I don't have to fabricate any mounting brackets where the top bolts to the cab. However, I did get way ahead of myself and ripped out the drip rail and then found out there is no reproduction piece available. Fortunately, I can fix the piece and put it back after I do some heavy rust scrubbing and spray some rust converter. As you can tell, it's a good thing I removed the panel from all of the rust behind it. The only reason I pulled this panel off is because it had about a silver dollar sized rust spot on the B pillar but nothing else showed the amount of rot behind it.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53812710192_9b0572d1ba_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53813971539_1c12e84594_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53813635176_be2d234e81_k.jpg)
-
Wow! That's a whole lot work, but done correctly will be bad to the bone! 8)
-
Love K5s and Jimmys! Most of them that are affordable needs plenty of work. Sure would be nice to have one in great shape. Best of luck and good roads ahead.
-
GM could have definitely done a better job at sealing these things (the trucks too). It's not something for an amateur that's for sure. Luckily I'm not afraid of cutting things!
-
Most of the parts are either reproduced or easily reproduced for this year, so that will be helpful. 73-75 is where there is more fabrication of your own parts needed. Good Luck with it!
-
I just submitted my first of many orders for parts. Should have a truck full of replacement panels arriving by next week so I can start replacing the rusted pieces.
-
Got the old roof off yesterday and now I'm waiting for my new panels to get delivered so there isn't much to do right now. I knew the quarter panel was going to need some work so I started to grind where I knew there was filler, but I couldn't imagine the carnage that somebody did. I have never seen this much filler in a single spot.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53826519203_91de9c5614_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53825364192_a6784f84fa_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53825335917_4de283f0bf_k.jpg)
-
Some people should never touch vehicles. Metal work is time consuming but worth it. I don't get the built of Bondo mindset.
-
Jeso Christo! :o
-
Heat that up with a propane torch and it'll scrape right off.
-
Wow! You are a brave soul!
Can't wait to see more progress... ;)
-
I don't know if I would dig all that out, then work it, or cut it out and weld in a repop (or OE, if you can find one)? ???
-
I knew the quarters needed some patch work so I was already planning on cutting it up but now I’m gonna rethink what I’m gonna do. Right now the priority is getting the floors and roof fixed. After that I’ll figure out the quarters.
-
Cheers to you for saving another Square that would have gone to the scrap heap of history!
-
I was on vacation most of last week so I only had a few hours of wrench time today. Got the passenger rocker and inner kick panel cut out, and found some surprises at the quarter panel. I may have to make some inner panel patches, but the biggest surprise was how poorly the outer rocker fits. This company needs some serious QC upgrades.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53841722666_9fdf122248_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53841722686_c458033be5_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53841722596_926df41638_k.jpg)
And here is how bad this fits...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53842076324_99e3b7352f_k.jpg)
-
Wow! I'm glad it's not me doing that.....I need to keep myself free to do honey-do's.... ::)
-
Got quite a bit done over the past couple of days. The floor pan has been fixed, along with the rusted sub structure, and the inner kick panel has been fitted. Now that i've gotten the front floor pan fixed, I wanted to start fitting the rocker, but I need the door mounted to make sure my reveals are good. I've learned the hard way to not weld up the rockers until the door is positioned correctly.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53847019573_7959db91bd_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53847117174_d3390873dd_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53845868867_ac642cb201_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53847019818_dfa14ed9de_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53845868727_f64bff6a50_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53846756001_96d1f37020_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53847117259_225f96167e_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53847117254_8d227c2b89_k.jpg)
-
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53846767056_f4b3f66191_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53847128369_8a4f73587c_k.jpg)
-
Nice work! I would have never volunteered for that much work.
Yeah, extremely poor fitment.
-
You are correct! I've had some fitment issues with their stuff on a previous project but this is pretty bad. Unfortunately, I've already bought the parts I need so I'm stuck with everything.
-
Well, it looks like you have to skill set to overcome their lack of quality.
Look forward to your continued progress ;)
-
Well, it looks like you have to skill set to overcome their lack of quality.
Look forward to your continued progress ;)
Actually, i'm not afraid to cut things apart and i'm just a very good grinder! My welding/fabrications skills are novice at best.
-
Since I'm still waiting for my new door hinges, and they likely won't be here this week, I started on the rust in the rear of the cab floor. Of course, it wasn't just the floor pan, it had to be rotten in the support as well.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53851341854_63a8ec9916_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53851412145_87460601da_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53850976631_3398521632_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53850083552_92b61109c6_k.jpg)
-
That's a ton of ugly to cut off....
-
There was so much welding on this section. I had to make another backing plate and then completely rebuild the bottom of the side panel where it meets the floor. The combination of my poor welding skills and extremely horrible fitment of the replacement panels equals a crap ton of grinding about the same amount of seam sealer.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53852919491_09234bab99_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53852919436_6e088b84f3_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53852027337_5508234e97_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53853353130_4026e3bd34_k.jpg)
-
Talk about an opportunity to sharpen your skills...
-
Ton of work! What kind of welder are you using?
-
Ton of work! What kind of welder are you using?
I'm using my 110v MIG welder i've had for many years and hasn't died on me yet.
-
spent yesterday and today getting my rocker panel alignment set so I could welded everything up. Thank God I didn't just eyeball it based on the contours. Because these panels are such poor quality, you'll notice the fender mount hole at the front of the rocker doesn't match with the inner kick panel hole. I'll get this fixed when I'm ready to mount the fender so that'll get done later. I'm a bit irritated at the gap along the bottom of the door but there isn't anything I can do about it without more cutting and bending and I'm simply ready to move on to the quarter panel at this point.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53857104434_74a2cc7473_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53855844127_b826275f69_k.jpg)
-
Such nice work! I can commiserate with the poor quality replacement sheet metal...
My son bought a Millermatic MIG that apparently senses the metal thickness and adjusts the voltage, at least that's what the propag...says. I used it years ago, and can attest that when you're welding thru thin material it adjusts accordingly. Incredibly good with less over-weld to grind off.
-
I've been waiting for the new quarter panel and it arrived today. I wish everything else was this easy to remove. You can ignore the tape. I was using it to help align the body line to the door since it was hard to see in the garage. And no, the tape isn't holding it up. I had screws attaching it to the body to make sure everything was going to fit properly before I start cutting.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53863139757_018d57e9d0_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53864291083_f139de4029_k.jpg)
-
Seems like a lot of trouble just to check your rear brakes... ;D
-
Or change your shocks! ;)
-
got my clamps in today so I was finally able to start fitting the quarter, and of course, it doesn't fit for crap. The body line is about the only thing that matches. As you can see from the 3rd picture, the inner structure doesn't align so I get to cut that out and adjust it so the fender will suck in.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53868432874_84d3f9a33b_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53868432914_d9dbd04086_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53868326763_76c3a9eb25_k.jpg)
-
Good progress, you'll get it to work.
-
quarter panel is welded on but i'm gonna need the tail light section. I didn't realize it was also damaged so it's really wavy and the welding didn't make it any better. While I'm waiting for that, I decided to work on the roof. Most of you know the truck roof is slightly different than the Blazer/Jimmy roof, but since you can only get the truck roof, I had to go that route. It's as close as I'm gonna get it without having to trim some other items but it's not too bad.
Here is what the back looks like right now...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874849238_9587fdf54a_k.jpg)
And here is with the windshield area clamped if I use the replica roof contours...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53873705987_6a49a317a5_k.jpg)
-
Unfortunately, just using the front edge means the door gap is garbage. For those keen observers, yes, I cut off the drip rails. I don't like them and they were in the way of the roof fitting, and I don't want to cut the roof unless I absolutely have to...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874958309_7b1062cb5c_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874958284_8d1a7a9b5f_k.jpg)
And when I use the door frame contour, here is what I get...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874849463_707747769b_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874849488_d1dee4f28e_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874609671_a0e4ba2e48_k.jpg)
Now, as you can see, the windshield edge is off. I'm not sure what I'm going to do about this yet...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53874849393_29198e6845_k.jpg)
-
Your poor Jimmy has more "needs" than "has-es".... :P
-
Your poor Jimmy has more "needs" than "has-es".... :P
Yeah. I'm not sure I would do this again knowing what I know now. This thing is just a bit more of a project than I was looking for.
-
However, at the end of it, your skill-base will be signifigently improved! ;)
-
Tighten up that windshield area first as fitting that glass is critical. You can cut and shrink the area behind it to tighten it up into the door area.
-
Progress has been slow but i'm moving forward. The roof is proving to be much more challenging to fit but it's coming along. Since it's just me, I have to be careful moving it around on the car and taking it off and on so many times as I don't want to bend it or warp it. As of today, I'm committed to its placement. Once I start the body work, I'll weld some rod and tighten up the gaps for the door opening.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53882187687_dbd55d6bf9_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53883423374_894c734a52_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53883508200_452222f206_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53883085266_fab0a14238_k.jpg)
-
I took a break for some vacation time and didn't have much progress. Got started on the driver floor today and started cutting out the rot.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53920758982_34c2dc7885_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53921902123_4db6c28ad5_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53922103110_2739b45a4f_k.jpg)
-
Dude, I think I've said this before: You are a very brave man for taking on this level of resto.
I am cheering you on, thinking (knowing) that I would have bailed long ago... ;)
Keep the faith!
-
I spent the past several days getting the driver floor/rocker done and getting the door aligned. It turned out pretty good but there are some gap issues I'll have to address when I start the body work.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53939253583_17751f0847_k.jpg)[/url]
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53939001466_4d176d4350_k.jpg)[/url]
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53939335289_7b07692cbc_k.jpg)[/url]
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53938099052_2d6890925c_k.jpg)[/url]
-
I also found this nasty little surprise under a huge glob of body sealant in near the rear bed section. I'll have to borrow a buddies shrinker/stretcher to get this piece made since i'm not buying a whole floor section just for this.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53939335349_c3c7724c73_k.jpg)[/url]
-
You are getting a lot done and getting much experience with all the work you are doing. You saved the life of that square. Not many would have taken the challenge to restore it. Good work!
-
You are getting a lot done and getting much experience with all the work you are doing. You saved the life of that square. Not many would have taken the challenge to retire it. Good work!
Thanks for the kind words. It's definitely got more issues than I originally saw but I enjoy it, and thankfully I can get most of the parts.
-
Nice job man. Good progress
-
Slow progress for this week and next week. The replacement panel for the bed arrived while I was out of town, and of course, it's terrible quality control. I ordered this piece from a very reputable company that begins with A, M in the middle, and D at the end. Unfortunately, these company's must use the same junky Chinese reseller because it don't fit for crap.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53960997362_b1644e62df_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53962342060_236362ee65_k.jpg)
-
Since the bed patch didn't match, I moved on to the quarter panel repair. As you can see, whoever thought this was proper technique should be shot. I don't know what kind of lag bolts this idiot used for the dent puller but the holes are huge compared to the stud welder pins that should've been used.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53962339460_e08158da24_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53962339480_fdf3429dd0_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53961882071_90e5ec4475_k.jpg)
-
After several rounds of dent pulling, I decided to cut out the mangled area and replace it with fresh metal. It was just too far gone. And, to make matters worse, whatever caused the damage, got into the shaped areas of the tail light area. As you can see from the garbage quality replacement panel, I had to cut it out and reshape it on the bench.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53980424447_e6d6c2691c_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53981748905_f5514a6e04_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53980424412_3d2251cd83_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53981748965_2b38acffdf_k.jpg)
-
I know its too late, but I would still ask myself WHY?
You are a brave soul brother! Soldier on!
-
I think it's a clinic in awesome willpower!
-
The aftermarket full quarters are nice if you get the quality ones. I tossed a bed floor I had in my scrap pile that had some rot and kick myself because the aftermarket floor pans are way off.
-
The cancer therapy seems to be moving along well. I anticipate a full recovery when your truck completes the last treatment. You are doing well doctor!
Doing well!
-
There is a fine line between dedication and stupidity. I'm not sure where I would fall with this project. I'm sure y'all have an opinion though :-).
-
You will have completed a great achievement when it is done and get much pride from your accomplishment.
-
I get the second guessing, it happens with a lot of projects.
However, when she is shining and solid, those thoughts just seem to fade away, as people marvel at the great condition you have restored.
Keep your eye on the prize"
-
Pretty slow progress over the past few weeks. Work has been crazy and I've had no motivation. I did get some grinding and dent pulling done, and I got this small piece near the driver rocker fixed.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54004144237_a34581823c_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54005285258_199b063041_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54005382019_52604b11cf_k.jpg)
-
I wish all of the repairs were this easy...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54006260682_c4ec35ebb0_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54007401183_7abea33c3a_k.jpg)
-
I lost interest for the past several months but now I'm back in the fight. I've been taking care of a lot of little stupid things but finally got the courage to tackle the firewall. I knew this was going to be painful and I was right
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54558990583_826cf848dd_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54558747021_d12018756f_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54558933454_8aa4dcce52_b.jpg)
-
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54559084700_8fd50b8093_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54558990198_51da1c081e_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54558990013_afa39afa32_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54559084455_6e108e2bc3_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54558932459_7087e0e59f_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54558745876_0a9e44a2c3_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54559083810_8da18276a7_b.jpg)
-
I've probably said this before: You're a brave man!!!
-
Thanks. This is the last bit of rust so I should be able to put the welder and grinder away now.
-
I've probably said this before: You're a brave man!!!
Choose work and success over couch. I've repaired much worse. You should see how my 75 Jimmy looked vs now. Git R done!
Keep chuggin man