84 Jimmy Build

[JohnnyPopper]

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.

[1981lt1]

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.

[Shifty]

Seems like a lot of trouble just to check your rear brakes...

[JohnnyPopper]

Or change your shocks! 

[1981lt1]

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.

[VileZambonie]

 Good progress, you'll get it to work.

[1981lt1]

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...



And here is with the windshield area clamped if I use the replica roof contours...

[1981lt1]

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...





And when I use the door frame contour, here is what I get...







Now, as you can see, the windshield edge is off.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do about this yet...

[Shifty]

Your poor Jimmy has more "needs" than "has-es"....

[1981lt1]

Your poor Jimmy has more "needs" than "has-es"....

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.

[Shifty]

However, at the end of it, your skill-base will be signifigently improved! 

[VileZambonie]

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.

[1981lt1]

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.

[1981lt1]

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.

[JohnnyPopper]

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!