JT4x4

The Mud Pit => Vids and Pics => Topic started by: PaulW on July 29, 2009, 02:29:17 PM

Title: The Jimmy
Post by: PaulW on July 29, 2009, 02:29:17 PM
1st, the name is pronounced just like the kid from south park Timmy.  Now on to the fun.  Found a 96 GMC Jimmy with 143k, reman engine, auto power everything, for $500.  The biggest problem that it had was that the drivers door pins were so worn out that the door was sagging so far, and the last owner kept using it like that that it actually tore the door sill off where the striker plate mounts.  He had the door held shut with a bungee cord.  So yesterday I got ambitious and replaced the broken door pin, and welded the door sill back together so that i could bolt the striker plate back on.  Now I just need a 4wd switch and some noce tires and I should be all set.  I'm toying with the idea of swamper tsl radials in the 215/85r15 flavor.  They're almost the same size as stock and should help me get through the stocker friendly trails.  Maybe a light locker in the rear.  Who knows.  Maybe a solid axle conversion in the future.

Here's the truck.
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/flexj/cars/DSC01794.jpg)

The door was sagging so bad, it rubbed through the paint on the rear door.
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/flexj/cars/DSC01796.jpg)

Surprisingly enough, for $6.59 at napa I was able to get the door pin kit.
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/flexj/cars/DSC01797.jpg)

I forgot to take a pic of the before on the door jam, but here's half way through the process.
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/flexj/cars/jimmy.jpg)

It just sucks that my welder is too powerful for that light sheet metal and that I had to stitch it like that.  It's not a perfect flat piece of metal, but it hold the striker on now.
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/flexj/cars/DSC01798.jpg)

I think I could have done better if I used a 110V welder instead.  On #2 I was burning holes, and on #1 it was just laying surface beads.  I just kept stitching it on #2 and filling the holes as I went.  Would have been nice to have just been able to drop a bead and go, but hey it's just sheet metal. 
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/flexj/cars/279706825733_0_0.jpg)

Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: PaulW on July 29, 2009, 02:31:21 PM
I'm just amazed that I was able to get perfect door seams all the way around.  Not bad for 2 hours worth of work.  The body shop that towed it on me sat quoted me $1100 to repair it. 
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: kirksjeep on July 29, 2009, 07:09:07 PM
Looks Good.
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: reptile610 on July 29, 2009, 08:02:32 PM
now how good are those to wheel?
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: PaulW on July 29, 2009, 09:56:43 PM
now how good are those to wheel?

they have ifs, so they're not the greatest in hard core rocks, but i've wheeled a couple of them stock and they will keep up with a stock tj.  i plan on getting a limited slip for the rear so it will do a little better.
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: rocket on July 30, 2009, 12:07:22 AM
I do just fine w/ IFS!
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: PaulW on July 30, 2009, 12:21:39 AM
I do just fine w/ IFS!

i've never really wheeled ifs too hard core, but there's always a first time for everything.
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: reptile610 on July 30, 2009, 01:47:35 AM
the toyota is ifs???? well then convince roger to get the liberty to wheel.
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: PaulW on July 30, 2009, 03:20:07 AM
the toyota is ifs???? well then convince roger to get the liberty to wheel.

nothing wrong with ifs, it just doesn't have articulation in the true sense of the word.  but some competition rock buggies have been made with 4 wheel ifs, and the military uses ifs on the humvees, so it's not all bad.
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: BlacXJeep on July 30, 2009, 03:29:12 AM
the toyota is ifs???? well then convince roger to get the liberty to wheel.

nothing wrong with ifs, it just doesn't have articulation in the true sense of the word.  but some competition rock buggies have been made with 4 wheel ifs, and the military uses ifs on the humvees, so it's not all bad.

Humvees get stuck easy, I should know. whoops!
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: PaulW on July 30, 2009, 03:33:11 AM
the toyota is ifs???? well then convince roger to get the liberty to wheel.

nothing wrong with ifs, it just doesn't have articulation in the true sense of the word.  but some competition rock buggies have been made with 4 wheel ifs, and the military uses ifs on the humvees, so it's not all bad.

Humvees get stuck easy, I should know. whoops!

and pics of this are where??  i wheeled with one at paragon before, with the exception of the sheer girth, it did pretty well.
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: BlacXJeep on July 30, 2009, 03:52:26 AM
pictures would have been "unauthorized" but it was in the snow in Kyrgyzstan back in 07. It was -40 degrees farenheit also!
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: PaulW on July 30, 2009, 03:55:35 AM
pictures would have been "unauthorized" but it was in the snow in Kyrgyzstan back in 07. It was -40 degrees farenheit also!

dat sucks, das cold.
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: phoenix on August 02, 2009, 02:03:45 PM
I have had 2, an 88 s10 blazer and a 89 s15 jimmy. The 89 was stock, but still did fine on mild stuff, made it thru the easier side of stone gardens with it! (but I lost a r/r window) :) the 88 had a 3" BL, longer shackles and cranked torsion bars running 32x11.5's it went anywhere I dared to point it! lol they are great trucks if you have more then one person with you and don't get too nuts on stuff. They ride decent, handle decent, get decent milage and the rears flex REAL well. my 88 I sold @ 199,000, and the 89 had about 130,000 when I junked it. (rot and electrical mostly) the 88 liked to eat ft end parts, but I had it cranked as far as it would go.
As for what you can do to a S10? ;D ;D ;D
http://www.whiteknight.ca/
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: PaulW on August 02, 2009, 02:51:21 PM
I have had 2, an 88 s10 blazer and a 89 s15 jimmy. The 89 was stock, but still did fine on mild stuff, made it thru the easier side of stone gardens with it! (but I lost a r/r window) :) the 88 had a 3" BL, longer shackles and cranked torsion bars running 32x11.5's it went anywhere I dared to point it! lol they are great trucks if you have more then one person with you and don't get too nuts on stuff. They ride decent, handle decent, get decent milage and the rears flex REAL well. my 88 I sold @ 199,000, and the 89 had about 130,000 when I junked it. (rot and electrical mostly) the 88 liked to eat ft end parts, but I had it cranked as far as it would go.
As for what you can do to a S10? ;D ;D ;D
http://www.whiteknight.ca/

mines going to be more of a dd.  and my sami is going to be built to handle anything.  not to say the jimmy won't get wheeled.  i mean it's going to be sitting on swampers :D
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: phoenix on August 02, 2009, 03:55:06 PM
both mine were DD's, the lifted one was surprisingly good on the street other then the ft end being so stiff.
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: PaulW on August 02, 2009, 06:14:49 PM
both mine were DD's, the lifted one was surprisingly good on the street other then the ft end being so stiff.

My uncle pulled his camper up to maine behind his this weekend, I'm wondering if it will pull my sami.
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: kirksjeep on August 03, 2009, 04:39:33 AM
both mine were DD's, the lifted one was surprisingly good on the street other then the ft end being so stiff.


My uncle pulled his camper up to maine behind his this weekend, I'm wondering if it will pull my sami.

Flat tow or trialer?
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: PaulW on August 03, 2009, 04:51:26 AM
both mine were DD's, the lifted one was surprisingly good on the street other then the ft end being so stiff.


My uncle pulled his camper up to maine behind his this weekend, I'm wondering if it will pull my sami.

Flat tow or trialer?

i was thinking with a trailer.  i've been researching and chevy blazer forum says that they routinly pull 5000 pounds without too much trouble.  i think the sami may weigh in around 3500.  so a trailer may be out of question.  i'm also looking at a 1500 dodge ram to pull the sami.
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: PaulW on August 04, 2009, 03:18:20 AM
So tomorrow it's off to the used auto parts store for a 4wd switch, a fuel filler, and a glove box latch.  The clown i got it from thought he was a mechanic and changed the fuel pump himself.  the butchered the fuel filler vent hose and clamped it tight with a bolt in it.  nice i can't fill the tank more then half way.  the glove box latch broke who knows when so they duct taped the glove box shut (duct tape cum does not wash of very easily), and when i went to try 4wd, the button stuck down, but all in all for the $500 truck it's coming along pretty nicely.  If i have time, i'm going to look for some tires from the maypop tire company while i'm at the scrap yard.
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: reptile610 on August 04, 2009, 04:42:49 AM
so when you gonna weld the rear diff?
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: PaulW on August 04, 2009, 04:52:09 AM
so when you gonna weld the rear diff?

nah i'm welding the front.
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: reptile610 on August 04, 2009, 01:57:16 PM
haha. really?
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: PaulW on August 05, 2009, 02:53:41 AM
haha. really?

no.

 i scored a sweet set of firestone destination at's today they have 4k miles on them and they're the right size for the truck.  found the source of my fuel leak today, there's a sprite can glued to the filler neck.  i'll have to take pics of it when i go to pull it down. 
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: PaulW on August 05, 2009, 02:59:05 AM
also found a hitch on craigslist for $40 in albany, going saturday to pick it up.
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: BlacXJeep on August 05, 2009, 03:36:43 AM
haha. really?

no.

 i scored a sweet set of firestone destination at's today they have 4k miles on them and they're the right size for the truck.  found the source of my fuel leak today, there's a sprite can glued to the filler neck.  i'll have to take pics of it when i go to pull it down. 

You put it there or the PO?
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: PaulW on August 06, 2009, 04:22:51 AM
haha. really?

no.

 i scored a sweet set of firestone destination at's today they have 4k miles on them and they're the right size for the truck.  found the source of my fuel leak today, there's a sprite can glued to the filler neck.  i'll have to take pics of it when i go to pull it down. 

last owner.  he thought he was a mechanic and went to change the fuel pump himself.  the new filler neck was ordered from chevy today.  i think it might be my sat project.
You put it there or the PO?
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: phoenix on August 08, 2009, 12:11:19 AM
i was thinking with a trailer.  i've been researching and chevy blazer forum says that they routinly pull 5000 pounds without too much trouble.  i think the sami may weigh in around 3500.  so a trailer may be out of question.  i'm also looking at a 1500 dodge ram to pull the sami.
Uhh, NO! On a trailer you should be somewhere around 3500,  but a stock zuk is about 2100. A single axle trailer will handle a zuk, I wanted a tandem just for the room and safety factor. If you go with a single axle, I would go for a 5k capacity and HD tires.
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: PaulW on August 08, 2009, 02:37:49 AM
i was thinking with a trailer.  i've been researching and chevy blazer forum says that they routinly pull 5000 pounds without too much trouble.  i think the sami may weigh in around 3500.  so a trailer may be out of question.  i'm also looking at a 1500 dodge ram to pull the sami.
Uhh, NO! On a trailer you should be somewhere around 3500,  but a stock zuk is about 2100. A single axle trailer will handle a zuk, I wanted a tandem just for the room and safety factor. If you go with a single axle, I would go for a 5k capacity and HD tires.

the zuk isn't going to be stock.  it's going to have full width axles, min 36" tires. and lots of tubing.
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: PaulW on August 08, 2009, 02:39:43 AM
my 4wd switch came in today.  after i fix my filler neck and due the tune up tomorrow, i may be ready to actually have a nice driver.
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: kirksjeep on August 08, 2009, 03:24:23 AM
I had a 01 S-10 with the 4.3, Auto, 2wd.  I loaded my Jeep onto my tandem axle trailer, and my Honda Hawk in the bed and drove all the way across the country, no problems at all, and could cruise at 70.  I have electric brakes on the trailer, and I had Firestone AIr Bags on the truck.  The only other mod was a K&N FIPK. 

The Jimmy should pull the Zuk w/o any problems.  Just make sure the trailer has breaks and you'll be set.  You could also Flat tow the Zuk.
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: PaulW on August 08, 2009, 03:30:35 AM
I had a 01 S-10 with the 4.3, Auto, 2wd.  I loaded my Jeep onto my tandem axle trailer, and my Honda Hawk in the bed and drove all the way across the country, no problems at all, and could cruise at 70.  I have electric brakes on the trailer, and I had Firestone AIr Bags on the truck.  The only other mod was a K&N FIPK. 

The Jimmy should pull the Zuk w/o any problems.  Just make sure the trailer has breaks and you'll be set.  You could also Flat tow the Zuk.

but when it breaks...
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: reptile610 on August 08, 2009, 07:43:58 AM
wow a sprite can? sounds like one of little adams ideas.
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: phoenix on August 08, 2009, 12:16:37 PM
  You could also Flat tow the Zuk.

but when it breaks...
[/quote]
there is that, there is ALSO the fact that it has to be registered to flat tow it. Another thing to consider is it won't have brakes on it.
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: kirksjeep on August 08, 2009, 05:34:01 PM

there is that, there is ALSO the fact that it has to be registered to flat tow it. Another thing to consider is it won't have brakes on it.

A lot of states require vehicles being flat towed to have an electrical pedal actuator installed on the vehicle being towed.  It is basically a box with an arm that some how attaches to the floor of the towed vehicle and applies the brakes via the brake pedal.  They are sold at RV supply places. 

Here is one called the Brake Buddy, but they are $$$$$ almost $800
http://www.brakebuddy.com/Products/BrakeBuddy-Vantage-Select
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: PaulW on August 08, 2009, 05:58:05 PM
i'm still thinking it's going to be easiest just to get a light dual axle landscaping trailer.  i have a 12 foot flat trailer, but i'd rather  a dual axle.
Title: Re: The Jimmy
Post by: kirksjeep on August 08, 2009, 06:11:04 PM
i'm still thinking it's going to be easiest just to get a light dual axle landscaping trailer.  i have a 12 foot flat trailer, but i'd rather  a dual axle.

You'll get a lot of use out of a tandem axle car hauler. I have hauled a few YJ's, a few XJ's, a mustang, Nissan 240X, a firebird, a 69 Camero, a VW Bug, carpet, lumber, junk etc....  plus I have lent it out a few times, which has relulted in damage to the fenders almost every time ???.

I bought mine from a guy in N.C. who worked at a race car fab shop and built trailers in his spare time.  It was a pain to get a vin # for it, but it was only $1100 for a new trailer.