Jimmy GT, '92 GMC forever project

[SonomaZ]

So my intro thread went long. I'm a relatively quiet guy, but I ramble when I type. My apologies.
So, I will attempt to keep things short and hope the pics can tell most of the story. It will still take me a while to get to the present day since this project started over 10 years ago. Bear with me.

The beginning:


The day I picked it up from a lot in WA state. Spring 2000. Drove it home to MN. 4.3 CPI/700R4

Fixed a few things, did the typical bolt-on stuff, lowered it a little more, wheels, tires, window tint, etc and daily drove it a couple years.


Fast-forward to '04-'05:


My engine pulling helper is in his second year of college now.
Sold engine and trans. with the intent of doing a simple V8 S-truck. Engine and trans swap, a few relatively minor suspension and brake upgrades and not much else.
Had a low-mileage '97 F-body LT1 and T56 from a previous unfinished project and was headed that direction.

But then plans snowballed.



Fall 2006:


Off it goes to a shop several states away. The plan is for major frame and suspension modifications, beyond my skill set.

Next chapter tomorrow: 10 years away.

[raustinss]

Love it already

[rentedmule]

Nice, looking forward to seeing the rest of the build!

[SonomaZ]

So I should have stated more clearly in the first post; this is only partially a retroactive build thread, I'm FAR from done.
Once I'm caught up with pics everyone can follow along as I fumble my way through this beast.

I have some fairly big (to me anyway) questions I'll be asking that have no doubt been asked before:
examples: Engine setback, yea or nay? 6" give or take... Does the effort outweigh potential gain?
To full-float or semi-float? 12 bolt Strange with Ford ends. Strictly based on brake caliper selection or other factors involved? I need to narrow the axle so I need to be deciding soon.
Enough babble, on to the pics.

Today's (and likely the next few days) installment:
10 years away.

[SonomaZ]

Firewall-back frame is 3" x 3" X .120 wall.
4" off the deck at ride height.

[raustinss]

Confused buy the frame ?....!

[SonomaZ]

What has you confused?
What you're looking at are in-process pics, there's more to the frame, you just haven't seen it yet. (Took a dinner break...not done posting pics yet!)

Instead of a full frame replacement, it's a hybrid I guess. Modified stock S-Blazer/Jimmy up front, one-off fabbed from firewall on back.

[SonomaZ]

10 years away: continued, wheels and tires








Wheels are MK Motorsports by BBS. Early mid 90's vintage high offset BMW tuner wheels. I'm sure the Bay-Em-Vay purists would like to burn me at the stake for putting them on a....dear God...a GM truck! Hehe, scroo-em.
These things were cubic money when they were new, I ebay'ed them for a song, new in the boxes.
Rear tires shown are 335's

Originally 18x8.5 and 18x10. The 10's are now 12's thanks to James at Weldcraft wheels and I'm seriously considering sending the 8.5's off to him to add another 1-1/2" so I can run 285's in front.

[SonomaZ]

They're an acquired taste I suppose. Most people have told me they look much better IRL than in pictures...
I'll be making my own center caps from aluminum since the plastic flat caps that came with them are ugly as sin.
I might play around with some plasti-dip colors on them and ultimately powdercoat them if I hit on something I like.

To answer the inevitable question, yes, they're 5X120 and not 5 X 120.65, but they are hub-centric with proprietary BBS centering rings.
Will need to run a spacer/adapter if I widen the fronts to avoid tie rod clearance issues and tire to frame rub.

[SonomaZ]

10 years away continues; early front suspension mockup









So yeah.... that's not gonna work.
G-body Hotchkis UCA's are for sale, just haven't listed them yet.
Even without the Dr. Gas/Pro Motorsports spindle extenders (no longer available since they've been found to create more problems than they solve) the UCA and LCA balljoint angles were fubar at this ride height.
What replaced the Hotchkis UCA's are coming later.
Spindles are 2" drop Belltech Blazer. (later Blazer with divorced brakes/hubs) If I had to do it over I probably wouldn't use these as the 2" drop creates tie rod clearance issues. Still might change 'em. We'll see.

For reference, those are 245/40/18 in these pics. I have 265's mounted on the 8.5's now and they bulge. Yuck. Should be 10's with 285's

[SonomaZ]

10 yrs away.. more chassis



Yikes...monster pic fail. Where did I put the resized ones?

No rear kickup or suspension at this point. But you DO get to see the 3rd gen F-body 10-bolt that I put money into and screwed up. WTH was I thinking?
Replaced with the previously mentioned Strange F-body (integral torque arm attachment) 12-bolt to be seen later.

Enough for today. More pics tomorrow.

[raustinss]

Confused as to why it was so short ,assuming you were doing the rear section too so why not continue the frame rails the full length, or ?

[SonomaZ]

Confused as to why it was so short ,assuming you were doing the rear section too so why not continue the frame rails the full length, or ?

Those pictures are coming, patience young grasshopper.

10 bolt being used for mockup and rear kickup section fabrication:
(sorry for the monster pics)

[SonomaZ]

So the last couple previous pics I started on control arm mounts...more of that and lower coilover mounts

[SonomaZ]

Continuing on with rear suspension fab: Rear axle link brackets and spinning up the watts bellcrank/propeller mixed in there

[rentedmule]

I'd never seen those spindle extenders before - interesting! PM me if/when you decide to get rid of either the UCAs or the blazer drop spindles. I run stock height blazer spindles with C5 brakes now and I'd like to substitute some of the drop from my coilovers for spindles.

[SonomaZ]

(PM incoming rentedmule/Tyson)

Moving on: Swaybar fab and mounting F+R

If you look closely at some of the following pics you will catch glimpses of the front spring pocket and UCA/coilover upper mounting modifications and mixed in with the rear swaybar shots are peeks of the chassis mounted watts link. Unfortunately, I do not have specific in-process pics of these things coming together. I'll be sure to get some good shots now that I have everything at home and post later.

[SonomaZ]

And a peek at the watts (barely), upper coilover mounts and torque arm.
You'll also notice the axle is now the Strange 12 bolt.

[Dr G]

Interesting build. With 12's in the rear I'd definitely go wider than 8.5's up front. Ideally 11's or 12's to balance out the handling.
Nice to see someone building a frame on a fixture for a change. I like the long drop links on your front sway bar.
Look forward to seeing more.

[SonomaZ]

Thanks Doc G.
Yeah, everyone going to square setups now, I know. Realize this truck was conceived 12-15 years ago and the majority of what you see above took place between '08 and '13.
In my hindsight 20/20, perfect world build of this truck there would be no leftover S-truck frame. It would have a front to rear, full custom frame that would clear 12's in front. (Or Art Morrison or Schwartz or whatever)
As it is, I'll have to make do with a 10" wheel and 285 tire up front. Champagne dreams, beer budget, ya know?