Recovery rig build

[Beep Beep]

My trail wheelin' rigs are XJs and some times I break them. We are building this 79 GMC Jimmy to pull them out of the woods.

Here is a picture of when I first got the Jimmy last year.
[img]http://cegranch.com/pix/2006-09-20-01.JPG[/img]

I had a 87 Chevy Suburban that I was parting out and some of the parts were added to the Jimmy. Other parts were traded for parts for the Jimmy.

Third row seat mod.
I have 4 little kids so I need more seating in the Jimmy.

First we cut the place from the parts Suburban.
[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/2006-10-23-01.JPG[/img]

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/2006-10-23-02.JPG[/img]

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/2006-10-23-03.JPG[/img]

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/2006-10-23-04.JPG[/img]

Next step is to cut the brace off the back of the plate, cut holes in the Jimmy foor and weld the plate in.

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/2006-10-25-01.JPG[/img]

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/2006-10-25-02.JPG[/img]

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/2006-10-25-03.JPG[/img]

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/2006-10-25-04.JPG[/img]

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/2006-10-26-01.JPG[/img]

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/2006-10-26-02.JPG[/img]

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/2006-10-26-03.JPG[/img]

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/2006-10-27-01.JPG[/img]

Tire Rack
BSLM built the Jimmy a receiver tire rack. We have no room inside the cab since we added the third row seat.
[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/jimmy/2007-07-01-01.jpg[/img]

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/jimmy/2007-07-01-02.jpg[/img]

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/jimmy/2007-07-01-03.jpg[/img]

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/jimmy/2007-07-01-04.jpg[/img]

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/jimmy/2007-07-01-05.jpg[/img]

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/jimmy/2007-07-01-06.jpg[/img]

Shackle flip
BSLM and Test Dummy got the shackle flip mounts done.

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/jimmy/2007-08-19-01.jpg[/img]

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/jimmy/2007-08-19-02.jpg[/img]

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/jimmy/2007-08-19-03.jpg[/img]

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/jimmy/2007-08-19-04.jpg[/img]

Front Axle swap
Next we put the front lift parts on with the front axle off the Suburban.

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/jimmy/2007-08-22-01.jpg[/img]

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/jimmy/2007-08-22-02.jpg[/img]

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/jimmy/2007-08-22-03.jpg[/img]

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/jimmy/2007-08-30-01.jpg[/img]

The front is in.

Rear Axle swap
[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/jimmy/2007-09-08-01.jpg[/img]

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/jimmy/2007-09-08-02.jpg[/img]

Putting in the 14 bolt FF.
[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/jimmy/2007-09-19-01.jpg[/img]

[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/jimmy/2007-09-19-02.jpg[/img]

[79chevy39.5's]

i think youll be dissapointed in where your blazer wont fit compared to the xjs

[OldGreen]

That man speaks from experience. Your recovery rig has to fit where you wheelin' rig goes if that is the real purpose.

[Beep Beep]

i think youll be dissapointed in where your blazer wont fit compared to the xjs

I wheel a FS Jimmy for 18 years. I do know that the Jimmy will not fit in some areas. It will in a lot though which I think is sad. I would like to see less widening of trails.

[Roman]

I would like to see less widening of trails.

x100

[Beep Beep]

Out with the T350.
[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/jimmy/2007-09-30-01.jpg[/img]

Now we have a 4 speed. :thumbright: We still have to put the cross member, pedals and linkage in.
[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/jimmy/2007-09-30-02.jpg[/img]

She is coming together.
[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/jimmy/2007-09-30-03.jpg[/img]

Just a little bigger than 99's XJ
[img]http://cegranch.com/mods/jimmy/2007-09-30-04.jpg[/img]

[79chevy39.5's]

did you keep stock 52's in the back or go with 56's? i have some 56's but theyre from a one ton so the pack would need to get reduced theyre your if you want them, theyll have a much better shackle angle

[Beep Beep]

You know I just can't remember how long I went. They are new 2" lift springs I bought earlier this year. I don't remember if I got the longer ones.

[Beep Beep]

Thanks. We got the slant nose on about a month ago. Here is what she prety much looks like right now.








We got some good news yesterday when we opened up the Suburban's 14 bolt SF (mate axle to the Jimmy's now front). It was 3.73. The 14 bolt FF I got from PUO is also 3.73 so I don't have to regear anything right now.

We still have to have drive lines made, install the Lock Right in the 14 bolt and redo the exhaust. There are some other small things to botton up but we are getting close to have this thing going.

[79chevy39.5's]

dang wish i woulda known you were gettin rid of the other fenders and hood i woulda picked em up from ya as my dad was just in tri-cities and i need a good hood and maybe straighter fenders, i also tossed a 10 bolt front housing at the scrap yard right before i left and i left the pinion in there but i kept the ring gear

[Beep Beep]

The new Trail Bus is on the road. We bought it home on Christmas Eve. My little boys love it.





Next is the headers and new exhaust system. We can not put in the front dive line right now because of the Y pipe is in the way.

I am sending over my extra set of 16" stock Chevy rims for my brother to make bead locks for.

[Grumpy]

The hard work shows

[79chevy39.5's]

is that a truss on the bottom of the 14 bolt?

[Beep Beep]

is that a truss on the bottom of the 14 bolt?

Yeah, it came that way.

[79chevy39.5's]

someone was scared of tweakin it eh? trail bus.........isnt that what the burb was called?

[Beep Beep]

trail bus.........isnt that what the burb was called?

Yes. A lot of the Suburban parts were used to build the Jimmy. The hood still has the Trail Bus letters on it for the Suburban. Just panted over. This is the new Trail Bus aka Short Bus.