Chevyriders Minnie Jimmy project (Return of the Minnie Jimmy)
 

Picked this up today for 400 bucks from a buddy. Needs some work that I'll be documenting here. It'lll be a winter driver for my girlfriend.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...602f450e58.png

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...19fde5e55a.png


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...c0d4e2d8c0.jpg


In the past year he's had it he put on a long list of parts including:

Battery
- Alternator
-Oil cooler lines
- Fuel Filter
- Transmission Fluid and Filter
- Top End of engine has all new gaskets
- Rear Axle
- Rear end fluid
- Shocks
- All new brakes lines
- All new brakes
- Both Wheel Cylinders
- Both front hubs
- Both CV joints
- Ball Joints
- Both axle seals
- 2 O2 sensors
- CAT Converter
- Trailer Hitch

Main issues I'm going to take care of first:

-Coolant leak(I'm pretty sure it's a lower rad. Hose..I have 2 spares)

-wipers stopped working- a new wiper motor came with the truck but I'm hoping g it might just be a fuse

- has a quiescent current draw that's killing the battery overnight, so I have to trace that down and fix it.


Other than that, I'll be lowering it a couple inches and putting a 98+ front end on it...along with a bunch more mods too I'm sure

Figured out the wipers today, seems to be a loose connection where the harness plugs into the motor. Unplugged it, plugged it back in and it worked. I'll spray some electrical parts cleaner in there and dielectric grease it tomorrow to make sure it stays working.


Did some tracing wires to figure out the quiescent current draw. Noticed the clock stays lit even after the truck is off, pulled the radio for the night to see if the battery still goes dead. Also found a bunch of hacked wiring behind it from someone installing a aftermarket deck previously, so I'll solder and shrinkwrap all the connections in the morning.

Pretty ragged...all just twisted together under the electrical tape.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...fea74de975.jpg

4x4isnt working so I started diagnosing that... Found that the t-case engages like it should, but the front diff isn't locking in. I'll have to pull the battery tray and look into it further.

Also found a split vacuum line in passing- so I fixed that too.


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...bb5b87ff1c.jpg

The paints dull, but it should buff up really nice. All the plastics(cladding and bumpers) are too sun faded and will probably get repainted... I'll probably paint the silver inlays black along with the wheels.

With the radio unplugged overnight the battery didn't loose any charge at all- was still a solid 12.4 volts this morning.

I have a pioneer head unit thats been sitting around for a while so I decided to put that in in place of the factory radio.

Soldered and shrink-wrapped the wiring adapter

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...3701221964.jpg

Went back and soldered/shrinkwrapped all the previously hacked radio wires. Twisted and ziptied them all up to keep them neat.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...92caaae3b7.jpg

And the radio works again- now it doesn't stay on with the truck off!

Just gotta order the correct dash kit...none of the local stores had them, so it looks ghetto right now.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...7709fa5a38.jpg

After pulling the battery tray, I found everything to be functioning properly with the front differential actuator.. checked to make the cable was hooked up to the diff properly, and it was.... Then I noticed this:

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...a7ffae39fe.jpg
Yep, that's the driver's side cv axle hanging pretty much all the way out of the differential... Willing to bet that's my issue right there. Hopefully it didn't cause any damage to the differential though.



Other than that, I put a new directional bulb in, and it should pass inspection now.


Did notice a faint smell of fuel though. So I'll be having to replace the lines and/or tank soon.

Nice fix to the radio. I like doing stuff the same way. Will last and not cause trouble in the future.

Thanks, i always feel better with soldered connections and neat wiring.i actually enjoy doing it too lol.

found my coolant leak easily thanks to a coolant pressure tester. unfortunately it was not the lower radiator hose as i previously thought- but the radiator its self. kicking myself for bringing my two spare radiators to the scrapyard last year.... but i cant complain too much, because this is the first fix that has actually cost me money on this truck.


Got the 4 wheel drive working today also. jacked the front end up and pulled the wheel, lined up the splines on the axle and snapped it all the way into place. it clicked in and feels locked there so it seems that the the clip is still good.. another free fix. gotta love it.

just gotta top off the front diff fluid because judging by the oil all over that area- its probably quite low

Very nice.... following your jeep killer, going to follow this one too. Nice clean work every time.

Thanks DonL, I appreciate the compliment on my work!

Got a shiny new radiator today for 69 bucks... Not a bad deal.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...5d25778954.jpg

Cool for cool coolant...

I like the radio setup thou: I have a piece of insulation cut out to act as a spacer for a cheap radio. Looks o.k. and does the trick.

Cool coolant is cool lol. Mine was slowly ending up on the ground.

That's not a bad idea- if it works it works. I found the right dash kit online though- so I'll be ordering that tomorrow.

Well I did this a little bass ackward , but I went ahead and lowered the jimmy 3 inches today. Cost about 30 bucks, and took about 3 hours... probably less. But I think it looks pretty good at this height.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...5e5a42b1dc.jpg

Also started cleaning up the wheels.. I was very surprised at how much they cleaned up..but it takes alot of scrubbing and I'm still not done
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...b4ebf40839.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...1baa4a763c.jpg

I'll probably be blacking out the wheels soon, but they had to get cleaned up first anyway... I spent about the same amount of time cleaning 2 of the wheels as I did lowering the truck. I'm going to get stronger degreaser to do the other 2 so I don't waste my time.

Looks nice and level.... those rims look a h#@$ of a lot better now

Surprisingly it handles better too.. yeah donL I can't believe how much the wheels came back- I didn't expect much from them at all, but not too shabby.


Went back at it for part 2 today... Ended up with more free time than I expected.

Got the new radiator in and refilled with fluids

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...86e19eaedb.jpg


And I swapped the busted plastic skid plate out for the aluminum one that I can't use on my blazer any more

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...2b7acd0fbc.jpg

I gotta figure out something to do with this front bumper, it definitely took a light hit before.... possibly an envoy bumper swap if I can find one cheap... You can see how far off it is in this picture. Under the headlight and in the corner

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...a02f318d26.jpg

Doesn't look half bad lowered! Although I'm not sure I could bring myself to lower my 4x4 lol

What are those wheels off of? They look like OEM wheels for something and not aftermarket, but I could be wrong...

Yeah, I know it's taboo to lower a 4x4 lol. It was tough for me to do being an off-roader....but it's tough to find 2wd blazers in NY, I wanted a 4x4 for my girlfriend to drive in the winter, and I already have a lifted blazer i wanted a matching lowered one for... so I bit the bullet and went for it.... Plus it's not like it would take much to put it back at factory height.


I think the wheels are factory gm of some sort...I'm thinking maybe a Pontiac Bonneville, grand prix, or grand am possibly? They were put on by the previous owner (before my buddy owned it)

Got the other 2 wheels cleaned up today , and started polishing the paint with the buffer... What a difference it's making! Not perfect by any means-and I'm just doing a quick once over. But it's taking the heavy oxidation right off.

Big difference from the left side to right in this picture

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...4485f7a293.jpg

Hood and fenders looking nice and shiny

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...cbfc2ad41e.jpg

Unfortunately buffing it made me notice all the bodywork that's been done to the nose, and all these chips down the passenger side..but at less than 500$ total invested for a reliable running driving 4x4 truck- I still have no complaints.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...24d5d8ced9.jpg


Decided in definitely going to try and find an envoy front bumper for it...I'm going to call around to junkyards and parts suppliers tomorrow

And wheel spacers for the back wheels has been added to my list for it too

I like the idea of lowering it. Make it just a little lower, maybe an inch or so for handling and slightly stiffer or adjustable shocks.

I would have done that to my other Blazer if it would have been worth saving. (Too much rust).

damn come buff my 04 when you're done lol

Stiffer shocks will come eventually- but my buddy put new shocks on last year so I don't want to take them off just yet. It rides pretty nice so far...but I haven't really stretched it's legs in the corners yet- and I have a feeling the front shocks might run out of room to compress on hard corners

Blazenred, this is just a super quick buff too.. my buffing skills aren't very honed right now, it's been a while.

My buddy that works with me does all our detailing- he's a wizard with the buffer. He can make a turd shine lol

Edit: forgot to add, I found a local junkyard with a 98 envoy, they are supposed to call me back tomorrow morning after they check the condition of the front bumper and rear spoiler- so I'm crossing my fingers- because it would look pretty sweet with that bumper, and spoiler(which I would paint body color)

So it's been a minute here, my blazer was taking all my focus for a while.

The envoy bumper/spoiler fell through- they had me come up to look at the bumper before they pulled it off the truck to make sure I was happy with the condition...when I got there- they didn't even have the envoy they said they did...they were all the new body style...so that was annoying.

I finally got the dash kit installed for the stereo so it doesn't look hack-y any more...still have to find the piece facia that goes around the head unit though...

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...a3c3a9f774.jpg

My woman kept saying how she couldn't wait to get a new truck this coming year so she could get one with a remote starter...since I got this as a winter driver for her, I decided to surprise her and order a remote starter for it.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...b129efb033.jpg

Also should be getting 1.5" spacers for the rear wheels by next week.

Been trying to find a nice set of 17s or 18s, just missed out on a set of z06 wheels today...they sold them before I could get them after I got out of work..

Picked up a set of ZR1 reps 18x9.5s for a slamming deal (after a long drive to get them).pretty pumped to see how they look on it, I like the style so it should be pretty good... Need to find 2 tires first though.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...02a27ee71.jpeg

Very Nice!

Thanks! I had to see what it would look like so I threw the 2 with tires on to get a feel for it. Doesn't look bad, but i think it needs to go a little bit lower


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...f30e563099.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...896e03872e.jpg

I would agree... they look good on the blazer... wife should be happy.... I know my wifey likes them! Lol

I love those wheels!

Yeah...she was more like"why are you putting Corvette wheels on before winter?"....so today I went and got a set of blizzak snow tires for them:icon_goofygrin:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...0499821f54.jpg
These tires are slightly taller than the 2 that came on the wheels...so it should fill up the wheel well a little better too. So for a total of 375$ I got a nice set of wheels and tires...pretty good deal i think....but I still cringe when I realize that's pretty much the same I paid for the whole truck...:icon_denk:

Got these today too for the rear to even up the wheels a bit.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...c244ed90ef.jpg


I'm considering swapping in a bravada t-case and front diff and making this thing AWD...but I have mixed feelings about it...so we will see...

Probably going to order a cold air intake for it this week...seems a little ricey, but it's going to be a true cold air intake that's shielded from the rest of the engine compartment, and if nothing else it will make the engine bay look a bit nicer.

I'll accompany that with the throttle body mod(probably just throw one of the 3 modded blades I already have in it) and it should flow a little nicer....then it'll be time for a mild exhaust.

So I got the spacers on the rear, mounted 2 of the blizzaks on the empty wheels and got them on the truck.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...4ed3274df1.jpg (for reference the truck is not sitting on that little garden edger block lol)

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...9692ce7f3c.jpg


Today I got surprised with half of the day off for Thanksgiving ...so I made use of the time by painting the rear window vents body color.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...9bf96d6afe.jpg

The color looks slightly off, but the quarter panel paint is super oxidized because it hasn't been buffed yet- so I think it'll match much better once I buffed the rest of the truck

It looks great with the spacers on the rear wheels!

So I decided to paint the roof rack to look similar to a diamond edition Jimmy

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...e8ff383498.jpg


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...aa8b331cf7.jpg

Retorqued my ubolts and did front brake pads today...it also looks like it's going to need control arm bushings asap

Took a few pics of the 2 of the trucks together while they were both at the shop....

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...87a5cb0ce4.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...43be27c58e.jpg

The jimmy is looking good... but what did you do to the beast!?

I've been slacking on the big one lol. I gotta build a new tranny crossmember for it....but I might swap to 1 ton axles and a passenger side drop t-case- so im trying to make up my mind before i bother building one for my current setup

I got all my control arm bushings and pulled the left side apart... but when I pressed the old ones out, it took so much force that it deformed the upper control arm....I found a great deal on the a pair of new upper control arms with bushings and balljoints already installed, so I ordered them off Amazon prime and should have them by Friday....And I got the bushings locally, so they can be returned.

While the truck is suck on the lift , I figured it would be a good time to a dress the sagging bumper issue.....a little bit of adjustment, reattached a bumper guide that pulled off, and bent back a bumper support bar....And it looks much better now!
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...649c2b77ec.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...eb8ea3bb7f.jpg

Not perfect, but it will do until I get a replacement bumper....still haven't had any luck with an envoy bumper, so I may just get a factory in replacement, or a bravada bumper until I can source an envoy one.

De-badged the rear gate today...made me consider shaving the rear wiper and push button...hmm
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...29be7a85ef.jpg

I've been looking at this grille since I took it off the range rover wondering how it'd look modded with the gmc grille.. So I started playing now that the range rover is done.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...806065a0fb.jpg


Just rough cut and tossed in to get an idea, it would have the tapered ends on all 3 rows, not just the upper 2- and the ends would start in line vertically....painted either bodycolor or the same color silver as the roofrack...... but general idea is:


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...2b05c6f9e2.jpg
Not 100% if I'm gonna run it or not.
Open to hearing opinions on it, good or bad.

Love that grill look... wanna make one for Chevy? Lol

All I need is another front end hit range rover to come in the shop! Lol

Here's a pic of the whole thing now that it's a little further along

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...88287b07b9.jpg

Modified my headlights today to make my directional lens clear

Before
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...e174f187ce.jpg

After
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...c5679d7d3d.jpg

I sort of like the Range Rover grill. It is different.

Thanks, I have mixed feelings about it so I haven't continued on it yet



Look at what I found finally

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...8e49486f7e.jpg
Little envoy bumper action

Nice! Looks like it’s in good shape!

Thanks! It needs a lil work but not too bad.

Got it cleaned up and mocked up on the reinforcement.. I want to add a couple brackets on the bottom to hold it a little better, and wire my fog lights. Then hopefully paint it over the weekend.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...63aa8bfb3d.jpg
Glass bead blasted and painted my tow hooks silver to accent the red (once it's painted lol)

Also I finally got my upper control arms from ups
Last night, so I scuffed them up and shot them with a couple coats of epoxy sealer so they stay Looking nice and new- That factory coating always turns to rust in no time flat.
Those will be getting installed tomorrow

Installed the driver side upper control arm the other day and got that side back together.

Got the envoy spoiler today, tested the neon third brake light and it works...

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...ed22c05d18.jpg

Also got some base model s10 mirrors that look a little more sleek than the factory blazer ones.

I'm hoping to get the front bumper, spoiler, and mirrors all painted body color tomorrow, as well as the passenger side l
Upper control arm in.

Edit: here's a picture of it with the bumper now that it's off the lift

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...18210772fa.jpg