Hello, I'm new here, obviously. I have a 1993 GMC Jimmy SLT that was given to me as a high school graduation present a few years ago by my grandparents. It's a 4.6L vin W.They bought it in California brand new with 0 miles sometime in 1992 I believe, since they make cars a year ahead.

While it stayed nice for a long time, it was eventually used and abused by everyone in my family. With age comes fading of the paint. My grandma whom is very well off went with the cheapest maaco pain job on it which is what you can see in my pictures. I'm not complaining because a free car is awesome, but it is something I will get fixed in a few months. I'm thinking of going with a black top half, and silver from the impact strips down. I'm gonna take the impact strips off because they're faded and damaged with age which makes it look ugly. I can't find replacements anywhere so I guess my only option is to take them off.

The car is 99% rust free believe it or not. It did spend most of it's life in Colorado, and a few years in California before that. Now it's in PA with salty roads and humidity, so I wash it often, especially underneath, but I'm not sure what else I can do other than keep my fingers crossed. I'm getting new shocks on the 23rd which will be awesome because I've been driving it this whole time with all the shocks completely shot. I'm really looking forward to it.

I've had many things replaced while it's been in my hands. AC conversion kit+refill, tune up, had a transmission leak fixed(still ongoing problems though), new window motors on all 4 windows, new alarm system, new stereo system, temperature sending unit for the engine coolant, PCV valve was clogged so that was causing an oil leak, new front tires(wish I could have gotten all 4 but I'm a poor college student and the front tires needed it more), the instrument cluster replaced due to the notorious failure, and many other things.

I do have one ongoing problem with it though. I keep getting low on transmission fluid even though I can't find a leak and neither can the dealer or my mechanic. The fluid is moving to the transfer case and overfilling it, which leaves the transmission starving for fluid and is causing slippage. Terribly annoying and I'm still working on that. Mechanic says he's gonna need it longer to figure out why it's doing that. Any ideas?

I'm around 165,000 miles right now and it runs well. Never leaves me sit or anything, and idles smooth. Typical terrible gas mileage though. I'm averaging 16-18mpg. I'm wondering if I should get a nice proper paint job like I want, or if I should maybe save the money for the engine and get it rebuilt or something, since I'm getting in the higher mileage area. What do you guys think?

I'll eventually get the two front seats reupholstered and the headliner done because its falling in. The reupholstering is going to cost me a pretty penny though. Not something I have right now but I'm trying.

Pics are in my profile.

Thanks!


P.S. If there are any jeep guys here, I have a 1974 CJ-5 with a 304 V8 and dual side exhaust with cherry bomb glasspacks. Definitely a head turner when people hear it coming.

 

Welcome from New Jersey

 

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welcome from NY

 

Welcome from New York . 4.3s are a real durable engine if you take care of it , my engine when it finally threw a rod had over 200,000 miles . And I had it to the floor bouncing the rev limiter with mud over the crank pulley . I beat the living crap out of that engine , its been threw the pond several times , in several mud races , and I still drove it 120 miles to work 6 days a week . Just keep your oil changed and full and plugs , wires , and distributor cap and rotor , and it should run a very long time . Paint is a good idea , it'll make it look better and offer extra body protection from the elements .

 

Welcome from another New Yorker.

 

Thanks, I guess I'll go for the paint

 

Welcome from North Caroline!