Friend of mine's father offered to give me his old rig. thats right...GIVE.
It's an 85 GMC Jimmy, 2.8l v6, Carberated, 110,XXX miles, runs but lacking power.
I'm thinking about taking it, and building it up for my little sister for a graduation gift.
Anyone have one or worked on one. Are they Worth building up? I really havent seen many drivin around that are modded/lifted ext.

 

Looks pretty solid. I'd swap that 2.8 for a 4.3. I had an S-10 w/4.3, and a newer Jimmy with the 4.3 MPFI V6 Vortec. Plenty of power.

 

yeah ide take it

 

Unfortunately, the 2.8 is a 60* v-6 where the 4.3 is a 90*. The bellhousing on the transmission will not work w/ the 4.3. The 2.8's are not known for power and have a tendency to drop the #6 piston.

You can get a 3.4 out of a v-6 Camaro and can swap in fuel injection.

Are the Jimmy's buildable? Yes, they can be built.

 

Holy cow it's free and solid. Switch the engine and trans with something else. Even a small block will drop in that thing without a whole lot of work.

 

The 2.8l never had a lot of power. I'd try a compression test and see if the engine is really tired or just needs a tune up to run good. Maybe you can just keep the engine that's in it and roll with that. It would certainly keep your cost down.
When's the last time it passed your Californian emissions tests?
Mike

 

I saw one the other day on another forum, they had cut the top off following the side glass. After I saw it, I wish I still had mine. I should have LA'd it w/ a d30 and a SOA 8.8. Oh well, hind site is 20/20.

 

I had an 89 S10 blazer, same truck different name. It was 4wd with the 4.3. It was tired as it had over 200k on the stock never rebuilt motor. It would turn the 31 mud dawgs but didn't care for them too much. With a fresh 4.3 I would not have hesitated to have thrown some 33's on it. Good luck and remember...
"Like Kevin Garnett, Anything is possible!" haha

 

it hasnt been registered opperational in 8 years.

Yeah My plan is to do a budget over haul. tune it up and see how it runs. if the engines too tired I'm gonna look for a 4.3 and a tranny to drop in. new bigger Rubber maybe a 3" suspension lift. and i got an extra basket to through up on it. should look pretty tough. oh, and a ram air intake.

 

My buddy has an 84 that we just droped a built 350 into in with a 700R4 trans. Still has the stock rear end which I am thinking is gonna blow up if the tires ever hook. Engine swaps for these are pretty simple and straight forward. I say go for it.

 

Thats pretty cool. I actually have a 97 s10 and I've been considering doing that for a while, but i kinda like the milage mine gives me. maybe after i get a better income haha.