Almost 30 years after its introduction in the ’97 Corvette, there’s almost nothing in the world that hasn’t been LS-swapped, and because of that, there’s a certain amount of weariness involved in seeing one under the hood of just about anything. Like its Chevy small block forebear, however, there’s a reason that people still shove GM LS engines under the hoods of older cars: inexpensive, reliable power. Therefore, you can’t fault the builder of this ’77 GMC Jimmy for installing a 5.3 and a 4L60E overdrive. It has the handsome look of the Squarebody family with no-problem parts availability, and it doesn’t hurt that it makes about twice the power of the original V8. This one has had a lot of quality work done, and it’s being offered on eBay in Cheyenne, Wyoming, with a starting bid of $20,000 (and nobody’s bitten yet).

After bringing up the engine, I might as well show you the engine compartment and a list of pertinent facts about the drivetrain. The Jimmy has the following parts and features:

• a 400-horsepower 5.3 built by AMS Machine
• a 4L60E built by Wyotech
• an NP241C transfer case built by Bullhide 4X4 in Colorado
• rebuilt front and rear differentials with 3.73 gears (also by Bullhide)
• manual front hubs
• new tires

The frame has also been powdercoated in black, the undercarriage has been painted in body color (Medium Blue?), and the interior has been covered in “Fat Mat” from front to rear for a quiet ride.

Speaking of the interior, it has the “Custom Cloth and Vinyl Interior” offered by the “High Sierra” trim package (which is a great name for a trim package, by the way). The High Sierra gave the buyer “color keyed front carpeting,” “full gauge instrument cluster,” woodgrain trim, “vinyl storage pockets,” and more. This one has Vintage Air and Dakota Digital gauges for a modern touch to go along with the modern drivetrain.

But none of that matters. Look at the upholstery pattern and tell me that some little part of you doesn’t want the truck for that reason alone.

The seller admits that the Jimmy is basically used for shows and little more, so it’s looking for a buyer who isn’t afraid to get it on the road (or off the road) and enjoy it. I wonder if it might be a little too nice for worry-free driving, but if you are looking for a quality build where the details have been sweated, this Jimmy looks like a fun ride that you won’t have to constantly tinker with.