Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

I will check tomorrow and see if I have some spares.

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Sorry Marc, I checked and don't have any extras.

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Thanks for checking Doug. Back a few years ago I always found all sorts of them at swap meets to $20, but not when you need one. I hate to spend $40.00 on something that I will cut up and only use a little piece.

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

I have a Lincoln mig pac 15. 220V 160A. It came with gas valve and regulator. Bought it for $600 13 years ago, have not done anything to it ever other than clean it out once. A lot of wire has gone through this machine. I also modified it to take a 44lb wire real of .035 almost time for a new one of those. Easily weld 1/4" single pass no prob. Frame looks real nice and solid.

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Thanks Lower50

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

So I have been working through some minor set backs with my chassis. Nothing too serious. I have also been collecting some parts.

First I received my 13" big brake kit. Man these rotors and calipers look huge. I wanted to go with the 14" set up but I couldn't justify the extra cash when I still have so much money to spend...

I also found a ZR2 rear end for cheap about an hr away. We are taking a short roadtrip on Saturday to pick it up...

Here is a current shot of my frame..

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Marc, Frame is looking good...Jim

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

looking good

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Those brakes do look huge! Way more stopping power than anything the Burb ever had.

Chassis is looking good. Good luck with the ZR2 rear Marc.

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

I have not been on in a while but the burb is looking great. Keep it up.

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Which brake kit did you use?? I think I need to upgrade since my ls1 swap

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Brakes look good!

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Looking good on the truck Marc - the Eastwood deal is pretty good for $949 if you can find it with free shipping. I payed $800 for both but I got stiffed for shipping of about $80 -$90 I think it was.

They both work great so far.... plasma cutter is doing 3/8" plate and burns right thru. I found if you use TOO much air its NOT good... trial and error!

The welder works good on 18ga, 16ga that ive been welding lately and then 1/4" and 3/8" plate too.

good luck!

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Thanks Jim
Tryin...Thanks
Yes Doug I was surprised how big the rotors and calipers were. We leave at 8:30 am tomorrow to go grab it.

Thank you

I went with mcGaughy. That's who's dropped spindles I'm using. 13' will be fine a 14" set up would be overkill for my stock 350 hp LS1 motor.
Thanks man
Thanks for the info, I appreciate it.

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Had a pretty productive Sat. I found a ZR2 s-10 rear-end for cheap on CL about an hr east of me. When trying to get a buddy to go along, one of my friends tells me he had to pick up a open car trailer he had built that was in the same area.

We left by 8 am, picked up the rear end and then the trailer. Stopped for breakfast and was home by 12:30.

On Sunday, I spend an hour or so cleaning up the rear end. I removed the track arm and other crap that I would be needing. All ZR2 rear-ends are posi with 3.73 gears so it should be perfect plus the bolt pattern will match my front.

Here are a few pics

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Wow 13" rotors. I thought my 12" rotors where a huge upgrade. Nice job on the frame. That rear end should work great.

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

That rear was a nice find Marc. Having a good friend with a trailer is maybe better than owning one!

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Yes, when we picked it up I said "My 48 will look nice on that trailer"...ha ha
Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

You're not building a Trailer Queen, are you?? ;);)

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Ha! I thought the same. Nice work Marc.

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

No...my Suburban is a 53. My truck is a 48. I was messing with my friend saying my truck will look good on his trailer. I only trailered it to the Columbus GG show last yr because my buddies cars were not done yet. I drive my 48 as much as possible. The suburban I don't plan on it having nice paint so I plan to drive it as much as possible.

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

I was just foolin' around Marc ;)

I know you build fantastic drivers!! :metal:

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

I got out in the garage for a few hours on Sunday. After church on Sunday's seems to be the norm for getting out there.

I worked on getting the rear end, watts link and trailing arms set up. Keep in mind I mounted the axle pads upside down and didn't realize it until someone pointed it out on IG. Funny how things look soooo obvious after someone else points it out....ha ha. It's all good, this is why we mock stuff up first.

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Marc, that looks really trick! Usually I would figure out the pads were on the wrong side after I welded them on. Good catch.

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Thanks Doug, this is my first time messin with a watts link. Yea I hear ya, me too normally. If I hadn't ran out of time maybe I would have welded them on wrong.

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Looking great.... Keep the pic's coming.

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

That looks like a strong set up !!

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Very impressive!

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

I have been working hard to get the frame to a roller. I was close on sat then I realize my 15" roller rims would not clear the dropped spindles. Then I realized that I could steal two 17" rims off my Camaro.

I need to replace the front wheels studs to match the ones in my rear end.

the plan is to barrow my friends LS mock up block to see how the f-body exhaust manifolds fit.

Pretty stoked to see it laid out.

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Looking good!

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

That looks very good Marc! It is a good feeling to have a roller.

Those PB parts are beautiful and makes me want to build something with them. Ah, so many cool ideas, so little time and money.

Good luck with the exhaust fitting. Hopefully Camaro manifolds will work.

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Marc, very nice and looks super...Jim

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Looks like a racecar already!

Pretty low indeed!

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Very nice!

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Thank you

Right....Onward and upward from here. I need to get busy and try to catch up to you. Your waaaaaay ahead of me. I'm glad I was patient and spent a little extra coin on the PB stuff.

Yes not my first choice but I needed to call and audible once my other rollers would not fit. I'm not sure that I could run this wide of tire if I wanted to..

Thanks Jim...

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Thanks guys....

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

I managed to get out in the garage for a bit on Sunday. Most of the time was spent rewilding my rear watts link mounting tabs. I only tack welded it on so it was not that big of a deal.

I borrowed a LS mock up block from my friend Friday so I threw that in to check oil pan clearance. It looks like my F-body oil pan will clear the drop member nicely. I was also please to see the driver side F-body manifold fit. The seating needs to be sorted out yet but It will be close. The passenger side is requiring more messaging in order to fit.