Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Marc, frame looks super nice. Will the seat have like a carriage bolt to lock into the plate?...Jim

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Wow Marc...chassis looks great.!!

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Yes, Jim that's exactly how they mount. I figured since the leg room wont be the best in the back with the notch it might make sense to run the back seat in the #2 position.

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Thank you Greg....I always wanted a detailed chassis.

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Damn, you're on a roll!

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

I'm trying brother. I have other parts like inner fenders and core support, steering column at the painter being body worked so it will be quicker when I pick interior colors. I have a stock pile of parts waiting.

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

gorgeous!

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

(Thank you Greg....I always wanted a detailed chassis ..Marc)

I'd say mission accomplished

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

I got the chassis back to a roller. Boy this feels good. I have been pushing for what seems like a good month to get it to this point. I picked up these 20" rollers that I got a good price on. I plan on selling them once I pick out my new wheels. They look like they are touching the frame but they are not. I will add clearance with a different offset. The day after these pictures were taken we received about 3" of snow. I have started to bleed the brake system and I have installed the gas tank.

I also got a couple coats of ebony stain applied to the wood floor sections. I also finished reconditioning and repainting all the seat springs for the (3) rows of seats so that I can take them to the upholstery shop.

Thanks
Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

that is sweet...

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Beautiful...Jim

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Thanks Guys, its getting there.

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

I hauled the body about 30 minutes down to my friend Jim's shop. Jim is my friend that painted my 48. He's got time and could use the $$ so I will let him body work and paint the interior of the Suburban to keep the progress moving.

I found these cool panel clips that work as anchor points for zip dies. These are great for areas where you can't drill a hole. Great for keeping wiring neat. I used a few along the back edge of my gas tank to keep my fuel lines tucked tight. With the watts link I want to make sure they don't get snagged. I think I paid $20 for the bag....

Tomorrow I will start installing my Altman latches.

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Neat pieces...Jim

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

that should def help to have someone do the body and paint. I like the clips thanks for posting them. What color scheme you going with?

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

The interior colors are somewhat decided. Thinking of going with the same grayish color that I used on the suspension components and a cream white as an accent color. Once I get some spray outs done I will pick the carpet and leather colors. The interior is in good shape, it doesn't need much just some fine tuning.

Here is a sample of the planned interior color.

Thanks
Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

here is to hoping you dont end up in paint prison! haha.

looks like a great interior color too

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

I spent the better part of the day in the garage. Sunday is usually my day but we have a basketball tournament for Austin about 1hr north that will last all day tomorrow..

I got the Altman latches installed (most of the way) and my doors disassembled and the window tracks and hardware removed. I will go with glass with no metal trim around them and have the edges polished like I did with my 48.

I also spent some $$ over the holiday. I took advantage of Discount Tires Black Friday sale and picked up some 22" Toyo tires. I went with 255 x 35 x 22 and 265 x 40 x 22. I also ordered my Holley front drive, intake and fuel rails.

Here are a few pics.....

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

wow you did spend some dough! looking good!

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

[QUOTE=joedoh;8652807]wow you did spend some dough! looking good![/QUOTE

Funny but that's not the half of it. My Holley front drive, intake and fuel rails showed up today after work. My motor will look a lot like this one, except my hooker manifolds are thermal coated in a titanium color...

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Are your accessories going to be black as well marc?...

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Can't wait to see yours...Jim

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Yes I purchased the center mount complete set up in black. It comes with a nice harmonic balancer and black pully covers. I figured it would save me time from painting it.

Thanks Jim

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Looking forward to more post updates.

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Coming along real nice. I like how you did the wood replacement, I have been wondering about how to get my wood out. Mine is solid but has been painted a dark red, I think the PO was colour blind or something...Anyway your doing a fantastic job.....Roy

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Thanks Roy, I thought about it for a while. Is it red on top? You could just sand it off since the wood is solid and re-stain/paint. I was forced to change mine up because of my suspension. I also toyed with the idea of using a thin laminate flooring for a different look. I decided I will cover it with carpet so that's why I went the route I did.

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

I finally got around to getting some color laid down on my transmission and engine block. I still need to paint my intake and valve covers to match but at least now I can drop the motor in the chassis. I'll probably go with a satin finish for the white for the interior...I talked to my painter and the interior body work is just about complete so interior painting will be soon to follow...Next I will drop the motor and trans in and start installing the front drive.....

I hope everyone else got something done out in garage today

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Sounds like the interior is close to being completed with the body work and getting close to paint. I was in need of repair on the rear panel that goes under the rear doors. This part is not reproduced. I cut this part out in hopes of welding in a new piece. A fabricator friend of mine helped me (ie. did all of the work) to form new patch, tig weld and metal finish. He did an awesome job. On Sunday after my son's basketball tournament I had a few hrs to mess with the Suburban so I dropped in the engine. Without a leveler or LS engine cradle it took a little wrestling to get the move to bolt up to the mounts....Next up it to mate the trans to the engine

Thanks
Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Marc, nice job on the repair piece. Engine in place looks good...Jim

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Thanks Jim

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Body- Ive been busy here an there....I have been splitting time at my shop and the painter's. I jsut about fished fitting my rear notch cover. The interior body work is getting close. He is spraying a high build primer then sanding one more time before laying down some color.

Chassis - I installed the trans and started bolting up some of the engine accessories.

Interior - I went and visited my upholstery guy on Saturday to go over the details and to pick out some material. I have most of it sorted out. I still need to pick out a textured material for the seats to go with the leather. I have some sample I'm waiting on. Attached is the picture of the interior colors, carpet color and the seat design for all (3) rows of seating but mine will be different colors....

Thanks
Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

that's gonna look great Marc..!!

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

I hope so....

Thanks Greg

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Nice update on the build, that interior is going to look sweet...Jim

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

That interior is awesome!

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Got a little more don't this past weekend. The interior is a few weeks away from paint so I put some work in on the rear notch cover. This will ultimately be covered in carpet but will be removable. I'm using these cool billet washers to make for unique fasteners. I might paint the fasteners black.

I also had someone pitch an idea of some tail lights. I think they originally were intended as front fender marker lights. They say Guide on them (there not stock Suburban taillights). They match the curve of the body perfectly but I'm on the fence if I would use them. Thinking I could take one of those bed hole LED taillights and epoxy them into this housing.....You can see the paper template on the back door for the other type of LED taillight that I'm considering.

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Fastener is cool. I like the paper template for the rear lights, just an opinion, worth what you paid for it.

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

I got some of those billet washers to use on my rear fender bolts...they are nice..
Those bullet lights have a more period look to them...would be different for sure...