Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Thanks, I learned a lot from all of the distressing of the body. It's all in the details. When you have age and distress everywhere you look it masks the fuax area's with the real rust areas. At least that's the hope. ha ha

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

your 'faux tina' painting is excellent.

I have tried to do it, and it is not that easy.


Thanks for the pics

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Thanks..........I have an art degree so I look at it like one big art project. I'm anxious to see all the parts together. I may go back and further work some areas, but I want to see it all assembled first.

Thank you
Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

I have been plugging away on the wiring. I just about have it whooped. Here are my Dakota Digital HDX gauges. I treated the trim rings to a brushed finish. It's hard to see but the gauge on the left has been brushed. The gauge on the right has not.

Installed the gauges then I threw the wheel on to see how it all looks.

I'll post some pics soon of the wiring. I have spent a lot of time laying it out nicely.

Thank you
Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

You sir are an artist.
I did something similar to fit my LED headlights so nice at night.

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Thanks man. The headlights in my 48 sucked due to the hagen frenched headlight kit. There was no adjustment. I hated driving it at night due to the visibility. I'm excited about having much better visibility.

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

That mirror arm looks old ad legit. Great work. I really like those gauges. I'd love to buy them for my 40 but geeze! Where does the money bleeding end? :lol:

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Thanks man...Yes I hear you on the money..I going to pick up some of my seat from the upholster this weekend.

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Pretty sure I saw that mirror on the 'gram and couldn't tell which was which.

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

gauges look soooo nice

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Do you have any tips for making things look that distressed? I've done some but yours looks way more legit than mine did. :lol:

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Thanks..

I appreciate it

It's about layers and textures. Keep playing with it until your happy with it. Be creative. For example I put the new mirror arm in a vice and tightened it down then twisted it to add nicks and scraps to it then I painted it, sanded and painted again. It jsut takes time an playing around.

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

On Saturday I drove to Indiana to pick up my third row seat. I'm stoked with how it all turned out. It is sooooo comfy too. I'm also having stock arm rests covered in the same chocolate leather. My upholstery guy will make me a shift boot and some cool visors. I will share more on that later. My 48 didn't have visors because I was going for a cleaner look, but there were times when I wised I had them.

I should return in about a week to pick up my middle and front rows and the other misc. pieces.

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

On Sunday I played around with the CCTek tool I barrowed from my friends. With this tool you can set up a rim width, check tire fitment and set up your back spacing. Since I had the tires I think I will run, I was able to dial it all in. These tools are expensive. Luckily I barrowed it from my friends that own the hotrod shop.

The rear tires are 265 x 40 x 22. (30.35" dia) and the fronts are 255 x 35 x 22 (29.03 dia), which are pretty large diameter tires (especially if you are trying to layout). For the rear I will go with a 22 x 10" rim. The front is still TBD but I'm thinking about a 22 x 9".

Ideally I would like to order the wheels soon because it is probably a 6-8 week lead-time.

Also my fabricating friend stopped by with my lower dash panel that he is working on for me. He's getting close.

All in all a pretty productive weekend.

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

That’s an awesome tool. No pics of the lower dash panel?

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

The seat looks great Marc...!!!

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Marc, seat looks sweet, nice set-up on checking size of wheel width, etc...Jim

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

No not yet. He had to make some revisions before we can bolt it up. I'll share some pics once its done.

Thanks!!

Thanks Jim, every 1/2" counts when you are trying to stuff a large dia wheel under a bagged truck..

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

marc, what determined if you got the clamshell or barn doors on the AD suburban?
i believe with TF panel gets barn door and suburban gets clamshell

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1607605885

i did the 2012 power tour with my painter, who owns this AD suburban
also found these from the same 2012 power tour
TF suburban and 60-66 suburban both with clamshell

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

I believe it was just an option. All Suburban body come with cut outs for the cables and retractors. I know a lot of people prefer the claim shell. I prefer the barn door as there are less parts that they don't remanufacture.

Thank you
Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

yeah that tilt out brake light is something else
your' sis probably the only suburban i've seen with barn doors

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Seat looks really nice Marc!! That rim tool is crazy, it has a ton of adjustment. I have seen one before but didn't pay attention.

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Thanks...yes the tool is quite expensive to purchase but it is well made.

Marc

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

That seat is so nice! I like the retro look in the center material. Man, I'd love to have that wheel set up tool too! I wished I had one when I was configuring my 40. This thing is going to be killer!

Re: 53 Surburban "Family Truckster"
 

Thanks Ryan, The seat is soooo comfy. I searched for the material for a while. I self sourced it. This same material will be used for my door panels and my visors as as well as some of my interior panels. I've got some other unique details with this build that I'm keeping close to the vest for now.

Thanks for following along.

Marc