Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Just getting around to posting this upgrade but before I do I want to give a shout out to LockDoc and 70 CST. I found out about this upgrade in a thread that was posted by 70CST and I wanted to post my results. I did the Jeep Wrangler headlight conversion with LED bulbs and it came out really nice. Thank you gentlemen, the upgrade looks great !

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

They worked well for me. https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...8&postcount=59

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

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Good deal! I have not had any trouble with mine and they work good.

LockDoc

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

The Burb looks great. I may have to copy that LED Jeep conversion in mine.

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

This coming winter I plan to make some changes to the Suburban as far as the motor, so I started researching a hydro boost conversion. I also reached out to member LockDoc who was very helpful with tips and info he had acquired during his conversion. For my conversion I used the hydro booster from a 2004 3500 box van. Junkyards are pretty non existent where I live so all i could source was the pump itself from a salvage/used auto parts yard. The lines I purchased at Napa for a 2003 Chevrolet 2500 (info compliments of LockDoc) After some tweaking at the power steering pump and a slight adjustment at the steering box the lines fit very well. I did remove the oring end for the steering box and double flared the end with the standard fitting end. Came out nice and the Suburban has NEVER stopped like it does now. So phase one is now complete and I dont have to worry about vacuum for the brake system.

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

That's great. I have a few questions you might be able to answer for me.

Did you change master cylinder or keep the one you originally had.

The firewall mounting. How did you mount the hydro boost.

The brake pedal rod. Did you have to make one or did the one from the 2004 3500 box van work.

Thanks

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

I used my 3/4 ton MC. You use the mounting plate on the hydro boost to mount it to the firewall. You will have to drill some holes and mb weld some holes up. The brake pedal rod I just modified by cutting the eye off of the hydro boost rod then used the end of the rod off the vacuum booster and welded it together. Some guys weld a piece to the brake pedal itself the redrill the hole as well. Do a search on here and there are a couple threads that go into greater detail than what I did for this conversion.

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

sounds like a nice upgrade! mine stops a little sluggish too, I figured because I have over sized wheels. I might have too look more into this down the line

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

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Glad you got it finished up. Looks like a good install.

LockDoc

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

This past Saturday we went on the Ohio Historical Bridge Cruise with the C-10 Club of Ohio. 70 mile trip 7 covered bridges. Nice ride, great group of people. This was the 5th year for the cruise and this year was the largest group so far with 31 trucks total.

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

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Per our conversation here is the steering box re-seal thread I used. It was posted by TX Firefighter.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=619634

LockDoc

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Thank you Leon, I owe you one

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

No problem....

LockDoc

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

I started on the winter tear down on the motor in the Suburban today. Made some good progress and I have it down to the long block so far. Had to remove the intake and strip it down so that it can be port matched to the heads and then flow tested as a unit. Tomorrow I may continue on it and try to get the heads removed and possibly get the cam and lifters out but at this point I am undecided. No hurry, I have plenty of time to get it back together, I may tackle the steering box rebuild while waiting on parts for the motor.

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

I always enjoyed doing that if I had plenty of time. It sounds like you do so that is good.....

LockDoc

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

More progress made today. I have the motor down to the short block and took the old camshaft out, then installed the new one so that much is done. now its just a waiting game for parts to start coming in. I did discover that number 3 plug wire was burnt. It wasnt burnt through to the point of causing a misfire but its bad enough to where Im going to have to make some changes to get it away from the header when I replace the wires. Hopefully that is the only gremlin I find the rest of the way

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

For headers on an LS, Taylor wires with the 45 degree boots are the best option. Not the traditional big one with the T logo, but the thinner grey color end

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Didnt get to work on the Suburban very long today but made some progress. Parts have been coming in here and there this week so tomorrow we are planning on changing the converter and getting the short block set back in and that will probably be it. Heads and intake should be finished up soon so hopefully in a couple weekends the motor will be back together.

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Yes went with the 45 degree boots and even with the heat boots on I now have plenty of room. Set the head on the bench and bolted the header to it so I could mock up the wires, worked out nice.

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Sounds like you are working yourself out of a job.... You better slow down.... :)

LockDoc

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

This morning the torque converter swap is now complete. Now its just a waiting game for the heads and intake. If the steering gear kit arrives this week maybe I will tackle that next weekend and get it out of the way. LockDoc was right, I worked myself out of a job LOL!

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Well, I went out to the garage Monday after work and to my surprise the bolt circle on the new converter was wrong. So, Thursday after work I pulled the short block back out, boxed up the converter and went to Summit after work Friday to exchange converters. Yesterday while the short block was out I installed the lifter and trays, timing chain and cover, plus the oil pan then put it back in and bolted it back up to the transmission. This morning I bolted up the converter and installed the AC compressor back in the bracket then cleaned up the bench to make room for the heads and intake which should be finished this week. Not sure if I will have it running next weekend but it will be close, if not no big deal.

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

You just need to burn a little more "Midnight oil" to make up for the lost time... :lol:

LockDoc

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Yes sir ! If the heads and intake are finished and picked up Friday there will be plenty of "Midnight Oil" burning .... Probably at least a 55 gallon drum LOL !!!

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

.... :lol:

LockDoc

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Little to no progress was made over the weekend. Picked up the heads and intake last night only to find out that the intake was not correctly ported and had to be returned today. Intake should be done by Friday and ready for pickup so I will try again next weekend to get the top end of the motor back together and ready for fire up.

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Finally made some decent progress today. Heads are installed, valves adjusted, valve covers are on, starter is on and wired up, power steering pump is on, and crank pulley is installed. Tomorrow I will try to assemble the intake, get it installed along with the water pump and radiator. If time permits I might start installing the ignition coils, but all and all Im happy with todays progress.

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Lookin' good! All of that bright paint is hard on the eyes.... :)

LockDoc

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Thank you LocDoc, I should have turned off the florescent trouble light.

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Intake is on, water pump, alternator, radiator, and coolant is in the motor. Friday I will finish up the wiring and ignition coils then try to bring it to life.

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Looking Good.

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Made a little more progress this evening. Grounds all bolted up, oil pump is primed, fuel lines are hooked up, plugs are in, plug wires are on, and coils are mounted and wired. Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving !!!!

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Sounds like you are about ready to fire her up.

You and your family have a great Thanksgiving too.

LockDoc

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Fired up the Suburban last Friday, then came 3 or 4 days of delays. Steering gearbox had to be replaced. Installed it yesterday and bled system so all is good there. Today my Dad and I went for a short ride out the road and back, ran really well but the stall converter is going to take some getting use too LOL. Made some tweaks to the shift points in the tune so if the weather isnt to bad tomorrow I will make another trip out the road and back and see how the Burb reacts to it.

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Good luck on the drive tomorrow. It just takes a little time to get everything where you need it to be....

LockDoc

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Yes it does LockDoc. Weather was pretty bad today it rained most of the day and at times it was coming down pretty good so no ride out the road. I did make some other adjustments that were a little off. Got the throttle cable adjusted and dialed in. The brake light switch was way off after adding the hydroboost ( Never gave it a thought to check that ) Clocked the steering wheel so its straight now. And added some trans fluid,and coolant. The weatherman said " tomorrow will be a much better day " we will see lol

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Here is a video of the Suburban running in the driveway. New motor combo


https://youtu.be/guTAqelXVrw

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

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Well, it certainly sounds good! ... :)

LockDoc

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

You wont see this very often. I have been using the garage bay while refacing the cabinets in the kitchen and wouldnt you know it, as soon as I decided to leave the Suburban out over night it snowed

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

That figures!!!

We are supposed to get a lot of rain in the next few days and I bet it is headed your way next. It will be snow on the back side so we will see what that brings.... :(

LockDoc