48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

The Advanced Design trucks have been my favorite since learning to drive in one as a teen on the farm. Twenty years ago we started looking for a AD Suburban to build....remember thumbing through auto traders, Hemmings, getting fuzzy polaroid pictures in the mail of potential projects? Went through all that, drove hours to look at rusty projects that were supposed to be nice and then along came Ebay....Bought this one in Texas ten years ago and stored it the shop until we could get to it. Life, other projects, raising the kids all tended to take up available time and budget. Decided it was time to pull it up front to get started.

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Someone painted the Burb purple and did some interior work at some point. Still has the first row and second row seats.

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Apologies for the fuzzy picture....lifted the Burb for the first good look around underneath. Looks solid with just a bit of rust through where the right toe board and outer panel come together. And may find more though overall we are pretty happy.

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

The 5.3 and 4L60E comes from a rolled 2004 Sierra I found on Craigslist (another great car support invention). Bought a finished chassis from Trick Trucks and Rods. The owner Tom does nice work, in this case taking an original chassis, adding a bagged Heidts up front and a parallel four link rear with a 9 inch.

Since, like many folks, I work a lot of hours, usually I only have Saturdays in the shop. Progress is often slow. Goals for this year are to swap the body over to the new chassis and install the powertrain while we finish up the 35 Chevy coupe.

The talented folks participating here motivated me to get a jump on the Suburban....after waiting 20 years didn't want to wait anymore...so thank you!

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Nice looking Suburban. I'm intrested where you are going to take this one.

Good luck
Marc

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Nice project. I remember the classified ad searches very well, bought my first truck in '94 (the one in my avatar). We would cruise the Sunday paper, make a dozen phone calls, follow one lead, drive to BFE, and usually strike out! It was the most fun Dad and I ever had though!

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Thanks Marc! Heading toward a version of this truck I put together a few years ago are our initial thoughts.

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Thanks Leevon - a lot of the fun is in the hunt.

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

I like the plan. That is simular to the plan I have for my 53 Suburban that I'm currently working on.

Marc

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Marc- Your Suburban build is one that motivated me to get started even though the previous project we are on isn't finished yet....and your truck is incredibly nice!

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Subscribed....

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Super nice start man, can't wait for more progress!

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Thanks AD...Let me know if you need help sourcing any parts. I found out that Suburbans can be difficult. I noticed that yours was converted to solid rear side windows. That SS trim with the pull handle can be difficult to locate if you want to convert them back to sliding windows. Other than that, yours looks pretty complete.

I will be showing some progress soon. I will be welding in my floor pans...

Marc

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

I will be keeping an eye on this.
I am in the process of doing the same.
Like Marc said...building the Burb is MUCH more difficult then the truck was due to hard to find parts.
I was laying in bed the other night thinking how much harder it would be to build what we want without the internet....good on the guys who did it 20+ years ago

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Marc - I could take you up on that, thanks! Am planning fixed windows.

Iceburgh - Your Burb build also motivated me to get started! The internet has made it easier to find parts and share information to the benefit of this hobby / business.

....looking forward to Saturday and more time in the shop. I do have a good partner in this build as in many previous ones. We had four flat tires to fix to move the Suburban to the front of the shop.

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

I will be following along. Looks like you have a nice suburban to start with. Love seeing another one being brought back to life.

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Thanks Stockish, plan to make some progress tomorrow....and there is always the "honey do" list...mower repair, yard work, grandsons....so will see!

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Very cool 48ChevBagged and thanks! Your bare steel one is awesome....and the one that I almost bought in PCB about 3 years ago. Didn't try hard enough since I had this one stashed away waiting. Appreciated your LS swap too!

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Only a little time in the shop Saturday. Pulled the front fenders and found some rust through....not too bad.

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Not bad at all. This area was really rusted out on mine.
Nice progress.

Marc

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

I dont know what IT is, but that truck has IT.

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Thanks Joedoh - Bought the truck in pieces from many sources then had a long week end build with a bunch of buddies. Truck was really solid....did bagged suspension, four link, metal finished fenders and basically went from a pile of parts to an assembled pile of parts in that week end. We had a lot of fun with that.

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Looking forward to the build!!!

Subscribed!!

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

nice find. like the air police graphics :D
some of those government/military trucks can be real finds as they rarely left the base.

you've already posted a pic of your help doing more than my help ever did on truk
my wife is great for house remodeling but never lifted a finger on truk
i'm a little envious...

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...1&d=1398975267

if your not doing a 100 point restoration, those suburban seats can be worth some serious coin on ebay

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Thanks Ogre, we like the air police graphic too and really wish the Burb hadn't been painted purple at some point.

The wife has helped me with all the projects over the years back to when we were dating and I am very fortunate.....she is really good with bending lines and wiring. Heck of a cook too making it harder for me to get under the dash.

Yes, those original seats probably do have some good value and they may end up on Ebay.....just dislike the hassle of selling and we haven't decided on seats yet.

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

We pulled the seats, running boards, fuel tank and steering column / box in preparation for lifting the body hopefully next week end. At some point after the 'Burb was painted purple, the third seat was in it as the mounting studs are still there, the wing nuts were laying on the carpet and seat rail impressions were noticable in the carpet. Guy I bought it from likely pulled the third seat before throwing the 'Burb on Ebay.

Found some rust at toe board to floor pan joint on left side after removing the screwed in patch panels. Again not too bad. The rockers and door bottoms are solid.....now where did I put that clutch head screw driver I made when building the truck...?

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Im in on this, can't wait to get a burb. so so sick I just love em.

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

99 to Life...I agree, have wanted a 'Burb since before the SUV craze hit.

Rare Monday night in the shop. Removed the side glass and found rust through behind the pinch weld in three of window openings.....that Texas dust must have been built up there holding moisture.

The seats are in good shape....we may end up using them...at least until after the first long road trip.

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

your 48' is mad cool. those seats outta the burb look crisp. I don't know what I'd choose to buy or build first, a burb or COE, its neck and neck. Luv em both. I was planning on doing up my 53' belair for the fam cruiser, I think it would be much more wise to just do a burb!!

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

AD.. This must be a farily common area for rust. I had one window open each side rust simular to yours. I plan to run all three rows of stock seats. Mine came with the rare (missing) 3rd seat. The main reason for this build was to get the whole family down the road. There is only 4 of us but they leaves room to invite more to ride along. They may not be as comfy as newer seats but to me I just think they fit the look so much better.

Looking good
Marc

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Thanks 99 To Life - Both are cool and choosing one is tough. I see fewer 'Burbs at events.

Marc - I wanted to build this one for a family cruiser too and I took so long getting to it the Grandsons will be going along. Daughter and her husband looked it over and are insisting on the original seats as they said (like you) they are cool and just look right. Nice score on having all three rows of seats.

Wife and I assembled the body cart tonight...will be handy. Soon I hope.

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

The cart looks nice. I assume you bought it. If so, where did you pick it up at?
I need to buy/make something simular for mine.

Marc

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Marc,

Bought the cart from Autotwirler https://www.autotwirler.us/ made in Indiana. In fact, when I picked it up they needed to weld up a couple additional pieces and they were hot off the welding fixture.

Each body mounting point is adjustable left / right, up / down, and fore / aft. Initially bought it to support the '35 Chevy body due to its wood structure and it should work well for the 'Burb.

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Cool thanks for the info. It looks like a nice cart. I have one that I might see about modifying to use for the Suburban first.

Marc

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

My burb was rusted in the same area so I agree with Marc.
The cart is not a bad price if you use it again. I used one my FIL had and used 4x4 for mounting post

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Dozens of screws later the ugly headliner is out.
Found some raggedly cut access panels for the rear fender bolt nuts....needed since the captured nuts were rusted out.

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Thirty five years ago I would work on my 1969 Mach 1 in this same spot on dirt using heavy wood blocks (same ones we used for holding up heavy equipment) for support stands.

Gotta say working this way is much nicer.

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

I luv it all, keep it coming

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

Great looking project man !!

I am working on a '52 and was wondering if you could give me dimensions of the drivers seat ??

Re: 48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait
 

good progress. Most of my rear fender bolts were broekn off. I had to drill and tap just about every one. I love your hoist...... quite envious.

Keep at it.

Marc