55 burb
 

Hello to all,
Today is the day that I officially become a non-lurker. For years I have been admiring the skills and bravery of so many of you. After having some bad experiences I have decided to give it a shot.
My project is a 55 Suburban. I got it from a coworkers dad that used it in his painting business. Before that it served the Compton School District. Ive owned it since 1989, and during that time its had some upgrades. The front has a 78 Camero sub fame installed, rear end is a 9 inch, center section is a Progressive auto unit. Shockwaves push it up and down.

Re: 55 burb
 

Welcome Bigtoe2u. Cool, another Suburban! Looks good....looking forward to more updates.

Re: 55 burb
 

Jumping around, here is the motor and trans, the first fitting. The motor is a LQ4. Its 030 over,TSP cam 243 heads, most of the goodies. The plan is to attempt to look old skool as far as the engine. Thats the Chevy orange paint. The tranny is a 700R4 with a PTC converter.

Re: 55 burb
 

Nice Burb! How big are those rear tires, they look huge!

Re: 55 burb
 

Welcome.
Looks like a real cool project.
Kim

Re: 55 burb
 

The tires 20x10 don't think I'm gonna use them. I really like the look of the Corvette Rally.

Re: 55 burb
 

Here are some of the pictures that i managed to find. This is some of that paid for work. My rookie mistake.
The first photo was supposed to be a simple C-notch,… that came with the C. When installed the rear axle was waaay forward. Can you believe the guy that installed it wanted me to pay him to fix it. This iOS what I got, something that was gonna fail.
The second is well didn't understand how to get radiator support back on. The third is skill set improving with the help of a very talented friend.

Re: 55 burb
 

Well here's what was done to fix that mess. The housing came from Moser engineering. That 8 inch C-notch with the plate welded on was cut out. A new curve notch was made. While I was back home paid a visit to No Limit for the 4 bar system. With the shockwave, we set it up so when the rear is completely deflated the tire comes to the top of the factory indention in the wheel well.

Re: 55 burb
 

Well Im still fitting the engine. Im gonna have to move it forward about an inch. I was trying to keep it where the big block once lived, but the valve covers hit the fire wall. Good thing I got the slider engine mounts. Looks like if I move them all the way foward i'll have enough room for the valve covers to fit. Down side have to move the tranny mount.
Looks like everything is a go. Exhaust manifolds will clear and starter fits

Re: 55 burb
 

Looks like a good start. I dig the looks of it.. Keep up the good work

Marc

Re: 55 burb
 

Looking real good.
Kim

Re: 55 burb
 

Nice work, I especially like the tubular structure between the frame rails!

Re: 55 burb
 

More photos for those that are addicted to this stuff. Got my 5 gallon air tank from Accuiair. Looks like its gonna work fine under the passenger side stepwell. The plan is to hardline from the compressors to the tank. Ill use the plastic line for the rest.

Re: 55 burb
 

The body, when I bought my truck it had several coats of paint. The top coat was house paint. Off to the blaster it went. When I got it back DP90 was shot on the bare metal. this is the passenger side

Re: 55 burb
 

Doesn't look all that bad.
Kim

Re: 55 burb
 

my wife calls it a stupid addiction :D

welcome to the forum
nice suburban the body looks relatively rust free
i'm partial to the burbs and panels

Re: 55 burb
 

Well here is the other side. Its not as bad as some. Ill have to find somebody the can make the lower section. I have not been able to find any burbs that have what I need for parts. A few friends say try it yourself, I think that by the time I buy the tools and learn how to use them I could have just paid someone and moved on.
Im gonna put plywood back in. Im going for the just clean build. Over the axle I'll run some sheet metal over that. The plan is to have a compartments on each side and then mold that into the hump. The middle of the floor will remain even with the rear deck. Tall order.

Re: 55 burb
 

The other side is where the real work lies

Re: 55 burb
 

_Ogre, love the fiberglass work. I got inspiration for all the "molding" i want to do from you.

Re: 55 burb
 

The lower rear wheel opening looks like it could be fixed using a section from a step side fender.
The rest should be able to be straightened by a decent body man.
Kim

Re: 55 burb
 

Trying to catch you guys up to where I'm at today.The first picture is just how the Camero stub was installed. The brake lines will be redone.The next photos are with the front aired out. The last is from the back side, don't think its to low …chime in give me your opinion.

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Well here it is before I said I would not separate the frame from the body again. Please forge me for the horrible photo, its a picture of a picture.

Re: 55 burb
 

I thought the same thing but some say they are different?

Re: 55 burb
 

They may be. I'm sure someone on the site knows for sure.
Kim

Re: 55 burb
 

Nope, that isn't too low! Looks really good and the Camaro subframe lays down nice. LS looking good.

Might not be too difficult for a metal shaper to make the inner fender that is rusted through. There are probably several in your area.

Re: 55 burb
 

Sub install looks nice! Will be one nice ride when done. Do you have more pic's of the tubular frame bracing?

Also, it looks like your brake pedal mount is forward of the factory spot, does the pedal still come up through the floor board in the factory hole?

The "Roadster Shop" in Mundelein, IL, has some great metal workers, but I'm sure it would cost a small fortune!

Re: 55 burb
 

ChuckDriver
I don't have the pictures of a lot of the frame build up. They were a casualty of a nasty divorce. The pedal does go thru the factory hole. I bought the unit from Progressive Auto, Its a really nice unit. Your right the RS is way out of my budget. They do really nice work.

Re: 55 burb
 

Here are some shots of the fuel pump. I forgot that the tank is stainless steel. What a time i had attempting to cut a hole for the pump and level. After it's all together if someone says "that hole isn't round", We have a problem.:lol:

Re: 55 burb
 

The air tank, went from the idea of having 2 tanks, down to 1, 5 gallon. It's amazing how fast space disapears when you start to hang stuff. After reading the instructions for the Accuair system, I'll have to flip the tank over so that the sensor won't collect moisture. All of the inputs will be on top. If I ever have an issue i just gotta drop the whole thing.

Re: 55 burb
 

Space disappears quickly. Is that air tank about 30 inches long?

Nice looking tubular center section in the frame too.

Re: 55 burb
 

i need to do this fuel pump sump on truk
every time i get down to a few gallons and drive ''aggressively'' i lose power :D

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...1&d=1410037795

Re: 55 burb
 

You have an awesome truck��������. It's going to be a sweet ride with that LS set up. Love the tube work.
What manifolds are those on the engine?

Re: 55 burb
 

Looking real nice.
Kim

Re: 55 burb
 

Well hello all. Im still working on the burb. I have both compressor brackets mounted,and really like the location.

Re: 55 burb
 

Looks good.
Kim

Re: 55 burb
 

I had to move engine up and rework mounts, done. I then installed front sway bar, had to rework those mounts also.
Mounted the air valves and controller on the frame and routed the air line from the compressors to the tank. Still have to put the fittings on.
I also put the fuel filter on. So far I think it will all work out.

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Next is the floor. I decided to put plywood back in for 2 reasons, cost and knowledge. My hat is off to guys like AD that put a metal floor in. I also wanna leave the next guy that decides to rebuild this thing something to do. I had to make the rear section up, that was long gone. The front I traced and cut it out. There was a little surface rust on the lip, easy fix sand and some rust encapsulator, good as new.

Re: 55 burb
 

Looking good.
Kim

Re: 55 burb
 

Great progress. Mountings for the air valve block looks good. Looking forward to that part of our build.

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More floor work. Im not sure that I like it. I plan on carpet on the floor and a rear seat that will be in front of the hump.