1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Hello all,

The name's Andrew. I've stalked the forums for a little while now but decided to make a profile. I've got a 1960 Chevy Suburban that I've owned for about 10 months now. Progress has been slow but I'm makin' it. I'm not going to restore the truck any time soon but I am going to make it road worthy to cruise around with my family. On to some pictures.

Here's where I found her. I'd seen it sitting in this spot on a hill about 50 yards off the highway for over 6 years. I could never get a good look at the front or back to see what generation it was. I finally had a chance to stop one day when I didn't have my wife and kids with me. There's no home with the little shop just an empty plot. I got the plate number to have an officer friend of mine run it with no luck. I talked to a neighbor who gave me a last name and a general vicinity of the owners home. Ended up leaving for the day. I finally decided I couldn't wait to find someone and did a little shadiness. I had to get the vin out of the door jamb. Got the vin and had my PO buddy run it. Got a name. Looked the name up in Google. Owner had since died... in 2004. Found where it said another man was related to him. Called the number. Got the brother of the previous owner. Said the Uncle had passed it on to the brother's son. IF that makes any sense. He then gave me his son's number. We talked for about a good 30 min. Talked on a Sunday and I was picking it up on Tuesday... for $1,000!!
http://i.imgur.com/rUOMxGyl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/C7Ydtcrl.jpg

Kiddos posing for a picture on the way home with our memory wagon!
http://i.imgur.com/9JCbaQ4l.jpg

She definitely hadn't been used in a few years for more than storage. Check out that shag!!
http://i.imgur.com/QxjBxOUl.jpg

Word from the owner was that this used to be an old school bus. Not too sure on that but who knows!!
http://i.imgur.com/Rd3JfEFl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/mRfjudjl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/4vQENihl.jpg

Had an old 350 out of a 70s Vette in it. One of those crappy emissions models. No inner fenders, front core support had been cut to tilt the hood, PS has been added, still drum up front but a booster had been added too. I did get this motor to run off a bottle twice. It definitely needed to be rebuilt. Soooo, out it came. I got a very good 307 from a friend for $100. Truck already had a 700r4 in it so we're good there.
http://i.imgur.com/SeSfUrNl.jpg

OFF topic for a sec but I had a pin striping friend whip up a quick rendition of the burb. This'll go to shows with us.
http://i.imgur.com/EOubDxHl.jpg

Decided I wanted it to have wagon wheels and big cobra meats.
http://i.imgur.com/lk3gugul.jpg

Said 307 dropped in and test starting. (failure due to wiring)
http://i.imgur.com/s5LGz3al.jpg

Another little off topic tidbit. Wrapped my door panels in burlap sacks.
http://i.imgur.com/uLIL8rjl.jpg

Got another hood, fenders, grille support, and took some of that blue spray paint off the door. Look at that yellow!! You can also see that I've stripped most of the tint off of it now too.
http://i.imgur.com/qGkBzJtl.jpg

Scored a '61 grille for $100 while in California on vacation. Had a gentleman that wanted the insert so we traded and he sent me '60 bars.
http://i.imgur.com/oseibLAl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/e7dibx5l.jpg


She got to take a sweet ride on another friends COE going to annootthher friends shop.
http://i.imgur.com/xt3DFFTl.jpg

Update to today. Got most of my parts in to do the wiring and rear end.
http://i.imgur.com/DNz1J05l.jpg

Comments, jokes, criticism, all are welcome! Glad to finally be on the forum. Thanks guys.

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Cool project man! Welcome to the suburban club! I see that it has front and rear sliders. Does it still have all three seats?

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Thanks!
I thought the front and rear sliders were normal until I started seeing more and more without them online. I had one jump seat and the 2/3rd seat when I bought it. Plus the green bench in it now. I really didn't have a use for the original seats and know someone could use them for a resto. I sold them to a gentleman in Illinois. I'm going to use a 2000's Tahoe or Suburban seat in the rear for the kiddos since it has built in seat belts.

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Welcome to the 'burb world. Looks like a good project you got there. I lije the way its going to look by the drawing your friend did.

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Thanks. Body is the last thing on my list for now.

I got most of the old wiring out. Getting ready to lay the new harness out.

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Great find. I wish I was making such consistent progress on my 60. Keep it up ! Glad to see another one hitting the road. :metal:

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Consistent isn't the word for my project haha. Unfortunately it's been just the opposite. I was really hoping to hit it hard this week but it's been raining for 4 days. I make take next week off work and just focus on it.

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Cool suburban! I wish I still had my 66, but my 61 Panel helps. Good call on the newer seats, thats what I have and the built in belts are great!

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Welcome to the forum :D

Nice Burb and you've made some nice progress.

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Thanks guys. I really need to get this thing goin...

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Yea well you have been consistent in my book. Look at my build thread and you will see 3 steps forward and 10 backwards. Time, weather and money never seem to be at the proper place at the correct time. Keep it up. Hopefully you will inspire me and my nemesis of time, weather and money to work it out in the long run. :smoke:

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Nice start, the kiddos look like they'll have a blast with it as much as you. Great memories.

Welcome to the forum.
Sub'd

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Thanks Bomp,

The kids definitely love it. I was considering selling it a few months ago to pick up a very nice 64 Rambler Classic from a friend and I asked what my oldest would like. He told me he wanted to keep the burb so we could go camping. I couldn't sell it at that point.

UPDATE: I've gotten started on the wiring, I removed the old harness and got the new one mounted in place. I'm going to take off work next week to get some much needed work done...

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Got the wiring all done for the motor. I added an aftermarket set of gauges with mechanical oil pressure, temp, and battery. Just wanted the added security. Got it timed and turned back over today. Ran for about three seconds. I'll tell you what though that three seconds was amazing... I'll be setting the carb back up tomorrow and she should be yard driving.
Just a couple pics because...
http://i.imgur.com/VTwKQ9Hl.jpg

Set up for the gauges.
http://i.imgur.com/8TZKNJAl.jpg

Oh and I'm probably going to look at this sweet girl too ;)
http://i.imgur.com/VioN3FOl.jpg

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

I found this in an article a good friend gave me several years ago. Shows a burb as a school bus.

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Well I've decided to let the other burb go for now. I can't be thinking about others while my ol' girl is still waiting on me.

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Well it's been a quick minute since I've updated the few of you that read this. ;)

I got the suburban to run. The PO had a return style fuel pump on the original-ish tank that wouldn't take a return thus not putting the extra fuel anywhere but back into the line. Created too much pressure or some kind of mini void and wouldn't let it run. Swapped that for another pump and she fired right up! I think the block may have some water in it since the truck sat without a distro for a few months. It started to leak out of a valve cover gasket but didn't run any worse or smoke out of the exhaust at all. (Fingers crossed that the head gaskets are okay.)

Decided to go ahead and pull the fuel tank to flush it. Spent a few hours cleaning it out and took a wire wheel to the outside to get a good coating put down. anddddd I found holes in the tank. I've got an offer from a friendly local C10 owner for a blazer tank for $20. I'll probably go snag it up this week. Tomorrow I'm going to drain the oil off and refill it. Run it again to see if its actually leaking. If all goes well I'll be loading her up to bring her back from my buddies shop to finish everything in my garage. Here's a couple pics of the tank.

http://i.imgur.com/qmLaL5xl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Ol3M4Cyl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/0NvC0Qkl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/oIYKYc8l.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/GjP6eZOl.jpg

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Looks like a fun project Andrew! Are you going to rebuild the 327 that was in it originally?

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

looks like that gas tank can take a new job as a cullender. LOL

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

The motor I bought it with was a clapped out 350. I put the 307 in it a little later on down the road.



Yeah I'm not sure how the hell all that happened. I'll probably just sit in the garage and stare at it. Then scrap it haha.

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

welcome to the best ol' truck place around. always good to have another Arkansan join up.
that is a very cool rig and will be a great family camper. it does make sense that it was a school bus, lots of them were in rural areas. the dual sliders is a clue... is that a factory rack on top, can't tell from the pics.

hope you and the family have many adventures and memories aboard your burb.

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Cool!!!

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Thanks Clem. I've heard your name mentioned quite a few times around here. I wish I could've come up to your place a while back. Maybe one day.

Thanks!

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

https://www.facebook.com/adrianna.hu...6429075498709/


Let me know if this video works. I finally got to drive the dang thing! Not too much more left now before she's back on the road.

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Slowly but surely getting the wiring done. Get a little more done every day. Trying to knock most of it out before the weather gets too cold.

Today: LIGHTS!!
http://i.imgur.com/cfBDbkBl.jpg

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

I'm along for the ride Andrew!!! Glad to see you out here...

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Thanks Don. I'm shooting for March to be her maiden voyage. They're having a car show in Cabot at the High School so I figured I'd putt down the backroads to that one.

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Keep on rollin' Glad to see the progress !!

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Got pretty far today.

Finally set the grille in place. Had to drill holes for the '60 grille to fit on a later support.

Vacuumed/scraped drivers floor. Covered it in some rustoleum undercoating until floorpans can be done.

Rebuilt rear brakes, new wheel cylinders and shoes.

Sealed rear diff (waiting on the 24 hour cure to fill it)

Turns out I've got the Eaton HO series rear end with 3.90s

More to come! I'm on a roll with this thing.

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Sounds good... but where's the pics??? :mm:

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Well here ya go haha.

http://i.imgur.com/qCsjVAtl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/IAsx7Yyl.jpg


So I also rebuilt the drivers side front brake today. There was some ummm interesting modifications made to the backing plate and hub. Oh well they'll only be on there until February anyways.

http://i.imgur.com/x3LH4Akl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/fan939nl.jpg

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Good brake mods. Releases heat and water!

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Been following along ng on fb... great work Andrew...:metal:

I haven't run across those brake mods before... interesting...:mm:

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

Just a quick update. I've been swamped with Christmas and my oldest sons birthday.

Most of the lights are wired and routed including the tail lights.
Plan on getting more done once we quit with all this damn rain.

http://i.imgur.com/YHTs6TIl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/HGohkdul.jpg

I decided to redo my taillights too. Cleaned them up and gave them a clear coat.
http://i.imgur.com/M68xNwll.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/5BnsJgCl.jpg

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

x2 on the rain...:mm:

Looking good... :metal:

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

I noticed the holes in the backing plate in an earlier shot, but seeing them in detail, along with the holes in the drums, makes me REALLY wonder about that!
Cooling the brakes helps eliminate brake-fade, especially with drums.
But the thing about yours is that they are VERY neatly done. The holes in the backing plate are neatly laid out and spaced, while the holes in the drum face are also neatly spaced and in a difficult spot to drill.
They didn't do those with a hand drill with the parts still on the truck.

When you decide to unload them, let me know... I don't know that I'd use them, but I'd love to have them anyway!

There are three things about your truck that are very interesting: It looks like it has a sway bar up front: can you take a picture of it?
The power booster is a later model--the '60-'62 trucks had a funky two-chamber master for manual shift trucks, and putting a modern brake booster on without an adapter plate isn't just a simple bolt-on job.
The trans tunnel hump is a high hump, which usually came with the 4-spd granny-gear transmissions, but it doesn't have a shifter hole in the middle of it.

I also noticed that it has side motor mounts--those aren't usually on '60-'62 trucks either.

And I laughed when your son said he wanted to go camping in it--My son and I camped several times in ours!

-Brad

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

You raise a lot of good questions. I did finally notice that it does have a sway bar on it. No end links though. This truck does have an auto column out of an early 70's pickup in it. Could that be part of the steering box you're seeing?

I'm intrigued by all the things you've noticed that I would've never thought different. I'm going to pick them all over one by one and do a bit of research. I remember now that we talked about your sway bar. I'll try to get you some pictures of mine. Things have been way slower than I intended but we also spent a hell of a lot more money on Christmas than I anticipated too.

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

You're preachin' to the choir on that one!
I'm really interested in those brakes... I don't know why but... I... just... want them! :lol:
I think I have an irrational attraction to holes in parts; race cars, lightening and improved performance...

The front suspension doesn't have coil springs, right? It's got a torsion bar running from each lower control arms to the crossmember, right?

-Brad

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

That's correct. No springs up front.

I plan on keeping the drums on it for now. I'm sure we can work something out when the time comes to move them on.

I know you're kind of the parts guy do you happen to have the swing window and track for the drivers side? My spring is rusted gone and my window is blown out.

Re: 1960 'Burb Revival (First Post)
 

To make my taillights really bright, I painted the inside of the housing gloss white. They even show up good on a bright sunny day. Yours look good