Project Family Hauler
 

I bought this suburban for parts 4 years ago. Now I have a little girl that needs to come with and the standard cab truck is a tight fit. Decided to fix it. May go overboard just for fun. I know it looks bad but it was only $100. Some guy needed it out of his yard. It has a clean title too.

[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN1481.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN1483.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN1484.jpg[/IMG]

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Good luck with the Burb build Travis.... money well spent if I do say so myself. :D

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Was that an ambulance or something at one time? Noticed the lights

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Don't know what the lights were from, had amber lenses. Think I might keep them.:lol:

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

More pics

[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN1487.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN1495.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN1482.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN1485.jpg[/IMG]

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

With those lights, you could chase down some serious UFO action.

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

That would explain the circular impressions in the grass in my back yard.:lol:

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Nice score!

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Well I got working on it. This is more in depth that I have done before. Have received patch panels for the floor, toe kick and floor brace. So much is rusted that there is nothing to base the measurments from.
Sorry about the small pics battery was dead in camera. Used phone instead.
The second pic show the floor brace replaced.
I have the floor tacked in and toe kick and lower fender mount cut to fit but the rear part of the floor isn't lining up. The rocker panel sits too high and hits the door.

[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...1003091223.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...1003091602.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...100309160d.jpg[/IMG]

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Here is some pics of the replacement floor. Figured out why the rocker panel was hitting the door. The floor is different in the suburbans. The patches are for a truck. Needed to section and reshape the rear section of floor. Other side isn't much to measure from due to rust, but I built a template for the shape and dimensions.

[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN2539.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN2542.jpg[/IMG]
The area circled is different on a suburban. It steps down for the weatherstrip channel 1/2" sooner than on the trucks.
[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...DSCN2541-1.jpg[/IMG]

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Well I haven't done anything on the suburban for a couple weeks. Went to Portland for an Ale Festival. Then it got too cold to work in the garage. Morning tempuratures were 12* brrrrr. Afternoon got all the way up to 28*.
I did find parts for the project. I wanted something different for the front end so I bought a 1968 GMC for the front clip.

[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN2544.jpg[/IMG]

The fenders aren't perfect but it came with all the brackets and pieces that I need. It was $300 and I can sell some parts to get money back. It has a V6 and is pretty much original, including the owners manual.

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Nice score! That cold weather sure changes your mind about working on projects doesn't it? :lol:

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Yes it does.

Spent some time fitting all the panels together. I could work on it because it has warmed up to 36*. Got the left front fender from the GMC and bolted it to the suburban (or should I start calling it a Yukon XL ?) Also found the door hinges from the GMC were in better shape so it is easier to align the door. Everything seems to line up now. Due to the short winter days and the suburban is under an awning behind the garage I was done by 4:00. It was also dark so no pics.:(
Will try to get pics soon.

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

I have taken some pictures of my progress. Got the toe kick welded in and it fits well. I painted all the areas that will be closed up with POR-15. Since it takes a little while to dry I think I am done for the day.

This shows how everything is lining up. I used the blue tape when the door was hitting the rocker panel. The tape scraped easy when the door touched.
[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN2583.jpg[/IMG]

This is the front view of panels in place
[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN2584.jpg[/IMG]

Picture of the toe kick in place and the weld ground and painted to prevent short term rust
[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN2590.jpg[/IMG]

Outside view of toe kick
[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN2591.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN2585.jpg[/IMG]

That last one is a taste of the direction of the build. Yes that is a 4th door hanging there. It will swing suicide. Once I get that one set up correct I will do the other back door to match.:metal:

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Very cool keep us posted on the build...

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Long overdue update. Spent 2 months shopping for bathroom remodel stuff and 2 more months remodeling bathroom
Before[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...DSCN2601-1.jpg[/IMG]
during[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...DSCN2638-1.jpg[/IMG]
after[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...s/DSCN2689.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...DSCN2723-1.jpg[/IMG]

The good news is I am back working on the suburban. Not a lot of progress but at least I am outside working on it.
[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN2729.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN2730.jpg[/IMG]
The lower fender support is on. Next I will work on the rest of the floor and get back to B pillar.

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Updates two days in a row. Finished welding in the front part of the floor. Lots of tack, tack, tack move and tack, tack, tack. Over 3 feet of weld around patch panel. Then grind, grind, grind. Painted all finished welds with POR-15.
[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN2731.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN2732.jpg[/IMG]

Then I turned to the "B" pillar. When I got the suburban it was rusted out up to the spot welds on the rocker panel. There wasn't anything to even copy in new metal. Looked at the other side to see what it looked like and there isn't much there either. So since it won't be visible I made my own parts to bolt to the floor support.
[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN2733.jpg[/IMG]

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Cool project, keep the pix comin' :metal:

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Subscribed!

You are making more progress than me!!

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=380183

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Very nice progress!

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Not a lot of progress even for a three day weekend. Planned to do more but went shopping on Saturday.

[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...r/16109_s1.jpg[/IMG]

Guess I will be camping more this summer. That will slow down the updates a little.

Will here is what I did finish. The rest of the floor panels for the front door are in. Had to modify the new panels a little to fit the suburban.

Before
[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...CN2733-1-1.jpg[/IMG]

After
[IMG]http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN2734.jpg[/IMG]

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Ok, update after 2 months. Sorry, at least there are pics. Have been camping 3 times in new trailer already.

This is what the 4th door opening looked like.
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN2586.jpg

This is what it looks like now.
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...DSCN2782-1.jpg

I fully welded the new hinge setup. No flex at all.
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...DSCN2781-1.jpg

The lower hinge is notched into the floor for clearance.
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN2783.jpg

The inside view shows how I sectioned and boxed hinges from a 1966 F**d. There is something good from F**d.
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...DSCN2786-1.jpg

I connected the hinges to the roof with a section of 2x2 steel tubing. I can't take credit for this idea. Frizzle Fry did this on his tahoe. Makes the side very ridgid.
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN2785.jpg

Also connected the back of the B pillar to the floor. B pillar is not done but doesn't move anymore.
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...DSCN2784-1.jpg

Then painted with POR 15.

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Just found this. Nice work on the bathroom and 4th door!

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

frizzle fry knows how hard it is to make a 4th suicide door he is the man when it comes to fabrcating your doing a wonderful job to if i get a burb ii will be looking to both of your build threads for anwsers;)

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Thanks. Its not easy balancing house and vehicle projects and have a job.

Have the door jamb and rocker panel clamped in so I can start to size the door. Strange to have it look like door opening.
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN2788.jpg

Had to modify the door I was building. Since the body lines change on the front door from front to back I cut it off and used the back of a passenger door. Don't know if I can use the original latch yet. The back window channel is very close.
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN2789.jpg

Inside view of window channel and latch.
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN2790.jpg

Door is closed. Body lines seem to line up. The hinges have adjustment for when the door is heavier.
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN2791.jpg

Some sacrifices had to be made.
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN2792.jpg

Will use the skin to place the handle in the correct spot. My helper is in the picture.
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/DSCN2793.jpg