1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

Sorry for the repeat pictures as i was posting pictures of the '51 suburban build on the brother's truck show thread, but was told more guys might see the build pictures if i started my own thread. So I'll do it and if some of you have seen the ones on the other thread sorry.. for the repeat.. but hope you enjoy them anyway.

For those that don't know the suburban won best of show and best interior at the Brothers Truck Show and i got such nice comments about it i thought i would share some of the build with you..

I built it for a friend and his wife i use to work with and told them that when i retired i would "fix it up a little", litltle did i know what i was getting into.. It came out so much nicer than i had even planned.

I took almost a 1000 pictures of the build for myself and to keep the owners up to date and where their money was going, i'll try and show a little of each stage and if it helps someone with their project great..

These first two are to show you what i started with and how it came out... I'll get to the middle of it later...

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

It was used for storage for years and was full of rat poop, and i mean piles of it,.,. used a pressure washer to try and clean it out...

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

Getting body off the stock frame...

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

getting frame off to sand blaster and starting to mock things up..

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

Filling all the unwanted holes in the frame... putting front end together

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

Making it a roller.........

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

Putting frame back under body and getting motor and trans in..

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

Body on and air bags in

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

Installing some k-members to help make frame strong, and cutting a hole in floor to clear 3nd member when sub is down.. shot of me and sub to get an idea how low it goes.

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

Getting steering column in and installing gas tank...

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

Gas filter, trans cooler, e-brake cables

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

The only stock seats we had where the rear and the two front seats.. no middle seat

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

So we got a seat out of an early truck at the swap meet and cut it down and made legs and arm rest for it..

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

Had the body sand blasted and found all kinds of neat things.... rust and bent panel's..

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

starting to remove floors to install new ones

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

Out with the old and in with the new....

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

Test fitting hood and fenders..

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

I love that truck. You picked the perfect wheels and tires for it. Thanks for the pics.

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

parkwood, Very nice suburban. I love the stance.

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

Thanks Russell, to tell you the truth i didn't have much to do with picking out the color of the rims.. the owner and the guy who painted it went to Wheel Smith by the paint shop and picked it out.. must say when he first brought them up to me i didn't think they would work, but after putting the caps and rings on it was the right choice.. glad you liked them.. wayne

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

Thanks a lot, air bags help a lot with how it sits....

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

Xpickup you have to see it in person, pics does not do the truck justice. It was just an awesome build.

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

Thanks Kabwe, you're way too kind.. I'm running out to the owners house today to say hi before i head back up north and i'll be sure to tell them all the nice things you guys are saying about their sub...

wayne

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

New floors and getting the cowl panels installed..

Re: 1951 Suburban a 4 year project....
 

Any tips on filling in all the rivet holes in the frame? Did you have someone punch out inserts for you?

That thing is SWEET