Green Machine

[gumbys10]

Well I figured since I have the day off and have been trying to research and price out what I want to get my suburban on the ground I would start a build thread to keep track of what I need to do and have done. Sort of a wishlist/checklist. I am open to ideas comments or where to get better deals.And I want to keep it to stuff I can accomplish during the week so I can cruise it on weekends, so one modification at a time. I would love to go to a complete drop member front and rear, but money-time-and family all play a part in the decision as I might put a third row seat in and keep as much interior room
as possible.First a couple pics of the burb.

How I got it.



And how it looks right now with just a wheel swap.





Now what I have right now.
- adjustable trac bar, temporary as current wheels rub do to loose bushings
-2000 5.3 rebuilt,bored out,shaved heads,Z06 cam, competition cam valve springs
-67-chevrolet hood,bumper,rad support,grille,lights from wrecker.

Now summer wish list.Stuff to do over the next couple months.

-porterbuilt stage 1 front kit
-porterbuilt upper and lower control arms
-porterbuilt stage 2 rear kit
-kp components watts link
-porterbuilt sway bar
-Accuair level ride system
-20x8.5 and 20x10 TT2's
-either a 4l80e and drop in 5.3 or temporary 700r4 for the summer
-painless wiring harness for gauges and 5.3 and pcm
-new exhaust ran in frame instead of under frame
-move class 3 hitch to behind licence plate with fold down licence plate bracket

Now overall wish list,stuff that is needed as well.Possibly over next winter.

-smooth front bumper,chrome,no bolts or licence plate relief
-cpp big brake 4 wheel disc upgrade kit with mastercylinder/booster
-rack and pinion power steering
-upgraded front sway bar
-rear sway bar
-euro front headlights
-new grille trim for 67 grille
-new lower black trim
-piece together and make upper fender trim
-redo rocker panels properly
-replace or repair rear wheel well outer body panels
-repair factory heater/a/c unit and charge system
-repair radio antenna-convert to power
-repair loose tilt column
-clean,smooth and powdercoat chassis and components
-install stereo dash repair kit and factory style deck with mp3 hook up
-hidden sub and amp and speaker upgrades
-redo interior to hounds tooth pattern possibly
-boost 5.3l,either supercharger or turbo,either will be intercooled
-aluminum rad for 5.3
-tranny cooler
-make gauges work with 5.3l
-tranny temp and boost gauges in top dash mounting pods
-headers for 5.3l-sanderson
-accessory brackets
-driveshaft
-third row bench and narrower or fold down second row bench
-hidden trailer brake controller and wiring
-train air horn to scare buddies
-magnaflow mufflers
-tune 5.3l
-weatherstripps and window channels
-new paintjob,probably two tone, green main color,secondary choices,silver,white,or creamwhite/yellow maybe.possibly roof and lower rockers will be secondary colors

Well that sums it up, a huge list,but something to accomplish over the next couple years. As soon as I order parts and they start showing up I will post pics of install and prices. I'd like to keep this summers budget at under $7000 unless I can sell some other projects to increase funds for the suburban. And thank you Matt for your info, it was a great help, next is to contact Nate at porterbuilt for his advice and recommendations and get this stuff on the way.

[kev2809]

you have some nice plans for it..that wheel swap made a world of difference. cant wait to see this in the weeds!

[lolife99]

Very nice burb!

[Slammed66]

Ill be kreeping on this one for sure!!!

[gcburdic]

Good to see this one found a good home!...Looking forward to your progress!

[gumbys10]

Well talked to Dave at Porterbuilt, all my suspension is now on order. I cannot wait. Tomorrow I should be ordering the Accuair and watts link. This week at lunch hours will be spent at the wrecker getting a 4l60e, harness,driveshaft,and all accessories off a 5.3 truck from my buddy, hopefully for free as he owes me some favors. So if I accomplish this this weekend I will be ordering mounts and looking for options for headers.

[Slammed66]

Accuair has been ordered. And now we wait!
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[gumbys10]

Originally Posted by Slammed66

Accuair has been ordered. And now we wait!
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[Slammed66]

Sir I have a very large package for you.

Wait. That doesn't sound right...

You'll find out in a couple days anyway...........

Mmmmmm. Air management.....
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[jmedero]

Sweet looking burb.
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[gumbys10]

A little update. I am currently stll driving the suburban for shows, so I installed a new trac bar with both ends adjustable because the 315's like to rub on the inside,and put longer wheel studs on the rear to run a 5/16 spacer on both sides. Doesn't rub near as much now. Definetly needs some frontend work, so ordered all new tie rods and steering components, and I might switch the steering box out. Also found out I need a passenger axle shaft, so I ordered a couple and bearings and seals for the diff.


Matt came through and got all my Accuair sitting in the house,I have my watts link from KPcomponents and my front sway bar showed up. Next on the list is just waiting for the porterbuilt stuff then I'll be thrashing away.

I believe I am ordering some dirty dingo engine mounts for the 5.3. Anyone know what long tube lsx headers might work for me and stay in the frame rails with a stock crossmember and 5.3/4l60e? My trailing arm crossmember is a porterbuilt so I want to run my new exhaust in the frame rail.

[gumbys10]

So it is finally in the garage, my mild rebuilt 5.3 has a LS6/Z06 Cam
204/218, .551/.541, 117.5 LSA in it, and now I am looking to finish it up, I was thinking a new smaller crank pulley, edelbrock intake, throttle body, drive by cable, fuel rails, and a size larger injector as I am planning to boost it. I am probably gonna order the second stage 4L80e tranny and 2500 stall from monster transmission. Gonna call painless next week to order a harness, and maybe complete vehicle harness for the suburban. My Diryt Dingo engine mounts and a/c compressor mount should be here next thursday, the new a/c compressor is on back ordered, a polished unit. I am gonna shine up the engine a bit, and move the coils to the firewall or somewhere to hide them. I'm not sure what I am doing for gauges, I might just buy a new set to work with all the electronics, just depends on how much cash I have. One more week and I should start a good tear down and pics.

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by gumbys10

So it is finally in the garage, my mild rebuilt 5.3 has a LS6/Z06 Cam
204/218, .551/.541, 117.5 LSA in it, and now I am looking to finish it up, I was thinking a new smaller crank pulley, edelbrock intake, throttle body, drive by cable, fuel rails, and a size larger injector as I am planning to boost it. I am probably gonna order the second stage 4L80e tranny and 2500 stall from monster transmission. Gonna call painless next week to order a harness, and maybe complete vehicle harness for the suburban. My Diryt Dingo engine mounts and a/c compressor mount should be here next thursday, the new a/c compressor is on back ordered, a polished unit. I am gonna shine up the engine a bit, and move the coils to the firewall or somewhere to hide them. I'm not sure what I am doing for gauges, I might just buy a new set to work with all the electronics, just depends on how much cash I have. One more week and I should start a good tear down and pics.

Nice Burb! Speartech makes a nice EFI harness and the new Dakota digital VHX gauges are nice looking and a good price. I have pictures of both in my Burb build thread.
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[gumbys10]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Nice Burb! Speartech makes a nice EFI harness and the new Dakota digital VHX gauges are nice looking and a good price. I have pictures of both in my Burb build thread.
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Couple of questions on the gauges, what is your center gauge, the one where the factory tach was? And what did the set run you approximatly?

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by gumbys10

Couple of questions on the gauges, what is your center gauge, the one where the factory tach was? And what did the set run you approximatly?

I got them from Boardmember Pro Performance.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=532649

The center gauge is normally a clock, but they offer expansion modules that you can add to make it multifunctional.

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.c...rod/prd776.htm

They offer boost, air pressure, compass, OAT, wide band etc....

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.c...cat/cat646.htm

It's a really sweet setup,

[Slammed66]

Hey Jason , I was gonna text ya the other day and see if any progress had been made, get them pics posted up!!!!!!!
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[YBNORML]

Cool project, can't wait for more pics.
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[gumbys10]

So I'll start posting pics this Sunday, but for now I have a dilema as I have 2 ways to go,but need to decide on which one, so I'll ask for fellow burb builders'

My engine is around a 2000 5.3, but I am trying to decide whether to go drive by cable or drive by wire.

What are the advantages or dissadvantages. I really think I want to keep my factory guages, or close to. I do like the s10 swap with the 120mph sweep and decal package to make it look original. I am running a/c obviously as well as power steering. I would also like cruise and drive by wire eliminates the cruise module. I would also like to keep the tow haul feature and have only read a little on the bcm install to keep it, does anyone have links to doing it without the bcm?

So any comments or suggestions will be appreciated.

[BB72CHEVKT]

Nice burb. Please ducument your 5.3 install.

[Splash4195]

Nice Burb!

[gumbys10]

So I finally got enough time to do the cab corners and assemble this truck as it has been a shell on a frame for 6 years. Fired up first try with the new motor, but it is off to storage till spring when I have time to paint it and put the 18" smoothies on it.



And here is proof the Suburban is in the garage. Tear down starts Tuesday.

[gumbys10]

Did not get to tear into the burb today as my neighbour wanted help ripping his sled apart. But I did get to tear into some parts boxes.

[Slammed66]

That's gonna be one happy suburban!!
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[Number98]

Originally Posted by gumbys10

I did get to tear into some parts boxes.

Christmas in January

[gumbys10]

Well being very sick did not help, but I made limited progress and found the original colour.





And a summer pic of my club at an event in Glendive Montana, just because I miss summer.