67-68 Suburban roof skin replacement?

[vinro]

Currently hunting for the right 67-68 suburban project. Found a 68 but it has the typical roof rust on the drip rail above the windshield, and showing pinholes on the interior of the cab. From what I've researched, its no doubt a a skilled/labor intensive rust repair.

Wondering if there's a source that makes a roof skin for these suburbans?
Or is the only way to patch it together or find a donor roof?

[HO455]

I don't know of any aftermarket roof skins, heck you can't get third door sills. So depending on what your calling typical rust would decide for me as what to do. My Burban had rust in the drip rail across the front where the seam sealer failed. I cleaned it up but I didn't have any rust through. There were a couple of pinholes on the inside sheet metal behind the visors. I sprayed POR in the void space and fiberglassed the holes. I was on the fence as whether to cut the panel out and replace it, but in the end I decided that now that I had stopped the water ingress and sealed the rust I would be fine until the next repaint. Some with more experience could say whether or not a pickup drip rail and front of the cab roof pieces would fit on a Suburban or not. I would suspect they would, but I do know the roof gets wider as you go back on Burbans There are pictures of the drip rail restoration on my Burban in the WMB thread below.

And as far as a hole roof transplant that could go easy or terrible just depending on how close the original roof and the new one were dimensionally to each other with manufacturing tolerance stacking issues and the fact that I would bet there was only one or possibly two stampings die for every 67-72 Suburban and Panel roof made and as it went through it's life span an early roof would be slightly different than a later roof. Which at assembly time wasn't a problem but once all the other pieces are welded to it it could be problematic. Or I'm wayyyyy over thinking this.

[CG]

I was talking to Wes owner of Classic Heartbeat and I believe he said that is a piece he was considering having reproduced someday. Not the whole skin, just the above the windshield area. I think its a back burner thing though. Replacing and entire skin, I bet that would be quite the project.

[LockDoc]

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I think the outer roof skin is taller on the Suburbans than the pickups, but I don't know about the inner skin.

LockDoc

[vinro]

Thanks for your experience on the same issue HO455. My gut feeling on this particular 68 is that it may be an 'as is' fun driver with good parts; like a clean front clip, all three rows of seats, and a decent 350/350 drivetrain. In the longrun it would be better finding a suburban without drip rail/roof rust issues in that area above the windshield.

Thanks CG If the replacement panels were available, I'd definitely feel more confident with purchasing a suburban with this issue.

Thanks LockDoc I had read that the suburban roof lines are in fact different than trucks. And that the roof lines for 67-68 suburbans are different than 69-72.

I've had fun doing a survivor style restoration on a 67 c10, and inspired to do the same on a 67-68 Suburban. Really hoping to find one local.

[CG]

Ive never heard the roof lines were different on the burb to burb years. Knew burbs and trucks were different.

[vinro]

Originally Posted by CG

Ive never heard the roof lines were different on the burb to burb years. Knew burbs and trucks were different.

You may be right in there being no dif in the 67-72 suburbans. I couldn't find the thread where that idea got into my head.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by CG

Ive never heard the roof lines were different on the burb to burb years. Knew burbs and trucks were different.

I have never heard of a year difference either....

LockDoc

[vinro]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

I have never heard of a year difference either....

LockDoc

Good to know. Thanks. I also just discovered the Paint and Bodywork section of this forum. Good info there too.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by vinro

Good to know. Thanks. I also just discovered the Paint and Bodywork section of this forum. Good info there too.

The amount of info on this site is amazing. If you scroll down to the bottom of this page you will see a "Forum Jump" box. Click on the little down arrow on the right side and a box will pop up showing all of the different forums on the board. Scroll through them until you see one that looks interesting and click on it, it will take you right to it.....

LockDoc

[richard2717]

If you do end up getting it there are several of us on the board that cut these things up so keep an eye on the parts board as well. I just cut the roof of of one last week.