48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait

[Advanced Design]

The Advanced Design trucks have been my favorite since learning to drive in one as a teen on the farm. Twenty years ago we started looking for a AD Suburban to build....remember thumbing through auto traders, Hemmings, getting fuzzy polaroid pictures in the mail of potential projects? Went through all that, drove hours to look at rusty projects that were supposed to be nice and then along came Ebay....Bought this one in Texas ten years ago and stored it the shop until we could get to it. Life, other projects, raising the kids all tended to take up available time and budget. Decided it was time to pull it up front to get started.

[Advanced Design]

Someone painted the Burb purple and did some interior work at some point. Still has the first row and second row seats.

[Advanced Design]

Apologies for the fuzzy picture....lifted the Burb for the first good look around underneath. Looks solid with just a bit of rust through where the right toe board and outer panel come together. And may find more though overall we are pretty happy.

[Advanced Design]

The 5.3 and 4L60E comes from a rolled 2004 Sierra I found on Craigslist (another great car support invention). Bought a finished chassis from Trick Trucks and Rods. The owner Tom does nice work, in this case taking an original chassis, adding a bagged Heidts up front and a parallel four link rear with a 9 inch.

Since, like many folks, I work a lot of hours, usually I only have Saturdays in the shop. Progress is often slow. Goals for this year are to swap the body over to the new chassis and install the powertrain while we finish up the 35 Chevy coupe.

The talented folks participating here motivated me to get a jump on the Suburban....after waiting 20 years didn't want to wait anymore...so thank you!

[youngrodder]

Nice looking Suburban. I'm intrested where you are going to take this one.

Good luck
Marc

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Nice looking Suburban. I'm intrested where you are going to take this one.

Good luck
Marc

Thanks Marc! Heading toward a version of this truck I put together a few years ago are our initial thoughts.

[LEEVON]

Nice project. I remember the classified ad searches very well, bought my first truck in '94 (the one in my avatar). We would cruise the Sunday paper, make a dozen phone calls, follow one lead, drive to BFE, and usually strike out! It was the most fun Dad and I ever had though!

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by LEEVON

Nice project. I remember the classified ad searches very well, bought my first truck in '94 (the one in my avatar). We would cruise the Sunday paper, make a dozen phone calls, follow one lead, drive to BFE, and usually strike out! It was the most fun Dad and I ever had though!

Thanks Leevon - a lot of the fun is in the hunt.

[69CST-V]

Subscribed....

[STOCKISH]

Super nice start man, can't wait for more progress!

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by STOCKISH

Super nice start man, can't wait for more progress!

Thanks Stockish, plan to make some progress tomorrow....and there is always the "honey do" list...mower repair, yard work, grandsons....so will see!

[Iceburgh]

I will be keeping an eye on this.
I am in the process of doing the same.
Like Marc said...building the Burb is MUCH more difficult then the truck was due to hard to find parts.
I was laying in bed the other night thinking how much harder it would be to build what we want without the internet....good on the guys who did it 20+ years ago

[Advanced Design]

Marc - I could take you up on that, thanks! Am planning fixed windows.

Iceburgh - Your Burb build also motivated me to get started! The internet has made it easier to find parts and share information to the benefit of this hobby / business.

....looking forward to Saturday and more time in the shop. I do have a good partner in this build as in many previous ones. We had four flat tires to fix to move the Suburban to the front of the shop.

[48ChevBagged]

I will be following along. Looks like you have a nice suburban to start with. Love seeing another one being brought back to life.

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by 48ChevBagged

I will be following along. Looks like you have a nice suburban to start with. Love seeing another one being brought back to life.

Very cool 48ChevBagged and thanks! Your bare steel one is awesome....and the one that I almost bought in PCB about 3 years ago. Didn't try hard enough since I had this one stashed away waiting. Appreciated your LS swap too!

[Advanced Design]

Only a little time in the shop Saturday. Pulled the front fenders and found some rust through....not too bad.

[youngrodder]

Not bad at all. This area was really rusted out on mine.
Nice progress.

Marc

[Coach529]

Looking forward to the build!!!

Subscribed!!

[_Ogre]

nice find. like the air police graphics
some of those government/military trucks can be real finds as they rarely left the base.

you've already posted a pic of your help doing more than my help ever did on truk
my wife is great for house remodeling but never lifted a finger on truk
i'm a little envious...



if your not doing a 100 point restoration, those suburban seats can be worth some serious coin on ebay

[Advanced Design]

Thanks Ogre, we like the air police graphic too and really wish the Burb hadn't been painted purple at some point.

The wife has helped me with all the projects over the years back to when we were dating and I am very fortunate.....she is really good with bending lines and wiring. Heck of a cook too making it harder for me to get under the dash.

Yes, those original seats probably do have some good value and they may end up on Ebay.....just dislike the hassle of selling and we haven't decided on seats yet.

[Advanced Design]

We pulled the seats, running boards, fuel tank and steering column / box in preparation for lifting the body hopefully next week end. At some point after the 'Burb was painted purple, the third seat was in it as the mounting studs are still there, the wing nuts were laying on the carpet and seat rail impressions were noticable in the carpet. Guy I bought it from likely pulled the third seat before throwing the 'Burb on Ebay.

Found some rust at toe board to floor pan joint on left side after removing the screwed in patch panels. Again not too bad. The rockers and door bottoms are solid.....now where did I put that clutch head screw driver I made when building the truck...?

[Number98]

Can't wait to see that LS between the Burbs rails! Also, that Macs engine thing-a-ma-whatever-ya-call-it looks pretty heavy duty!

[99 to Life]

Im in on this, can't wait to get a burb. so so sick I just love em.

[Advanced Design]

99 to Life...I agree, have wanted a 'Burb since before the SUV craze hit.

Rare Monday night in the shop. Removed the side glass and found rust through behind the pinch weld in three of window openings.....that Texas dust must have been built up there holding moisture.

The seats are in good shape....we may end up using them...at least until after the first long road trip.

[99 to Life]

your 48' is mad cool. those seats outta the burb look crisp. I don't know what I'd choose to buy or build first, a burb or COE, its neck and neck. Luv em both. I was planning on doing up my 53' belair for the fam cruiser, I think it would be much more wise to just do a burb!!