Project "Mid Life Crisis Low Rider Burb"

[gemiii]

Ok Here is my first build thread. Its December 2009 and I bought the burb, my first, in the summer of 2008. I have a ton of pictures and I will be doin some catching up over the next couple of weeks. I can tell you it takes a bunch of $$$$ and a lot of time!!

Here is what I bought for $500 from New Hampshire. I should have waited and bought something a lot cleaner but what the heck, Im not much on patience. It was running and driving. Not roadworthy but it moved and stopped. The last picture is the 72 and the donor 89 burb that I got as a driver for $400 with a rebuilt 700R4. I told the PO that I was going to tear er apart and he didnt want to sell it to me?

[gemiii]

I forgot to mention that its a 2 wheel drive 3/4 ton automatic. 8 lug thats going to have to go. 2 Bench seats. I intend on painting it blue. My wife and I have one son (11 now) and we are into boating. We head out every weekend during the summer so progress will be slow during to summer. The burb will be our ride to get stuff (booze, ice and food) to the boat and back. hit the cruise nights and tow the dingy back and forth.
The 89 has a 350 4speed auto and a nice interior. Grey cloth buckets w/ a nice overhead console and between the seats console. I expect to swap out the rear ends wich will get me to 5 lug. It also has a rear heater that I would like to swap out as it can be cold here in CT.

[72BlckButy]

Great looking project gemiii, can't wait to see what's instore for the burb.

Keep us posted on your progress!

[Bus Ted Knuckle]

rule #1, don't ever tell a seller you want to use their vehicle for parts!

Great looking project!

[gemiii]

The first step and the fun one Tear Down. Little did I know how long this was going to take.

[1956cameo]

Cool project! Interested in seeing how this one goes; and looking forward to more pictures.

It looks as though you have cut off the whole drivers side of the suburban body! You really are tearing it down. I hope everything goes back together smoothly for you.

[gemiii]

When I said it Little did I know how long it would take I meant the whole project not the tear down. Taking it apart was fast and fun. The 89 burb is like a one car garage so everything I didnt need went in there. I blew a head gasket in the 89 so its done! That burb had lots of power so I figured I would use the complete drivetrain. It also has the serpentine belt so that will be different. Pulling all the guts out of the doors wasnt very fun and I sure hope I remember how they went! I zip locked bagged everything and labeled them. I cut all the window gaskets to get them out easier, I hope they make new ones.

[gemiii]

Lots of rust!!! All 3 rockers, inners, complete a pillars all the way to the top of the windshield, both rear 1/4s, under the drivers rear door if there was one, firewall, front floors, spare tire well is gone, hatch, front floors a little, front cab mounts, bottom of front fenders and this is before blasting.

I am out laid off now so I am working on it full time. I think its January 2008. I rented a tag a long compressor and a 300lb blasting pot and blasted everything I could. Its a long day! My help didnt show so that didnt help. Ever sandblast in the cold? The hood fogs up and you cant see anything. I ended up using a welding hood with just a clear lens. Boy does the rust, paint and gunk come off fast. Then everything goes in the garage for etching primer. Im shot!!! Now there even less burb than I had before blasting.
The last picture is a drivers 1/4 that I bought with a nice hatch for $300. It looks pretty good and it looks easy to swap out LOL. It wasnt that easy but its better than fixing the rust. There was even more rust under that rust.

[thirdstreettito]

Great work so far man!

[OARNGESI]

wow thats some really nice work

[idonutn0]

very cool build, keep it up!

[1956cameo]

Wow! You make me feel bad for not wanting to tear into my suburban because of metal work needed for tail ligt damage.

[Rokcrln]

Dang I don't even think I would have wanted to tackle that one. Very nice job and I love the 1x3's (nailed to the ceiling) keeping the beam from falling over

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[gemiii]

Originally Posted by northern 85

Wow nice work! Love the shop and beam!

Thanks

Originally Posted by LEEVON

You are ambitious! And make it look easy to piece together an entire burb body.

It looks fast cause I posted a lot in one night, it feels like I have been working on it forever.

Originally Posted by OARNGESI

wow thats some really nice work

Thanks. I hope its straight.

Originally Posted by idonutn0

very cool build, keep it up!

I plan on driving it late spring.

Originally Posted by 1956cameo

Wow! You make me feel bad for not wanting to tear into my suburban because of metal work needed for tail ligt damage.

All it takes is some cutting wheels LOL.

Originally Posted by Rokcrln

Dang I don't even think I would have wanted to tackle that one. Very nice job and I love the 1x3's (nailed to the ceiling) keeping the beam from falling over

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Thanks. I wont be buying any more rust buckets after I finish the 4 I have. Yes those boards are there to lock the beam in place. I should have painted them white but who has the time. Ill be looking for some of your door seals soon I hope.

George

[gemiii]

Got a little done tonight. I got some headers from Summit on Ebay and I hoped they would fit. I had to notch the motor perches a little to get them in. I wish they dumped out a little higher. I started to paint the insides of the fenders. The next picture is of my gas lines and the ss air line for the air bag. Tight fit in there. The last picture is my braided gas lines to the tank and the new brake lines. I am waiting on UPS for my mufflers and the pipe bender I bought.

[kev2809]

wow...i cant believe you cut the whole thing up and got it back together that good! i dont think i could ever tackle something like this, looks great. whats the plans for the front suspension?

[gemiii]

Originally Posted by kev2809

wow...i cant believe you cut the whole thing up and got it back together that good! i dont think i could ever tackle something like this, looks great. whats the plans for the front suspension?

KEV Thanks I think its back together right? I have been reading your build and you are doing a great job. I feel your pain on bolting up the rear bags, what a pain. I did it with the body off, I wouldnt want to do it with it on. On the front I plan on buying ECE's 8 to 5 lug conversion drop spindles and putting the other 2600 bags I have in. I bought that special that Thorbecke Bros ran on bags. I like that the holes are in the plates already. I will replace all the front end partd too. I too am curious about the cups on the LCA's. To tell you the truth I dont even know what you guys are talking about? Help appreciated I hope that gets me low enough. I dont want to mess with the inner fenders, I have enough to do. I expect to send it for paint in early January. I havent decided wether to go one solid color or 2 tone. I dont want to buy all that trim that looks great on the 2 tone.

[Average Joe]

Jeezum crow brother nice work! Makes my projects look small by comparison.

[mike16]

Just a few questions. Since your busy with your midlife crisis mind if I take that camaro off your hands....


I disagree with the statement about telling the seller you intend to use there car for parts. While I have never done that I have asked the seller if they would just sell me a few parts off the car. Ruthless and emotionally traumatizing to the seller it has worked more often than not. And when it didnot work I always ask if they know where "other" parts cars are. They often tell me. Thier directions usually start with....."as soon as you leave my propery, you go....."

As for the mid life crisis thing, whats up with that. I been doing this since I was 15 but as soon at I hit 47 its a midlife crisis. What changed to turn it into a midlife crisis. I buy a 72 chevy with a 307 3 spd and thats indicative of a crisis? My crisis? maybe the automotive industries crisis but hardly mine and lesser still a crisis.

I got 5 vehicles and the girlfriend has 50 pairs of shoes. whos crisis is it? Mine all run, she cant run in hers. She did not sound too supportive when she referred to my cars as my midlife crisis and when she suggested I sell one ,(she sugested I sell my 65 GTO convertable/4spd because it would sell fast and we would get alot of money out of it) guess who found them selves in the middle of there own mid life crisis.

Really, except tongue in cheek, I never heard a real car guy ever refer to this as a midlife crisis. Its always some muppet who doesnt have a clue.

[kev2809]

Originally Posted by mike16

Just a few questions. Since your busy with your midlife crisis mind if I take that camaro off your hands....


I disagree with the statement about telling the seller you intend to use there car for parts. While I have never done that I have asked the seller if they would just sell me a few parts off the car. Ruthless and emotionally traumatizing to the seller it has worked more often than not. And when it didnot work I always ask if they know where "other" parts cars are. They often tell me. Thier directions usually start with....."as soon as you leave my propery, you go....."

As for the mid life crisis thing, whats up with that. I been doing this since I was 15 but as soon at I hit 47 its a midlife crisis. What changed to turn it into a midlife crisis. I buy a 72 chevy with a 307 3 spd and thats indicative of a crisis? My crisis? maybe the automotive industries crisis but hardly mine and lesser still a crisis.

I got 5 vehicles and the girlfriend has 50 pairs of shoes. whos crisis is it? Mine all run, she cant run in hers. She did not sound too supportive when she referred to my cars as my midlife crisis and when she suggested I sell one ,(she sugested I sell my 65 GTO convertable/4spd because it would sell fast and we would get alot of money out of it) guess who found them selves in the middle of there own mid life crisis.

Really, except tongue in cheek, I never heard a real car guy ever refer to this as a midlife crisis. Its always some muppet who doesnt have a clue.

really? I think your taking the title a little too liberal...

[PHAT TONY]

Agreed! I think more than me are or did stand in front of the 'puter and gave a standing ovation!! O M G!! This may be the most effort I've seen in saving a vintage Chevy truck; my hat's off to you sir.

[gemiii]

Originally Posted by Average Joe

Jeezum crow brother nice work! Makes my projects look small by comparison.

Thanks

Originally Posted by mike16

Just a few questions. Since your busy with your midlife crisis mind if I take that camaro off your hands....


I disagree with the statement about telling the seller you intend to use there car for parts. While I have never done that I have asked the seller if they would just sell me a few parts off the car. Ruthless and emotionally traumatizing to the seller it has worked more often than not. And when it didnot work I always ask if they know where "other" parts cars are. They often tell me. Thier directions usually start with....."as soon as you leave my propery, you go....."

As for the mid life crisis thing, whats up with that. I been doing this since I was 15 but as soon at I hit 47 its a midlife crisis. What changed to turn it into a midlife crisis. I buy a 72 chevy with a 307 3 spd and thats indicative of a crisis? My crisis? maybe the automotive industries crisis but hardly mine and lesser still a crisis.

I got 5 vehicles and the girlfriend has 50 pairs of shoes. whos crisis is it? Mine all run, she cant run in hers. She did not sound too supportive when she referred to my cars as my midlife crisis and when she suggested I sell one ,(she sugested I sell my 65 GTO convertable/4spd because it would sell fast and we would get alot of money out of it) guess who found them selves in the middle of there own mid life crisis.

Really, except tongue in cheek, I never heard a real car guy ever refer to this as a midlife crisis. Its always some muppet who doesnt have a clue.

Not too sure where you are headed with this but it sounds funny. Its not my midlife crisis, its everybody elses. I couldnt get permission/ justify spending $8k on a burb so I will build one for $15k. I am 45 and I havent changed a bit but everyone around me did?

Originally Posted by PHAT TONY

Agreed! I think more than me are or did stand in front of the 'puter and gave a standing ovation!! O M G!! This may be the most effort I've seen in saving a vintage Chevy truck; my hat's off to you sir.

Funny Thanks. I hope its a Suburban I wanted!

The body got jammed and the interior and firewall got paint and clear today. Hope it looks awesome!
George

[Number98]

Great work man!

I just found this one but sign me up.....

[gemiii]

Got some more progress done. I bought a pipe bender for the exhaust but it didnt work out too well. It crushed the 3 inch stainlees before it bent. I ended up cutting 22 1/2 degree cuts and tig welding them together to make 45's. I got the exhaust done to the mufflers. I was able to run the drivers side under the shifting linkage so I think so I wont have to modify the linkage.

[gemiii]

I went and picked up the body from the paint shop before we got the blizzard on Saturday. Everything looks great. I got it home and packed away in the garage before the snow. We ended upgetting 17 inches on snow.