1969-1972 3/4 ton 4x4 suburban RARE??

[piercer0723]

How rare are the original 3/4 ton 4x4 suburbans? i am thinking about restoring mine now and maybe doing it up a little lifting it put and original 402 with AC power steering etc. mine is loaded but was a 350 4 speed Im thinking original 402 turbo 400 205 transfer case. any input?

[DBear]

Not sure about Rare, but if it is the one you were gonna part out before, that thing has some really great options on the SPID. I would definitely restore it. I would probably go with a diesel swap before I go BBC, but that is just me. The 350/4 speed is a great combo too. I say go for it. Suburbans look awesome restored or antiqued!

[piercer0723]

yes it is the one i was gonna part and cut in half for a truck build. but i only sold the gm replacement engine and trans and transfer case. Now ive been told there was only 299 of these built and with factory buckets tach and roof ac upper and lower trim. i am thinking i should just keep it together and restore it. I am gonna do the 402 turbo 400 205 set up though since i have it and its all era correct i like stock engine compartments. I dont think they ever built a original 3/4 4x4 big block suburban any one know if they did? or ever seen one.
also any input on keeping the original second tank and just second row seat or getting rid of the second tank to accomodate three row seating?

[piercer0723]

i will probably still be selling the front and rear diff though as i will go with the disk brake 44 front instead of drum and a corporate 14 bolt full floater for the rear.

[piercer0723]

probably gonna do a 8" full spring lift and 37" tires. completely stock exterior and interior.

[too much stuff]

There were no big block 4x4 trucks, blazers or burbs in the 67-72 years.
I am not sure about the 299 built, but it certainly isn't common. I don't know if you could narrow it down to how many were built by options. I have seen a couple with factory buckets. Sounds like you have some good plans for it.

[lowrollin70gmc]

I know there were 299 68 K20 burbs made, not sure about 69 up. Let me dig some...

[lowrollin70gmc]

Found it,
67 K20 Suburban 120
68 K20 Suburban 299
69 K20 Suburban 545
70 K20 Suburban 541
71 K20 Suburban 256 doors 353 gate
72 K20 Suburban 503 doors 879 gate



Edited for door / gate number correction

Found here: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=104816

[piercer0723]

All those numbers matched this info except 69 which says 299 here is a link. Which would you say is more accurate?

http://www.oldride.com/library/1969_chevrolet_c20.html


Also lists both doors and gate production numbers (doors always less) in the later years

Either way less than 1000 is rare enough for me to just restore it and fix it up hopefully get most of it done this winter

[vectorit]

Where are you getting the data regarding doors/gates?
I have always been curious of that info for the 68 K20.

Originally Posted by lowrollin70gmc

Found it,
67 K20 Suburban 120
68 K20 Suburban 299
69 K20 Suburban 545
70 K20 Suburban 541
71 K20 Suburban 256 doors 353 gate
72 K20 Suburban 503 doors 879 gate



Edited for door / gate number correction

Found here: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=104816

[lowrollin70gmc]

I think my link, as I glanced at the one you posted and the numbers are the same for 68 and 69 in most categories, possibly a typo.

And I looked back and the thread I quoted separated by door type too, I just didn't see it so 71 was 256 doors and 353 gate and 72 was 503 doors and 879 gate. Same numbers as your site except for 69.

(I changed earlier post to correct amounts of doors and gates)

[mud.man.rj]

There was a 402 Big block in the 72 Gm trucks, had an original. 0.30 over 396 came in a few trucks.

[lowrollin70gmc]

Vectorit: In the production numbers it lists them separate for 71 and 72, unfortunately I haven't been able to find anything for our 68s. Is yours a hatch? if so, count at least 1 hatch and 1 barn (mine).

It is fun to tell people my 68 is one of 299 when they say they had one just like it; barn vs hatch would lower that number. And I swear there are at least 299 matching new F250s on Camp Pendleton, and one 68 K20.

[vectorit]

Mine has the clam shell doors.
Did you ever get your tires?

[Joesjunk]

Looks like I have one of 879, Original paint, 79k original miles

[orange72sub]

I am pretty sure i have read on here before that all of the 4x4 subs only came with small blocks. Reason being the axle clearance they actually moved the small block back closer to the firewall to clear the front axle. You may not have issue with an eight inch lift though. Good luck with project! As I am still in process of rebuilding my 1972 K20 sub. Love these trucks and how rare they are! I haven't seen another one on the road in Ohio yet! Keep her alive and save her from the demise of being a parts truck!

[1969_CM2590D]

How about the 69 degree GMC V-6? It comes in 305, 351, 379, 401 and 478 CID sizes (The 639 CID 60 degree V-8 version is likely impractical). Torque monster and long lasting. Noted for being "rare" but there are more out there than you'd think.

I've know of a few V-6 trucks with Hydra-Matic from the early sixites. That H-M was a truck version and is Hydra-Matic 1.0- the original from the 1940's offered in GMC trucks to '62 (also used in tanks). Possibly the toughest auto ever made and has 4 speeds and a 4.08 1st- lower than the car versions.

I'm looking into setting a 67-72 Suburban on a V-6/H-M chassis from the early '60's. Trying to see what the chassis differences are between 60-66 and 67-72. Dad's 78 and needs something to drive when he visits. He's never been one to use a clutch..

If you pull from an old GMC, get the suspension- or better yet the whole truck. The V-6's weigh 750-850 lbs. The pickup H-M weighs 435 lbs- so 1200-1300 lbs total- quite a bit more than any straight six or V-8 with PG or THM.

... but that "1-4/1-3/1-2/1-1/R" shift quadrant on the column would look pretty cool....

[piercer0723]

Plans changed I did an original 1972 402 and turbo 400 combo with 205 transfer case.. all original, I built custom frame motor mounts so everything would be in factory locations as in a 2 wheel drive radiator shroud, clutch fan, linkage, etc. I found a '72 barn door suburban body with one year only AC option that I am blasting and using for a body. I will still retain the 69 nose and SPID.. I built custom shackles in the front and used a Superlift 12" spring lift, so total its about 15" lift and springs work as they should since they are the longer springs for '73 and up. They dont make that big of spring for '72 and older. I used later model axels all 1 ton so DANA 60 front and Corporate 14 rear full disc brake front and rear with correct large 3/4 1ton brake booster and correct dual disc master for 3/4 ton 1 ton. Cross over steering and 2 wheel drive steering box.
It has 41" swamper IROK radials. It is big but it drives nice and everything works very well..
This is how it is now I am doing a Seattle Seahawks themed build and we took it to the NFC championship game and tailgated. I also cut a '69 "long horn" frame and built a matching "long horn" bed trailer with original canopy with barn doors to tow behind it..... It got tons of attention crusing Hawk alley... It's my "Beast Mode" Suburban....
Everything I did is bolt on modifications so not to distrupt the rare originality of it. I am doing the interior all original blue and it is factory Tach, bucket seats, 3 row seating, I am keeping all trim and body original other than using a '72 shell for the dash AC and rear AC instead of the complete roof AC original on my '69.. I guess the build has turned into getting as much rare '69-'72 suburban stuff and putting it into one all while utilizing my '69 vin and SPID being a factory K20 and all the rare options...

[piercer0723]

This picture was actually only after the 12" spring lift not after the extra 3" custom shackle build.

[Bigdav160]

so not to distrupt the rare originality of it.

So you have a '69 2WD Suburban that has been converted to 4WD with a '72 body, 1 ton axles and long springs.

Nice truck.

But there doesn't seem to be much original (or rare) to it.

[piercer0723]

No if you followed the thread.. I have an original 1969 K20 4x4 suburban with factory bucket seats, tach, upper and lower trim, full AC, barn doors. I have just added to that or upgraded, either way. I have not converted anything just bolted on add ons even my custom frame motor mounts are bolt on to factory 4x4 crossmember holes.. other than 1 ton axels and springs everything I have done is all original '69-'72 parts...
My suburban is 1 of less than 600 built and with all the original options which are all on my original SPID who knows 1 of less than 100?? I call either one rare..
any one know the production numbers on a one year only '72 402 AC suburban? I have't seen many and not sure if anyone knows how rare they really were..

[1956cameo]

I don't know how many 1972 suburbans had 402 big blocks with A/C but it would be nice if there were a source that broke production numbers down by every single option. I know the Mopar muscle car guys have sources that break it down that far but the only numbers break downs I have seen just involve 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, 2wd, 4wd, barn doors, or clamshell doors. Not sure if I would consider 72 big block suburbans with factory A/C "rare" I have two and my dad has one but I know there are a lot less big block suburbans than small block suburbans.

[vectorit]

OK, yes. The 67-72 Suburbans can have some low production numbers, which in the car world makes them rare and expensive.

For trucks, not so expensive.
Maybe someday, there will be a run on early Suburbans and production numbers get attention to drive up prices.

If you are looking to buy, fix up, flip for a profit a Suburban today; you will probably lose money after trying to sell it for while.

[mud.man.rj]

All I know is it is a beauty, would like to see the total lift and also the trailer too. I am sure it got a lot of attention, cool truck.

[LNT]

I just brought back from Idaho a 1970 3/4 ton 4x4 suburban that was in the phoenix area until1994. Apparently 541 built. any realistic idea how many of these trucks would be remaining that are either drivable or are an easy restoration to a descent driver? Not including rotton parts trucks.