My 71 gmc suburban

[BAD1916]

Im new to this forum. I just picked up a 71 gmc suburban from my dad. Its a pretty solid truck with a 402, turbo 400, roof air and the third row seat. The back 2 seats had been removed and stored and are in amazing shape. Needs work all around but all in all its a nice truck to start with.Cant beat it for free either.

[flashed]

Very nice and sure priced right and Welcome .

[BAD1916]

Thank you. There is rust in the passenger side rocker and lower door corner. All the rest appears to be surface. The lower tailgate was packed into by some form of ranch equipment but i have a set of rust free cargo doors plus all that came with the truck. Right now im swapping the trans since it quit shifting with a known good one. I hope to have it driving shortly and then get in to all the little stuff.

[BAD1916]

This has been my daily driver now since 2012-13. In the last 8 years or so the original 402 was swapped for a 454 due to a cracked block and the transmission was rebuilt due to loss of high gear. I recently tore it down to rebuild the suspension. I sent a large pile off to powder coat and the hardware went to plating. I decided on the color that I want to paint it so while the front end was stripped off I got the firewall painted and the inside of the fenders. The truck will still be ugly for a while but at least the business end should look good😎

[BAD1916]

A before and after shot

[BAD1916]

Pre powder coat shot. I picked up all the powder coat last week. Hopefully the hardware will be done this week so I can start reassembly. I cleaned up the framerails while it was apart and got them painted black now too. They aren’t perfect but way better that before. I always enjoy seeing others projects so I will do my best to keep this updated.

[kev2809]

nice progress what's the plan with suspension? or you sticking with stock height?

[BAD1916]

Originally Posted by kev2809

nice progress what's the plan with suspension? or you sticking with stock height?

The initial plan was to lower it but I figured that for now stock height will be easier to deal with rust repair having it taller. It may get lowered later but as we all know projects change direction.

[HO455]

Nice color are you planning on all yellow or yellow with a white roof?
I see you're in California any plans for adding AC?

[BAD1916]

Originally Posted by HO455

Nice color are you planning on all yellow or yellow with a white roof?
I see you're in California any plans for adding AC?

I will be doing a white roof and bottom as well. It has factory roof air so I just need to make it work. Blower is good but when I got it the engine side of the A/C stuff was all off. I think I have all but one bracket to mount the compressor left to find and I will have everything needed.

[Blue GMC]

Looking good really like that color

Now you keep teasing with the pics of the Mustang. 65? I am one of the few that always liked the green color and details on that one as well? I know it’s a truck site but…

[BAD1916]

Originally Posted by Blue GMC

Looking good really like that color

Now you keep teasing with the pics of the Mustang. 65? I am one of the few that always liked the green color and details on that one as well? I know it’s a truck site but…

I’ll make sure I get better gratuitous shots of it in future pictures👍🏻
It’s a 65. It was my grandpas car that I bought from him a few weeks before he passed while I was home on leave after boot camp. The color is a 65 only called Honey Gold.It’s a factory 289 2V drum brake, automatic but now it’s a 289 4V 4 speed disc brakes and radio/heater delete.

[BAD1916]

Originally Posted by Blue GMC

Looking good really like that color

Now you keep teasing with the pics of the Mustang. 65? I am one of the few that always liked the green color and details on that one as well? I know it’s a truck site but…

There’s a Suburban in the pic too👍🏻

[BAD1916]

Got my plating back today so I turned on the music,grabbed some beer and started sorting. I was confident when my wife asked me how I knew where it all goes when I was taking it apart. Now I’m staring at bolts wondering where they go.🤣 Some look important too. I threw in a bunch of bolts from my dads Suburban that got totaled so I will have lots of extra hardware.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by BAD1916

Got my plating back today so I turned on the music,grabbed some beer and started sorting. I was confident when my wife asked me how I knew where it all goes when I was taking it apart. Now I’m staring at bolts wondering where they go.🤣 Some look important too. I threw in a bunch of bolts from my dads Suburban that got totaled so I will have lots of extra hardware.

What is the hardware plated with?

LockDoc

[BAD1916]

I did a silver cad. I would love to do a phosphate and oil batch but that is way pricey.

[Blue GMC]

Great that you always have something to remember him by and can share with your family. My GMC was my wife’s grandfathers and for the last few years I’ve been storing it at my father-in-laws shop and he has been occasionally driving it as he likes the truck as well. One of these years I’ll go bring her home again but it’s where it’s meant to be right now.

[BAD1916]

For sure, it is nice to have a car that my grandma and grandpa drove around in. That’s awesome that your truck can be enjoyed by your family members as well. It has to bring back lots of memories.

[BAD1916]

Yesterday I got the brake and fuel lines reinstalled minus a few brackets. I also got the exhaust rehung under the truck. I cleaned up the heater box as well. I had 2 heater boxes both with a broken tab. I ended up using the one with the least obvious break. I believe the truck sat for a long time without a good so the box was extremely dull. I didn’t get any pics from before but I washed it with soap and water to clean it good and scuffed it with a red pad. After that I sprayed it with a satin clear and am pretty happy with the result. I also picked up my control arms and trailing arms from getting new bushings pressed in and shafts installed.

[LockDoc]

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Heater box looks good! That would be better than painting it for sure.

LockDoc

[BAD1916]

Thanks. I would hate to paint it and ruin the look. Certain things like that I really enjoy looking at as they should be.

[kev2809]

man that looks amazing!

[BAD1916]

Thank you!

[BAD1916]

A couple years back I was given a dual tank setup that a friend of my dads had on his 68 Suburban. I mocked it up a while back which required trimming of some crossmember and notching a spot on the frame. I had never tried it with the modified original tank that came with it. I have a little bit of figuring out to do but shouldn’t be too bad to dial in. Only downside is my hitch won’t work with this setup but I don’t haul much and with a 454 the extra fuel will be nice. Besides who doesn’t want $150 plus fill ups🤬

[BAD1916]

A few pics of it loosely installed