65 GMC Suburban 4x4 Restorod Project

[RustyBurb]

So here's my first attempt at building something. Not much of a mechanic so getting a lot of help locally. Bought the truck online out of Connecticut (a nice rust free state) where the truck was used to plow snow in the winter and as a marina yard truck in the summer. Who could ask for a more salt free environment than that!? Can't say my wife was totally warmed up to the idea when it was delivered as the brakes went out as it was rolling off the car carrier. Lucky we have a long street. First step some new shoes. Made quite a difference in ride height. Kinda look period correct...16x8 Rally wheels on Toyo's. Still in garage, still no brakes

[RustyBurb]

Getting it out of the garage for new heart and lung transplant. Amazing how helpful brakes are. Wish I had some I felt like a nervous mother watching her kid go for first day of school. My buddy is replacing his Bill Mitchell 427 small block and M22 4 speed so I thought that might be reasonable motorvation for the old girl. The 305 V6 /4 speed that's coming out runs strong if anyone is interested. 550hp vs 141 was a quick debate. He's also including the nitrous set up (supposed to be good for another 250 but more of a show item for me)

[RustyBurb]

Mike Kelly Sr. and Jr. at Progressive Auto in Marco Island are doing all the work. Two generations of automotive awesomeness. You should check out Mike Jr.'s line of Vanquish motorcycles to see some of their work and creativity. They've already got the front end off, popped out the engine and tranny and steam cleaned 48 years of grease off the frame. I got new fenderliners to replace the swiss cheese that was there. I'm going for the rust bucketrat rod exterior with premiunm finish undercarriage/engine look.

[truckswede]

Hi and Welcome to the board, RustyBurb! Love the burbs and the panelvans.
Looks like a great place to start, and you are obviously a man on a mission!
Good luck with it, i'll be following along.

[1963c-10]

Welcome and very cool project and history with the truck!!!!

[RANDY COX]

Kool I'm kinda partial to the Burbs, Lookin good and what a difference some new shoes make, did you say they were 16"s.

[RustyBurb]

Yeah, they're 16's. I was worried that if I just used the standard 15's I wouldn't get a disc brake setup in there. I had them made and powdercoated at Pete Paulson's Wheels. I didn't want to go too flash but part of me wishes I did them in red.

[NEWFISHER]

Great project! Those wheels/tires look great

[RANDY COX]

I have 15x7's on my truck and they do clear the disk brakes...

But I'm wanting to go to 16"s

[RustyBurb]

Those 15's look great. I like what you did with the front hubs. I'm trying to mill off the end of my center caps so the Warn hub can peak through. Did you chrome your Warn hubs or did they come like that?

[RANDY COX]

Originally Posted by RustyBurb

Those 15's look great. I like what you did with the front hubs. I'm trying to mill off the end of my center caps so the Warn hub can peak through. Did you chrome your Warn hubs or did they come like that?

The front hubs are I believe 73 or later cause they have the yellow center cap,most all later ones had the chrome outers... I was thinking of doing the same thing but I'm not sure that I will leave them on there....

[RustyBurb]

How do you like those Rough Country shocks.? They do look cool.

[RANDY COX]

As for the shocks I haven't really driven the truck much since it was a project when I bought it...

[RustyBurb]

Now that the frame is steamed clean I can see what kind of shape it's in. Surprisingly good, I guess 48 years of grease and tar protected things nicely from the salted roads.

[RustyBurb]

I'm swapping out front and rear axles with those from an 81 K series. We figured it was the cheapest way to get disc brakes up front. We switched out the 3.54's for a more clutch friendly 3.73 and now first gear will be more useful. We put in all new gears and bearings and gave the front and rear ends a shiny coat of black. The front end is in now and looks pretty good with the chrome cover and the new disc brakes.

[Dunenutt]

Awesome!

[C@rnut001]

Awesome truck and I really like what you are doing with it. Good luck and keep us updated.

[RustyBurb]

Cleaned up/patched up and wet sanding the firewall.

[RustyBurb]

The big day is here and we got to trial fit the SB. Amazing how small it looks in there after that 305! The black firewall seems to set off the chrome and aluminum pretty well. Also got the transmission support and linkage in. I'm going to have to reposition my transfer case lever to the other side of the shifter as the Muncie came through closer to the driver. That'll mean my transfer will be backwards. I think I can get used to that since I've only driven the thing about 300 feet.

[jmack91z28]

This truck is awesome. Great work so far. Great plan so far.

I'll be watching..

[RustyBurb]

Originally Posted by jmack91z28

This truck is awesome. Great work so far. Great plan so far.

I'll be watching..

Thanks!

[1963c-10]

Nice job....truck is coming along nicely.

[RustyBurb]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

Nice job....truck is coming along nicely.

Thanks!

[1963c-10]

Also....noticed you went to a tailshaft mount on the trans. You can remove the bellhousing mount since your not using it anymore.....did the same in my 63 a few weeks ago while working on the big block swap.

[RustyBurb]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

Also....noticed you went to a tailshaft mount on the trans. You can remove the bellhousing mount since your not using it anymore.....did the same in my 63 a few weeks ago while working on the big block swap.

We were a little worried that removing the mount might weaken the torsional rigidity of the frame. The tranny mount will be a little more beefy, this is just a mock up to see how things fit.