65 GMC Suburban 4x4 Restorod Project

[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.

[RustyBurb]

Originally Posted by padresag

I would actually leave hat b/housing c/member in there sans mounts(as you don't need them with the trans mount). you really don't have much else in there for support other than the rad support and that rear trans appears to be on the light side from the view that is previewed. theoretically the engine serves a crossmember but it is rubber mounted. it will leave some support there and the rear shackles mount through them.
how come you cut the front frame horns off.
ron

That's what we were thinking too. We're actually going to hard mount the engine to the frame as the thing has so much more torque than before that we didn't think the rubber mounts would work out so well. I had to cut the frame rails short because they were so mangled from a plow being mounted there.

[RustyBurb]

Here's a little update on the truck. We went on vacation last month only to come home to a flooded house so my priorities have been adjusted slightly. With that under control now I can post the latest progress on the Suburban.
With the new tranny we had to reverse the direction of the transfer case controls as we moved it to the other side of the shifter. Then the transfer case linkage was fabricated/modified as was the transmission linkage.
The frame has been completely painted and the firewall is all cleaned up, painted and buffed so it's time for the drivetrain to go in for real. It's a shame so much of that firewall will be hidden.

[RustyBurb]

Got the inner fenders on! Maybe I should leave the hood off....

[argonaut]

Sweet suburban! You're making me jealous!

[RustyBurb]

Now to the rear end. Replacing drums with discs, re-using axles with new bearings and gears (3.73:1).
Still don't know how to preserve the patina here in the Florida humidity. Some suggest flat clear coat, some say leave it, some say acid prep it to remove the rust and then clear it. I don't know what to do, but I do know that I don't want it rotting away here in the salt air. Any ideas? I am going to repair the dings.

[RANDY COX]

Those Tires sure do Look Healthy(meaty) what brand and size are those bad boys... Looks
like they have plenty of traction on the sides too....

[RustyBurb]

Originally Posted by RANDY COX

Those Tires sure do Look Healthy(meaty) what brand and size are those bad boys... Looks
like they have plenty of traction on the sides too....

Thanks Randy. Yeah, they are pretty beefy. I figured that the factory lift needed something a little bigger to fill out those wheel wells so I went with them. I have the same ones in a 12.5 X 35 on my Jeep but these are about 2" smaller both ways. They are Toyo Open Country and the size is one down from the 10.5 width (sorry, I don't have the truck here to look at it this morning) They wear really well (a buddy had them on his Fxxd F250 and got 50,000 miles out of them with not much wear). They are a little noisy though. They definitely keep me from talking on the phone while driving my Jeep (soft top/no doors)

[RANDY COX]

Oh ok, what kind of Jeep do you have, I have a 77 cj-7

[RustyBurb]

Originally Posted by RANDY COX

Oh ok, what kind of Jeep do you have, I have a 77 cj-7

I like those CJ's.
Mine's an "08. Here's a closer look at the Toyo's (same as on the Suburban)

[RustyBurb]

Before this starts to become Jeep thread I'd better put up the latest progress on the Suburban. The rear end is all redone with new bearings, gears, and the disc brakes are on and plumbed.

I was kinda hoping I might get some feedback on how to preserve the rusty patina but apparently I'm not the only one who doesn't know. Is there anyone out there that has any advice? Anyone? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

[RANDY COX]

Here's my cj not sure why it didn't show up in earlier post...

[RANDY COX]

[RustyBurb]

Well, it's been a busy past 6 months. Busy season here in Naples and we just sold our house and moved so haven't had much time to post any updates. Had a really difficult time getting registration here in Florida on a truck that's too old to have a title and was never registered in Connecticut in 35 years. I found a guy in SW Florida who seems to know what to do about that, I'll keep you posted. Got the engine and tranny permanently installed, got my grill back from the platers, got my seats back from the upholstery guys, the brake lines are run and the emergency actually works, installed a full cluster of gauges, and completely rewired the entire truck. New headlight and mirrors are on and the windshield is in.

[siggyfreud]

Looking good! Any plans to blast/paint the frame since it looks like many of your other large components (front/rear) are done up nicely?

Engine, booster, and MC look very nice and shiny! I'm digging it.

[RustyBurb]

Put in an under dash AC unit (which meant pulling out the shifter and rebending it so I won't bust my knuckles on the controls shifting to 1st) Picked a 69 Camaro houndstooth black and white for the seats so I have some flexibility on color if I ever decide that rusty patina isn't for me. Truck is a little loud with the 3" exhaust and 4 inline tube mufflers. Not so sure the wife is going to be all that thrilled with the noise. But that's why we have a house. Then again, changing the mufflers is cheaper than losing half of a house...

[RustyBurb]

The frame is blasted and painted. The only area yet to be painted is the new frame extension for the winch and toe hooks. We added cross members to strengthen the frame.

[siggyfreud]

Awesome! Seats look really nice too.

[RustyBurb]

Thanks!

[RANDY COX]

Looking good...

[RustyBurb]

Got the front bumper extension plate cover on! And better yet, my title is in!

[argonaut]

Looking good!

[65sub]

Truck is looking good. Any luck finding a way to preserve your patina.

[RustyBurb]

Originally Posted by 65sub

Truck is looking good. Any luck finding a way to preserve your patina.

I talked with a body shop guy yesterday and he seemed pretty convinced that just doing a flat clear coat would stop the rust form worsening while keeping the original patina. I had heard that the clear won't adhere to the rust well and ends up turning white where it releases. I live in humidity central, and on a salt water canal so I know I've got to do something...

[RANDY COX]

I like that extended front bumper do plan on a winch.. I did a mod like that yrs ago to a 70 Burb 4x4 .I had a big PTO winch mounted. I got lucky a found a pc of 3/16 aluminum diamond plate and used that to fill in the area. we LIKE pictures....