Rusty, crushy, but trysty.

[gshibler]

Is that the lift kit suspension in the front already or the original burb stuff?

[Gordonr1973]

Very nice work!!

[makman1297]

Gabriel those are the stock springs, i am still working on the lift ones. I had to blow the bushings out since they were siezed, then i ordered the wrong size so half to wait to get the right ones. I still need to pull them apart and scrape the rust off and put new center bolts in. I finished installing the heads and intake, sprayed some paint so all the parts match. I got the rear spring mounts painted so will need to knock the rivets out and change those.

[sbrooks]

Nice work. I am in the process of 2wd to 4wd swap right now also, what size and length of bolts did you use to mount up all the mounts to the frame.

[makman1297]

I used the ones that were in the suburban. There 7/16 by about an inch, look to be grade 8.

[dieselmec1993]

nice build

[chevy427big block]

looks awsome man

[makman1297]

Got the gas tank pulled and put some of the sensors on the engine, only to find my oil pressure sender is bad.

[makman1297]

Started fitting the gear box, has some issues i need to address, and i put more of the engine together. When the spring bushings come in i can put the lift springs in the front.

[makman1297]

Got the gear box installed. Started pulling the rear leaf and mounting brackets. Found a little rot on the lower frame rail by the crossmember, i got a 4' heavy piece of angle iron that will be welded and bolted in to make up some strength.

[gshibler]

Ive been checking in every so often, keeping track of your progress. Engine looks good.

[makman1297]

Gabriel you should come down for a few days and give me a hand, i have a lot that can be done.

[makman1297]

Cleaned up the rest of the old rear suspension. Was able to put my angle iron brace in the inner frame lower rail with some bolts and some welding should be better than new. Used a lower brace off the suburban frame to replace the rotted one on the truck. I got the 4wd leaf brackets installed. The front ones the 4 one the bottom frame rail were the same but the 4 one the side were not the same, the 4wd bracket is about 1/2 wider so the holes are slightly wider. This required welding the old holes shut and then re-drilling them out, yeah. The rear brackets were the opposite, the side ones were the same, but the bottom two were off by about 1/2 an inch. I got one set of leafs apart and put the new bushings in them, and put it back on the truck, just need to stop and get some new shackle bolts. I started cleaning up the 14 bolt, i am grinding the perch's and some square thing off, guess must of been for the bump stop.

[makman1297]

Got the rear springs installed, and the perch's removed. Ready to weld the new perch's on the axle.

[makman1297]

Started with the rear axle, tack welded and then tore the gears out to put the 4.10 gears in it.

[gshibler]

Do you go low budget on the gears too? Junkyard or new. The old truck will be up and running in no time.

[makman1297]

Wow spent the day just working on the rear axle, what a pain. I got the gear set used off ebay, and found an install kit, but it took a good part of the day to get them set up. I ended up getting a new impact since mine crapped out. Got the rear end in the frame and the diff done. I got the shock brackets off and still need to weld them in the correct spot. I also need to make the bracket for the rear brake line.

[makman1297]

Only worked on it for a few hours but felt like i got alot done. I welded on the shock brackets, installed my second fuel tank, drilled and mounted the front axle bumper, cleaned and painted the frame, and installed a new style spare tire carrier. I also started tearing the tranny apart.

[makman1297]

Its the one from the 88, but the code on it says 87, so far its ok, have not gone very far yet.

[gshibler]

It should be in decent condition. It was rebuilt like three times by Aamco under warranty when I had it, and Dad didnt put that many miles on it. They said it got a new valve body at one point or another. The only funny thing it did and they never were able to fix it was it shifted kind of hard from 1st to 2nd. Looks like the 14 bolt cleaned up and fit nice.

[makman1297]

May of had a sticky valve, i have all the good tranny parts for it. The axle was a little rusty but should be good. It gave me a bit of trouble with the gear setup but i think its good. Brakes look decent on it and i put in new axle seals. Just half to run the brake lines. My bushings are due in thursday, so that means i can clean up the front springs and put them in. Then i can get the engine, tranny, and transfer case in.

[makman1297]

oh boy the spring bushings came in.

[makman1297]

Spent most of the morning cleaning up the front springs and putting the new bushings in. Got that done found the dr caliper is bad and the ball joints on the pass is bad. Got the front axle mounted in again. I tore the rest of the tranny apart and pulled out all the parts, just started putting it back together, maybe tomorrow i can finish it.

[makman1297]

Spent the day working on the tranny, got the internals done. Just have the valve body left to finish up.

[makman1297]

Almost done with the tranny, valve body in.