86 Suburban daily driver

[aggie91]

Nice work so far. I like the way you did the C-Notch, looks like it should hold up well.

Did you ever get a replacement factory tint glass?

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

I wouldn't worry about not capping it. The strength is in the height & each side is still 'connected' within 1-2 inches below of the top.

Originally Posted by aggie91

Nice work so far. I like the way you did the C-Notch, looks like it should hold up well.

Did you ever get a replacement factory tint glass?

Thanks guys! There isn't any reason it shouldn't be stronger than any commercially available bolt in notch for pickups, in my head. I can't wait to finish it up and drive it to see how much better it is!

Yep, got a window off Ebay.

[jasonroman]

great work. and pics.
you still working on it?

will a notch from a pick up work?

i dont have the talent skill or tools to build my own.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by jasonroman

great work. and pics.
you still working on it?

will a notch from a pick up work?

i dont have the talent skill or tools to build my own.

Trucks/Burb & Blazer frames are different.

[BlueJeep]

Finally, the notch is done!! Not without a fight though. In order to weld the top of the notch I had to jack up the body off the frame. All the bolts came out, except one. I had to drill a hole in the floor to get at the captured nut and stop it from spinning...one more hole to weld up now.

Please ignore the shock mount "repair". I did not do that, it was like that when I got the truck and I didn't make time this go around to fix it right.

[BlueJeep]

SCOTI, I took your suggestion and bought stock length Bilstein shocks. I liked this option so that it would not limit the suspension travel, which is kinda important because to get the rear tires off they have to drop a decent amount before they'll come out.

Here's mockup photos of that and setting the pinion angle.

[BlueJeep]

So then it was time to pull it out and weld everything up for good, and paint it. That's what I did.

[BlueJeep]

And mounted for good in the Suburban! Trying to get it driveable for a cruise next Sunday, should be do-able.

And since the grille was out I put in my LED headlights.

[SCOTI]

Looking good!

I would jave just used a sealed plug on the floor. Never hurts to have future access.

[LT7A]

Tidy work man. Structural.

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Looking good!

I would jave just used a sealed plug on the floor. Never hurts to have future access.

Originally Posted by LT7A

Tidy work man. Structural.

Thanks guys!

Got the suburban all put back together yesterday, wow, that list was longer than it should have been. I developed a leak while it was in the garage and needed to replace seals in the steering box too, that wasn't too bad.

Today we were able to get it out for our first (and probably only) cruise for the year. Was a fantastic day, leaves were changing, and lots of neat cars to look at! The suburban worked great, hauled the whole family and our stuff, and was great fun.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by BlueJeep

Thanks guys!

Got the suburban all put back together yesterday, wow, that list was longer than it should have been. I developed a leak while it was in the garage and needed to replace seals in the steering box too, that wasn't too bad.

Today we were able to get it out for our first (and probably only) cruise for the year. Was a fantastic day, leaves were changing, and lots of neat cars to look at! The suburban worked great, hauled the whole family and our stuff, and was great fun.

Feel a difference w/the rear notches & shock tweaks?

[BlueJeep]

Oh yeah! No more banging coming from back there and the shocks make it feel stable. I did, however, figure out today that the driver's side sits noticeably lower than the passenger side. I think it's due for some new replacement leaf springs.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by BlueJeep

Oh yeah! No more banging coming from back there and the shocks make it feel stable. I did, however, figure out today that the driver's side sits noticeably lower than the passenger side. I think it's due for some new replacement leaf springs.

Good to hear/read. Glad it was that notable of a difference.

[daddyjeep]

Awesome suburban. It makes a great family cruiser. Real nice work on the notch. Are you going to add a bump stop in there somewhere?

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by daddyjeep

Awesome suburban. It makes a great family cruiser. Real nice work on the notch. Are you going to add a bump stop in there somewhere?

Thanks! For the bump stops, I'm planning on playing that one by ear and see if it hits before I decide. On my truck, I haven't had any bump stops on it for 5 years and 25k miles and have never had it make contact. On this suburban, if I do anything I'm looking at adding Sumo springs outboard of the frame, which would help when loaded and/or towing.

[BlueJeep]

In one of my last posts, I alluded to the fact that I needed new leaf springs. I did, so I ordered them up. 5 leaf packs would have been almost double the cost of 8 leaf packs, and I always have the ability to remove leaves so you can guess which route I went! These are replacements for a 3/4 ton burb, but the load difference was only 125lbs per spring. Swapped them out last Friday and took it for a test drive to the ice cream shop, they worked well!

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by BlueJeep

In one of my last posts, I alluded to the fact that I needed new leaf springs. I did, so I ordered them up. 5 leaf packs would have been almost double the cost of 8 leaf packs, and I always have the ability to remove leaves so you can guess which route I went! These are replacements for a 3/4 ton burb, but the load difference was only 125lbs per spring. Swapped them out last Friday and took it for a test drive to the ice cream shop, they worked well!

Installed 'as-is' or did you remove any leafs?
Where did you get them?

[BlueJeep]

So the next project started of seemingly simple, replacing some weatherstripping. To do so in a squarebody, I needed to remove the plastic trim adjacent to the door openings. As I was doing that, mouse poop was continually falling down from above the headliner. I couldn't ignore that fact, so out came the headliners. One thing leads to another, and all the trim was removed from the suburban so it could be scrubbed.

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Installed 'as-is' or did you remove any leafs?
Where did you get them?

No, not yet.

General Spring of KC

[BlueJeep]

Next up was getting rid of the plastic caps that plugged the holes of an old roof rack. I TIG'ed them up, not intending to do any metal finishing...they will just patina like the rest of the roof.

[BlueJeep]

With all the holes welded up in the roof, time to make some new ones!!! I want to do what I can to not be rear-ended in traffic. To compliment the bright-ass LED taillights, I added a 3rd brake light off a 2004 Tahoe. Looks pretty much like it belongs there.

[BlueJeep]

And now I'm ready to make some more new holes in the roof. This one I've had in mind for months now, but have been wrestling with the clean lines of no rack vs. the utility of having one. Utility is going to win out here, as this is my 3 season daily driver. Having the ability to haul the canoe or kayaks will be very important in the summer months.

The rack is off a 2005 suburban. I will be able to use all the Yakima accessories off my 2007 Suburban on it too. I had to narrow the cross bars 1.75", and it looks like it'll work really well. I bought M6 nutserts from McMaster Carr and the install tool, maybe this weekend after a boy scout campout I'll find time to begin the install.

[SCOTI]

[flashed]

I just read thru your whole thread , love what you have done so far . I just recently bought a 74 Burb that was stored in my pasture the last 16 months due to an accident the former owner had with it . He was moving from Arizona to North Carolina towing his show truck with the Burb when the Driverside axle broke in Alabama . It was rescued and brought here to the Truck Farm for safe keeping . He decided to sell it and I just got it on the road again . Its the most fun toy I own , especially since it was already LS swapped . Wish mine had the Barn Doors like yours .