1969 Suburban 4x4 : Burbie

[faithblinded]

Hi guys!

I'm Ken, and I just brought home my new love,and moneypit. I have affectionately named her "Burbie"(Ken and Burbie(Barbie)).

She is a 1969 C20 Suburban that started life as a BB 2WD truck. She has the AC unit on the roof in the rear, but is missing the 2nd row seat. Someone moved the 3rd row seat forward and modified it into a botched sort of camper at one point. It was converted to 4x4 with a Dana 44 disc brake axle from a 70's 3/4 ton truck. The conversion was done pretty well, enough so that I don't feel the need to tear it apart and redo it(yet). The original BB 396 is long gone. In it's place sits a rebuilt sb350 with HEI. It has a TH400 and a 205 Tcase. The interior is rough. A PO replaced the front bench with crappy aftermarket buckets, which is the first interior change I wish to undo!

My plans for the truck are to get fixed up mechanically, and use it as a driver this winter. I have most of the patch panels I need, and will tackle them one at a time as I can. Next spring when I can go without a truck for a while I'll send it to my buddy's body shop to have any panels I didnt get to installed, and a spray down.

So far I have ordered new tires(32" yokohama geolandar AT's), new shocks(rancho 5000s), and all new poly bushings for the leaf springs and shackles. All the rubber door and window seals are shot, and I have ordered about half of what I need to replace on that front(came up short on $$). Once I get this stuff installed, and the rest of the rubber bought and installed, I will install a serpentine setup and it will become my daily driver(I hate v belts and their tensioning).

Here it is as I got it.







I will add new pics any time I add or change anything on the truck. Hopefully this will become a detailed diary of her rejuvenation. Any help and suggestions are appreciated. I haven't had a carburated vehicle since my first car in high school(a 66 Chevy II, I thought I was all that).

Thanks for lookin Guys and Gals!
peace
Ken in Cleveland

[jbclassix]

Looks good, Ken!

[vectorit]

Lookin good, and welcome to the forum!

[faithblinded]

Thanks guys! I'm excited to finally have something to contribute to the forum. I've been lurking here for years admiring all the beautiful trucks.

[Slinger60]

Looks like a good start. And welcome.

[Average Joe]

Looks like a great project! I was curious on the 4wd conversion. Was the frame swapped or was the original retained. If it was the ladder does the rear still ride on coil springs? I've contemplated a similar swap to my '67.

[faithblinded]

It is the original frame, and they swapped out the rear coils for leafs while they were making it a 4x4. I have doubts whether my rear axle is original or swapped in with the front. Probably the latter, but I won't know til I dig into it and see what I've got.