69 Suburban Build

[Juiced06GTO]

Well, I am a few weeks late in starting my build thread and don't have much to show yet, but here it is. I posted a few pics in my possible purchase thread so some might be repeats. I have it registered and inspected now, I had to work out a few bugs, an overheating issue and a brake issue, but I drove her to work last Friday. I should get some more pics once I get going on the body work this weekend.

Right now I have all the replacement panels, a rear seat out of an 04 Suburban with the seat belts built in, and some new front seats I am trying to grab from a guy on craigslist. My original plan was to run the 454 this year, but I may have fallen into a deal to good to pass up, a 6.0 LS motor complete for $900 bucks. I just happen to have a 4L80 kicking around as well, so I guess we'll see what happens. I think I am going to snag the motor regardless of whether I use it or not.

Anyone know what the market is like for a good 454/TH400 combo? The motor sounds like it has a small cam, and it is out of a car. Other than that I don't know much about it.

[bowtieguy79]

Always nice to see an old burban get fixed up!

[Juiced06GTO]

Thanks, I am not doing anything crazy like some of the builds I have checked out on here, but I'd like to make it a safe reliable cruiser to tow my GTO around and cruise to the car shows with my wife and son. That is one of the main things pushing me towards the 6.0 and 4l80 combo, that and the fact that I am vey familiar with the LS platform.

The thing on top of the engine that leaks gas into the manifold and the thing behind it with all the wires coming out of it throws me all off and I still can't figure out where to plug my laptop in.......

[04ls1gto]

Looks like a nice project. How's the interior look? Is the red the original color?

[Juiced06GTO]

Yes, it was originally a fire rescue vehicle out of Texas. The interior isn't bad, but i scored a rear seat out of a 06 suburban, and two front buckets and console out of a 04 Chevy all with the seatbelts built in so I will be installing those and selling the blazer seats out of it.

Do you know any of the other GTO guys in RI? If so we have probably met at some point.

[04ls1gto]

Yea, I've been to a couple of the meets at Brenton point. I've had my eye out for a suburban for a while. Just haven't found the right one yet.

[Advanced Design]

Love the Burbs and will be tagging along. This one is cool. Hope you go the LS route!

[Juiced06GTO]

If you had the red 04 GTO out of RI then I am pretty sure we have met. It's Anthony with the black 06 GTO, I used to run up at NED quite a bit with it. Back when we met it was probably running mid 12's and eventually went 11.1. You probably know Kurt too he has a few down there in Wakefield, RI.

Originally Posted by 04ls1gto

Yea, I've been to a couple of the meets at Brenton point. I've had my eye out for a suburban for a while. Just haven't found the right one yet.

[04ls1gto]

I think we have met before. My car is black with red interior. Ri plate GTO.

[chewiebarker]

As a fellow Bostonian, I am following this one!

[Juiced06GTO]

Got started! Some area's a little worse than I thought. I am trying to decide where to start. I drilled out the spot welds, I'll probably pull the 3rd door rocker rebuild the inner and floor, then put the rocker in and move forward and do the same with the front. As far as I know no one makes the inner rocker for the 3rd door. I have the inner and floor extension for the front. Any advice or recommendations are always appreciated!

[Juiced06GTO]

A few more pics...

[04ls1gto]

Looks like you have some work to do.

[Juiced06GTO]

Well made some more progress today. The pillar support was blown out pretty good. The correct way to fix it would have been to find a donor and replace it all, but this isn't a show restoration it is going to be a driver. So with that said I fabbed up a new floor brace out of flat sheet metal and welded it all in. Someone stuffed the front rocker with about 3/4" of bondo which led to all the rot. I ran out of time to get finished up, i just need to fab up the inner rear rocker and part of the floor then I'll finish pulling out the front. The good news is that this is the worst of it.....from what I can see anyhow!

[Advanced Design]

Good progress today! Looks good.

[04ls1gto]

One step closer

[chewiebarker]

Nice! how about coming to do mine!!

[Juiced06GTO]

I took Friday off so I can get some more done. I have an 8 month old, so time is at a premium and I hate sticking my wife with him all weekend while I spend it working on the truck and not helping out! So Friday she has work and we are stuck paying for daycare anyhow, so I'll be up and at it around 5am and should get a solid 12 hours in on her.

Goal 1 was to get here running decent and stopping - Check
Goal 2 was source an interior and seat belts so the little guy can go for rides - Check
Goal 3 is fixing all the rust issues - In Progress
Goal 4 is swapping out the 454/400 combo with a 6.0LS and 4L80E combo

Somewhere down the line I'll throw some paint on it. I am hoping to do the engine swap this year, but it may have to wait until next year. I need to get the current engine listed for sale and see if I can get any bites on it to help finance the new one!

[Advanced Design]

Great prioritization and plans. And you can enjoy making the parts needed lists for the LS swap. As you know there are lot's of swap threads here for good ideas.

[Juiced06GTO]

Yea, I am pretty familiar with the LS motor luckily as I have one in my "track car" the GTO. Also, I have already swapped one into an 87 K10 about 5 years ago now. I did all the harness work and stuff on that one too. I am jus trying to hold myself back from going overboard. Before you know it there will be a cam/heads/intake/and a few turbos hanging off of it!! I'll just tell the wife I needed them to make it a better tow vehicle!

[Juiced06GTO]

Here are some shots of it before it came to the northeast to start rotting away. The previous owner gave these to me.

[04ls1gto]

Please put it back to original color, Ls swap, lowered with some sweet wheels

[zellway]

Vary cool. Keep up the work the rocker looks like it will turn out nice. I have some of that to do on mine

[Juiced06GTO]

Well this thing is fighting me every step of the way, but I guess that is to be expected. I put in a decent day yesterday, not the full 10-12hrs I was hoping, but still a solid 8 hrs on her. I figured the third door was the worst, but the front passenger side is pretty eaten up as well. I had to call it quits as I was really getting into it to go help a buddy so no pics yet. I do have a few of my hand fabricated third door inner fender though! That is all done welded in and I put the door back on to make sure nothing moved too out of whack (aligning a door by yourself is a little difficult!)

[Juiced06GTO]

And pictures of the rusted out a pillar. I ordered the patches from GMC Paul and will hopefully be tackling it this weekend.