New to me 85 Sub "Project Clusterfunk"

[6 Door King]

I found myself a 350 powered rig to replace my required 4x4 vehicle after selling my Jeep. I was fortunate enough to find one with a GM rebuilt 350, recently rebuilt trans and a terrible camo paint job for 600 bucks. Drove it home and discovered the radiator had a pin hole, the air shocks don't hold air, the front springs are beyond flat and have three inch blocks in place to compensate, and the carb is missing the choke and vacuum pot. Not complaining, I knew most of this, and for the price it is worth the trouble. Was an old volunteer fire truck, so it was red at one point, and is laced with tons of now useless wiring. I have decided to chop the rear off the top and close it in using the roll down window from the tailgate and possibly bob the rear end after working out how to replace or move the gas tank. Also considering using a Blazer top to enclose the new rear section. Does anybody know the dimensions for the top from a 73-91 Blazer/Jimmy?

[6 Door King]

The first day of hacking has yielded a naked back half on my Sub. Tracked down a Blazer top and tailgate from a 76 and now I just have to figure out how to get it home (sub is not registered and its my only vehicle big enough to carry it). Here's what i got so far...

[Psycho71]

Looking forward to seeing how this comes out. Ought to be cool!

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Nice score not at bad deal at all from the looks of it. Different direction with taking the top off but that's cool cant wait to see some pictures of it when you get it all done.

[6 Door King]

Been a couple weeks since I have had time to mess with the truck, finally got back on it and made a bit of progress. As I am sure most of you guys know, the Suburban has a raised section in the rear roof, and standard cab pickups don't. So, to solve this, I removed the body line on the back of the donor cab panel and dove tailed the Sub roof to meet it. Actually looks ok, not factory, but decent. After destroying the factory tailgate in an effort to make a rear cab panel with functioning roll down window, I decided to scrap the plan and build it with new panels and use the donor cab rear section. The benefit of doing it this way is that now I can remove my lower filler panel and slide in full length lumber or bigger stuff. Sort of works out like an Avalanche. Also still have full use of my flip down rear seats to extend the "bed" area. Now all I have to do is sort out what kind of tailgate I want, I have an old pickup gate, and a couple ideas on how to mod it. I am also considering building a tube type gate with expanded metal filler panels. Planning to tube out the edges of the bed, and build some sort of rack system on the rear. The open area on either side of the filler panel will eventually become tool storage areas, and possibly speaker mounting locations. The front of both wheel tubs were rotten, and it is wasted space with the new configuration, so I will reuse the space for something more effective...

[joe231]

Nice!!
Can you post an overall pic with the new back panel in?
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[6 Door King]

Ask and you shall receive...


Best I can do for the moment, too many other vehicles around it to get any better shots. If there is a certain angle you want, let me know.

[joe231]

Right on!
That's good enough!!
Thanks!
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[justpball]

Nice work bud!
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[6 Door King]

Thanks for the compliments and encouragement. Still got a ways to go, but it's nice to have a pat on the back.

[68Timber]

Very nice start! So what are they calling these conversions? Avalburbs? Suburbalanche? Whatever, I like your approach.

[6 Door King]

I call it Redneckery! Some evils should remained unnamed.

[Devillusion]

Very nice, had the same idea a while back myself with putting a power gate etc there. I like what you have done though.....with the planned bobbed rear it will make things look better as well. That section behind the wheels usually looks awkward IMO when the top is removed....can't wait to see some more progress.

[Pop's C-10]

nice work..when you bob tha back it will all come together

[6 Door King]

Anyone have any suggestions of what to do with the gas tank if I bob it? I have a saddle tank from a pickup, but only one, also have a wrangler tank I was going to use on my 67 project, as well as a 67-69 Camaro tank. I even considered dual tanks using two 67 C-10 tanks along each bedside but I have not come up with a decent way to secure them or weather proof them. Thanks to all that have taken the time to read the comments and help out with opinions.

[Pop's C-10]

You may have to bob it to blazer rear end length..use that blazer tank in tha back & mount a 67-72 tank in tha bed against tha cab wall.build a cover it..

[6 Door King]

Anyone recognize these wheels? Found a set locally, and seller says they fit Chevy, but I want to ensure I have enough room for the hubs in the front. I am looking for the model number, they are ultra motorsports, 16x10, 6x5.5. If I can pull up the data sheet on them I may save myself a two hour round trip.

"You may have to bob it to blazer rear end length..use that blazer tank in tha back & mount a 67-72 tank in tha bed against tha cab wall.build a cover it.. "

I am not against the idea of bobbing the truck to Blazer lengths, but putting a fuel tank in the usable bed space is definitely out. I still need the truck to function somewhat as a truck. Plus, all my hard work to build a removable filler panel would be wasted if I blocked it with a tank. Will stock pickup tanks (saddle tanks) fit on a suburban frame and clear the body work or will I need a body lift?

[6 Door King]

Well, no dice on those wheels, the center bore of the wheel is too small to clear the hubs on the front. Glad I checked before I shelled out the dough and got them home.

[tallcrown]

can you just put a regular No Frills, Truck tailgate on that the way it is?
Will it work?

[Jonboy]

Originally Posted by tallcrown

can you just put a regular No Frills, Truck tailgate on that the way it is?
Will it work?

You can for sure on a Blazer, but I am not sure about a Suburban. Of course, since he fabbed it that far, the tailgate would be gravy.

[joe231]

Originally Posted by Jonboy

You can for sure on a Blazer, but I am not sure about a Suburban. Of course, since he fabbed it that far, the tailgate would be gravy.

Mmmmm,
A tailgate made of gravy!!
Sounds delish!!
Jon you are a genius!
Best idear eva!!
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[truckfan]

gonna watch this

[68Timber]

Any updates?

[6 Door King]

No updates sadly, I have been whoring myself out to others in an attempt to finance my shop expansion. The Sub has been neglected, along with a couple of other projects. Plans are shifting away from the Sub and toward yet another Chevy; a trade for some body and paint work. I am a sucker for neglected trucks, I think I am going to start a home for forgotten and abused pickups. They can live out their lives with a nice view, and have each other's company. I will be accepting orphans soon...