53 Surburban "Family Truckster"

[CHIZZLER]

Not sure if this helps. I think it holds the license plate bracket.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Iceburgh

same hole here.... I assumed it was there for a bracket for a license plate holder but I do not know that for sure.
The door on mine was beat all to hell and fixed with plastic over 1" thick

Thanks Iceburgh. Yes, I found a few minor dents that were just buttered over with filler instead of just pulled.

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Don't know if I have the hole on mine since that area is filled over with plastic too. That is the area just below where the bullet shaped tail lights mounted on the sides?

Wonder if all the holes were for the old time filler to take a bite? Are you going to replace the leaded over joints with butt welded 19 gauge?

Glad you had some shop time Marc. Looks pretty cozy with the tv up in the corner.

My friends dad offered to re-lead it for me. I'm not sure if I will trouble him or just use some modern reinforced filler for these areas. I just want to preserve them from getting worse.

Originally Posted by CHIZZLER

Not sure if this helps. I think it holds the license plate bracket.

Thanks Chizzler, I will have to look through my parts to see if I have a rear plate holder. I assumed that it just attached to the tail light.

[oldman3]

Marc, glad you got some time in the shop, thanks for the update...Jim

[alaska gasser]

Looking good. I dug all the lead out of my '52 panel due to rust under it. I sandblasted and filled it back in with fiberglass kitty hair and it held up great.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by alaska gasser

Looking good. I dug all the lead out of my '52 panel due to rust under it. I sandblasted and filled it back in with fiberglass kitty hair and it held up great.

Eugene

I will probably sandblast the welds then treat them with some black rust guard prior to using kitty hair.

Marc

[99 to Life]

nice work, digging the trans tunnel. I'm more of a square tunnel fan in most builds. allows more utilization and most time I just like how they look.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

nice work, digging the trans tunnel. I'm more of a square tunnel fan in most builds. allows more utilization and most time I just like how they look.

Thanks, I'm getting anxious to get the seat riser welded back in and getting the trans tunnel welded in so that I can get the front floor are all buttoned up.

Marc

[lower50's]

Love your green truck. The Burb is lookin good and will be awesome.

[Sim6]

Marc, great work.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by lower50's

Love your green truck. The Burb is lookin good and will be awesome.

Originally Posted by Sim6

Marc, great work.

Thanks guys.. I should have some progress to report soon. Porterbuilt is getting close on the drop member that they are building for me. I also made a few changes to my 48 so that has eaten into my garage time. The weather has been nice as of late so I have been enjoying driving the 48.

Marc

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Thanks guys.. I should have some progress to report soon. Porterbuilt is getting close on the drop member that they are building for me. I also made a few changes to my 48 so that has eaten into my garage time. The weather has been nice as of late so I have been enjoying driving the 48.

Marc

So don't keep us guessing, what did you do to the 48, looked perfect to me...Jim

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by oldman3

So don't keep us guessing, what did you do to the 48, looked perfect to me...Jim

Well Jim, It started with a leaking freeze plug in the front of the block. Once I changed that, it snowballed into a couple other changes. Some changes are more visible than others. Here's a run down.
1 - Upgraded to a new bigger radiator. Needed to create room to fit.
2 - Painted a lot of my billet Street and Performance pulleys and brackets. Billet was too hard to keep polished. Black is the new chrome.
3 - Changed the collectors on my exhaust system and added some SS flex joints.
4 - Re-welded one of the mounts for my tail pipe that cracked (see item 3 above)

You know how it is, after putting miles on them you decided to fix/change some stuff.

I will take a couple pics of engine bay to give you an idea.

Thanks
Marc

[oldman3]

I know what you mean, did you go aluminum with rad...Jim

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by oldman3

I know what you mean, did you go aluminum with rad...Jim

Yes, but a 4 core. Because of the location of my steering box, I have a radiator that is 4" shorter than a stock radiator. I have never been pleased with the way my previous 3 core radiator cooled. Some of that might have to do with slug that was in my engine from sitting all of those years. I learned after my initial start up that Dexcool when mixed with air turns to a slug. I flushed the block and radiator a crap load of times. I think maybe my old radiator was partially plugged so I figured what the heck lets upgrade to a new 4 core while I'm at it. needless to say I have no cooling issues.

My truck never overheated it just ran hotter than I was comfortable but well within spec for the motor.

Marc

[lower50's]

Sounds like some good upgrades!! They all need some TLC from time to time.

[Advanced Design]

Nice upgrades on the 48. Looking forward to seeing them....no rush getting back on the Burb.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Nice upgrades on the 48. Looking forward to seeing them....no rush getting back on the Burb.

Hey that's my line...ha ha

Here are a couple pics.

I included a pic of the shrink band that I used. If you have never used these they work great and look clean. I basically changed out the motor components and ss radiator hoses to black and had to notch the radiator panel to make room for the radiator.

Thanks
Marc

[Iceburgh]

That truck is just bad ass

[youngrodder]

Thanks man....

[Advanced Design]

Really incredible! Have looked at those bands before and never seen them installed. Were you happy with how they worked out so far?

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Really incredible! Have looked at those bands before and never seen them installed. Were you happy with how they worked out so far?

Yes, I was skeptical because I always seemed to chase coolant leaks but from day one these sealed up tight. They are more $$ than clamps but sometime its the details that are the difference. I plan to use them on all my builds.

Marc

[CHIZZLER]

Very clean marc. Looks great.

[IWanna49]

Marc! Saw your spread in Street Trucks....absolutely gorgeous!!!

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by IWanna49

Marc! Saw your spread in Street Trucks....absolutely gorgeous!!!

Thanks man...I'm pretty stoked about it.

Marc

[IWanna49]

If they gave you digital copies, I'd love one of the straight on shots for wallpaper!!!