53 Surburban "Family Truckster"

[whiteheadcycle]

Yes I did and thanks! I thought it would be better to ask over here. I was really looking for max tire diameter and wheel backspacing. I will be running 20's front and rear also. 22's are nice to look at, but I'm going to drive the **** out of this truck and want the best ride! I think Dave told me the front backspacing can not be more that 5.25 or front tire will make contact with sway bar. Anyway, sorry to be asking so many questions and look forward to your build!

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Nice work and explanation Marc. Is this the first PB member going in on an AD frame?

Thanks I was told this was kit #1...I think it is safe to assume that it is the first going on an AD suburban, It has been fun to find out what that differences are. Today I went back out in the garage and installed my front drop member so that the frame rails were tied together. I started on the back but I ran into some set backs.... I'm also trying out a new camera. I'm pleased with the picture quality.....On to the pics

Marc

[CHIZZLER]

Dang!!!! Lookin good.

[reaper71]

Looking really good Marc!

Mark...

[84blaze]

**** yea. This is wicked. Love the PB stuff.

[lower50's]

That is going to be one sweet burb.

[youngrodder]

[quote=84blaze;7393282]Do you know when PB Fab will start releasing these kits to the general public?[/QUOTE

I would say soon. Give Nate at Porterbuilt a call and ask.

Originally Posted by 69CST-V

Looks great...Nice work Marc.

Thank you...di you get yours yet?

Originally Posted by lower50's

That is going to be one sweet burb.

I hope so. it's nice to finally see some progress on it.

Marc

[ptc]

Looking pretty nice! - are you planning on welding everything up to the frame after its all figured out? I would think that would be better for strength overall.

[69CST-V]

[quote=youngrodder;7394625]

Originally Posted by 84blaze

Do you know when PB Fab will start releasing these kits to the general public?[/QUOTE

I would say soon. Give Nate at Porterbuilt a call and ask.



Thank you...di you get yours yet?



I hope so. it's nice to finally see some progress on it.

Marc

... Still waiting

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by ptc

Looking pretty nice! - are you planning on welding everything up to the frame after its all figured out? I would think that would be better for strength overall.

I doubt it. By the time you add all of the support pieces and bolts it is quit stout. It will be a much stronger frame bolted together then the original frame was riveted together...I'm not worried at all about the strength.

[quote=69CST-V;7395374]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

... Still waiting

I bet yours is close.

Marc

[ADchevys]

Are your front bag mounts upside down? Looks good, subscribed

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by ADchevys

Are your front bag mounts upside down? Looks good, subscribed

I think they are upside down and on the wrong sides.
Following this killer build,...

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by ADchevys

Are your front bag mounts upside down? Looks good, subscribed

Originally Posted by lolife99

I think they are upside down and on the wrong sides.
Following this killer build,...

Just making sure you guys are paying attention. Ha ha. Yes it looks like when I reassembled the rails I flopped the bag mounts. I will switch them tomorrow. Good looking out guys.

Marc

[oldman3]

Marc, frame is looking great...Jim

[ChuckDriver]

Those PorterBuilt welds are nice!!!

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Marc, frame is looking great...Jim

Thanks Jim..

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

Those PorterBuilt welds are nice!!!

Yes, they really are.

Marc

[youngrodder]

Well, I got back at it this afternoon. I spent a great deal of time re-doing some things. I flipped over my top bag mounts. Upon mounting the rear notch I realized/confirmed that my passenger side front PB frame rail needed to move forward about 1/4".

After I got that squared away I moved to the back. I clearance for the bolts of the notch. It fought me when I tried sliding the notch over the frame. I figured out I had the notch backwards. You might laugh, but it is somewhat easy to screw up. Once I figured it out it fell right in, but I fought it for 30-45 minutes first...ha ha. Porterbuilt also does something neat to try to eliminate this type of mistake. They put a small notch in the front of each part. I took a picture of one of the notches to you can see what I'm referring to. I looked at this notch and thought no, I have it right...I was wrong. The good news was by the end of the evening, I mounted both notches as well as the bridge. All that is left is to drill some holes and cut out the old frame....on to the pics.

I should mention that these photos were after a massive garage floor cleanup. I had all sorts of metal shavings and grinder dust.

[84blaze]

Do you know when PB Fab will start releasing these kits to the general public?

[69CST-V]

Looks great...Nice work Marc.

[reaper71]

You are right on that Marc!
If the frame is not broke don't fix it kinda thing, simply box in the remaining portion of the frame and will be way stronger than O.E.

Mark...

[lower50's]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

You could. I'm also using the back of the frame. Keep in mind you would need to add your body mounts and running board mounts. To me you are taking a stock frame and just improving on it. That is different than making a totally custom frame.

Again there is a bunch of different ways to go about it. This is the route I chose since I don't have experience setting up a chassis from scratch. I would rather pay PB for their engineering...ha ha

Marc

Originally Posted by reaper71

You are right on that Marc!
If the frame is not broke don't fix it kinda thing, simply box in the remaining portion of the frame and will be way stronger than O.E.

Mark...

Cool sounds good. Can't wait to see this thing put together.

[GreasyLikeaBurger]

Maybe I missed it, but what truck suspension goes on the PB kits? I assume its C10 stuff. Also, did you order everything including arms, rack and shocks from them? Or are you going to source those parts later?

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by GreasyLikeaBurger

Maybe I missed it, but what truck suspension goes on the PB kits? I assume its C10 stuff. Also, did you order everything including arms, rack and shocks from them? Or are you going to source those parts later?

Yes, it utilizes C-10 components. I bought everything from PB minus the rack which I sourced locally just to save some some shipping. Porterbuilt is great on providing you everything you need or just the parts you want. I actually purchased my parts from Travis at Pro Performance. He's a vendor on this site and great to work with.

I will have more pics of the a-arms and other components soon. I'm getting ready to cut some rivits from the factory center support and bold in the new PB one. This center section is very nice look part (as is the case with all of the PB parts).

Marc

[youngrodder]

I have spent the last few day fine tuning and confirming my rear dimensions. Nate at PB has been great to send me all sorts of cad drawings to make sure that I was spot on with my measurements. Keep in mind that this is first Suburban frame, so we need to make sure that there are no major differences. SO far so good.

I'm getting ready to drill the remaining holes for the rear notch and add the other support pieces. Then I will turn my attention to the factory support center section to get the rest of the rivits cut out in order to install the PB center support.

I plan to get out in the garage this weekend.

Marc

[whiteheadcycle]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

I have spent the last few day fine tuning and confirming my rear dimensions. Nate at PB has been great to send me all sorts of cad drawings to make sure that I was spot on with my measurements. Keep in mind that this is first Suburban frame, so we need to make sure that there are no major differences. SO far so good.

I'm getting ready to drill the remaining holes for the rear notch and add the other support pieces. Then I will turn my attention to the factory support center section to get the rest of the rivits cut out in order to install the PB center support.

I plan to get out in the garage this weekend.

Marc

Is there any way you could send me those cad drawings? I recieved my dropmembers this week and might have a fitment issue with my front rails (mine's a 54). I emailed Nate and we were suppose to talk Thursday night, but he had a family thing come up. I change my plans this weekend so I could work on this frame. Also was your frame flat were the front rails bolted on? My 54 has a triangular stamping in the frame right were the first two bolt holes are (closest to the front cab mount). I'm thinking I will have to modify the new front framerails a little?