My suburban's Twisted Little Sister

[Grizz1963]

HOW INCREDIBLY COOL!!!

I have benefitted from Ian's generosity too.....


Well done mate.

[Bomp]

Really digging on your firewall, I definitely have to go back and tweak on Steiner.
Thanks for showing

[Johnny_Lamebridge]

Dale, those louvers are pretty special. I'm sure you'll use them in a creative way. Sorry for hijacking your thread.

Thanks for the interesting details Ian.

[62stepside longbox]

Wow cool! those will really set the burb apart from any other vehicles ever built. It's details like this that really make it special

[piratexpress1369a]

That's awesome

[65sub]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Nice work Dale. Wow, that was very nice of Ian! Great people here.

Thanks Doug. Great people make it fun to be here.

Originally Posted by Johnny_Lamebridge

Dale, nice work rebuilding firewall and kick panels. I wondered about the louvers when i saw the pic earlier in your build. It was good of Ian to send them to you. I'd love to know the story behind them. Ian made them?

Thanks John. It is a cool story.

Originally Posted by ibrown50

I used to work for Rolls Royce. Back around the turn of the century Jaguar decided it would make one final batch of XKE hoods using the original tooling and sell them through their main dealer network (these things were going to be $8500 a pop). They commissioned our press shop to stamp the panels and I had to oversee the production.

The louvre tool was a really clever old thing, originally (I think) built by Abbey Panels in the West Midlands, it held the hood upside down and stamped both sides at once (on early XKE's the louvres were stamped separately and welded in) and would also stamp more or less louvres, depending upon how much "weight" or "set" you put on the press. Obviously you don't set up on $8.5K hoods so I cut some random pieces of steel to use for set-up. Once finished I was left with 4 pairs of perfectly good louvres which it just seemed a shame to throw out. I did ask my boss if I could keep them, he was an accountant (not a car guy) so seemed really bemused by the request but said OK.

The first set went in a gasser style Anglia, the second set in a Coombs style Jaguar Mk2 (with supercharged XJR motor), and now I can say the 3rd set will be in radical 66 Suburban.

Thank you for the louvres and the story Ian. I'm sure I'll be repeating it alot when I get the truck on the road.

Originally Posted by pimpston65

its gonna be bout a 3rd jag already, so why not sheet metal. i got a few parts i can donate. ima need em back after you rework them thou!!!

I don't have the front designed yet but why not start with jaguar louvres. If you need help with your donated parts let me know.

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

HOW INCREDIBLY COOL!!!

I have benefitted from Ian's generosity too.....


Well done mate.

I agree "INCREDIBLY COOL"

Originally Posted by Bomp

Really digging on your firewall, I definitely have to go back and tweak on Steiner.
Thanks for showing

Thanks Greg. I didn't mean to make more work for you.

Originally Posted by Johnny_Lamebridge

Dale, those louvers are pretty special. I'm sure you'll use them in a creative way. Sorry for hijacking your thread.

Thanks for the interesting details Ian.

I'm working on some ideas for them but nothing definite yet.

Originally Posted by 62stepside longbox

Wow cool! those will really set the burb apart from any other vehicles ever built. It's details like this that really make it special

Well I do like to be different.

Originally Posted by piratexpress1369a

That's awesome

Thanks Pirate.


Yesterday we finished the firewall welding. Then today we welded the crossmember brackets and drilled the holes in the crossmember.

[lower50's]

That should hold the trans in place! Fire wall turned out really nice.
When do you think you will have this bad boy on the road? Next spring?

[Bomp]

Built for stout, I see no flex in your future.

[65sub]

Originally Posted by lower50's

That should hold the trans in place! Fire wall turned out really nice.
When do you think you will have this bad boy on the road? Next spring?

Thanks lower. I'm real happy with the firewall. The cross member is just to stiffen the frame. To support the transmission I'm going to use a connecter that goes from the differential to the transmission. This is basically the same system the Corvette used.

Originally Posted by Bomp

Built for stout, I see no flex in your future.

Hopefully the frame is stiff enough since the body is welded to the frame.


We worked on two projects today First was the mounts for the front shockwaves. We got the bottom mounts installed. Then we made some brackets for the top and tacked them in place.

[65sub]

The second project is one I saw on another build but I can't remember who deserves the credit. If anybody knows the thread please post it here.

We decided to add an 1 1/2 inch strip to the rear bumper. So we cut the bumper length wise and made up some brackets to clamp it in position

[jonzcustomshop]

Originally Posted by 65sub

The second project is one I saw on another build but I can't remember who deserves the credit. If anybody knows the thread please post it here.

We decided to add an 1 1/2 inch strip to the rear bumper. So we cut the bumper length wise and made up some brackets to clamp it in position

that was/is frizzle fry
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=179289

[siggyfreud]

I am in awe of the fab skills going on in this thread. This thing will be more solid than anything on the road by the time you're done. I probably missed it, but what powerplant do you have in store for this?

[roushinator]

Nice work!

[lower50's]

Oh ya I forgot how the drive system worked.

[65sub]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

that was/is frizzle fry
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=179289

Thanks Jon and thanks frizzle fry. He does some really cool custom work.

Originally Posted by siggyfreud

I am in awe of the fab skills going on in this thread. This thing will be more solid than anything on the road by the time you're done. I probably missed it, but what powerplant do you have in store for this?

Thanks Siggy. We are putting a Jaguar V12 in it with an aftermarket fuel injection.

Originally Posted by roushinator

Nice work!

Thanks Roushinator.

Originally Posted by lower50's

Oh ya I forgot how the drive system worked.

Ya they are a bit different.


We test fit the shockwave today to check for clearance. Then we boxed the mount top and bottom.

[65sub]

We also made some brackets to mount the factory crossmember angle braces. Then we welded them to the inside of the frame.

[62stepside longbox]

Very nice work Dale, how low do you think it will sit aired all the way out?

[Advanced Design]

Stretch, chop, continuing nice fabrication Dale. You must be in the shop about every day.

[Bomp]

Making it look like nothing ever happened.

You know you're making me work at being better on my build now.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Bomp

Making it look like nothing ever happened.

You know you're making me work at being better on my build now.

And that is why we come on here to get inspired.

Not just the learning, but also pushing our own boundaries and expectations.

That tailgate looks amazing from sitting here in the comfort of my kitchen at the table having breakfast

[AJCK87]

I'm partial to the barn door set up, however your are killing it with the look on that clam shell! I'm convinced. Nice work

[65sub]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Stretch, chop, continuing nice fabrication Dale. You must be in the shop about every day.

Thanks Doug. We work it on pretty steady when life doesn't get in the way.

Originally Posted by 62stepside longbox

Awesome job! Whenever I need inspiration for my build I come over here and watch you build this masterpiece

Thanks Nik. Glad I can help but I expect your determination would get your truck built without any help from me.

Originally Posted by Bomp

Making it look like nothing ever happened.

You know you're making me work at being better on my build now.

Thanks Greg. I'm happy our little adventure can be of some help to you.

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

And that is why we come on here to get inspired.

Not just the learning, but also pushing our own boundaries and expectations.

That tailgate looks amazing from sitting here in the comfort of my kitchen at the table having breakfast

You're right Rian this forum is a gold mine of knowledge and inspiration and I mine it like an old time prospector.

Originally Posted by AJCK87

I'm partial to the barn door set up, however your are killing it with the look on that clam shell! I'm convinced. Nice work

Thanks AJ. I prefer the barn doors as well but I used the clamshell gates for two reasons. First, it fits the opening I have left and second I'm mostly using left over parts and the clamshells are leftovers.



After we shortened the sides of the upper gate it left a 5/8" gap at the bottom so we tacked in a filler piece. Then we cut the bottom inch off for later use. Next we mounted the upper gate on the truck The last thing we did was cut off the top section of the lower gate (the piece with the latch in it) and clamped it to the back wall of the truck.

[65sub]

We spent most of today removing the skin from the top half of the lower gate. The gate has 4 braces inside that are spot welded to the inner panel and the spot welds are nearly impossible to find. After we got the sheetmetal off we placed it on the truck to see what needs to be trimmed.

[Palf70Step]

Really enjoying you project. Love your ideas and the magnificent metal work pulling it together.!

[lower50's]

Like your tail gate sticker says (Kick ass) Do you have a plan on when the burb will be done?