53 Surburban "Family Truckster"

[lower50's]

Your burb is looking so good. With 22" vs 20" will the overall height and width of the rubber be the same?

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by reaper71

Looking good Marc

Thanks Mark

Originally Posted by MIKESAD50

looking good. keep at it, want to see the finished product.

Thanks, yes me too.

Originally Posted by hotrodelrod

looking good!

Thanks

Originally Posted by lower50's

Your burb is looking so good. With 22" vs 20" will the overall height and width of the rubber be the same?

Thanks...No if I go with 22's I would drop down to a 35 series tire. The 20's in the picture are 45 series. I will probably end up with 20's due to how much trouble I would need to go through in the rear because of how the suburban rear fenders attach to the body. I'm not ready to throw in the towel just yet on the 22's though.

Marc

[Advanced Design]

Nice work on trimming the inner fenders Marc. Put it together, take it apart....

Is Delmo showing his build anywhere?

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Nice work on trimming the inner fenders Marc. Put it together, take it apart....

Is Delmo showing his build anywhere?

Thanks. Yes, that's how it goes right? On my 48 I did a lot of this after it was painted...I would NOT recommend doing it that way.

Delmo is only showing teaser pics on Instagram. We have shared some pics/info through direct message.

Marc

[RockinKees]

Happy new year Marc!
The inner fenders are very nice fit, looks like a factory fit, only better!
I really like the pics of the burb on the ground.
What are your plans paint wise? I think I missed that part....

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by RockinKees

Happy new year Marc!
The inner fenders are very nice fit, looks like a factory fit, only better!
I really like the pics of the burb on the ground.
What are your plans paint wise? I think I missed that part....

Thank you same to you and yours.....

You didn't miss anything about paint. I'm not sure I have decided. The original idea is a nice engine bay and interior with a painted and detailed frame. Then fake some kind of weathered paint was the original idea. I have nice paint on my 48 and its a pain at times to treat it like a daily driver. The idea was low maintenance and later if I decide to paint it nice the hard work would be done. Also from a cost perspective if I sold my 48 it would make it a lot easier to throw some money at a decent paint job...decisions, decisions

Marc

[RockinKees]

I like the idea of a "perfect" new inner cab and enginebay with a patina outside.
But we can't decide for you

Don't sell the '48......

[99 to Life]

I wouldn't sell that truck unless you desperately needed to or simply aren't as attached to it as you use to be. I love the idea of one painted truck and one patina or several of each! you get both worlds and I'm sure you'll find out, the patina is way more peaceful to drive and not care about and often times gets more attention (which can be a bad thing too). the good thing about patina is, you can always paint it. the bad thing about paint is its hard to go back to patina.

[youngrodder]

I figured while Doug had his family Christmas taking place on Sunday that I better get out in the garage and put some work in hopes to catch up to him on the suburban build off.

What I worked on today was the rear inner wheel tubs. The idea is to narrow and raise the tubs up slightly to increase the space for big rims/tires. I barrowed this approach from someone on FB with a Suburban build using an S-10 chassis.

First order of business was to cut the flange of the tubs and some other trimming to fit between the floor structure and body. I tacked the tubs in place. Then I used poster board to make a template for the metal that I will cut to close the gap between the tub and suburban side wall.

I feel pretty good about the direction/progress of this part of the build.

Marc

[lower50's]

I like the idea of getting all the hard work done now then if you want to finish later it is just a little scuff and paint. How you leave it till then is up to you, flat primer or repair the necessary parts spots and leave it.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by lower50's

I like the idea of getting all the hard work done now then if you want to finish later it is just a little scuff and paint. How you leave it till then is up to you, flat primer or repair the necessary parts spots and leave it.

Yes at the present that is where I'm leaning. The bottom will be treated with raptor liner (bed coating) and the frame painted and detailed. That way the body wont need to come off the frame later if I decide to paint it shinny...

Marc

[Advanced Design]

Raising the wheel openings is a good idea....that is sure a limiting factor on tire diameter and drop. Good progress Marc.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Raising the wheel openings is a good idea....that is sure a limiting factor on tire diameter and drop. Good progress Marc.

Thanks Doug. I will prob also cut up into the body more and reinforce it to give the wheel a pocket to go up into. I really like the look of the factory wheel tubs. That is the only way to lay out on 20's. I have seen people use truck wheel wells. To me they look out of place.

I need to run out to the metal store to get some 18 gauge for my filler pieces.

Marc

[Advanced Design]

Yes, one of my misadventures was truck wheel wells...I didn't like the look and changed back. Have fun with the fitting.

[youngrodder]

So I worked on the rear wheel well area. I have determined that it is impossible to layout an AD suburban on a 20" rim. The limiting factor with the suburban body. Specifically the top of the wheel well opening where the fender bolts to. On a truck its easy you cut out the bedsides and get mini tubs and call it a day.

After a lot of head scratching and math I determined that the only way to pull this off is to cut a recess up into the body to create a pocket to gain clearance for the top of the wheel. The mock up rim/tire I'm using is 245/45/18 giving me an over all diameter of 25.72". After cutting as much as body as I could I still was 2" short (as shown in the pic with the tape measure). This picture is at the aired out height. I decided I would cut up into the body to gain this 2". The inner wheel tubs were going to be raised up and widened anyway so that was ok. The diameter tire that I will try to fit is either a 275/45/20 (29.74" dia) which is the same as my 48 truck, or a 265/35/22 (29.3" dia). I started small with the pockets. I can always cut more as needed.

I already need to narrow my rearend so I would just get my wheel offset set up correctly so the wheels tuck up in the body when aired out. I used a Zr2 rearend and it was a good deal with posi and all but at 63" wide it is much to wide to run a rim with any kind of lip. I will look to shorten by 4" on each side. As for the fenders I decided I would eliminate the center top most mount to make room for the pocket that I will create into the body.

A lot of work for 2".....that's what she said..ha ha

[lower50's]

Yup nibble nibble bit by bit you will fit it. It's easier to take more than put some back. That is going to look killer with the big wheels.

[99 to Life]

if it were easy, everyone would do it.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by lower50's

Yup nibble nibble bit by bit you will fit it. It's easier to take more than put some back. That is going to look killer with the big wheels.

Thanks 50...yes I was tired of looking at it. I'm anxious to see the big rims diassapear into the body when it airs out.

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

if it were easy, everyone would do it.

Right... I'm hoping most of these changes when finished will be fairly subtle so the average person won't know what it took...the first cut was the toughest. I should geT more time on Sunday to throw sparks.

Marc

[Advanced Design]

That is a good move the get the additional drop. Gotta admit I didn't think of trimming inside the body. Like 99 said, if it were easy everyone would be doing it.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

That is a good move the get the additional drop. Gotta admit I didn't think of trimming inside the body. Like 99 said, if it were easy everyone would be doing it.

Yes, I have been thinking about it for a while. With all of the time and money invested in my PB set up I really want this thing to layout on 20's or 22's. I have gone this far, what's a little trimming and metal fab.....ha ha

Marc

[reaper71]

AAAHHHH!!! The Beauty of metal my friend!
It can always be welded back on.
It's almost there Marc, maybe 1" from looking at the one pic (running board) from touching the ground.

Mark...

[reaper71]

The post pic #757 The running board braces will hit before the board does (at least from the angle of the shot you have)

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by reaper71

AAAHHHH!!! The Beauty of metal my friend!
It can always be welded back on.
It's almost there Marc, maybe 1" from looking at the one pic (running board) from touching the ground.

Mark...

Yes, now that I have new welder there are no excuses (but lack of talent) ha ha

Originally Posted by reaper71

The post pic #757 The running board braces will hit before the board does (at least from the angle of the shot you have)

Yes Mark, but keep in mind this 18" wheel tire combo is more than 2" smaller in dia. than what I will be going with so the running boards will come up and more of the wheel will need to go up into the body. I too think I'm close that is why I'm trudging ahead. I always wanted a truck I could drive ultra low.

Thanks
Marc

[CHIZZLER]

Great progress Marc. On my burb we raised the opening for the wheel wells and used a summit kit that was ok. I looked for a rear axle that was the right length,posi, disc brakes and 5x4 3/4. Ended up getting a early 90's firebird axle. Fit perfect 3" axle tube. Paid $300.
CHIZZLER

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by CHIZZLER

Great progress Marc. On my burb we raised the opening for the wheel wells and used a summit kit that was ok. I looked for a rear axle that was the right length,posi, disc brakes and 5x4 3/4. Ended up getting a early 90's firebird axle. Fit perfect 3" axle tube. Paid $300.
CHIZZLER

Thanks. Where were you 6 months ago?? JK. This ZR2 rearend I got a great deal on but I will have some screwing around with shortening it... It was 63" wide and I will take 4.25" out of each side. Then I can figure out what my back spacing will be. It is posi and the brakes are already disc which is a plus..

Moser will shorten the housing and stock axles and re-spline them for $260.00 which I think is very fair...a 3 hr drive each way sucks though.

Marc