53 Surburban "Family Truckster"

[youngrodder]

This weekend I worked on cutting out the old floors. I also removed more of the factory crap from the front of the frame. It is starting to take shape. My scrap metal pile has really grown.







I will start working on the floor pans once I get the metal cleaned up a little more.

Marc

[oldman3]

Moving right along...Jim

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Moving right along...Jim

Yes, at some point I will be removing the body from the frame. Not looking forward to that. I feel a hernia coming on just thinking about that task.

Marc

[99 to Life]

Marc, nice work man, cleaning and stripping it down is work in itself. My friend is posting his panel build today, I believe he hoisted his cab up from the rafters. Dunno if that is an option for you or not.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

Marc, nice work man, cleaning and stripping it down is work in itself. My friend is posting his panel build today, I believe he hoisted his cab up from the rafters. Dunno if that is an option for you or not.

Not reallty an option as I have a loft in my garage and my trusses are covered. My current plan is to haul the burb over to a friends shop and use his hoist to lift the body then roll the chassis out and roll under a body cart. It would take some running around but it might be the safest plan.

I will keep an eye out for your buddies panel.

Marc

[Wybrow]

I am sure glad I'm done stripping mine down, definitely the worst part of building these old things. Everything else is a blast after that.

Looking great, keep it up.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Wybrow

I am sure glad I'm done stripping mine down, definitely the worst part of building these old things. Everything else is a blast after that.

Looking great, keep it up.

Thanks and I agree. I look forward to getting the frame sand blasted to start with a clean slate before I start on the chassis work. Nothing like routing through 60 yr old grease and stuck on dirt. Some of that seeems to be held on tighter than the rusted nuts/bolts.

Marc

[CHIZZLER]

what i did on mine is jacked the front up and put a 4x4 under it with cinder blocks at each end.then moved to the back.took the wheels off and pulled the frame out with a couple jacks.worked pretty good.good luck.

[youngrodder]

Thanks Chizzer. I'm toying around with building a body cart so that I can move it around in the garage. The only problem is I also want to be able to remove the wood floor which might be an issue using the body cart. You removed your wood floor didn't you? How difficult was it? I think that the advise I got was don't mess with it. But that might have been if you were trying to remove it with the body still on the frame.

Marc

[xpickup]

youngrodder, working on the trucks is so much easier. They are so much lighter and easier to move around once off the frame. Keep up the great job.

Shannon

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by xpickup

youngrodder, working on the trucks is so much easier. They are so much lighter and easier to move around once off the frame. Keep up the great job.

Shannon

Shannon -

I hear ya but easier isn't nearly as much fun. Plus you forgot to mention that they make ALOT more repo parts than they do for panels and suburbans.

Marc

[skymangs]

Looking good Youngrodder... I seem to be doing a lot of rust repair myself. I don't mind making panels, or welding them in, but drilling spot welds and air hammering just isn't my idea of fun!

If your burb turns out anywhere near as nice as your other truck, it's gonna be killer!

[CHIZZLER]

we removed all the wood and replaced it with 18 gauge. we used 1x1 box for all the cross bracing. i used summit mini tubs in the back and cut them in half. once the c-notches were in place we made a 1 piece cover for it and welded it all in. maybe these pics will help.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by skymangs

Looking good Youngrodder... I seem to be doing a lot of rust repair myself. I don't mind making panels, or welding them in, but drilling spot welds and air hammering just isn't my idea of fun!

If your burb turns out anywhere near as nice as your other truck, it's gonna be killer!

Thanks...Not to dissapoint you but this build will be totally different from my 48. In th end I will have more $$ into the chassis and drive train than anyhthig else. That is not something that I can say with my 48.

In the end I want the 53 to be an unltra low family cruiser. Somthing that I can drive and park anywhere.

Marc

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by CHIZZLER

we removed all the wood and replaced it with 18 gauge. we used 1x1 box for all the cross bracing. i used summit mini tubs in the back and cut them in half. once the c-notches were in place we made a 1 piece cover for it and welded it all in. maybe these pics will help.

Thanks for the pics.

Was the wood difficult to remove? Probably not because it looks like you removed it in sections. I would try to keep it intack (one piece) when I remove it so that I can use it for a template for the replacement wood.

I do like how nice the bed coating looks sprayed all over the floors. That baby is sealed up. You should be good with preserving rusy for the next 60 yrs... ha ha

Marc

[99 to Life]

nice pics chizzler, looks great. If it were me, I'm so paranoid and hate not having a lift, I like accessing anything I can. I'd make the panels removable if possible, but thats me. in my truck, I can slide the whole bed wood out in one unit, has already made my life easy. wish I could do a burb, I think someday I will. I located one close to me and has been the only one in four years that I'v found around me. Though, I think I'd do a COE bf the burb, thats def on my radar.

[CHIZZLER]

i do like wood beds also.i think a 6" plank tongue and groove mahogany would be cool.

[GEARBOXGARAGE]

Nice progress! Can't wait to see how this one turns out.

[STOCKISH]

Man, great work on the floor!

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by GEARBOXGARAGE

Nice progress! Can't wait to see how this one turns out.

Thanks Mike. I should be ready to start replacing the floor soon. Just repairing and cleaning for now. Nothing really picture worthy.

Marc

[youngrodder]

I picked up some 16g metal for my floor pans. I also bought some 1 x 2 square tube for some under the floor bracing. Before I can weld the floor in I needed to repair the seat riser since this part is not remanufactured.

Here are a few pics to show how the seat riser was eaten away by rust at the bottom.




After spending a few hours on it the last two days here is the repaired seat riser. I'm happy with how it turned out. Keep in mind that I will sand blast this prior to rewelding it on.







I might get some more garage time tomorrow and with it being in the 40's (warm front) I might get started on creating my floor pan templates out of cardboard.

Marc

[99 to Life]

nice work, yeah tomorrow is suppose to be like 37 around my parts, then right back to the teens. gotta love the extra garage time on holidays.

[oldman3]

Looks good...Jim

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

nice work, yeah tomorrow is suppose to be like 37 around my parts, then right back to the teens. gotta love the extra garage time on holidays.

Originally Posted by ldman3

Looks good...Jim

Thanks guys, I will be heading out to the garage shortly to set up some of my garage christmas gifts then start workign on the floor templates.

Marc

[NEWFISHER]

How did I miss this!?!?! Good score and I like the progress. You will love the burb, mines been feeling neglected lately with the 65 taking up my time. Following you along as I plan on a body off once the 65 is completed. I like your porterbuilt plans too! Are you doing a tall notch like Chizzler or keeping it under the floor?