Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build

[protrash64]

When I cut my sliders out the rubber had petrified into plastic that completely shattered!! I'd like to see how they go together when you do it. The fixed windows are fairly easy.

[RockTonka]

The old tires were really flat spotted and gave us a good clown car ride...gotta get some new rubber. We ran around the neighborhood and down the street but the brakes need attention too...pulled hard to the left when braking. We did pick up a new master/booster combo today also, maybe tackle that tomorrow...maybe not.

But, all in all, pretty nice shape...everything works except the heater switch, I mean EVERYTHING...high/low indicator, all the gauges, dash lights,dome light, lighter, turn signals and indicators, so on and so on!!

Anyway, while we had it out we took some family pics...

[RockTonka]

Originally Posted by protrash64

When I cut my sliders out the rubber had petrified into plastic that completely shattered!! I'd like to see how they go together when you do it. The fixed windows are fairly easy.

Yea, ours is petrified too. That and the rusted out felt channels are going to make it really interesting. Gostranger had a good recommendation to do one at a time so we could refer back to a complete one when we get it all bass-ackwards.

[gostranger]

Great i am glad the tank made it without any problems it came out great! And the suburban is very cool good luck with the window rubber!!
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[hemifalcon]

Just outta curiosity--where did you find purchase your sending unit?

[thirdstreettito]

Nice! Put some wide whitewalls on her.

[Dinos63]

congrats !! those are some killer trucks you guys have and that you are building

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by hemifalcon

Just outta curiosity--where did you find purchase your sending unit?

Oh snap, that was my question too !!

[RockTonka]

Originally Posted by hemifalcon

Just outta curiosity--where did you find purchase your sending unit?

Originally Posted by McMurphy

Oh snap, that was my question too !!

Ran across town and picked it up here...

http://www.classicchevroletparts.com/

It's nice having a place like this in the neighborhood.

[RockTonka]

We had to work on other projects today and didn't get to spend much time on the burb. We did take a few minutes to throw a timing light on it and dial it in...my "by ear" tuning isn't all that accurate.

We put a couple miles on it cruising down to Sonic for drinks...it really, really needs new tires, that will be my mission this next week. Anybody have some inexpensive size/type suggestions? I "think" some new thin white walls would look alright, but maybe the wide white walls, as mentioned, would look better??

Here's a couple pics my boy took that I like...

[oklahomaduner]

I just had to...

[oem4me]

Originally Posted by RockTonka

it really, really needs new tires, that will be my mission this next week. Anybody have some inexpensive size/type suggestions? I "think" some new thin white walls would look alright, but maybe the wide white walls, as mentioned, would look better??

As far as the whitewall width, I'd just just replace what you have. The gangsta wide whites just don't cut it on a bone stocker. Put it back looking like it would have in '66 with 3/4" or 7/8" skinny whites. ..just mho.

[RockTonka]

oem, I'm thinking the same thing. I ran around after work and did a bit of tire shopping, kinda settling on some Toyo 225/70R 15s all the way around (skinny white walls).
I was thinking of trying to stagger big rear/small front but there's not many options that keep the same tire/tread w/white walls that make sense. They did have the same tire in a 235/75R 15 but it was actually a smidge narrower (9.0 vs 9.1" section width) than the front 225/70R 15?? The taller sidewall didn't look quite right either .
Anyway, kept coming back to the 225/70R 15s all the way around as making the most sense (want to keep the stock wheels) and keeping fairly close to that stocker look.

[RockTonka]

Picked up a set of 225/70R 15 Toyos with the 3/4" skinny whites and decided to clean/repaint the wheels before mounting them up. I'm having difficulty in finding a matching blue (in rattle can flavor) for what I believe is the Balboa blue Chevy used originally on the burb. The middle wheel is the original spare/color. Anybody have any recommendations??

The last pic is another one my son took that I like.

[thirdstreettito]

1964 Chevrolet All Models Balboa Blue/Dark Blue

# 508

Comes in an aerosol for $20.

http://www.automotivetouchup.com/cho...l=All%20Models

[RockTonka]

Thanks man, that's what I'm talking about!! Cool

[thirdstreettito]

No problem!

[RockTonka]

Well that didn't work for #@&%. Ordered up some #508 Balboa Blue/Dark Blue in a rattle can (not cheap) from O'Reilley's Auto Parts and picked it up after work this evening. Sprayed one of the wheels to get a feel for the color...not even close! The wheel in the foreground is their "dark blue"

I wanted to have wheels painted and tires mounted by the weekend so we could get some exhaust work done Sat.
Now I'm leary of ordering from an out-of-state (link above from 3rdst.) company that I can't return product to. I've got 5 different shades of dark blue that don't match as it is now...

[duallyjams]

I wonder do you think a powered coat shop could do a better job of matching the color.

[thirdstreettito]

That looks sort of like a Chrysler dark blue. Member 67_C-30 spray some on his shop truck.

[chevyrestoguy]

Take the wheel that you have that is the color you want, and go to your local automotive paint store and they'll match it. They can even load the paint into an aerosol can so you can spray it without a paint gun. Just make sure you get the primer that's compatible. Most of the primers you find in the home improvement stores are lacquer, and if you spray a poly or an enamel over the top, it might lift and wrinkle on you. Better safe than sorry.

I know what you feel like with trying to paint match with the "correct" color spray cans. It rarely ever is "correct". It's good that you won't accept the color unless it's right. If you don't, it'll bother you every time you look at the wheels.

[RockTonka]

Thanks for the advice, all of what has been said was running through my mind today as I struggled with which way to jump.

Since I had a bit of an investment with O'Reilly's I started there after work and quickly confirmed that they had mixed the wrong "508". They went back to the books and found what they thought was the right one.

While they mixed up another couple cans I ran to a buddy's shop to bead blast the wheels to remove the still drying wrong colors

Anyway, I think they got it right. Sprayed the two wheels I have prepped and should be able to get the other two ready by the weekend...maybe still be able to get some exhaust work done Sat.

[duallyjams]

Looking good now.

[RockTonka]

Yep, pretty close on the color. Rear's done, on to the front. Ran by the exhaust shop but he's booked through Tues...oh well, we needed to get the brakes done anyhow. We'll have all weekend to goof with that now.

[RockTonka]

Goofed with little things today as my son was working on his extended cab project with the paint/body man across town.

I finished up with the wheels/tires all the way around...MUCH better ride. Got the master/booster installed but still need to jump into the brakes at the wheels...we have at least one fubared wheel cylinder.

Then decided that the old mirrors weren't cutting it...ran across town and picked some new shiny arms/mirrors, also grabbed some new grey visors along with an antenna to replace the old CB version while we were at it.