53 Surburban "Family Truckster"

[youngrodder]

Ok I need to come clean.....I have been sand baggin a little. I have been working on the Suburban pretty steady for the past few weeks but I haven't been updating my build thread so I will warn you this update will be picture and text heavy as I attempt to catch this up to real life...ha ha

Ok about 3 weeks ago I realized that something needed to be done with my Porterbuilt rear bag mounts as they didn't allow the bag when fully deflated to collapse enough to lay the running boards flat. I was about 2" short. To most this probably seems like I'm being picky. To me I have come this far and I want what I want. Nate at Porterbuilt was super accommodating in getting me new reworked bag plates. Full disclosure when trouble shooting this with Nate, he informed me that I installed the plates upside down. He took the blame as I never really had install directions. The new set of bag mounts did the trick (see the instructions provided....ha ha)

While I had the rearend out to cut off the old bag plates, I fixed my disc brake issue. If you recall my calipers hit my frame rail when fully aired out. so what I did was index the backing plate to place the calipers/brackets closer to the ground and clearing the notch. Other than making a slight clearance on the frame rails this corrected this challenge.

Ok some pics

[99 to Life]

sweet. nice when them hurdles get cleared. at first they always seem so daunting. and really no need for fancy tools. I'v went years without even the most basic handy tools, so if I can do it anyone can. the seats look rad, makes me want one even more. Forget the family belair i'v been wanting to do, I want to do a family burb!

[oldman3]

Marc, great work as always. Anyone with a burb will catch the change, most lookers won't...Jim

[MIKESAD50]

Marc, It is looking Awesome and making great progress.
Build it the way you want the first time.

[Advanced Design]

Good work Marc, lots of cool and resourceful modifications!

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Dang Marc..you have been busy..looking good as always...I wonder if Doug's been hiding in the bushes as well..

Thanks...I'm sure Doug is getting stuff done...

Originally Posted by lower50's

OH YA that looks great, lays out just right.

Thanks it has been a chore.

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

sweet. nice when them hurdles get cleared. at first they always seem so daunting. and really no need for fancy tools. I'v went years without even the most basic handy tools, so if I can do it anyone can. the seats look rad, makes me want one even more. Forget the family belair i'v been wanting to do, I want to do a family burb!

Yes, I have more confidence figuring stuff out as I go. This was not the case when I built the green 48.

Originally Posted by oldman3

Marc, great work as always. Anyone with a burb will catch the change, most lookers won't...Jim

Thanks Jim

Originally Posted by MIKESAD50

Marc, It is looking Awesome and making great progress.
Build it the way you want the first time.

Thanks. Yes, I am taking time on this one to figure out the little snags.

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Good work Marc, lots of cool and resourceful modifications!

Thanks Doug...

[ChuckDriver]

Looks awesome layed out!

[69CST-V]

Nice work....Looks like its coming together nicely.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

Looks awesome layed out!

Thanks I like the look, I'm glad I went the extra mile.

Originally Posted by 69CST-V

Nice work....Looks like its coming together nicely.

Thanks, I will be happy when I'm done cutting the welding. I needed to clearance some frame rail for caliper clearance once fully aired out....2 steps forward.....3 back. Ha ha

[Scott2]

Looks really great layed out! nice job going bit by bit until you got it right!

[69CST-V]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Thanks, I will be happy when I'm done cutting the welding. I needed to clearance some frame rail for caliper clearance once fully aired out....2 steps forward.....3 back. Ha ha

Yes but they were big steps forward and only little steps back...Great progress.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Scott2

Looks really great layed out! nice job going bit by bit until you got it right!

Thank you

Originally Posted by 69CST-V

Yes but they were big steps forward and only little steps back...Great progress.

Thanks man...

[BIGglaSS]

Those pics just put a laid out 'burb on my bucket list of builds.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by BIGglaSS

Those pics just put a laid out 'burb on my bucket list of builds.

Careful what you wish for.....it is a ton more work to layout a suburban over large diameter wheels while keeping decent seating inside. I found this out the hard way...ha ha

I'm just about done cutting. The cool thing is I can just put enough air in the bags to get it off the ground and it rolls nice and smooth. My 48 truck does not..


Marc

[focusedontheprize]

Truck looks great Marc. I don't think you are being picky at all - you have that much work into it - why settle for something you don't want?

Awesome.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by focusedontheprize

Truck looks great Marc. I don't think you are being picky at all - you have that much work into it - why settle for something you don't want?

Awesome.

Thanks man I appreciate it. This weekend I hope to finish creating the small pocket in the frame rails for caliper clearance when aired out...then I have about a weeks worth of grinding welds from the wheel tubs...

Marc

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Thanks man I appreciate it. This weekend I hope to finished creating the small pocket in the frame rail for caliper clearance when aired out...then I have about a weeks worth of grinding welds from the wheel tubs...

Marc

Grelding.....right?

[Flysocal]

Following along on this one keep up the good work!

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Grelding.....right?

Yes, Doug did I mention that I bought a new grinder??? I burned mine up a week ago...How did that happen???

Originally Posted by Flysocal

Following along on this one keep up the good work!

Thanks I appreciate it.

Marc

[kehstr]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Did I mention that I bought a new grinder??? I burned mine up a week ago...How did that happen

How would that happen?? it's not like it ever got used

[youngrodder]

Since the weather was pretty crummy this weekend, I did get some work done. I decided that I will go with a 2 piece drive shaft. Picture supplied by Nate. This is pretty common with the C-10 trucks and my Porterbuilt kit is very similar to their C-10 stuff. The benefit to a 2 piece drive shaft is I will not have to cut anymore of my floor (major bonus). I will need a carrier barring bracket from PB. This will be the next care package from Nate.

I finished the small notches for caliper clearance. The notch is not as big as it looks, and there is a lot more frame than what shows in the picture so some worry its safe. I welded pipe inside to notch to reinforce the notch.

I also cleaned up the welds on the underside of the wheel tubs. I coated them with Por15. Next will come the seam sealer and later the raptor bed liner. Pics to come on this later.

Marc

[ChuckDriver]

Are you planning to run with all of the PB parts bolted together, or are you thinking of welding it all together?

[oldman3]

Looks good Marc, the way I fill I would have gas everywhere...Jim

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Looks good Marc, the way I fill I would have gas everywhere...Jim

Thanks

I'm usually pretty careful. I thought about putting a catch basin under the filer but I like the simplicity of how this looks.

Marc

[99 to Life]

I like that cap.