The Story Of A Cummins Suburban (Lots Of Pics)

[mosesburb]

Originally Posted by justcuz

Nick,
It was nice to meet you and Larry at the Expo.
We came in and out Stoneman Lake Rd. Stan wanted to check out the lake, what was left of it!
This generally goes against my routine. I always try to return a different route than I came in on, but Stan and his wife were my hosts for the weekend.
We spent a lot of time watching the driving course and looking at vehicles in the parking and camping area too.
All in all we had a fun day.

It was cool meeting you too. Yeah, anymore it could be called Stoneman Rd because the lake is pretty much gone.

[hgs_notes]

Nice. Man thats a big hole in the ground. Is there a path to the bottom? Bisbee looks cool.

[Dieselwrencher]

Great work on Lance's rig, and sweet pics. That hole is crazy, and what cool scenery! Those street lights are cool, those doors are way cool. Thanks for sharing the trip with us.

[Average Joe]

Thanx for sharing another cool adventure.

[mosesburb]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

Nice. Man thats a big hole in the ground. Is there a path to the bottom? Bisbee looks cool.

I would guess there is, but it is still owned by the mine, so I'm sure there is no admittance. Bisbee is a cool little town. In all my years of wandering, I'm not sure how I missed it.

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Great work on Lance's rig, and sweet pics. That hole is crazy, and what cool scenery! Those street lights are cool, those doors are way cool. Thanks for sharing the trip with us.

Yeah, there was a ton of cool stuff like that all over town. A lot of history everywhere you look.

Originally Posted by Average Joe

Thanx for sharing another cool adventure.

Thanks for posting up!!

[mosesburb]

We had kind of a lull in adventures for awhile. In the beginning of May we went to a location that we were sworn to secrecy on so I can't post pictures of where we went, but we stopped by a place on the way back that had a bunch of old vehicles out back. We didn't talk to anybody, just walked the fenceline and took some pics.

Good use of an International:











Nothing too exciting, but some neat stuff out there nonetheless.

[mosesburb]

We did go to Overland Expo again this year, but I didn't take too many pics. I like walking around looking at all the cool stuff, but I end up not taking many pics. Here are a few from this year:

MAN truck:



Cool old LandCruiser:



Sunset Friday night:



Here are a few from last year at OX that I guess I didn't post:

Back when Land Rovers were real vehicles:



I'm not normally one of those people who post up pictures of food, but my buddy Bill makes some insanely tasty fried chicken and everyone else contributes side dishes that add up to a crazy good meal:



Met Rick Pewe from Four Wheeler Magazine and he took a bunch of pics of the truck for the mag out on the Land Rover test track:



It's not the flexiest rig around, but it gets the job done:



Now I've done some strange things to "get the shot" with a camera, but this one might just take the prize for weirdest:



It didn't end up making the magazine but that's ok. The best part of the deal was hanging out with Rick, both at the shoot and the evening prior eating fried chicken. It's real cool when someone like Rick, who has literally seen it all, expounds how he loves the simplicity of your vehicle which is like a blunt object swimming around in a sea of high-tech, high-dollar rigs that often rarely get used for anything.

[ryanroo]

Sweet!

[Dean'smeanmachine]

nice!

[tune_1]

Just finished reading through the complete post. Liked all the modifications that you made to the suburban but really liked all of the trip post where you were using the truck. Thanks for taking the time over the years to make it more than just a build but also to document the use and enjoyment of it.

Dwight

[mosesburb]

Originally Posted by ryanroo

Sweet!

Originally Posted by Dean'smeanmachine

nice!

Thanks!!

Originally Posted by tune_1

Just finished reading through the complete post. Liked all the modifications that you made to the suburban but really liked all of the trip post where you were using the truck. Thanks for taking the time over the years to make it more than just a build but also to document the use and enjoyment of it.

Dwight

Thanks for posting up. It's posts like this that make it worthwhile. These picture posts take a bunch of time to put together--partially because I'm slow as hell, but partially because I like to give details of the pic or details as to why I'm posting the picture and not just making a giant photo-dump post. At times I wonder if anyone is actually looking at them or if it's worth continuing doing them, so I appreciate the feedback. I'm glad you like them.

[hgs_notes]

Don't stop posting the pics. Even if most people are just lurking I'd bet most love how you have tied the build to the follow up use of the vehicle. There are hundreds of build threads on the site. Most of the threads die without a completed project. Too many give up and have never, nor will ever drive their trucks. If all everyone wanted to see on here was another post of a painted chassis or rocker/floor replacement there would be no need for another thread to be started. Most want to see whats new and different. Yours is unique and the scenery is always great.

[Palf70Step]

[DirtyLarry]

Bisbee looks way cool and that junk yard is drool worthy. You would have probably would have had to try to keep me off the fence that so I wouldn’t get shot.

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

Don't stop posting the pics. Even if most people are just lurking I'd bet most love how you have tied the build to the follow up use of the vehicle. There are hundreds of build threads on the site. Most of the threads die without a completed project. Too many give up and have never, nor will ever drive their trucks. If all everyone wanted to see on here was another post of a painted chassis or rocker/floor replacement there would be no need for another thread to be started. Most want to see whats new and different. Yours is unique and the scenery is always great.

For sure! Build vehicles are eventually intended to get used. Mosesburb, 1leglance, and I are some of the very few that built something and actually use it in the wild. The trio of old GM rigs are quite the conversation piece when the 3 of us are together, especially at the Overland Expo where the majority of the crowd drive late model Jeeps, Range Rovers and Tacomas where those guys pay people to “build” their trucks.

Wish Nick and Lance could have come along with us to Canyonlands after the Expo this year. We could have really gotten some great pics together.

This one is a trip Mosesburb and I took in 2012. Fun time! We need to get another trip planned out!

[ERASER5]

I read every line. I just try not to muck up the works with useless posts. But I use your 'burb as a talking point when the subject is about a usable, cool, off road ready, daily driver with special camping abilities.

[jbclassix]

I look forward to your and Larry's thread updates. You guys have, by far, the best pictures, updates, and projects!

[mosesburb]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

Don't stop posting the pics. Even if most people are just lurking I'd bet most love how you have tied the build to the follow up use of the vehicle. There are hundreds of build threads on the site. Most of the threads die without a completed project. Too many give up and have never, nor will ever drive their trucks. If all everyone wanted to see on here was another post of a painted chassis or rocker/floor replacement there would be no need for another thread to be started. Most want to see whats new and different. Yours is unique and the scenery is always great.

Thanks man!! I agree in that far too many nice trucks are put out of service nearly permanently due to some things that are not "perfect" about them. Sadly, most of those trucks don't get finished. Starting the project is the cheapest part. It only gets exponentially more expensive from there. My truck has tons of faults that many people would not be able to live with--not me though!! I live with them. Hell, I embrace some of them!! Occasionally I even add some of my own!!

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Thanks!!

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

Bisbee looks way cool and that junk yard is drool worthy. You would have probably would have had to try to keep me off the fence that so I wouldn’t get shot.

Try to keep you off?? Hell, I'd give you a boost OVER the fence......then go back to the truck and lay on the horn--just to make sure nobody sees you.

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

For sure! Build vehicles are eventually intended to get used. Mosesburb, 1leglance, and I are some of the very few that built something and actually use it in the wild. The trio of old GM rigs are quite the conversation piece when the 3 of us are together, especially at the Overland Expo where the majority of the crowd drive late model Jeeps, Range Rovers and Tacomas where those guys pay people to “build” their trucks.

It's funny, depending on who it is walking by determines the reaction our hoopties get. Some greet them with much prejudice and great disdain. Some greet them with amazement that something without a warranty would be driven this far from home, while others see the uniqueness in each of them and appreciate the time, effort and engineering that has gone into them. The last group is by far the smallest at one of those events.

Originally Posted by ERASER5

I read every line. I just try not to muck up the works with useless posts. But I use your 'burb as a talking point when the subject is about a usable, cool, off road ready, daily driver with special camping abilities.

Thanks!! Feel free to muck away. A talking point, eh?? Can't say as I've heard of it being used as one of those before.

Originally Posted by jbclassix

I look forward to your and Larry's thread updates. You guys have, by far, the best pictures, updates, and projects!

Thanks!!

[Average Joe]

Originally Posted by mosesburb

Thanks!!



Thanks for posting up. It's posts like this that make it worthwhile. These picture posts take a bunch of time to put together--partially because I'm slow as hell, but partially because I like to give details of the pic or details as to why I'm posting the picture and not just making a giant photo-dump post. At times I wonder if anyone is actually looking at them or if it's worth continuing doing them, so I appreciate the feedback. I'm glad you like them.

KEEP THE ADVENTURE PICS COMING!!!! I have shown your build thread and journey pics to the guys at work and they digg it. I think lots of people really enjoy seeing a different part of the country. The fact that you are driving a Cummins powered Burb that YOU YOURSELF built is cool x infinity!

[ERASER5]

I keep telling my wife about "this guy" that has a Suburban.. hint hint... that goes camping and site seeing at old mining towns out in the desert. I need to get her to look at the pictures. I mean, doesn't everyone need a custom 'burb to go camping? I think they do.

[ejn74]

I greatly enjoy the pictures of your adventures, keep them coming!

[Dieselwrencher]

It's too bad you didn't get in the mag, but then again, you use your truck so that wouldn't make mag sense. Keep posting the journeys! I always look forward to them as well!

[mosesburb]

Originally Posted by Average Joe

KEEP THE ADVENTURE PICS COMING!!!! I have shown your build thread and journey pics to the guys at work and they digg it. I think lots of people really enjoy seeing a different part of the country. The fact that you are driving a Cummins powered Burb that YOU YOURSELF built is cool x infinity!

Thanks!!

Originally Posted by ERASER5

I keep telling my wife about "this guy" that has a Suburban.. hint hint... that goes camping and site seeing at old mining towns out in the desert. I need to get her to look at the pictures. I mean, doesn't everyone need a custom 'burb to go camping? I think they do.

I don't know about everybody, but I know I do!! My wife knows those people as "imaginary friends".

Originally Posted by ejn74

I greatly enjoy the pictures of your adventures, keep them coming!

Thanks!! Will-do.

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

It's too bad you didn't get in the mag, but then again, you use your truck so that wouldn't make mag sense.

Hahaha!! There is some truth to that statement. Like the mag that did the coolest Suburban ever for the 75th anniversary of the Suburban and they picked a 67ish with a big block and a 700r4 that obviously has never seen a trail before. There are a bunch of Suburbans on THIS site that were way cooler than that thing. Meeting and hanging out with Rick was by far the best part of that deal.

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Keep posting the journeys! I always look forward to them as well!

Thanks. I am getting quite a bit behind in the modification and maintenance updates. I should probably get to posting some of that just to show that it does require some lovin' once in a while to keep it on the trail.

[mosesburb]

So I guess it is time to catch up on some of the nuts and bolts of this thing. I have been putting off a lot of the pictures of the maintenance/modifications in lieu of posting trip pics. Well, I have a bunch of trip pics from some trips lately, but I need to clear a backlog of the stuff that keeps this mess on the trail. So, here we go.

I have had a few requests regarding pictures of how my winch is mounted. Awhile back I found a Warn M12000 commercial frame winch on the old c/list. It seemed like a good deal, the only problem was it was in Flagstaff and I was not. While normally not a problem, at this point in time a trip to Flagstaff to pick up a winch would have negated the "good deal" aspect of the unit. I managed to hatch a plan with a local member up there who then sent his wife to meet up with the c/list seller in a parking lot to pick up my M12000. All sketchiness aside (and sending his little wife to pick up a huge winch), it worked out rather well.

So now I have a winch, a big-ass winch. The sheer size of the winch began to set in. It's big. I want to do some sort of mounting behind the bumper. I started doing some research on how other people had done it and found that people don't do it because it doesn't fit between the frame rails. Oof. Wish I would have done this research before I bought this thing. I decide to strip it down and take some measurements for myself. I removed the control assembly and was left with this:



So I do some measuring and it's not THAT far off. If I do some finagling installing it it gets even closer. I eventually get it down to this:



With a little strategic "polishing" of the inner edges of the frame channels, it reluctantly goes in.



Oh, my. She's a big one. That is as far up as I can get it. I had these neat plans of how I was going to mount it and where I was going to put it. Well, let's just say I put it where IT told me IT wanted to go. There was literally no room for negotiation.

So needless to say, nobody makes a mounting kit for this thing to go between the frame rails on a '72 Suburban. I started looking at any winch mount I could lay my eyes on to see how different winches are mounted. The thing that surprised me the most is how light most mountings are. I even looked at some mountings on different tow trucks and was amazed at how "un-heavy" the mounts are. Now, granted, they are engineered and obviously hold up just fine, but I thought they would have been bigger.... Now the time comes to choose materials. Being that I am very limited on space and how I can mount this thing I went a little heavier on the mounting plate. I roughed out a mounting plate from some 3/8 cold rolled plate. I used some 1/2 x 3" angle in the frame channels for brackets:



After I got everything located on the plate I decided to put a reinforcement rib across the front of it. I grabbed a piece of 1/2 x 1-1/2 flat stock and burned it across the face. I figured that, plus the 3/8 plate to start with should hold the winch sufficiently.



I used six of the 1/2-20 flange head IHC crossmember bolts and nuts to hold the plate to the brackets:



I then used six 5/8-11 bolts to hold the brackets to the frame:



Holy few dollars of hardware in the last couple pics.

Hopefully the last "trial fit":



The damn thing is heavy and generally uncooperative during installation and/or removal.

At this point all I need is a bumper. I cut a opening in the original bumper and the fairlead fit right in. The fairlead came with a standoff bracket that save a bunch of time and effort by spacing the fairlead out from the winch face and put it perfectly in the opening in the bumper.



I mounted the control box assemble to the driver side inner fenderwell. I just realized I don't have a picture of it, but it is there. I made new power cables to connect it to the winch as well as new power cables to the battery. All in all it ended up fitting in there and it has worked great the few times I have used it. I have yet to use it on a trail (and hope I never have to), but around the yard, etc, it works great. The guy that I bought it from said that it was on a truck that had a rear winch so this one never got used. I had to re-clock the housing to bring the shift lever to a lower area and when I had the housing off, it really did look like brand new inside.

After messing around with this I got to looking at other possibilities for winches and there really aren't many for a winch of this capacity. One option was the Zeon from Warn. I hadn't seen that one until I bought this one, but it is a smaller frame which would have simplified mounting somewhat. When we were at Overland Expo this year, Warn had a booth and had two 12k winches that were disassembled showing the difference between the two.



Zeon on the left, M12000 on the right:



The ring gear from the Zeon fits inside the ring gear from the M12000. Pretty impressive. The most impressive thing I thought was the fact that all of the power from the winch goes through the pencil-sized hexagonal shaft in the pic (same size for both). Never would have thought that would transmit ANY power without shearing, much less 12k worth of pulling power.

[mosesburb]

I wanted to pass along a big thanks to Palf70Step for the truck of the month nomination. I clicked on the link to see what the subject for the month was and was pleasantly surprised to see my truck in there. Thanks man!!

If anyone wants to throw a vote at it, the contest is going on HERE.

[ryanroo]

There is an M12000 on the local CL that has been baiting me lately.... haha

Looks good, as always.