My suburban's Twisted Little Sister

[rusty76]

This will be fun.

[joedoh]

neat! so REALLY short wheelbase, like an isuzu amigo? Love the thinking

[ptc]

Wow.... you guys putting an 8,000 hp Top Fuel Engine in that frame!!!!!


you could!!!!

[VictoriaHardware]

When it's all done how much of the original truck will be left- in terms of pounds? Considering that the truck weighed about 3,700 pounds new, what percentage of the original truck be left- about 25% ?

Also how % much will be weld?

[65sub]

Originally Posted by Modges'66

Hmmmm, not much left.
This should be a good learning experience!
I am gonna watch religiously!

Keep watching. We're not done cutting yet.

Originally Posted by Jeff La

Can't wait for more. Some great work going on here, really like learning. Thanks

Thanks Jeff

Originally Posted by rusty76

This will be fun.

We're having fun now Rusty

Originally Posted by joedoh

neat! so REALLY short wheelbase, like an isuzu amigo? Love the thinking

Well short from the door to the back but the door will be lengthened 16"

Originally Posted by ptc

Wow.... you guys putting an 8,000 hp Top Fuel Engine in that frame!!!!!

you could!!!!

I think that much power would scare me

Originally Posted by VictoriaHardware

When it's all done how much of the original truck will be left- in terms of pounds? Considering that the truck weighed about 3,700 pounds new, what percentage of the original truck be left- about 25% ?

Also how % much will be weld?

25% is probably a good guess maybe less. 1/2 the quarter panel, 2/3 of the roof most of the doors the dash and the top half of the rear gate and maybe the hood.All the rest will be replaced.


Friday we got the front and back pushed back together. It looks very short in the picture but the door will get extended by 16" soon. We also got the shop cleaned up a little bit

[pimpston65]

INSANE!!! add another awesome unique build to the list that folks will be talking about for a very very long time. oh you converted a long bed into a shortbox, thats nice. bet you never converted a suburban into a coupe'!!! will that side window be a slider? i may have an extra lock...

[Grizz1963]

Funny how things move on at different pace for everyone.

Yours is suddenly a light year ahead.

[jonzcustomshop]

interesting so far... visually after you chop and section it ,it will appear a lot longer and lower.....

[jonzcustomshop]

btw... I was playing with your photo in "photochop"..... as the roof comes down, the upper section of the rear window, and the door frame get longer, so don't throw any of your scrap pieces away yet!**** some of that length could be remedied by leaning the rear post a little bit
when you do the doors if you have an extra set you could cut them both long , and then longer on the top to cut down on the welding and body work..

[Free Candy Inside]

Damn that's cool. Can't wait to see more of it like as in a roller.

[65sub]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

btw... I was playing with your photo in "photochop"..... as the roof comes down, the upper section of the rear window, and the door frame get longer, so don't throw any of your scrap pieces away yet!**** some of that length could be remedied by leaning the rear post a little bit
when you do the doors if you have an extra set you could cut them both long , and then longer on the top to cut down on the welding and body work..

Thanks for the photo chop. That helps to visualize some of the work ahead. Don't worry I'm not throwing anything away yet. I plan to chop the top and then make the doors to fit.

Originally Posted by pimpston65

INSANE!!! add another awesome unique build to the list that folks will be talking about for a very very long time. oh you converted a long bed into a shortbox, thats nice. bet you never converted a suburban into a coupe'!!! will that side window be a slider? i may have an extra lock...

Thanks Pimpston. My build is inspired by the others I've read on here. I haven't decided on the window yet.

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Funny how things move on at different pace for everyone.

Yours is suddenly a light year ahead.

I find that this part of the build goes quite quickly. It's the small details that grinds progress to a near stand still.

Originally Posted by Free Candy Inside

Damn that's cool. Can't wait to see more of it like as in a roller.

I look forward to it as well but we have a little welding to do first

[65sub]

Today I tried to buy some "Easy Grind" mig wire so we can start welding the body back together but I can't find any locally. I ordered some but it's a week until it arrives. So we decided to continue cutting. We put the rear inner wheel well up on the table. We laid out some cut lines to raise the wheel well 5 5/8" The fender lip has to be raised 2" so we made this cut too. The last pictures are all that is left of the original inner panel.

[65sub]

We spent some time welding the inner panel back together and patching rust spots.

[pimpston65]

Originally Posted by 65sub

We spent some time welding the inner panel back together and patching rust spots.

whats that bump out with the 2 holes for? i dont think my burban has that...

[65sub]

Part of the drivers side rear quarter panel that will be staying on the truck was badly dented. So I spent some time with the hammer and dolly trying to reshape it. Here's two photos at the start and two of the dent at the end of the day. More hammering tomorrow.

[reaper71]

Quarter panel looks much better, nice work on the H&D

Mark...

[65sub]

Originally Posted by reaper71

Quarter panel looks much better, nice work on the H&D

Mark...

Thanks Mark I'm learning as I go.


Just some patching on the wheel wells today.

[65sub]

We finished patching the rust holes along the seam in the wheel well. Then we added a 2" strip to lower the wheel opening. The wheel opening actually ends up raised 1 5/8" on the quarter panel.

[65sub]

Some rust to repair on the wheel opening edge of the inner wheel well. We started replacing the edge on the wheel opening of the quarter panel.

[pimpston65]

Originally Posted by 65sub

Some rust to repair on the wheel opening edge of the inner wheel well. We started replacing the edge on the wheel opening of the quarter panel.

since i already bought one vehicle from canada i got the customs thing down, so when all mods are done, you can ship it to me and i'll get that rust off for ya, by adding years of enjoyment!!! the looks that thing will bring oh buddy. did you pick a wheel combo yet?

[Advanced Design]

Nice repairs!

[reaper71]

Looking really good, love the Salt Flat wheels!!

[Average Joe]

Boy you sure get allot done. Looks great! The salt flats will look killer.

[65sub]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Nice repairs!

Thanks A.D.

Originally Posted by reaper71

Looking really good, love the Salt Flat wheels!!

I like the old school look of the salt flats

Originally Posted by Average Joe

Boy you sure get allot done. Looks great! The salt flats will look killer.

Progress is slow and steady. But progress is progress



Finished the wheel opening lip. Then we decided to replace the inside panel on the wheel well.

[65sub]

Rust repair sure takes time. We finished the side panel. Then we patched a couple of spots along the center seam. With all the rust fixed we started welding the top part of the inside wall on to the wheel well.