My suburban's Twisted Little Sister

[Modges'66]

So, am I understanding that you are building more of a Blazer than a Sub?
I like!

[JRE]

Sweet I love Builds with lot's of body Mods.

[65sub]

Originally Posted by pimpston65

HOLD THE PHONE!!!! i know your not making a coupe' burban??? if your are im coming up there to drool, and pick ur left over parts...

Coupe'burban That might be a good description.

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

V12? Cool!...somehow I missed the V12 part of the build.

5.3L jaguar V12 fuel injected

Originally Posted by Modges'66

So, am I understanding that you are building more of a Blazer than a Sub?
I like!

Kind of like a blazer but a little more "twisted"

Originally Posted by JRE

Sweet I love Builds with lot's of body Mods.

Stay tuned. Lots of cutting and welding coming soon.

[65sub]

Drilled spot welds and separated panels. The factory worker who spot welded the front drip rail was nuts. He had two or three spot welds on top of each other every inch all the way around. Taking them apart really chewed them up

[Modges'66]

Holy-S!
Really?
Some real work ahead!
Go for it!

[jonzcustomshop]

interesting,,, I see a third piece sandwiched in there that I haven't seen on trucks, maybe a suburban only piece?
that might explain the extra spot welds: the inner piece was welded first, then the outer on top of that...
I am curious to see what is in there.

[pimpston65]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

interesting,,, I see a third piece sandwiched in there that I haven't seen on trucks, maybe a suburban only piece?
that might explain the extra spot welds: the inner piece was welded first, then the outer on top of that...
I am curious to see what is in there.

i think its part of the roof support, cuz thats a big piece of metal(roof). i pulled the headliner out of one on a pick. took the supports out to get to it and it was floppy!!!

[65sub]

Originally Posted by Modges'66

Holy-S!
Really?
Some real work ahead!
Go for it!

Thanks Modges. Ya fun starts now

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

interesting,,, I see a third piece sandwiched in there that I haven't seen on trucks, maybe a suburban only piece?
that might explain the extra spot welds: the inner piece was welded first, then the outer on top of that...
I am curious to see what is in there.

You're right just an extra support about 3" wide all around the front.

Originally Posted by pimpston65

i think its part of the roof support, cuz thats a big piece of metal(roof). i pulled the headliner out of one on a pick. took the supports out to get to it and it was floppy!!!

It sure is a big floppy roof once it's off


Here's the truck with no roof. For any one removing a suburban roof after you do all the bolts that go down into the side there is a bolt that goes up into the edge of the roof from inside the channel behind the door. There is also a weld that holds the inner roof to the roof support. Above the rear doors there are two rows of spot welds as well as a hidden one in each corner.

[65sub]

There is some rust around the front. Some above the A- pillars and along the sides

[65sub]

Before the cutting starts we removed the wood floor and then the metal floor up to the back of the doors. We also added some extra supports from the cross brace to the frame

[65sub]

Started the cutting on the back just to see whats inside. Found more rust of course. Cut the center post out and then separated the inner and outer panels inside the window channel

[Jeff La]

Keep the pics coming, cause that means the works progressing. Can't wait to see more.

[reaper71]

Looking cool already

[65sub]

Originally Posted by Jeff La

Keep the pics coming, cause that means the works progressing. Can't wait to see more.

More progress and pictures today.

Originally Posted by reaper71

Looking cool already

Thanks reaper.

First thing to go was the outer panel. The second picture shows the support between the inner and outer panels. Then we removed the inner panel. Next we did the same on the drivers side. The next step is to move the back forward to meet the front. Since the frame was in the way and is badly rusted we cut the back of the frame off.

[Modges'66]

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

[Jeff La]

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

[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

[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..

[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.