53 Surburban "Family Truckster"

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by FarmerSid

Great progress Marc! You have got lots done since the last time I saw your build

Thanks, its good to hear because at times it feels like a snails pace..ha ha

Marc

[youngrodder]

My family and I just got back from a Vaca to Arizona. When the trip needed to be rescheduled due to Caronia 1.0, I planned the trip around Dino's get down. If you know about the Get Down then you know. It has been one of those bucket list car shows for me. I was blown away. We also dropped in on Tre5 for a quick tour on our way into town. Tre5 has been a shop that I have admired for some time. They were very accommodating in showing me and my boys around. They build "Bad Apple" the drk green AD pictured. A lot of cool details in this one.

Great family trip....now lets see if I can't get this test fire accomplished.

My phone is jammed full of pics of cool trucks. Here are a few of most body styles represented (I like them all).

Thanks
Marc

[youngrodder]

I have been picking away on the Suburban. I installed my column. No real surprises as I pre-assembled this a time ago. I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't scratch the column on the install. I have also been picking away on some of the wiring.

Thanks
Marc

[Rickysnickers]

Nice. What kind of u-joints are those? I haven't seen any like that before.

[Mains52]

I will make it to the GITDOWN one day. im jealous of you going for sure.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Rickysnickers

Nice. What kind of u-joints are those? I haven't seen any like that before.

I got them quite some time ago. I think they are Borgeson universal joints. I think this is close to what they are
http://www.borgeson.com/xcart/produc...8&cat=2&page=2

Originally Posted by Mains52

I will make it to the GITDOWN one day. im jealous of you going for sure.

I was very cool, from the venue to the quality of trucks. It's been a bucket list show for me for quite some time. I would love to have a truck in the show at some point.

Marc

[lower50's]

Wow Marc! I don't know where I have been? I missed so much of your build, but I'm all caught up now. You do amazing work with the paint and everything else.

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice work on the project! I as well want to get to Dino's! I'd like to do Dino's then the Good guy's show as well. I have no idea when that will ever happen though.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by lower50's

Wow Marc! I don't know where I have been? I missed so much of your build, but I'm all caught up now. You do amazing work with the paint and everything else.

Welcome back. At times I feel like I move at a snails pace so you MUST have been checked for a bit...ha ha. Thanks tho..

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Nice work on the project! I as well want to get to Dino's! I'd like to do Dino's then the Good guy's show as well. I have no idea when that will ever happen though.

Thanks..I know it's tough because SEMA is the week after Dino's (I believe) and I would like to make it to that as well (one day).

Marc

[youngrodder]

Here are a few pics of my recent efforts. Since my tail lights are mounted in the rear doors, I chose to use Magnum Shooters to eliminate the need for wires passing thru from the body to the doors. I used these on my 48 because I had power windows and electronic door solenoids. They work great. They come in many varieties.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/dak-mgs-3

I also added a pos & neg junction post to my removable fuse panel. This will allow for a ground or power source for additional accessories.

One of my goals with this build was to do a better/more organized routing of the wiring than I did on my 48. I have rally tried to think this one thru.

Thanks
Marc

[8man]

Very nice work, neat and clean.

[Tempest67]

very nice,

I like how your wires exit the cab through the side kick panel, instead of the firewall. very smart, I wish I did that.

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice work!!! Has anyone had those door contact junctions on for a while? I wonder how they hold up over time? We have sprinters at work that use similar pieces and we have issues with them. I thought about using some of these on my 40 Ford but just couldn't decide.

[lower50's]

Ya I was MIA for a bit lol. It is not easy to make all the wiring look good, takes a lot of time and like you said you need to think it all out.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by slammed57

Tight work Marc, lookin great!!!!

Thanks man...

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Very nice work!!! Has anyone had those door contact junctions on for a while? I wonder how they hold up over time? We have sprinters at work that use similar pieces and we have issues with them. I thought about using some of these on my 40 Ford but just couldn't decide.

I used them on my 48 truck that I owned. I ran these with these same contacts for 10 years with no issues. They have a lot of adjustability on each contact in and out to adjust for various door gap. Each contact is spring loaded and can be individually adjusted. That is probably the difference with the Sprinter you reference.

Originally Posted by lower50's

Ya I was MIA for a bit lol. It is not easy to make all the wiring look good, takes a lot of time and like you said you need to think it all out.

You got that right..

Marc

[oldman3]

Marc, nice job on the wiring, looks super...Jim

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Marc, nice job on the wiring, looks super...Jim

Thanks Jim...

[Dieselwrencher]

That's nice these are adjustable. That changes my mind a bit.

[youngrodder]

Since my contact where installed I went ahead and installed my 1950 Pontiac LED tail lights. I have 99% of the wires ran to the back. I think I just have license plate light wiring and a rear door jam switch left. I'm trying to concentrate on sections of the wiring. I find it easier to keep it organized.

Thanks
Marc

[lower50's]

That looks really cool! That's a good way to do the wiring, less chance of missing something.

[_Ogre]

marc, what determined if you got the clamshell or barn doors on the AD suburban?
i believe with TF panel gets barn door and suburban gets clamshell



i did the 2012 power tour with my painter, who owns this AD suburban
also found these from the same 2012 power tour
TF suburban and 60-66 suburban both with clamshell

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

marc, what determined if you got the clamshell or barn doors on the AD suburban?
i believe with TF panel gets barn door and suburban gets clamshell



i did the 2012 power tour with my painter, who owns this AD suburban
also found these from the same 2012 power tour
TF suburban and 60-66 suburban both with clamshell

I believe it was just an option. All Suburban body come with cut outs for the cables and retractors. I know a lot of people prefer the claim shell. I prefer the barn door as there are less parts that they don't remanufacture.

Thank you
Marc

[Dieselwrencher]

Those look really nice and period correct too. Very cool!

[youngrodder]

One of the final fab items I needed to figure out was creating a cover on the rear suspension notch for the Watts link. When the Suburban is fully laid out the top of the Watts link extends up higher that the notch cover. I was always aware of this but in an effort to keep the size of the notch cover as small as possible I figure it would be best to make a cover that provides enough room to cover the watts link.

I plan to body work and paint this cover the interior color. That way I can cover the rest of the notch with carpet and the bolt on this cover.

Keep in mind that this cover will be covered by the third row seat once in place. The only time it will be seen is when I don't run a third row seat.

The first step was to make a template to figure out where the watts link comes thru the floor at and to help determine the size. I made a template as it was easier than installing the large notch cover.

I think you can figure out the rest of the steps from the pics. I was pleases with how it turned out. Keep in mind this cover is only needed when fully aired out. it is not needed at normal ride height.

Marc

[youngrodder]

More pics

Happy Holidays!!