53 Surburban "Family Truckster"

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

My upholstery guy. I will look for a source for you tho.



It is a great show. The after show parties in the hotel parking lots are as fun as the show itself.



Thank you...



sold.....JK. I did have someone local to me leave a note on the windshield asking how much I would sell for...followed by the word "Serious". I never called them.

Marc

Marc, thanks. I feel you on the people trying to buy your projects. I get people wanting to buy one and they throw numbers and a few have been serious. I don't put a number there unless I want something worse. A couple guys called my bluff and I have sold a couple.

[6DoF]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Marc, thanks. I feel you on the people trying to buy your projects. I get people wanting to buy one and they throw numbers and a few have been serious. I don't put a number there unless I want something worse. A couple guys called my bluff and I have sold a couple.

that happened to my '55 6400!

a buddy was over picking up jeep parts and i took him for a ride, next thing i know he's begging me to buy it. i threw out 2x what i had in it and he started to negotiate ... long story short, he wanted it more than me i guess. he has since done a tone of great work on it and just last week offered to sell it back for what he paid me plus just the cost of the new engine. i was close to taking that.

[youngrodder]

OK, I figured I owed a post show recap.....Overall the Truckster impressed.

The only issues we ran into were the following:
* No tail lights the first hr on the road. Easy fix. I had accidently blown a 20 amp fuse for the tail lights while changing out the master cylinder. We ate breakfast at a truck stop so finding a fuse was easy.

* I lost my pin and clip that hold in my receiver/license plate holder into the hitch. Luckily my wiring was holding it in or we would have lost the plate.....We noticed this at the only gas stop on the way back which was 2 hrs from the house. A Walmart was .2 from the gas station so that was fixed without issue.

* it rained a lot and I discovered my leaks. No real surprise there.

The current gearing is 3.73. I have an OD trans and with a 30.5 tire diameter I think I could go with 411 gears. Once it gets rolling around 70-80 this thing rips. Its almost too fast for its (my) own safety.

Sooo pleased with the exhaust sound. When bombing down the road you can talk and there is no drown. When you hammer on it there is a nice aggressive rumble.

Here are a few pics.

Marc

[mongocanfly]

turned out great Marc..!!!!!!

[Tempest67]

sounds like the trip was a success.

Truckster looks great, well done.

[57FleetsideC4]

Glad you had a great time with only minor problems. Enjoy it!! Steve

[lower50's]

Ya those are some minor teething issues for sure. It's always great when you get the exhaust tone perfect. Looks like it was a nice show. I think its a prerequisite for these trucks to leak while driving in the rain.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

turned out great Marc..!!!!!!

Thanks man....

Originally Posted by Tempest67

sounds like the trip was a success.

Truckster looks great, well done.

It really was

Originally Posted by 57FleetsideC4

Glad you had a great time with only minor problems. Enjoy it!! Steve

Thank you we might hit up a cruise night tonight about an hr away

Originally Posted by lower50's

Ya those are some minor teething issues for sure. It's always great when you get the exhaust tone perfect. Looks like it was a nice show. I think its a prerequisite for these trucks to leak while driving in the rain.

I think so....at least it does not leak fluids of any kind.

Marc

[oldman3]

Marc, glad the trip was a success, looks super...Jim

[olcarguy]

Looks Great!...

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Marc, glad the trip was a success, looks super...Jim

Originally Posted by olcarguy

Looks Great!...

Thanks gentleman....

Marc

[youngrodder]

Big day....

I got around to finalizing the installation of the 3rd row of seating. This was big because there was a TON of work involved to get this to work.

The goal all along was to layout flat over 22" wheels while retaining the 3rd row. As you start to look around there are not many (if any) others that did this. Early on I figured out why

Here is a recap of the work done to pull this off:

* Widened and raised the inner wheel tubs
* Narrowed the factory (rare) 3rd seat frame and springs 2 3/4" of an inch
* Modified the seat frame legs
* Created pockets in the body for clearance for the tops of the tires when aired out.
* Moved the seat back to clear the notch cover

All of this while keeping the flexibility to run the 3rd seat in the 2nd position if I choose.

Most people will look inside and not realize the amount of work to pull this off.

Marc

[mongocanfly]

Wow,those look great Marc..!!..I'm really liking your seats...wish I had a good upholstery shop around here..sadly all the old good ones are gone

[8man]

Nice job, and that was a lot of work.

[6DoF]

:drool:

[Tempest67]

it looks like it came from the factory that way. looks great, congrats

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Wow,those look great Marc..!!..I'm really liking your seats...wish I had a good upholstery shop around here..sadly all the old good ones are gone

Thanks, my guy is good. He's about 90- minute from me thick in Amish country. ha ha. I have to return soon as he is making me some floor mats. I might take the Suburban there for a short road trip..

Originally Posted by 8man

Nice job, and that was a lot of work.

Thank you...

Originally Posted by 6DoF

:drool:

If you drool, please keep it away from the leather...ha ha

Originally Posted by Tempest67

it looks like it came from the factory that way. looks great, congrats

Thanks that was the goal.

Marc

[lower50's]

WOW looks FANTASTIC!
"Most people will look inside and not realize the amount of work to pull this off."
That is how you know you did a great job.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by lower50's

WOW looks FANTASTIC!
"Most people will look inside and not realize the amount of work to pull this off."
That is how you know you did a great job.

Thanks man, I'm going to be figuring out seat belts soon. Having too much fun driving it. I'm close to 1,000 miles since early July...

Marc

[Dieselwrencher]

That turned out great! Awesome work!

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

That turned out great! Awesome work!

Thank you...much apprecaited!!

We went for an ice cream run last night with my wife my son Austin and one of his buddies. It was fun rolling out with 3 other people. We still had room for 2-3 more.

Marc

[Father&son56project]

I saw that posting about the 3rd row seat install, then went back to see the rest of the interior pics. Wow……..It takes an absolute ton of effort to make something look like it was originally designed to be that way, and you sure pulled it off. Awesome skills!

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Father&son56project

I saw that posting about the 3rd row seat install, then went back to see the rest of the interior pics. Wow……..It takes an absolute ton of effort to make something look like it was originally designed to be that way, and you sure pulled it off. Awesome skills!

Thanks man....It was a ton of work. You tend to forget a lot of the details as you start to rack up miles driving and enjoying....

Marc

[Modges'66]

Hey Marc!
It was a blast meeting you at the Grand Rapids Auto Gallery Show Yesterday! I had no idea that I would win Best of Show there!!!
I am so glad that you came over & introduced yourself...I immediately remembered your old green truck when you mentioned it. I really love your new creation, and need to catch-up on this thread!
I hope to see you and the truck again sometime soon. Maybe at the Gilmore?
Thanks again for starting the conversation!

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Modges'66

Hey Marc!
It was a blast meeting you at the Grand Rapids Auto Gallery Show Yesterday! I had no idea that I would win Best of Show there!!!
I am so glad that you came over & introduced yourself...I immediately remembered your old green truck when you mentioned it. I really love your new creation, and need to catch-up on this thread!
I hope to see you and the truck again sometime soon. Maybe at the Gilmore?
Thanks again for starting the conversation!

Hey Mike

The award was well deserved. Funny as soon as you pulled in I said hey I know that truck...It was nice chatting with you. My son thought you were cool.

We are hitting up a show in Gas City Indiana on the 25th that is supposed to be a good event.

Talk soon
Marc