53 Surburban "Family Truckster"

[youngrodder]

Hello again....

There are a couple changes or redo's I've done since putting miles on the Truckster. I used 1/8" ABS backers for most of my interior panels including the headliner. It worked well everywhere except the interior side panels in the back. For one, the panels warped and I didn't like how they looked. Two, I also didn't use enough glue the first time so you can see the wrinkles in the material. I also changed the hardware size so I could match the fronts with the billet finish washer. For that I drilled out the 10/32 threads and tapped them to accept 1/4 - 20.

I had foam left over and I ordered another yrd of material. The new backer material will be 1/8" aluminum. Using aluminum allows the backer to conform to the shape of the body but stiff enough to hold is shape.

For this I needed to remove the 3rd row seat and take out some of the other seat springs to gain access.

I will take more pics as it starts to go back tougher.

Marc

[NorCalGal]

Been following you on insta gram the suburban is one of the best builds ever.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by NorCalGal

Been following you on insta gram the suburban is one of the best builds ever.

Thank you. I tend to post there more frequently due to ease of posting.

Marc

[youngrodder]

Here is the current progress on the aluminum panels. I ran out of glue or I would have glued the 1/8" foam down last night.

I like how much tighter these panels hug the sides of the body.

Thank you
Marc

[Rickysnickers]

In your third photo, the close up of the allen head and washer, where do you get those and what exactly are they called? Lastly, how or what do you use to thread them into the body?

[oldman3]

Marc, I agree with you, the aluminum will be a better fit...Jim

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Rickysnickers

In your third photo, the close up of the allen head and washer, where do you get those and what exactly are they called? Lastly, how or what do you use to thread them into the body?

They are just billet finishing washers with a taper head ss Allen head. I have used them on my last 2 builds. They especially work great on trucks for the inside of the bed where the fenders bolt on. They help distribute the tension. I picked them up on Ebay pre-covid. They are expensive now. You can see bigger ones in my engine compartment as well.

On Suburban's there were already threaded 10-32 insets from the factory to attached the interior panels. It did drill those out and taped them to expect 1/4-20 bolts. I could not find the billet washers for a 10-32 bolt. If the factory inserts were not there I would have just used 1/4-20 nut-serts.

Originally Posted by oldman3

Marc, I agree with you, the aluminum will be a better fit...Jim

Thanks Jim. I should be able to get them covered in foam and material this weekend. Then it's reassembly time.

Marc

[Rickysnickers]

Thank you!!!

[joedoh]

beauty work!

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Rickysnickers

Thank you!!!

Your welcome..

Originally Posted by joedoh

beauty work!

Thank you

Marc

[youngrodder]

Here are a few pics of the final interior panels completed and installed. I was happy with the improvement.

I also decided on another improvement. Since I have been a pro a dropping the tank to gain access to the fuel pump I decided to make it easier on myself to get access to the pump without the need to drop the tank. I didn't think I had room due to the subfloor structure but since I had the 3rd seat out I took another look.

This is in case of a fuel pump failure, I can remove and swap out the pump from the top side. My friends with the hotrod shop make similar access doors in all of their builds.

Marc

[youngrodder]

More pics. The reason for the wood was to give the panel more weight and structure than just a metal panel. I used the same wood from the floor for the access door. Took more time but I was happy with the end result.

All that is left is to re-install the seats.

Marc

[oldman3]

Marc, came out super...Jim

[6DoF]

worth it! even if you never need it again b/c you now carry that umbrella ... worth it.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Marc, came out super...Jim

Thank you sir...

Originally Posted by 6DoF

worth it! even if you never need it again b/c you now carry that umbrella ... worth it.

I probably wont need it now. That is how those things normally work.

Marc

[lower50's]

Panels turned out real nice I like how the tapered washers look. Your access cover is nice, nothing better than having access to stuff that may have issues.

[mongocanfly]

that turned out looking great Marc..!!!
like the access panel...to bad the factory doesnt do that on the new ones.. seems like every one that ive had to do had a full tank of gas when i needed to drop it

[olcarguy]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

that turned out looking great Marc..!!!
like the access panel...to bad the factory doesnt do that on the new ones.. seems like every one that ive had to do had a full tank of gas when i needed to drop it

Ain't that the truth

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by lower50's

Panels turned out real nice I like how the tapered washers look. Your access cover is nice, nothing better than having access to stuff that may have issues.

Thanks, I always like to leave a way to access the major stuff.

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

that turned out looking great Marc..!!!
like the access panel...to bad the factory doesnt do that on the new ones.. seems like every one that ive had to do had a full tank of gas when i needed to drop it

Thank you. I think it is pretty much a straight shot down once I remove the bottom seat cushion. Yeah, I have syphoned off gas more times than I want to count.

Originally Posted by olcarguy

Ain't that the truth

We shove off Thursday to go to Columbus OH for the Goodguys show. It will be me and my two boys. My youngest has never been to a show of that size.

Marc

Marc

[lower50's]

Have a good time at the show.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by lower50's

Have a good time at the show.

Will do. What's better than a day off work you ask.....Going to a car show on said day off. Looking forward to meeting up with a few car people I have met on this forum as well as other social media platforms.

Thank you

Marc

[mongocanfly]

Marc, that last post makes it all worth it..!!!!!!

[youngrodder]

Well, the trip did not go as planned on a few fronts. Cooper (my oldest) got Covid the day before we left so he could not go with. The show was great 7,000 cars/trucks.

We received and award. My first ever from a Good Guys event. A big for me.

Now for the bad. I had trans issues on the way to Columbus and I thought it was jsut low fluid. On the way home it got much worse. We went thru 5 quarts of trans fluid to allow us to limp home. It took over 5.5 hrs to get home. At one point, 115 miles from home I thought we were going to have to pull it over and get a tow. We kept pushing and made it. We were burned out (physically and mentally) after that. Home never looked SOOOOO GOOD.

Just trying to keep it real that it is not always rainbows and sunshine in my garage.

Marc

[8man]

You got an award! At Good Guys!

Sorry for the Covid, hope he is feeling better.

Tranny issues can happen to anyone at any time. Yeah, it sucks, but there is a fix. So, I'd say you had a trip to remember.

[6DoF]

that's the way it should be! use it enough that stuff happens! and getting recognized is even better.

i keep towing coverage that is 100miles to any destination ... makes that last 99miles of the drive a lot less stressful ;-)