1960 GMC Suburban

[KIC]

Well we are getting closer. Almost all the body work is totally complete. The final sanding is complete and all that is needed is some minor touch up and then PAINT. The sides are SO straight... My friend doing the body work just kept working them. Using a straight edge in all directions shows it doesn't have any waves and is straight.

These pictures are a week before it was all complete, but close...getting closer..getting excited about it....

[kikkegek]

Gogogo! Excited!

[KIC]

Still working on it. Just keep finding lil nicks and imperfections that we can't get past. So we keep sanding and priming and sanding. Did run into a problem..as I was taping up the front grill area I noticed that the hood that had already been painted and clear coated was rusting in the seem area. That really sucks.

[jbgroby]

Kic,

I hate to see that happen to you, your build is one I am following and it has gotten me back in the hurry up and finish itch. The painter who is doing my truck used seam sealer in every crack and seam he and I could find. I'm in south Louisiana and is super humid.

If you finding yourself having repaint it, use the seam sealer.

The seam sealer is a 3-M product.

[oem4me]

Originally Posted by KIC

Did run into a problem..as I was taping up the front grill area I noticed that the hood that had already been painted and clear coated was rusting in the seem area. That really sucks.

Has it been stored outside this whole time? Even if it has, being that you're from AZ, I wouldn't think that would happen so fast.

[KIC]

Yes, unfortunately it has been outside this whole time. If you look back you can see the several times that it was down to bare metal and it was rained on. So i'm guessing that there was rust in the seams that we didn't see and was trapped under some primer. Probably end up stripping and re-spraying the hood.

[MikeS.]

That does suck, but it's good you caught it now.

[KIC]

SO..... work has resumed after so many attempts to put color on this Burb. We have taped the windows so many times that 3-M stock has tripled.

[KIC]

A couple more from last week.

[KIC]

Yesterday.... it just keeps getting closer... hope the weather holds for another couple of days.

[KIC]

Few more from yesterday. Checked it out today and the sides are baby butt smooth. When he got it smooth and shiny, he saw a "problem" on a rear corner panel that wasn't perfect so he did a little more final body work. Hope to out color on it either tomorrow afternoon or Thursday if the weather holds, which it is supposed to....

[kikkegek]

Nice. What you going for on colors?

[KIC]

We are doing the original white over forrest green except I am not painting the roof dark green due to Arizona summers...

[65chevysub]

Originally Posted by KIC

It really is in good shape. All original. In fact my father just found, and gave me the original invoice, window sticker, owner's manual, sales brochure and some other logs and paprework.

Here are some shots of the body being stripped down to bare metal. Should be primered today.

Does anybody know if the rear window side rubber molding is "special" or is there a "roll" that can be bought? Wondering if it has to be premolded due to some of the curves of the windows.

This is the original paint. Seeing it stripped off is like seeing your own sister naked.

I got the side window rubber gaskets for my 65 Sub through Classic Industries if I remember correctly. LMC also has them as well as Steele Rubber. They have a chart that tells you exactly what sets you need for each side. As far as driving a "tank" Im the same....wouldnt have it any other way. Good Luck with your Sub

[KIC]

My father, the original owner got to see the Burb for the first time in 20 years.

[65chevysub]

Originally Posted by KIC

My father, the original owner got to see the Burb for the first time in 20 years.

Those pictures are/ will be priceless. Your dad looks happy. I have a picture from 1976 of my mom and dad standing next to now my 65 Suburban in Scottsdale. I treasure that pic very much.

[KIC]

My goal is to get it back together and be able to take him to car shows in it and let him tell the story of moving his family from New York city in the "ambulance" he bought. Burbs were used mainly for deliveries and ambulances so when he bought it his family and friends couldn't believe he bought an ambulance. lol

I remember driving from Tucson to New York City and back in it when I was around 5 or 6 years old. No seat belts. My dad made a plywood bed over the back area behind the 2nd seat for us boys to "hang out in/on"

[65chevysub]

Our Suburban made several trops to Iowa from Az back in the 70's and 80's. Hide a bed mattress fit perfectly. Im working on a ywood platform that fits behind my rear seat(big one). To put my spare and tools under. Im following your thread as I love seeing your burb going back to original. Keep up the great work.
Paul

[KIC]

Whooo Hooo..... the undercoating sealer is applied ....closer and closer to putting color on this big girl....

[gostranger]

great progress! looking good!!

[KIC]

So she is SSooooo ready for color. Unfortunately the weather has not cooperated as we are in the hot rainy season here, so it is now back on hold until things cool off and calm down.

Someday....someday..

[kikkegek]

nice progress....hard work will finaly pay of

[1962 Panel]

*Subscribed* Nice work man!

[KIC]

I know I posted this on a different thread, but I am wondering what other stock Burb owners have found to fit on the stock suspension and body set up.

I am wondering what size radial tire is best, and fits the best, for my 60 Burb. It used to have the typical taller bias ply type tires. I have the original 16-inch rims and want the tallest and widest "normal" looking tires I can put on it keeping the original rims and hubcaps. I don't want it to hit the inside of the fender well when turning and the rear inner fender well isn't the widest either. I am keeping the stock suspension.

Just wondering what other owners of stock Burbs have found to be the best stock 16-inch tires that look healthy and work on the burb, front and rear.

[KIC]

Okay, so I screwed up. Everything in the last post is correct except that I have the original 15-inch rims, not 16-inch. Being TDY for 4 months made my memory incorrect.

The original tires that came on the Burb were 7.10 X 15 6ply.

So I did some research. I want to get the biggest stock looking tire possible. I know there is a big difference in ride between a bias ply and a radial on these tanks.

So……..

Tire width is the width of the tire measured in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall. The first three-digit number in the tire size refers to the tire width in millimeters . For example a 215/65 R15 tire, the width is 215 millimeters. Aspect Ratio is the ratio of the height of the tire's cross-section to its width. Obviously the R is for radial.
A metric tire's section width is measured in millimeters. This measurement is taken from sidewall to sidewall.

Aspect Ratio - "65" This number refers to the height of the sidewall. It is a percentage of the section width. For example, 65 percent of the section width of 205mm (8.07inches wide) equals 133.25mm, this converts to a sidewall height of 5.25 inches. So I made the following charts:

205mm = 8.07 wide 65 = 133.25mm = 5.25 height
210mm = 8.27 wide 65 = 136.5mm = 5.37 height
215mm = 8.46 wide 65 = 139.75mm = 5.50 height
220mm= 8.66 wide 65 = 143mm = 5.63 height
225mm= 8.86 wide 65 = 146.25mm = 5.76 height
230mm= 9.05 wide 65 = 149.50mm =5.88 height
235mm= 9.25 wide 65 =153.75mm = 6.05 height

205mm = 8.07 wide 70= 143.5mm = 5.25 height
210mm = 8.27 wide 70 = 147mm = 5.79 height
215mm = 8.46 wide 70 = 150.5mm = 5.93 height
220mm= 8.66 wide 70 = 154mm = 6.06 height
225mm= 8.86 wide 70 = 157.5mm = 6.2 height
230mm= 9.05 wide 70 = 161mm =6.34 height
235mm= 9.25 wide 70 =164.5mm = 6.48 height
205mm = 8.07 wide 70= 143.5mm = 5.25 height
210mm = 8.27 wide 70 = 147mm = 5.79 height

215mm = 8.46 wide 75 = 161.25mm = 6.35 height
220mm= 8.66 wide 75 = 165mm = 6.5 height
225mm= 8.86 wide 75 = 168.75mm = 6.64 height
230mm= 9.05 wide 75= 172.5mm =6.79 height
235mm= 9.25 wide 75 =176.25mm = 6.94 height


However, it seems the the 75 is a taller tire and fills up the wheelwell better.

The fitment issue is in the "235" size that may need or require a minimum 6-inch rim and I believe the stock 15-inch is 5.5-inches wide. There has been some who have successfully used 235’s on 5.5-inch rims.

One tire that was suggested is the Primewell PS850 but it is only a 4-ply tire.

Also, the Yokohama RY215 7.00R15 D is suggested but is a commercial all position tire that is designed for light to medium duty commercial applications. This is an 8-ply tire that will have a rough ride and run about $170.00 each. The Yokohama is 29.4" tall and the P235's are 28.9" tall.

A P205/75R15 is 27.2" tall

What I hope to do is decide on a size, buy a used set for rollers while putting the tank back together and then buying new tires when it is road ready.

A picture of the RY215 7.00R15 D is below: