48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait

[Advanced Design]

Thanks Guys, we are pretty fortunate on the shop. And we planned, budgeted, worked hard to have a nice shop. We did it a little at a time over 30 years...cause with my humble skills I need all the help I can get. I remember a build thread couple years ago where a guy was building a 67 to 72 Suburban in a gravel driveway. He wanted that Suburban so bad and I was so impressed / humbled with his determination. So as everyone knows what really makes the difference on a build is the effort, skill and determination of the builder.

Marc - I've followed PB's development of the AD drop member and look forward to seeing the install in your truck. And I will take pictures of the rear floor fabrication on our Suburban. Hopefully can get a good start on it next week end.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Thanks Guys, we are pretty fortunate on the shop. And we planned, budgeted, worked hard to have a nice shop. We did it a little at a time over 30 years...cause with my humble skills I need all the help I can get. I remember a build thread couple years ago where a guy was building a 67 to 72 Suburban in a gravel driveway. He wanted that Suburban so bad and I was so impressed / humbled with his determination. So as everyone knows what really makes the difference on a build is the effort, skill and determination of the builder.

Marc - I've followed PB's development of the AD drop member and look forward to seeing the install in your truck. And I will take pictures of the rear floor fabrication on our Suburban. Hopefully can get a good start on it next week end.

Thanks AD, me too. I look forward to seeing your rear floor fab.

Marc

[Advanced Design]

Here is where the floor fabrication was on Saturday morning. A clean slate.

Decided we wanted the extra 1 7/8" on each side for tire clearance, so wife and I removed the wheel tubs on Friday night.

[Advanced Design]

Here is the direction we are going for the floor fabrication. Can't recommend this approach for anyone else as it is unproven. Will probably be more stable than a wood floor though.

We are installing the cross channel pieces up under the original perimeter floor flange and plug welding through the flange.

Under we fabricated some support brackets with four 5/16 holes on each surface for plug welding.

[Advanced Design]

The support bracket for the second cross channel piece fell right on top of the fuel fill. Since we will be using a rear mount tank I filled the hole. Wife made the pattern and as usual it was near on perfect.

The Cleco was really handy as I remember many times when I would lose a patch like this down the back side.

[Advanced Design]

My Son in Law showed up to help out and we really made good progress with the fabrication.

He is a good welder and more nimble than I am so the second cross channel was quickly installed. The first picture the channel isn't boxed in yet.

He hit them with some weld through primer, drilled all the holes in the boxing plate 3" apart, welded them in and ground the welds smooth while I thoughtfully stared at the body mount under the third cross channel.

The 16 gauge thickness of the top boxing plate makes for a flat surface with the top of the original body flange.

[Advanced Design]

Fabricated body mounts for each side from some 2" wide steel stock inside and on the bottom of the cross channel piece, plug welded the flat steel pieces to the cross channel after locating the body mount hole in the cross channel piece. Maybe should have gone the full width with the flat steel.

After the pieces were welded together we drilled a 3/4 hole through them for the anti crush pipe installation. The 3/4 " pipe runs from the bottom of the body mount to under the cross channel top plate. Of course this keeps the body bolt from crushing into the floor.

Used a piece of 2" box steel for the drop (replacing the wood 2x4 that was there when I cut the wood floor out), then plated the bottom of the 2" box with some 0.250" flat with a hole of course for the body bolt. Left enough space for a rubber truck mud flap body mount.

Doing all the measuring, cutting, accurate drilling (ok mostly accurate) takes some time and everything lined up when we were done.

[Advanced Design]

Boxed in the third cross channel piece, actually correctly located the hole in the top plate for the pipe, drilled the holes 3" apart and welded in the top plate.

Here is where we ended on Sunday night. Ran out of steam about 5:30 and called it good. Doesn't look like a lot of progress and it really is the result of about 20 hours hard labor.

Next up will be lifting the body from the frame to install the rear most cross channel piece as it won't clear any other way. Have to build those body mounts too.

Then on to the fabrication over the bag mounts, rear end and wheel tubs. Have it pictured in the "mind" cad cam and believe it will work out.

[99 to Life]

very nice work, its easy for others to think this or that won't take long. To do it yourself, do it right and or do it with any type of skill adds up on the clock no doubt. I'v kept track of all my hours on my current build for that reason. The hard work will pay off.

[youngrodder]

Ad-

Looks good. One question I have is how did you suppor the body while making the mody mounts? Did you use the hoist to support the body as you removed the original mounts?

Marc

[Advanced Design]

Thanks guys.

Marc, the body is supported on the first, second and fifth body mount on the frame. Hope it didn't sag!

[oldman3]

Posting late today, damn nice work AD, 99 is correct on hours they just keep adding up...Jim

[Advanced Design]

Thanks Jim, trying to do it right. Have learned a lot over the years and still have tons to learn.

Marc, I will string the body flange to check for sag this coming week end. If there is any I will correct before welding in the floor. And we will know the support on the first, second and fifth mounts wasn't enough for when you get to yours.

99 to life, I took a quick stop by the welding and manufacturing business that has provided the steel for the floor and took these pic's for you. Really busy place in a town of about 400 people. The press brake is massive! Apologies for the quality.

[99 to Life]

I just love those pics. I really dig old and new machinery that makes all this fabbing possible. I was just thinking this weekend how nice it would be to have a huge sheet metal sheer. My oh My its cool to see small business like that still around.

[Advanced Design]

Marc - Used a string front to back along body flange on both sides and there was no body sag.

Wife made a pattern for the flat floor section from wrapping paper as this section widens from front to back. The paper was lined in a grid pattern on the back so that was useful for cutting to size.

Transferred the pattern to the sheet for trimming to fit then completed the lay out for the plug welding holes.....again 1/2" from the edge spaced 3" apart.

[Advanced Design]

Drilled a large number of holes and before welding this front section in place we used bottle jacks to bring the three cross channels up to flat. Like the front floor these too were dipping in the middle.

Did end up using self tapping screws in every other hole on one of the rows to bring the cross member and the floor together.

Son-in law made quick work of the job.

[Advanced Design]

Fabricated the fourth cross channel piece the same as the third, made the mounts, welded in the anti crush pipe, hit the channel with weld primer, and welded the top plate on.

Wife made a pattern for the rear section, we cut it out and have it in place for marking for layout tomorrow.

Really good day with our Daughter, her Husband and the Grandkids here.

[Iceburgh]

AD...what is your rear out of?

[Advanced Design]

The rear is a new housing and came with the chassis. Believe it came from Johns 9 inch factory.

[99 to Life]

looking real good, thats real cool you can spend time with the fam and work on something so cool.

[oldman3]

AD, super nice job, looking great...Jim

[Advanced Design]

Thanks 99 and Jim. Always appreciate your words.

And 99 it was awesome when the entire family was in the shop, having fun. Oldest Grandson (7) was digging by the front walk to the shop and turned up a 45 cal shell casing, a set of ignition points and a glass screw in fuse. He was having a great time finding "treasure".

Iceburgh - What oil pan are you running? Once wife and I wrap up this floor we are moving to that end of the vehicle. Thanks.

Today we did more trimming / fitting on the rear section piece, completed lay out, drilled and plug welded in.

Started on the section above the rear and hope to have something worthwhile to show next weekend.

[Iceburgh]

I have the truck pan on...it is about "1/2 below the cross member so I might change it.
But they are salty so I will wait and see.
My pan is 3" off the ground....it will be close

[youngrodder]

Great progress AD....
You and Iceburg are doing your part. I'm slacking on mine. No really progress to report, on my end but I really like where you are going with yours.


Marc

[CHIZZLER]

progress on the floor looks really good. reminds me off when we did my burban.