Project Family Burb. 1972 C10 suburban build

[Dieselwrencher]

This is going to be the build thread for my wife's 1972 C10 suburban. Leon found this for us last year and we were able to get it purchased. It is rusty but luckily it's not completely hashed. The original 402 was locked up and I have already removed the 402/TH400. It is getting a spark plug delete, marker light delete, trim delete, bumper delete, and 72 front clip delete. My wife wants this to not look like a truck, in her words. I have a hard time with that because, well, it is a truck.

The kids have already been helping on this unit. They got the task of starting the clean out. The boys have been on degrease duty too.

[Dieselwrencher]

The front clip is off and the new to it powerplant installation has begun. I had to remove the 72 only BBC RH heat shield to allow the bell housing to get down far enough. I was surprised how much of the floors were still solid.

[Dieselwrencher]

Here the engine is getting close to where I'd like it to be. The factory brake booster setup has to go though. This will be getting hydraboost now. The injection pump is hitting the booster and I still need to go back about another inch so the factory vacuum booster is out.

There is a portion of the patch panel collection we have gotten so far. How crazy is it right now? Stuff I never thought would be out of stock and on back order is crazy!

[LockDoc]

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Looks like you are hard at it Ryan. Keep up the good work....

LockDoc

[Dieselwrencher]

I've been working on the burb when free time allows. I've gotten the engine and trans bolted in. I just have to drill new holes for the trans cross member and I will have to move the hoses going back to the rear hvac. These hoses will be replaced anyway.

I'm waiting on parts to be able to mount the turbos. Until then I need to get the 67 front clip on and start modifying the core support because I'm going to use a 2nd gen dodge radiator and intercooler. I'm also going with hydra boost. I need to decide if I will make an adapter bracket or source one.

[Dieselwrencher]

I've got to remove the stock BBC exhaust hangers. More than likely I'll run 4" exhaust to possibly dual 3" tail pipes behind the back tires. I'm planning on cutting the control arm mount cross member and putting a piece of 5" tube in there to give a place for the 4" to pass through.

I will take the drive shaft to the drive line shop next week. Get the front shaft shortened, have spicer non greaseable u joints installed and a new carrier bearing.

The trans has a double deep pan for extra fluid capacity and it doesn't hang too far down luckily. This burb will more than likely only get a 3" drop and that will be it. It needs to be driven on bad roads and weird approach angles.

[CG]

I know zero about diesel engines so Im curious, why do most of the diesels I see run such large exhaust diameters?

I know on your basic small block Chevy the really large diesel size exhaust pipe diameters is detrimental.

Not wanting to hijack your thread, but who better to ask something Ive always wondered =)

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by CG

I know zero about diesel engines so Im curious, why do most of the diesels I see run such large exhaust diameters?

I know on your basic small block Chevy the really large diesel size exhaust pipe diameters is detrimental.

Not wanting to hijack your thread, but who better to ask something Ive always wondered =)

Not hijacking at all. Diesels have a higher compression ratio plus most have a turbocharger, which also adds heat. Both combined lead to very high exhaust gas temperatures and they need the larger exhaust to help expel the heat. 5" and 6" on most light duty pick ups is over kill. I have seen 5" exhaust on light duty trucks that tow heavy run cooler coolant temps at weight than with 54" so I can't say that it isn't necessary. It just depends on hat's all done to the truck.

Most medium duty trucks that have similar engines to the light duty diesel pick ups do have 3" or 3.5" exhaust down pipes and then step up to 4" or 5" at the muffler and tail pipe. You typically see 900* on an exhaust gas temp gauge pre turbo on a grade hauling. General rule is to not go over 1250* for more than 15 seconds. Bad things tend to happen and you will have costly repairs soon.

[Dieselwrencher]

Well, would ya just look at that. Another stalled out project. Let's update this one a bit. Haha

This year has been full of a lot of surprises which have taken my time away from this project. We were hoping to get it done this year but it will be pushed back to spring. Parts shortages along with money shortages don't help.

Since this is Momma's rig, we couldn't leave it stock. It is getting a second spinning muffler. I also wanted to use the Dodge intercooler and radiator in this one. I chopped up the rusty 67/68 radiator support and grafted in the 2nd gen dodge one. I wanted the extra cooling capacity and it makes it a lot easier if you can go to any parts store and gets parts if we ever need to especially on a road trip.

[Dieselwrencher]

The green hood is just a mock up hood. I have since gotten a nicer one from Leon. I'm sure glad he has a lot of parts for these trucks. It's going to be a bad deal when he's out of them.

The radiator hoses went right on without any mods. The Cold side intercooler pipe worked as well. I'll have to modify the hot side since the addition of the second muffler. I have ordered a reman steering box with the flare/o ring type fittings so I can run the dodge pressure hose. One more part that usually would need modified.

I need to figure out the hydra boost next. I also have to decide if I want a shift cable for the transmission or a linkage. I have a tilt column I need to get put in this so I can work on that.

My son Colt was helping clean the interior out. Someday it will be chop cut rebuild time for the body.

[LockDoc]

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Well at least you are headed in the right direction.... .. Lookin' good! Burn outs on the way to the grocery store! BWHAAAA

Tell Colt I said he is doing an awesome job.

LockDoc

[MONTE]

Keep it going!!!!!!! I need motivation to finish up my 68 burban.

[youngrodder]

The Engine fits like it was meant to be. Gotta love a family Burb

Marc

[3757chevy]

Looking good . I'm in as a spectator ,Hoping I learn some more about the Burbs.

[HO455]

Inquiring minds being nosey about the Family Burb.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by HO455

Inquiring minds being nosey about the Family Burb.

My wife is probably just as thrilled as you are with this update. Of course it has finally gotten cold here in Iowa. I never got either project done in the garage this summer. I have been working on all of them outside. Well last week I decided enough was enough and one of them was getting worked on. The other was leaving so work could be done indoors on others. I have 2 setting outside and I work on them as I can. It's so much fun. Haha

I'm hoping in the spring I can bring Allyson's burb back home to work on it more. I'm working on getting a better shell to save me a lot of time in rust repair. If that happens I'm really hoping to have it drivable this summer. I could have it drivable in a week the way it is, it just wouldn't be shiny paint or have the chassis rebuilt etc. What can ya do?

[BigBird05]

If I could find a diesel, I would install it in a heartbeat.

[Dieselwrencher]

Hopefully some work will be happening on this thing soon. I have been gathering more parts for this thing and finally have all the burb rear quarter panel patch panels. I have been gathering parts for the engine as well. I am going to re gasket it, install larger injectors, a governor spring kit, would like to do head studs, and paint it all up before I fire it off. The crazy thing is, I definitely have more in patch panels than what this truck cost.

[LT7A]

Man, that's a cool looking rig. Even like the original combo of white above, white below with that blue and the black trim. I know you're changing things, but even those turbine wheels look cool. And with the powerplant you're putting in there, that thing will be fun to drive. Especially with the twin spinning mufflers, haha. I had never heard that term before. Good work – any progress is progress. Look forward to seeing what's next.

[Average Joe]

Gonna be shweeeet!

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Man, that's a cool looking rig. Even like the original combo of white above, white below with that blue and the black trim. I know you're changing things, but even those turbine wheels look cool. And with the powerplant you're putting in there, that thing will be fun to drive. Especially with the twin spinning mufflers, haha. I had never heard that term before. Good work – any progress is progress. Look forward to seeing what's next.

I'm going to try and have it road worthy this summer. We'll see. I keep getting order cancellations due to back orders. That is getting old.

Originally Posted by Average Joe

Gonna be shweeeet!

Thank ya. I'm not looking forward to all the welding wire I'm going to have to go through.