My 63 4x4 Burb

[MikeS.]

This is the official start of my build thread. I bought a 1963 factory 4x4 Suburban that was in Wenatchee, Wa. Bought it off of E-bay without laying a hand on it. Then had it trucked across country to me. I'm near Winchester, Va.

The truck came into my possesion on Monday June 25th, 2012. I had to go to the shippers depot in Manassas, Va and trailer it up.

Here is a 1st look;



A pair of axles from an 87 Burb that I'll swap in for the originals. I definetely want disk brakes and I may want to raise this beast up some.



What I know right now. The brakes on it don't work, no problem, the new axles will solve that issue.

The fuel delivery system has issues. I don't know how bad. The POs used a 2gallon cooking oil jug to run the truck and advertise it as running. That's a sepreate issue I'll address with them. Supposedly the truck sat in a barn the last 25 years. It could be a bad rubber hose, it could need a whole new tank and plumbing.

There are dried wasp nest in it, the thing is filthy. The headliner is toast. The windshield has to be replaced. Another issue they didn't fully disclose.

I should have more pics up late today.

[MikeS.]

A few more

[MikeS.]

A link to my gallery, several more pictures here. This will document the before. Next will be during. I'll start on it next week. I'm working 12 in a row currently. Lots of OT currently available to help pay for this.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...103447&cat=500

[MikeS.]

Now working 19 days straight, 3rd day of no power at the house. I made a few hrs to work on the truck. Ordered a complete rewire kit and brake parts. Will order some more stuff tomorrow.

Found the window locks! The truck has a pto setup and a hydraulic lock brake setup. I'm thinking there might have been a winch at some point.
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[MikeS.]

Day 4 no power. Found out that the steering box is cracked at 2 of the bolt holes. That's Ok, Cap'n Fab will be coming to the rescue Ordered a Vintage Air unit today from a forum sponsor.
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[argonaut]

I'm loving the stock 16x5.5" steelies!

[MikeS.]

Thanks! I've got 6 of them, 2 spares in the rear cargo area. I've gotten a set of Bridgestone 32x11.5x16 tires that were mounted but never driven for 300 bucks. They'll go on some either polished Al wheels or some slotted chromed wheels, something shiny but not screamin Bling.

Damn, tires have gotten expensive!

[MikeS.]

The elusive window locks. Found in the rear in a pile of trash.


Sorry the pic sucks. My photo editing skills and software need improvement. The 500kb size limit here is less than my phone takes. Don't even mention the iPad's camera.

Decided on primary color, Grabber Blue. Haven't decided on roof color yet. White, lite yellow or silver? No specific order in these 3. TBD as we say here.

Decided to go with an Edelbrock 4brl carb with electric choke, a 1406 I think it is.

Have an electronics guy, Tim, coming out Friday to discuss tunes, video, security and 2-way radios. I'm gonna keep the original AM in the original hole, will check original speaker, it may need replaced, hopefully it still works.

I want, may not get it all, am/fm/CD/XMsatellite, ipod & bluetooth. All concealed, operated by remote control. A small sub-woofer and 4-6 speakers. Many years ago I was into audio. Any Fresno guys reading this? Do you remember The Tapedeck? An audio shop at Ashland and First, I worked there for awhile in high school. My mom's cousins owned it.

Also a back-up camera/dvd unit. I'm afraid this will have to be visible to be useable. My 2011 Avalon came with a back-up camera and I've come to really like it.

Both CB and Ham radios installed along with antennas. I'll go old school on the CB antenna, a 109" whip mounted to the back left corner. I'll be able to use both 10&11 meters with this. For Ham I'll get a modern rooftop 2m antenna. It'll be 2 radios, I'm sure not aware of a 2, 10 & 11m rig.

Security? I don't know much here anymore at all. Engine cut off, electrical cutoff? I really don't have much of a clue. The locks suck on these trucks. All ya gotta do is pop the vent wing. Tim will have to guide me here.

[MikeS.]

Boy am I chatty Kathy tonight or what? At work, totally bored.

I'll start tearing apart the 1987 axles I bought a couple weeks ago on Thursday. New rotors & pads, rebuild or replace calipers. Rebuild suspension componets. New springs & bushings. Change auto hubs to manual. Change gear oil in the diffs and change diff covers to chrome.

Will attempt to get the front installed by Saturday. Pics to follow.

Ohh and day 5 w/o comm. power at the house. Sucks Big Time!

[jonzcustomshop]

fuel system is probably all shot. I have found any extreme periods of sitting and the fuel will turn to varnish. pop the gas cap off and you will probably smell the bad gas right away. If so you might be able to get the tank boiled out at a radiator shop. hopefully it is not rusted on the inside. if it is I have heard of guys rattling a chain around on the inside, and there is some sort of paint you can apply to the inside to save it.

just replace the line and rubber from the tank to the pump, if the line is rusty on the inside you will be cleaning it out of your filter forever! I ran a rusty line on my 56 chev for a few years, and had to replace the filter every few months.

[MikeS.]

Jon, look at my gallery. When they shipped it they used a kerosene jug tied to the dash for fuel. I haven't torn the system apart but plan on replacing the tank and lines.

I've read here that muriatic acid works well, but you have to be very careful.
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[MikeS.]

Got some work done on the Burb the last couple days. All new front end bushings, rotors, pads & calipers. The 87 axle installed. Wound up using the 63 leaf springs. The 87 springs would have required new holes in the frames and some other work.

Waiting on Warn lockout hubs and new bearings.

A pic of the 87 auto axle mounted.



I was told before I bought the truck that there was a rust problem in the driver side foot area, here are a couple pics.





Took out the original seats, they'll be for sale soon. Cleaned out the inside and power washed inside and out. Took me 2.5 hours to power wash everything.







More new pics in my gallery;

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...103447&cat=500[/QUOTE]

[1963c-10]

Nice looking project...always glad to see more 60-66 on the east coast

[MikeS.]

Got some more done today, put in the Warn unlock hubs and dropped the gas tank. Took it to a radiator shop for a pressure test. If it passes that they'll boil it out. The lines look good, I did blow them out with an air hose. Will replace all the rubber.

Pics in a day or 2.

[jonzcustomshop]

Just to be safe I would get a couple clear fuel filters put one before the fuel pump, and one before the carb, then you can be sure the line is good without wiping out your parts.

what had happened with my 56, is I blew through it until I just got air, but it was still scaly rusty on the inside, so it would slowly give up little chunks and powder rust which I could see building up in the bottom of the clear glass filter that was stock with the 56.

there is a chance that your line is fine, , I am going to do this same gamble on my 59 chev, because the line is such a pita to change, but if I clog up a couple filters , I'll have to change it.

[MikeS.]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

Just to be safe I would get a couple clear fuel filters put one before the fuel pump, and one before the carb, then you can be sure the line is good without wiping out your parts.

what had happened with my 56, is I blew through it until I just got air, but it was still scaly rusty on the inside, so it would slowly give up little chunks and powder rust which I could see building up in the bottom of the clear glass filter that was stock with the 56.

there is a chance that your line is fine, , I am going to do this same gamble on my 59 chev, because the line is such a pita to change, but if I clog up a couple filters , I'll have to change it.

Thanks Jon, actually decided to replace the line today. Decided why not, not that big a deal. I will still put a clear filter before the carb.

[MikeS.]

Installed new gas lines from the tank area to the engine. Took off the inner door panels, cleaned and greased the mechanisms. The windows ride and the doors unlatch much better.

Put in a new Optima battery.


Here is a couple pics from when we were working on the front end;

[MikeS.]

Here is some more pics of what I've been doing to my 63 4x4 Burb.



New tires, they have been mounted previously but never put on a vehicle. In new condition.




New Warn hubs and new Optima battery.
Several more new pics in my gallery, including parts still to be installed.

Radiator is out being tested and possibly repaired. Need a pitman arm, bought 1 on e-bay, hopefully the right 1. Decided on wheels for the tires above. They should be in end of next week. Bought some rattle can paint to match the current yellow. I hate the brown spots, they'll get covered up.

Decided on what color to paint the roof, a silver to go with a blue body. That'll be later, late Fall.

Lots more new pics in my Gallery.

[dugvera@gmail.com]

Love the burb! What are your plans for seats? Just curious. I saw you said you were ditching the factory set.
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[C@rnut001]

I like what you are doing with your Suburban... keep it up and thanks for all of the pictures.

[MikeS.]

A few more pics, the original rear diff cover, looks like the original diff "exploded"


The seats I'm putting in


All new front brake hardware


Been painting the engine compartment


Several more new pics in my gallery. More pieces parts. Were hitting crunch time, want to have it safely running for Carlisle next weekend.

[MikeS.]

I really hate these brown primer splotches all over the truck. Found I can get a local paint company to match the yellow. Some kinda computer scanner thing a ma jig. They will make up rattle cans of paint. So I'll paint over the brown.


These things are all over the truck.

[C@rnut001]

Those computer paint matching systems are really neat...a lot easier than when I used to have to do it by eye sight and guesswork alone....My old auto body shop teacher could do it so well just by looking at it closely and slowly making it match....Keep it up, it will be looking really a lot better once you do get rid of the brown spots.

[MikeS.]

Thanks Owen, I sure hope so.
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[MikeS.]

A few more pics to share of the work we've done this week. New tires on new wheels,


New PS box mounted via CaptainFab bracket;


and


Some more of the Cap'n fine work;


As usual several more new pics in my gallery.