Best upgrades to 65 Factory 4x4 Burbs?

[sam512bb]

Good day All,

I have been a long time lurker and have been looking for a 4x4 Burb for a while now (3+ years). I am closing in buying a 65 Factory 4x4 Suburban and was curious if there is a consensus as to what would be the best bang for the buck upgrades to the old 4x4 running gear? That being said, what year and/model donor truck, jimmy, etc would be best for the updated parts?

Thanks in advance!

Cheers,

Sam

[pimpston65]

Originally Posted by sam512bb

Good day All,

I have been a long time lurker and have been looking for a 4x4 Burb for a while now (3+ years). I am closing in buying a 65 Factory 4x4 Suburban and was curious if there is a consensus as to what would be the best bang for the buck upgrades to the old 4x4 running gear? That being said, what year and/model donor truck, jimmy, etc would be best for the updated parts?

Thanks in advance!

Cheers,

Sam

are looking for a proper K or a C converted to 4x4?

[sam512bb]

Originally Posted by pimpston65

are looking for a proper K or a C converted to 4x4?

Good day,

I was and have been looking for a K, as a number of the insurance companies have been declining coverage to older vehicles that have been substantially modified. Unfortunately the term is "substantially modified" has not been clearly defined and so technically it could give the insurance company an excuse to not pay out a claim. So... to avoid this potential hassle I have been focused on a true K version.

My plan is to purchase a K and make it into an excellent daily driver. I could simply forgo the 4x4 and go with a 2WD, but up here we get a fair amount of snow, ice, etc and so having a 4x4 or AWD is actually quite desirable.

Cheers,

sam

[72cs20]

I used to own an factory 4x4 65 GMC Suburban. When I bought it in 1996 it was all factory original, complete and in running and driving condition. It had 140k miles on it and it was tired. The 305E V6 leaked oil from everywhere it seemed. One day the engine wouldn't start and that was all I needed to start the modification process.

This generation of GM 4X4 easily accept later drivetrain parts especially from the early to mid 70's, if you want to stay with standard fasteners.

I based my mods on my planned use for the Burb, which was backcountry exploring and camping. Here is my list of drivetrain mods -

1. Engine swap to a simple 350 V8
2. Sm465/NP205 transmission transfer case from a 1969 Blazer
3. 8 lug Dana 44 front axle from a 1976 Chevy K20
4. 8 lug Dana 60 rear axle from a 1972 F-250(a perfect fit)
5. Master cylinder and booster from a 1971 C20
6. Power steering from a 1972 Blazer

Since all the swap parts were stock GM and Dana, everything came together nice and simple and turned the Burb into a real nice reliable driver and trail runner.
I travelled all over the back roads of the western US for 6 years camping out of that truck without a breakdown.

I have quite a few photos but none in digital form. If I can get some scanned, I'll post them.

[sam512bb]

Originally Posted by 72cs20

I used to own an factory 4x4 65 GMC Suburban.<snip>

I have quite a few photos but none in digital form. If I can get some scanned, I'll post them.

Good day,
Thank you very much for your post and the info! This helps a lot!
Indeed post up pics when you have time!
Thanks again!
Cheers,
Sam

[72cs20]

Here you go -

Out on the Blue Lakes trail near Ebbets Pass in the Sierra Nevadas


Somewhere in the Angeles National Forest I believe.


Waiting at Bullfrog, Utah for the ferry to take us across Lake Powell. We pulled the Samurai to a lot of places with us too, if we were going to do a trail that was too rough for the GMC.


Somewhere in Utah or Nevada.


Some light rock crawling in the Sierra's. That old truck had excellent axle articulation.

[MikeS.]

On my 63 4x4 I swapped in an 87 front end. Kept the 4wd and gave me PS and PB.

[60sIron]

I'm going to go with "make it stop"........ My 63 K10 has stock running gear. Don't know if 65 was the same but the front brake shoes are not self energizing. Only force applied is by the wheel cylinder. Disc brakes can be added to the closed knuckle 44, I'm currently doing it to my 69 K20 Suburban. Pros and Cons to converting what you have or swapping out axles. Personal choice. Ether one will require a master clyinder up grade. Also good for safety reasons.
The other issue is the lack of parts for the Rockwell t221. Great t case, you can get bearings and seals for it but when I rebuilt mine 15 years ago, the hard parts, shafts mainly were impossible to find. So even if it's in good shape look for a deal on a married tranny and 205, or what ever you decide to up grade too.
My 2 cents......... Good Luck
Greg

[sam512bb]

Originally Posted by MikeS.

On my 63 4x4 I swapped in an 87 front end. Kept the 4wd and gave me PS and PB.

Good day MikeS,

Excellent, thank you for the info!

Cheers,

Sam

[sam512bb]

Originally Posted by 60sIron

I'm going to go with "make it stop"........ My 63 K10 has stock running gear. Don't know if 65 was the same but the front brake shoes are not self energizing. Only force applied is by the wheel cylinder. Disc brakes can be added to the closed knuckle 44, I'm currently doing it to my 69 K20 Suburban. Pros and Cons to converting what you have or swapping out axles. Personal choice. Ether one will require a master clyinder up grade. Also good for safety reasons.
The other issue is the lack of parts for the Rockwell t221. Great t case, you can get bearings and seals for it but when I rebuilt mine 15 years ago, the hard parts, shafts mainly were impossible to find. So even if it's in good shape look for a deal on a married tranny and 205, or what ever you decide to up grade too.
My 2 cents......... Good Luck
Greg

Good day Greg,

Wow, great info! Thank you very much!

Cheers,

Sam

[sam512bb]

Good day All,

Well, I finally got my Burb and so I am now officially an owner! I picked up a 1966 Chevy K10, 250 I-6, 4 spd with Panel/Barn Doors. It is mostly original with the exception of the seats (front, mid, and rear are all different) and discs up front (I was told from a 80's K5) on 16" Steel rims. All the glass is excellent as is the dash, grill, front bumper, and exterior lights (although I am missing the rear back up lights). Sadly the paint is crappy (looks like someone used rockerguard all over and filler to smooth out the dents) and there is filler in the usual places, but overall the body panels look to have minimal rust... although I suspect this will change once the paint is stripped. The drivers floor was patched with a "unique" overlapping pattern of several panels ... So, the front floors will need some work... but do not most of them? I just brought it home and so I have yet to give it a good once over and so I am sure my review will change.

With all that being said, the fun will soon start. Right now I am trying to decide how best to proceed mechanically to make an excellent daily driver with no real off road use. My question to all of you is: Is it better to maintain the manual locking hubs, etc or is it better to swap all the running gear off a newer Chevy 4x4 with electronic hubs, etc? I have never built or worked directly on 4x4 gear and so whatever advice and info you can provide I would be most grateful.

Thank you all in advance and I wish you all a Merry Christmas and all the best in the upcoming New Year!

Cheers,

Sam

[66 Burban]

Sam,
Good that you found a good prospect locally --- that always helps with $$$$..
I sold my 64 K10 last night to a guy in Charlotte, NC --- so good news for me also. I will deliver when I head East in Jan to pick up a couple of short fleet trucks and check on my 66 Suburb at body shop.
I still have a couple of 2wd Suburbs that I'm going to sell --- if you know of anybody looking.
Have a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous and Happy New Year!!!

[sam512bb]

Originally Posted by 66 Burban

Sam,
Good that you found a good prospect locally --- that always helps with $$$$..
I sold my 64 K10 last night to a guy in Charlotte, NC --- so good news for me also. I will deliver when I head East in Jan to pick up a couple of short fleet trucks and check on my 66 Suburb at body shop.
I still have a couple of 2wd Suburbs that I'm going to sell --- if you know of anybody looking.
Have a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous and Happy New Year!!!

Good day Billy,

I hope you had a Merry Christmas as well!

Congratulations on selling your K10! The new owner should be quite happy as it looked really solid!

I have not done too much on mine other than buying some basic parts (new locks, etc) and thinking about how I am going to build it.

Anyway, I wish you and everyone else a fantastic upcoming New Year!

Cheers,

Sam