97 Suburban to Crew Build: One Piece At a Time
 

Well, it begins. The double-cab idea was officially scrapped. Instead, we picked up the beginning of our next project. This one is going to be VERY similar to Chris Johnson's Suburban/Ext. Cab Shortbed build, but not quite the same. We're taking a a suburban, cutting it a little farther back, grafting in a back cab piece, extending the frame, and adding a shortbed. And we will eventually convert this to a 4WD truck.

Anyway. It starts with a 1997 Chevrolet Suburban 1500. Was hit hard in the front end. No front clip except a busted hood and fender. We can cover that. Will have to fix the frame a little, not much to do there. The interior was stripped a lot, no steering column, no wiring harnesses. No problems. We have that covered. No driver's side doors - front or back. They can be replaced. We have a front seat we can put back in it - so not an issue. No motor, no trans, we'll have that problem fixed. Here's the pics of the Suburban.

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...70156659_n.jpg
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...24007595_n.jpg
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...17917639_n.jpg
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...97021932_n.jpg
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...14740535_n.jpg

Our donor truck, which is where the front seats, extra frame, dash, steering column, and wiring are coming out of, is a 1998 Chevy C-1500 ext. cab, that was T-boned HARD on the passenger side.

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...66180372_n.jpg
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...87898860_n.jpg
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...31347726_n.jpg
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...01774236_n.jpg
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...03422993_n.jpg

We've got a lot of work ahead of us. And this is going to be a very time-consuming build and project. But, when it's all said and done, this is going to be one bad ass beast.

Re: 97 Suburban to Crew Build: One Piece At a Time
 

Looks like you have a good base to start with Will! I have been toying with something along these lines for a couple of years now. I was thinking about trying to do the back of the cab like a new avalanche.

Re: 97 Suburban to Crew Build: One Piece At a Time
 

Lol, if you go look at Chris Johnson's build called Grafted In, this will be VERY similar to that. She's going to be a project, as we have to replace the wiring harness, the dash, steering column, etc. Something interesting we're thinking about doing is putting a '99-'02 Chevy front clip on it. I think that might look neat.

Re: 97 Suburban to Crew Build: One Piece At a Time
 

I saw a kit where the put a 60-66 fiberglass front clip on a newer truck. It was different. Not something I would do, but neat to look at.

http://www.eccap.com/central-city-au...umbus-ohio.htm


The 99-02 clip should be just different enough to mess with people. LOL

Re: 97 Suburban to Crew Build: One Piece At a Time
 

Yeah I'm not into fiberglass front clip kits lol. If my truck looks 60-66, then you can bet your ass it IS a 60-66, not an '88-'98 with a kit lmao. But yes, the '99-'02 clip is definitely gonna screw with someone's head lol. See it at car shows and at first glance they go "hey, '99-'02 burb. looks badass" then they look at the body and go "WHAT THE HELL?!" Lmao. Another plan for this one, is we're gonna convert it to a solid front axle 4WD if we can.

Re: 97 Suburban to Crew Build: One Piece At a Time
 

It will Have a solid front axle but were not in any hurry to build this one. The 50/50 will get started/finished first.

Re: 97 Suburban to Crew Build: One Piece At a Time
 

Can I have an admin shut this thread down? The truck got scrapped.