My suburban's Twisted Little Sister

[65sub]

Originally Posted by 62stepside longbox

Nice work, what are your plans for interior?

Thanks 62. The interior is going to be aircraft inspired. Aluminum panels, bomber seats, modified '62 dash, lots of gauges, a little bit of black leather.


We decided to fill in the space from the front of the wheel tub to the frame. We made a panel for the passenger side and welded it in place.

[65sub]

We also started working on the rear hatch sill. we cut the last of the old sill off. This showed some rust behind it so we cut some more out which showed more rust. We will have to keep cutting until we find something solid to weld to. We also made the first piece of the new sill so we could test fit it.

[Grizz1963]

[QUOTE=65sub;7414342]
Thanks Rian I'm amazed watching your truck progress too. You're building it on the other side of the ocean from all the suppliers. It has to be quite a challenge at times.


Thank you as well.

If I were making excuses, that would be one of them, the others include being a white collar worker who has to try out scanners to figure which one fits where, and often having to redo stuff as I cannot "see" the sequences as some people can.

Still, it makes for some fun at times.

Your progress on the other hand..... Just wow !!

[65sub]

Originally Posted by Bomp

Phenomenal work.
Is it me or is the drive line running over the frame?

Thanks Bomp. You're right the driveshaft will go over the frame but since it doesn't move up and down as long as there is room to install it I should be ok.

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Your progress on the other hand..... Just wow !!

Thanks Rian It sure is a lot of fun just making stuff up as we go.


Today we decided to work on the rear lower valance. So to start we drilled some bumper mounting holes. Then we finished making the two pieces ( since my bender is to short to make it in one piece) drilled the holes for spot welding. A bunch of clamps to hold everything in place and then a little welding and it's done.

[Johnny_Lamebridge]

Looking good Dale. I'm loving the sheetmetal work.

[Advanced Design]

Coming along really well! The filler panel looks good.

[62stepside longbox]

Stunning work just as usual

[lower50's]

Sweet!! How much room will you have between the rear fender and the front seat?

[65sub]

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Coming along really well! The filler panel looks good.

Thanks A.D. No one will ever see the panel when the truck is done but I'll know it's there.

Originally Posted by 62stepside longbox

Stunning work just as usual

Thanks 62.

Originally Posted by lower50's

Sweet!! How much room will you have between the rear fender and the front seat?

Thanks Lowers. I took some measurements after Christmas dinner tonight and I figure about 23" behind the seat. Maybe just enough room for a small back seat

[65sub]

Got some more welding done in the last couple of days, We finished welding the panels at the front of the rear wheel tubs. We also patched the rusty areas at the bottom of the drivers side back corner.

[Bomp]

Phenomenal work.
Is it me or is the drive line running over the frame?

[Advanced Design]

Good progress with getting the cross bracing out. You guys sure stay at it consistently. I have this week and my knees are pretty sore.

[Bomp]

Always a good feeling when making progress in the right direction. Mad skillz you have.

[lower50's]

Nice the rear body is standing by itself When you get there if you want a small seat look for one from a Jeep. My CJ rear seat is small 2 adults= real cozy.

[Jferrante]

Great work! - Builds like these have motivated me to learn how to weld and fabricate, need to start somewhere. Keep up the great work.

[65sub]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Good progress with getting the cross bracing out. You guys sure stay at it consistently. I have this week and my knees are pretty sore.

Thanks A.D. We were getting kinda tired of climbing over the bracing so its nice to get them out. I think a little pain is the price we all pay for our trucks.

Originally Posted by Bomp

Always a good feeling when making progress in the right direction. Mad skillz you have.

Thanks Bomp

Originally Posted by lower50's

Nice the rear body is standing by itself When you get there if you want a small seat look for one from a Jeep. My CJ rear seat is small 2 adults= real cozy.

Thanks for the idea Lowers I'll check a Jeep next chance I get. Seats are a ways off but it won't hurt to look.

Originally Posted by Jferrante

Great work! - Builds like these have motivated me to learn how to weld and fabricate, need to start somewhere. Keep up the great work.

Thanks J Remember good welding takes practice and patience .


In the last couple of days we got the sheetmetal for the corners behind the rear wheel tubs fabricated and mostly welded in

[65sub]

I got the prototype door hinge version 2.0 assembled today. This one is smaller and tipped slightly to align the pivot points. I also made a matching nut plate that will be welded into the center roof

[65sub]

Monday and Tuesday we built some mounts and links for the rear sway bar. For the mounts we modified the originals. To mount the links we used the original transverse leaf spring mount and made brackets to hold the bushings. Then we made the links with threaded rod and some 1/8 by 1 steel.

[65sub]

I have been looking for a gas tank to fit in the back of the truck but didn't find any that filled the available space. So today we started to make one to fit. The space for the tank is 38" X 15 X 10. We started with a sheet of stainless and bent a large box 37" X 14.5" X 9". Put a few beads in it to stiffen it a bit. Then we made two baffles and two end panels. Tomorrow we will hopefully start welding.

[IWanna49]

Love it! Don't have it, can't find it, MAKE it!!!

[62stepside longbox]

Very nice work. Love to see awesome fabrication like this. What some see as just metal others see as an art.

[lower50's]

Nice detail on the tank. I used 16ga for my stainless tank but had it bent up for me. How many liter will the tank be?

[winslowgoodwin]

very nice work!

[Bomp]

Dropped in, got caught up to date.

Yup, Blown away

Always get excited when I see your thread at the top.

[65sub]

Originally Posted by IWanna49

Love it! Don't have it, can't find it, MAKE it!!!

Thanks Greg. Nothing on this truck just fits so everything we do takes so cutting and welding.

Originally Posted by 62stepside longbox

Very nice work. Love to see awesome fabrication like this. What some see as just metal others see as an art.

Thanks Nik. I don't know if it's art but it sure is fun to build.

Originally Posted by lower50's

Nice detail on the tank. I used 16ga for my stainless tank but had it bent up for me. How many liter will the tank be?

Thanks Lowers. My tank is 76.5 litres or for our US friends about 20 gallons

Originally Posted by winslowgoodwin

very nice work!

Thanks Winslow

Originally Posted by Bomp

Dropped in, got caught up to date.

Yup, Blown away

Always get excited when I see your thread at the top.

Glad you got caught up I'm just trying to inspire you to go out and do some welding on Steiner so we can all get a update


We got a bit more done on the tank. We welded in the end panels. Then we used a hole saw to cut three holes in the top. 1 for the filler neck, 1 for the sending unit and one for the in tank fuel pump. Then we drilled the mounting holes and tacked the split rings inside the tank.