Project-----"Shoestring Suburban"

[rusty76]

I'm telling you I'm jonesing for a burb. Man I can't wait to see the progress on this one.

[gearheads78]

A little bit yesterday. Finished scraping and degreasing all the front end parts. Ready to blast and SPI epoxy next weekend if the weather is better.
About as exciting as watching paint dry but here is some before and after of the fruits of my labor.

[gearheads78]

Most of the day outside today.

Not a big fan of grinding cutting and welding around a gas tank so I pulled it first.

Almost had a small disaster pulling the rear axle. My 1000 lb capacity piece of **** transmission jack about folding in half with the weight of the springs and axle. The level adjuster striped out instantly with the weight of the axle and the bottom 1/2 way collapsed. I made a quick make shift support with a bottle jack and cinder blocks. I had to quickly grab my engine hoist to it all from crashing down. I hate junk tools!!

After that fiasco I mocked it back together with the axle above the springs. I had to bolt one my my wheels on to see in on the ground. The first pics its sitting on the bump stops. The 2nd pics bump stops and brackets were removed. I'm starting to get really stoked seeing how it going to sit.

[gearheads78]

And here are the mock up pics before and after bump stops

[terrylgreenjr]

How much do you have between the axle and the frame?

[rusty76]

Liking what I see

[gearheads78]

Originally Posted by terrylgreenjr

How much do you have between the axle and the frame?

The second pic with the bump stop bracket removed apox 3/4" to the frame. This is the height I want it it ride at so I will have to raise it a little bit the time fuel and people in it.

[gearheads78]

Originally Posted by rusty76

Liking what I see

Thanks me too

[terrylgreenjr]

Are you going to move the rear spring hanger down to raise it back up a bit?

[RDrancher]

Tagging along for this one. Interested in the c-notch. I didn't find a squarebody burb specific set listed on their site.

[erichevy]

Makes me want to fix up my Burb.... Great write up so far.

[gearheads78]

Originally Posted by terrylgreenjr

Are you going to move the rear spring hanger down to raise it back up a bit?

not sure yet going to get the rear notched and the front together and see where I am.

Originally Posted by RDrancher

Tagging along for this one. Interested in the c-notch. I didn't find a squarebody burb specific set listed on their site.

They advertised it at the time for Suburban but its no where close. I will have to modify a lot or might make something from scratch.

Originally Posted by erichevy

Makes me want to fix up my Burb.... Great write up so far.

Thanks

[terrylgreenjr]

I ordered the porterbuilt stage 2 notch for mine and it doesn't fit either. I wish it did but the flat part of the frame is shorter on the suburban then the truck frame. I ended up building my own small step notch out of 2x4x1/4 box tubing. I'm in the middle of it right now.

[gearheads78]

Had a few minutes in the shop tonight and started thinking out the notch. I decided to use the notch kit I have. I will also plate the top to add more strength.

Started with marking the centerline of the axle and using masking tape to make a template of the frame.

I moved the template over to the notch and marked where to trim it. I got it rough trimmed and moved the masking tape back over to the frame to mark where to cut it.

[SCOTI]

Catching up on this one buddy.... Remember, if you ever need a 2nd set of hands, I'm 15mins away (unless you moved LoL).

I also have a suggestion. The shape & size of that notch removes frame strength. I would make a 'doubler' plate for inside the rail to sandwich what's left of the original frame between the notch & plate after cutting. Any help adding strength back is worth the effort IMHO.

[gearheads78]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Catching up on this one buddy.... Remember, if you ever need a 2nd set of hands, I'm 15mins away (unless you moved LoL).

I also have a suggestion. The shape & size of that notch removes frame strength. I would make a 'doubler' plate for inside the rail to sandwich what's left of the original frame between the notch & plate after cutting. Any help adding strength back is worth the effort IMHO.

What up man!? Still in the same spot. I may take you up on the offer on of these days. My biggest problem is I never can plan on when I can go work. I find 30min here and an hour there as I can.

I was thinking about plating the inside. You think that would be strong enough or would you add a plate on top also?

[gearheads78]

No near as much progress as I would have liked but did make progress.

I pulled the axle back out and cut the frame. I finished fitting and shaping the notch and got it welded in. I took Scotty's advise and fabbed a plate for the inside too. It should be plenty stiff now. If you are looking for perfect weld porn you are in the wrong place but my welds should hold up just fine.

[RDrancher]

Looks like that will do the trick. I'm jealous of the lift. 'Course I'm jealous of the concrete and walls too. We just moved out in the country further and I have to build a shop sometime in the future.

[gearheads78]

Originally Posted by RDrancher

Looks like that will do the trick. I'm jealous of the lift. 'Course I'm jealous of the concrete and walls too. We just moved out in the country further and I have to build a shop sometime in the future.

lol its nice to have again after being without for 5 years

[gearheads78]

Little bit of progress today. Built a parts painting cart out of some scrap building perlins I had laying out back. I got started in the blasting process but ran out of media.

[y5mgisi]

Do want 2wd round eye burb!

[gearheads78]

Today was a big waste. Power Tour is just over a month away. That means for my work schedule I have 7-8 possible days to work on it plus a night here and there. I tried for a plan b today. I looked at about a 100 pictures of a 70 Catalina and agreed to buy it with plans to drive on PT and flip it as soon as I get back. Its a 9 hour round trip away so I left at 6:00 am. I arrive only to look at it for 30 seconds and hop back in my truck and head back home. The guy did a good job in his pictures of hiding the fact that the 1/4's were both nice sculptures of bondo over rust. Even though I asked multiple times is there any rust. He is a lying sack of **** or the dumbest guy I ever met. Either way I burned a full day.

I got home with a little time left and mixed up some SPI epoxy. I really like this stuff.

[rusty76]

Just get the burb done. It has to be reliable not perfect. Then drive the snot out of it. Then when you get back you can blow it apart and do what you want. Roadkill the thing for glory. I'm pulling for the burb.

[SCOTI]

Definitely sux losing a day.