53 Surburban "Family Truckster"

[slammed57]

fantastic work, really lookin good!

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by 8man

Nice work on the exhaust, it's looking great. Love those BBC trucks too.

Thanks, yes it is cool truck. He contemplating a chassis and LS swap in the future

Originally Posted by Rickysnickers

That looks great. One question though. Your master cylinder looks to be very close to your exhaust. Are you concerned about heat soaking the master cylinder?

Thanks. No I'm not concerned for a couple reasons. 1 the exhaust looks closer in the pics. 2. We actually kicked the exhaust down and out of the way under the master cylinder. It hard to see but if you look close toward the top of exhaust you can see where each side steps down slightly.

Originally Posted by slammed57

fantastic work, really lookin good!

Thanks man..

[youngrodder]

I received a small Summit order today. One item I purchased was an Optima battery. I got it installed this evening. I purchased a nice 0 gauge battery cable kit from American Autowire. The batter box was purchased off eBay. Pretty happy.

Disclaimer....I realize my body it still not mounted. I'm trying to get as much done prior to the body going on while I wait on the exhaust.

Marc

[ajgriffin]

Looking good! I've been running Optima's for years, but I've been having trouble with their batteries having bad cells lately. Some folks on the web are saying it's because they moved manufacturing to Mexico, but I haven't researched it enough to know if that's true or not.

[oldman3]

Marc, super nice work my friend...Jim

[joedoh]

nice big window! nice exhaust too, but its hard to excited about that with the 56 and all.

(just kidding, nice exhaust)

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by ajgriffin

Looking good! I've been running Optima's for years, but I've been having trouble with their batteries having bad cells lately. Some folks on the web are saying it's because they moved manufacturing to Mexico, but I haven't researched it enough to know if that's true or not.

Yeah that's exactly right. My friends that own the hotrod shop use a lot of optima's and they said the same thing about the cells and the move of the manufacturing location. Using a battery tender is a must with an optima.

Originally Posted by oldman3

Marc, super nice work my friend...Jim

Thanks Jim

Originally Posted by joedoh

nice big window! nice exhaust too, but its hard to excited about that with the 56 and all.

(just kidding, nice exhaust)

yeah I couldn't remember the Yr, I just really like it....

Marc

[joedoh]

oops you said 55, I think I was living vicariously when I said 56 because thats the year I have. I dont have any specific model year clairvoyance, was just goofing off.

[youngrodder]

Well I worked on finishing the outsides of the doors. I can say I think I'm starting to get the hand of it. The doors are done ans sealed with matte clear. Because I liked how the doors turned out I think I'm going to further sand Parts of the body to achieve a similar result. i have enjoyed getting the hang of using an airbrush again....The outside of the body is all that is left.

On to the pics||||||||||

Marc

[youngrodder]

Don't get it twisted, it might look rusty on the outside but here is an example of the satin painted backside of one of the doors. I really like the interior contrast with that of the weathered exterior.

Thank you
Marc

[oldman3]

Marc, looks great...Jim

[Rickysnickers]

Impressive work!! I meant to ask, what kind of undercoating did you use on your fenders and running boards? Thanks in advance.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Marc, looks great...Jim

Thanks Jim

Originally Posted by Rickysnickers

Impressive work!! I meant to ask, what kind of undercoating did you use on your fenders and running boards? Thanks in advance.

Thank you. I used Rapor Liner
https://www.autozone.com/paint-and-b...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

i used a total of 8 bottles (2 kits) on my Suburban body (top and bottom of floors) and firewall. Including all fenders and body parts.

Thanks
Marc

[joedoh]

man you have the patina thing locked up.

[mongocanfly]

Looks great Marc..!

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by joedoh

man you have the patina thing locked up.

Thxs, I'm trying. I keep learning the more I do. From the doors now I'm going to redo some of the body. I'm not happy with parts of the body now after seeing how the doors turned out.

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Looks great Marc..!

Thanks Greg

Marc

[84blaze]

Marc, Do you plan to install power windows?

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by 84blaze

Marc, Do you plan to install power windows?

Not in this one...My 48 had everything electric, including the fresh air vent. If you want power windows go with Nu-relic. They are not cheap but quality never is. They are direct bolt in and work great.

Marc

[84blaze]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Not in this one...My 48 had everything electric, including the fresh air vent. If you want power windows go with Nu-relic. They are not cheap but quality never is. The are a direct bolt in and work great.

Marc

Right on. Those are the ones I have earmarked for my build.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by 84blaze

Right on. Those are the ones I have earmarked for my build.

Good deal. I didn't care for their switches so I went with some from a another supplier.

https://watsons-streetworks.com/prod...gory/switches/

Marc

[84blaze]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Good deal. I didn't care for their switches so I went with some from a another supplier.

https://watsons-streetworks.com/prod...gory/switches/

Marc

I plan to use their NU-cranks so I can keep it looking like it has manual windows.

https://www.nu-relics.com/product-p/233.htm

How did you run the wiring into the doors? I've seen those contacts that fit in the door jams and think they look like a clean option.

https://www.keepitcleanwiring.com/ca...et-(3-Contacts)

[reaper71]

84blaze, keep it clean is part of the hoffman group (A.K.A Autoloc) in my experience using parts from any of these companies is very cheap and not reliable.
just my 2 cents.

I'd use watsons anyday over a hoffman group co.


Mark.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by reaper71

84blaze, keep it clean is part of the hoffman group (A.K.A Autoloc) in my experience using parts from any of these companies is very cheap and not reliable.
just my 2 cents.

I'd use watsons anyday over a hoffman group co.


Mark.

I agree with Mark. I should have been more specific. I didn't get those door contacts from "Keep it Clean". I would never buy anything from Hoffman Group. I have bought several things from Watson's and they have always been great quality.

Marc

[ajgriffin]

Hey Marc (and anyone who knows better than me), did you happen to use an ARP balancer bolt? I was putting mine together today and noticed that the directions from ARP and ATI don't agree with each other (different torque and loctite vs ARP assembly lube). Curious to know what you ended up doing.



Also, you probably already caught this, but I didn't The instructions also say that the alternator grounds through the water pump housing so it says to keep that mounting surface paint free. Not sure if it matters much or not, but I went back and cleaned that area of my block since I didn't mask it off before paint

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by ajgriffin

Hey Marc (and anyone who knows better than me), did you happen to use an ARP balancer bolt? I was putting mine together today and noticed that the directions from ARP and ATI don't agree with each other (different torque and loctite vs ARP assembly lube). Curious to know what you ended up doing.

Attachment 2033623

Also, you probably already caught this, but I didn't The instructions also say that the alternator grounds through the water pump housing so it says to keep that mounting surface paint free. Not sure if it matters much or not, but I went back and cleaned that area of my block since I didn't mask it off before paint

Attachment 2033624

I used an ARP bolt. I didn't realize that the Holley kit came with one. I think I used the lube that came with the bolt. Not sure on the torque specs (it was a few months ago). My mechanic friend torqued everything. My block is all Aluminum. I did go back after I removed the tape and grounds away the paint from the mating surfaces. I should be good. I did notice that black paint is removed from the bolt journals on the water pump. To allow for proper grounding must be why...Good looking out.

Marc