Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

After selling my GMC several months back, I was in the market for a more family friendly hotrod. After searching long and far, this 72 Suburban popped up on Craigslist that was actually in the same state. A quick roadtrip later, and I'm back in a Chevy!

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

A few more pictures. Son approved!

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

Very nice . Cute little boy too.

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

Looks like a nice truck to start with. How are the floors and under side of the truck?
I like that roof rack as well. What are you plans for it?

Nick

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

In! This thing is sweet

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

-
Yup, that will make a great family hauler..... Nice score.

LockDoc

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

Great looking Burb...enjoy!

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

I agree!

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

Thanks for tagging along. I'm pretty excited about this one and can't wait to get started! From what I can tell the floors, rockers, doors, and quarters are very solid. There's some rust on the inner fender on the passenger side below the battery. I'm sure there's some more hiding that I haven't found yet. The burb came with some old paperwork as well as the original owner's manual. It was originally sold on 11/23/71 at Charley Graham Chevrolet in Blythe, CA, and spent it's early life in Yuma, AZ. I found some other paperwork mixed in that suggests that it's been in TN since 2003-2004.

The current plan is to make sure the drivetrain is reliable enough to haul the kids around this spring/summer. I've already ordered new weatherstripping to seal up the doors, hatch, tailgate, door/vent windows. The windshield is a little cloudy around the perimeter, so I'll likely replace that soon. The PO installed a new fuel tank, 3" lowering springs in the rear, cut the coils up front, and replaced the rotors/calipers and pads. I'll likely go a little lower with drop spindles and new springs. He also had all 3 rows of seats recovered and installed new carpet over the metal floors. The wood floor has a couple soft spots, so depending how bad that really is, I may end up trying to replace it. Needs a stereo and speakers, and I'll probably get some new gauges at some point. Next winter, LS swap, and modernize the heat/ac. I'm sure there's more but we'll see how much it changes once I dive in.

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

Awesome Burb Jason, I’m along for the ride and I really like your plans for it!

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

Sweet Burb Jason!

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

Jason, very nice find on a very nice burb. They are getting hard to find lately. Cute son you have there too!

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

Looks great. What are your plans?

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

Thanks everyone. First on my list is new weatherstripping. I've ordered all new weatherstripping for doors/windows from Precision with the exception of the quarter glasses, rear glass, and windshield. Those huge quarter glasses look like they could be a real hastle to get out of there in one piece. If anyone knows the secret, I'm all ears. Next I plan on going through the front suspension and adding some drop spindles, new ball joints, tie rod ends, etc. The rear has some new drop coils, so they'll probably do for now, but I'll likely add a bolt in cnotch in there. I plan on keeping it a static drop for a little while at least. Give the 350 a tune up and address this noisey starter, and just enjoy it this spring.

Long term, I plan on LS swap, update the A/C to a retromod air or vintage unit, get the rear a/c working, new gauges, new stereo, new wheels. We'll see where it goes once I actually get started. I did at least make room in my garage, although it is TIGHT! The kids seem to really like it already.

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

Hopefully you can figure out a nice color that works with those seats. They look like they were nicely done. Looks like you are going to have room for three or four more kiddos. Better get crackin on that haha!

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

I'm not a huge fan of the seat color, but they're nice and new. I figured I would just leave them be while the kids are young, then change them out later once they get them nice and dirty. Those extra seats are for their buddies. No more babies for me!

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

Sounds like a good progressive plan for the Burb. Enjoying it and not down for too long is a great idea. We've been Suburban fans for many years and bought the 72, in part, so the Grandkids would have room to go with us. And we've had great times doing that.

The seats do look pretty nice.

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

You have about as much room as I have in my garage :lol: I couldn't do a 67-72 burb as they are too long for my garage, the 66 barely fits.

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

The back and quarter glass actually come out pretty easy but you definitely need another person to help you. Cut back the rubber from the inside on the sides and bottom then gently bump the bottom /sides with your palm until it starts to move towards the outside at which point you can continue to nudge it out and slightly pull it down. Getting them back in will be more of a pain. Looks like you got a good base to work with as projects go.

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

I have no doubt the kids are going to love it. They already ask to ride almost every day.

If it were any longer, I'd be building a new garage out back. My problem is trying to work around all the bicycles, tricycles, scooters, and powerwheels. My kids could fill up their own garage!

I'm happy to hear that the glasses come out easily. I'll certainly take your advice when the time comes to pull them. Thanks!

I have accumulated everything needed for a steering rebuild, new front suspension components, and front brakes. Once I get an evening to get started, the front should go fairly quickly. Updates coming soon!

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

Sweet ride, looks like the cousin to mine

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

Great find with the burb!!! kids will love it

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

I've been working on gathering parts and a plan for the family hauler. The front suspension has been torn completely down and ready for a quick clean and a coat of paint. I've been pleasantly surprised at how easily most of these old bolts are breaking loose. I feel like most of this stuff has never been touched. Only rust I've found so far is the inner fender below the battery box. Aside from all the usual stuff, I scored a new set of shoes that were still in the box from a local. All in all, it was a good weekend! Thanks for tagging along.

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

VN215s are gonna look good on this! I tried fitting them on mine, but no-go in the front hub :whine: I like where you’re going with this

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

Looking good Jason, those wheels should look great on your Burb!

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

I hope you're right about the wheels! My new meaty tires showed up yesterday. I can't wait to get these mounted. Thanks for the recommendation Keith! I took a mental health day today from work and spent some time in the garage. Slowly but surely, I'm making some some progress. The lower control arm on the driver side is salvagable but the arm on the passenger side is pretty rusty. I can't even get the control arm shaft nut to break loose with a giant socket and breaker bar. I'm kind of at a cross roads of how to proceed. Is the additional cost justified in getting a set of tubular control arms (CPP, PB) or should I just track down a set of used lowers, or even a set of repop factory lowers? I'm open to any suggestions!

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

Those meaty tires look good, hope you like them! I’m at the same crossroads with my factory arms, I really want to run a set of replacements but don’t know if it’s worth the extra cost. I really like the Porterbuilt arms, but the wait time to get them is a bit ridiculous. I might talk to Travis at Pro Performance about a set of the Choppin Block arms as I know they can make a set that are 1” forward too so the wheels are centered.

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

For the price of repops, I’d go tubular. PB is super nice, if you can wait. Get the 1” forward for visual centering and added caster. They also work with coils or bags for options down the road.

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

After much consideration, I ended up going with some CPP repop factory style lowers from Summit. These came powder coated and with new cross shafts installed for the low price of 279. As much as I really wanted to go with tubular PB arms, I just couldn't justify the cost for my family hauler. If this was a frame dragger or a pro touring build, I probably would have forked out the cash. The good news is, the money saved will go towards an LS this summer! I still have the upper arms to paint/rebuild and reassembly will start. I threw a wheel on a block of wood just to see how it looks. I can't wait to get this back on the ground.

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

Looks good! Those visual checks really help with motivation too.

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

Getting closer to being back on the ground!

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

I was really thinking about getting those wheels or the coy c-33 wheels. I didn't see but what size wheels did you get and tire size? I wanted to do 20x8.5 and 20x10 with 275 or 285s on the rear. Burb is looking good!

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

Thanks for checking it out! These wheels are 20x8 and 20x10 with 245/45 and 295/40 tires. Should hopefully have it back on the ground within the next couple weeks.

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

nice, need to see a pic from the rear. BTW I had to take cross shaft bolts off with a torch and big impact gun

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

Wheels look good Jason!

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

Beyond good. That olive/grey mix is perfect

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

New shoes look great!

Subscribing

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

That is going to look awesome! It already does. :lol:

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

Thanks guys! I appreciate the encouragement! I spent a little time in the garage today. I had to get it down on the ground to see how it looks. For the most part, everything is done for the front. When putting the new brake hose on the driver side, the hardline fitting was larger than the 3/8-24 that would fit my new hoses, so I'm kind of at a crossroads now. The passenger side was 3/8-24 and bolted right up. Do I put an adapter on the larger fitting to mate it to my hose?? Do I replace the hard line on the driver side from the T to the wheel? Or do I just go ahead and do a major brake upgrade, and replace the booster, master, and all the lines, as well as convert the rear to disk??? The latter is the long term plan, but I didn't really plan on doing it this early. I'd really like to drive this ol clunker this spring. Thanks for checking it out!

Re: Project: '72 Family Hauler
 

Wheels look great! Front fit is very nice, a little tight out back, though. Guess I’ll plan on adding a 1/4” spacer to my rears.

Edit: Are you running CPP modular spindles?