Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

Well, we weren't actively looking for a burb, but then this really clean "survivor" popped up on CL just a few hours away.

Some of yall' may have seen this thread, http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=506592 pop up a few nights ago...Thanks perro13:metal:

I called my boy immediately and the gears started spinning. We both recognized that this was a unique opportunity that shouldn't get away (I imagine a few of you were thinking the same).

We started chasing the owner that night but couldn't make contact until the next morning. After a couple calls back and forth, a plan was hatched to try and get it that night...we were anxious to move fast and lock it down if it was as clean as it looked in the ads.

It was a solid 4 hour drive from OKC to Quinlan, TX were the Burb was patiently waiting for us.;)

We arrived at the owner's place a bit past 9 p.m. and began crawling all over and under the burb with flashlights to see if there were any major issues that would prevent us from bringing it home. It really was cleaner than we had hoped for!!

What we got is a one owner, 66 Custom Cab Suburban with 67K miles. It was bought new by the current owners FIL who lightly used the burb in his carpentry business before parking it in the 90's due to health issues. He gave it to his SIL (current registered owner) last Oct. where it sat until now...hence my interpretation of being a practically one owner ride.

It has all three rows of seats, the third seat is in near pristine condition due to being pulled out and stored to create extra space. Basics are 283 w/ power glide, power brakes, all sliding windows (unbroken), clam shell rear doors, original wheels/hubcaps, custom cab trim, chrome front/rear bumpers, Al. grill...and so on. Everything is in exceptionally nice condition.

Beyond getting it running again, we don't really know what we're going to do with it...just knew we had to have it.

Anyway, enough rambling...how about some pics!

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

Ran it by the carwash for a quick rinse before pushing it into the garage...trying to keep it out of the elements until we can address a few issues.

So more pics, less talk...

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

More pics...

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

Sweet! Now drop it 11" and touch anything else....
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Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

That is one incredible find!!!what are your plans for it and thanks for all the pics!!

customfeatures are all there!!!unbelievable find!!!!
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Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

Super Kool!!! Cant wait to see more.

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

The immediate plans are just to see if we can get it running safely and address some of the rust issues.

The gas tank had been hit slightly on the passenger side, denting it and causing a crease that split a bit and is leaking. So pulled the tank for repair...needs cleaning anyhow.

The floor looks pretty good from the bottom side though, at least to my untrained eye. :lol: Been spending hours looking at all the burbs on here, trying to figure out how they're supposed to look.

Few more pics...

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

Yall' can see that I like lots of pics, so how about some more...

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

great find!! nice burb!! you can send those hubcaps my way when you buy new wheels!
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Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

Ha, I think I might be a bit partial to them. They're kinda growing on me, my son threw a bit of polish on one of them before heading back to school and it looks like they will clean up well.

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

If you have any fuel delivery issues when you start it up, there is a small rubber hose about 1/2 way up the frame rail connecting the two hardlines FYI. I replaced all my hose and found it later.......:smoke:

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

I've just noticed something in your pictures:

Do the Suburbans use the same bumper on the front and the rear? It sure looks like they're the same. If it is, I never knew that. But then again, I've never owned a Sub, although it's on my Wish List.

That Suburban is one cool truck. It looks like it's never been abused, which is amazing. I am always amazed at what you guys find out there! Can't wait to see more pictures when you get it running and all shined up!

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

it looks to be all stock and unmolested. real nice find.

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

Nice find!!

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

Awesome score :thumbs:

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

That's where we're going next, thanks for the heads up!

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

You were smart to act fast on that one, as I'm sure it was on the radar for a few others. If it were closer to me, I'd have raced you to it.
I looked for the rust you mentioned but can't see it in the pics ...must be minor? Is the original color dark blue? It all looks very worthwhile, congrats!

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

chevyrestoguy,
The bumpers are very similar but not exactly the same...the rear has some indentations inboard of the frame mounts that aren't on the front, but nothing else jumped out at me??

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

oem,
The pass side lower door jamb is the worst with all the lower window channels a close second...one even growing moss :lol: A bit of mild surface rust across the top but no other issues so far.
I believe the darker blue is original...you can see an area that was cleaned on the firewall with what I think is the original hue. The burb has been repainted a time or two, by the owner from what we understand, and has a bit of bondo across the top of the driver side front wheel opening. Nothing major, but you can feel the hammer work on the inside.

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

Actually, the bumpers are the same except for hole locations. Those useless indents on the burb rear bumper are where front bumper bolts would go. Hard to find Suburban rear bumpers can be made from easy to find front bumpers. But sshhhh, don't tell anyone ... (I have one for sale). lol

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

Gotcha, it's just between you and I ;) Not that I doubted you, but I did go and throw a tape measure and an eye on it...when you're right, you're right!!

On a side note, also got some extras with the burb. Buried in the repair manual were some polaroids/invoice of some tranny work in 76. Kinda cool.

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

OMG !! congrats that is as awsum find!!!

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

Nice! Subscribed.

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

We sure hope we can do this burb justice. It's been difficult finding time for the projects we have going already, let alone throwing another in the mix.

We would really like to get it cleaned up, running, and just enjoy cruising it around as is for a bit.

On that note, I pulled the rear diff cover to check the R&P (good 3.73s:metal:) and clean, paint, and reseal the cover.

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

A couple minutes with some polish went a long ways...

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

You would copy my diff cover.. :lol:
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Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

Standing by waiting to see the progress. Nice burb

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

Shouldn't you be studying bout now...:devil:

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

Holy crap!! Those hubcaps look great!:mm:

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

They've got some dents, dings, and rash but are going to clean up alright!

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

Sweet find.

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

Nice score!
Hope you keep us posted on your project.

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

Wow, that is an awesome looking suburban... I can see why you couldn't turn it down. Yep, I would get it running well and stop the rust and then just drive it. Great find and great that you guys are bringing it back to the streets.

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

Thanks yall', we're enjoying the feedback! We're pretty psyched about the burb :metal:
We've got a good used tank coming our way from gostranger here on the board...thanks Steve!!
My son came in for the weekend from school and started fixing the wiring mess left from the original owner, i.e. pulling out an old CB/antenna, an ancient inverter, multiple switches/relays, air horns, a siren (that still works) and some crap we may never fiqure out. :uhmk: He also got the old, but not original, AM radio working.
While he got that done I managed to clean up the other hub cap. :lol:

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

Looking good!!!

"Dave"
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Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

Wow luv the burb! Great find and you guys are doing it right:metal:

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

:hot::hot::hot:

It runs!!

My son and I spent most of this weekend chasing our tails trying to get this burb to fire and just, finally, got it purring like a fat and happy cat about an hour ago :metal:

We started sat. morning by draining/refilling old fluids, replacing filters, plugs, wires and cleaning up the obvious loose ends. Everything looked like it was supposed to and we thought we were ready to try to fire it off...wasn't happening.

No fuel tank so we were squirting fuel down the carb, backing off, and cranking away...nothing. Not a burp, fart, hiccup, cough...nothing. WTH.

Power to the coil but nothing out. No spark, alright then...new coil it is.

Drop a new coil on and try again...nothing. WTFH.

New points, condenser, cap, rotor, and new coil...everything seems right but no fire. We feed the coil directly from the battery, crank away and...backfires out the carb!! Well, good we guess...getting fuel and spark...kinda. Thinking maybe bad resistor wire or starter solenoid feeding the coil. Fool around with that for a while but can't pinpoint anything. We go back to feeding the coil from the resistor wire/starter and now have semi-consistent backfires out of the carb and nothing else. (gotta imagine me jumping back and forth with my squirter bottle of gas feeding the fire) WTMFH. Got to be timing...but now its 3 a.m. and we're beat.

Jumped back into this afternoon thinking we're missing the obvious. We knew the short term SIL owner had mentioned fooling with the timing and we ASSumed that he had it somewhat right, but...maybe not...so back to the basics.

We brought #1 up to TDC and low and behold...the dizzy was 180 out.:uhmk:

It's always good to find a problem though, now we had a direction.

Pull all the wires, roll about 10 degrees of advance into it, hook everything up correctly, and...woo hoo...smoke out the exhaust. Getting closer.

I was getting pretty leary of squirting gas at the carb by then and we knew it needed more fuel so we fiqured that it was time for a fenderwell tank. Drop a line to the fuel pump and...crank, crank, crank, crank, crank, crank. Sigh.

Pump was sucking it from the fenderwell but wasn't pushing any fuel to the carb...back to AutoZone...again.

New pump, check. Timing set, check. Fire to the plugs, check. Dash of gas down the carb, check. Fire extinguisher, check.:lol:

Crank, crank, crank, Vroooom!! And it RUNS!!! and stays RUNNING!!:ennyd:

Roll the dist. back and forth a bit and get it close by ear...smoooootth!

Kill it and start it a few times (just because we can). Smoke out the neighborhood for a few minutes. :ito::ito::ito:

Can't do much else right now but we do drop it into drive...creeps forward. Drop it into reverse, eases on back...cool.

It's starting to snow now and the kids have an hour drive back to school so time to shut it down.

The master is leaking a bit at the booster...will probably pick up a new master/booster combo tomorrow. Tank should be here soon...can't wait now.

Got it titled, tagged, and insured Fri but the boy made me promise not to test drive it until he gets back next weekend...gonna be a long week.

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

Only pic I got from this weekend, wish I had one of all the smoke when we got it running :lol:

Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

Awesome great times!
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Re: Our "What are we going to do?" 66 Suburban Build
 

thats a nice one congrats on the fire up