Intro

[GU3]

Hello. I've been on this site for a while but don't really post. Just read a lot. I figure I could tell a bit of my history with these suburbans.

My first vehicle when I was 16 was a 71' suburban that my stepdad got for me. I was young and didn't know much about trucks but that's when I started learning. It was a 3/4 ton 4x4 when I got it but I'm pretty sure it was a C10 from the factory. Somebody put 3/4 ton axles on it and converted it to 4x4. It wasn't complete though from what I remember. There wasn't a shifter on the floor so no transfer case. Memory is a bit hazy.

I got it right when I turned 16. Drove it for 2 months and lost control on a slippery road and hit a telephone pole. It was totaled. Looking back I now realize what a tragedy it was to total such a piece of history.

Here's a pic of it.



That was 20 years ago. Ever since then I have been infatuated with these trucks. Just out of high school I found this on the side of the road literally 1/4 mile from my house.



It was a 72' factory K20 automatic, front and rear A/C, power steering and brakes originally purchased in Phoenix. It had almost no rust. Original paint as far as I could tell. It shined up pretty good. It was all original except of course for the lift kit and the 350 had been swapped out with a 454 by the previous owner.

I loved that truck but I got married a few years later and priorities changed so I had to sell it.

Fast forward 6 years and I started looking for another one. I saw quite a few for sale here in the Phoenix area but never found a 4x4 that was in good enough shape or that wasn't way more than I wanted to spend. I wanted a 4x4 with tailgate in the back instead of the barn doors.

4 years later I finally found one that was close enough. It was a 70' K10 with a 350 np205 and sm465 4 speed. The motor was half torn apart by the previous owner as if he was going to pull it. Since it wasn't running I got it pretty cheap.

This is how it was when I found it.



When I brought it home.



My main purpose was to use it for camping, trails, grocery getter and just cruisin around town. I thought about leaving it pretty stock but then decided I wanted to make it more like my old 72' with the lift.

So this is what it looks like now.



I probably won't paint this thing for a long time. I just want to leave the body the way it is and make everything else nice and functional. The paint seems to be a repaint of a similar color but they did a poor job and the clear coat is failing. The interior paint is still original.

I did a 6" Tuff Country lift spring in the front and did some 3/4 ton springs with add-a-leaf in the back to raise it up. I had the 350 pulled and put back together just to get it running and driveable. I ended up swapping out the axles with a 14 bolt full float rear and dana 44 with the external larger hubs and flat top knuckles. I put a Detroit locker in the front while we had it apart. I had new dual 2.5" exhaust put in. I put seats out of an 06' so it has full seat belts in the front and middle seats. The middle seat will be able to fold down to allow for sleeping, etc while camping.

The wheels are factory 16.5's that I had powder coated black. The tires are 37x12.50 Goodyear MT military tires.

I have an NV4500 out of a 2000 chevy 2500 work truck. I also bought a newer np205 with the round bolt pattern and a TH400 that bolts to it.

I can't really decide exactly which direction I will go but I would like to keep the manual transmission and have overdrive so I may have to go with the NV4500. I don't know if I'm mechanical enough to handle that swap but I might give it a shop.

I figured I would start with this intro and come back to this thread as I make progress. It's a slow process since I enjoy driving it as is and don't really want to put it through any major surgery just yet. Maybe next summer when it's too hot to camp or anything else for that matter.

Let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions as far as which direction I should go. Thanks.

[Huggerorangeblood]

How about not selling it. That's my advise.

[vectorit]

Welcome to the forum! You've got my attention, since you are a 4x4 Suburban fan...

Your current burb looks great.. So if I was to do any upgrades, a trans swap would be an excellent one to choose from.

Me, I am all about starting out stock. Making sure everything is there and working as it was from the factory, then upgrading things over time as I see fit to my driving style.

Keep us all updated here, we all love Suburban questions!

[04sshd]

Nice rigs, past and present. Keep up informed on the updates!

[LockDoc]

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Welcome to the board! I just sold mine but it wasn't a 4 wheel drive. Good luck with the project.

LockDoc

[70cst]

Hey GU3

to the forums and from Ohio.

Nice ride you have

[Average Joe]

Beautiful Burb!! I like the mods youve done.

[Manatee Poacher]

Good lookin' rigs! Welcome

[pwdcougar]

Looks great!

Paul

[Tinkermc]

Welcome tothe Forum and ThankZ 4 the pic's

[DBear]

awesome rig.........great write up too

[Alex V.]

Cool post, cool looking 'Burb! Welcome.