52 GMC Envoy Burb meld/build

[Dan Bowles]

I forgot about that detail. I've got 16"s on mine, my buddy has the EXT with 17"s. Now I know why!! I can at least steal his rims...

[DARKASS04EXT]

Originally Posted by Dan Bowles

I forgot about that detail. I've got 16"s on mine, my buddy has the EXT with 17"s. Now I know why!! I can at least steal his rims...

[BBEEP]

Using the short wheel base, with 17's. I'll have to check, but at first glance it looks like it has the bigger brakes.

[DARKASS04EXT]

Originally Posted by BBEEP

Using the short wheel base, with 17's. I'll have to check, but at first glance it looks like it has the bigger brakes.

It shouldnt have the larger brakes on it. All SWB come with the standard size rotor and calipers. The XL/EXT have larger dia rotors and different calipers. The only SWB that has the larger brakes is the SS. I see you actually have an SS, so match the caliper to the envoy. From what ive been told the EXT and SS run the same brake setup. The EXT/XL use it for the added weight, while the SS uses them for the performance gains. The EXT calipers have "ribs" on top of the caliper unlike the SWB calipers. Hope this helps some.
Also, over @ Trailvoy.com, we have other members that would be able to set you up with the info you may need.

[BBEEP]

Bought fenders and hood from a 49 GMC 2-ton today for $60 total. Looks like if we cut the front 1/3 from the original fenders and graft them to these truck fenders, it will be a winner. They are a little wider, taller, and the flare out some. The hood is actually 'pancaked'. The hood will have to be shortened by about 3 inches. I'll post pics as I can to show what I mean.

[Dan Bowles]

You'll have to post pics because I can't see the 1/3 thing. Nothing lines up, the big fenders fit over top of the small ones!

[BBEEP]

What this did was give me a different shaped opening. The front opening of the 2-ton was too far forward, as well as the fender being 3.5 inches longer. Attaching the front of the Burb fender cured both things. The 2-ton also sits about two inches higher, which gives the hood a pancaked look. Still have to shorten the hood the 3.5 inches.
I will raise the running board to be flush with the body and shorten the rear hang of the front fender and the front hang of the rear fender. (say that 3 times real fast!)

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by BBEEP

What this did was give me a different shaped opening. The front opening of the 2-ton was too far forward, as well as the fender being 3.5 inches longer. Attaching the front of the Burb fender cured both things. The 2-ton also sits about two inches higher, which gives the hood a pancaked look. Still have to shorten the hood the 3.5 inches.
I will raise the running board to be flush with the body and shorten the rear hang of the front fender and the front hang of the rear fender. (say that 3 times real fast!)

So talk to us about the differences a little more, does the fender mount to the cowl the exact same way as the 1/2 ton? Looks like the fender may be taller, and the hood difference is pretty obvious. Did you achieve your clearance goals? Do you have to raise the running boards or are you just trying to avoid being too low?

[BBEEP]

Originally Posted by BlueJeep

So talk to us about the differences a little more, does the fender mount to the cowl the exact same way as the 1/2 ton? Looks like the fender may be taller, and the hood difference is pretty obvious. Did you achieve your clearance goals? Do you have to raise the running boards or are you just trying to avoid being too low?

The front fender mounts the same in the back. Once it comes of above the intersection of the fender and hood, it actually has an extra piece to attach the inside of the fender to the inner fender as the fender does continue about two inches higher. (although the inner fenders will be hand-built) I did achieve my goals for clearance, once I add in a lower profile tire. And no, I don't have to raise the boards, just think it will be cleaner for the front and rear and boards to be flush. I still hope to lay the body on the ground with bags. The added benefit of the higher fenders, because of the Envoy strut clearance, it should allow me to drop it that extra 2 inches.

The pancaked hood is also a bonus because I plan to pancake the top as well.

[OrrieG]

"shorten the hood 3"? Or leave it and go for the over bite look, maybe use a late 30s-40 grille with custom side infill panels between the grille and fender? This thing is outside the box pretty far, why not go custom with the grille and hood? Or ignore me, I'm on some new meds to day that may be affecting my judgement....

[kst8engineer]

BBeep, great job on the build! Can you explain the front fender situation a little more? What was it about the widened 'Burb fenders that made you not want to proceed with that option (as shown in the first photo below)? Also, I don't quite understand what's going on in the bottom photo. The 2-ton fenders are wider, right? In the photo, it looks like the width of the 'Burb fenders and the 2-ton fenders appear to line up with each other, so I'm not understanding what happened to the difference in width.

Originally Posted by BBEEP

What this did was give me a different shaped opening. The front opening of the 2-ton was too far forward, as well as the fender being 3.5 inches longer. Attaching the front of the Burb fender cured both things. The 2-ton also sits about two inches higher, which gives the hood a pancaked look. Still have to shorten the hood the 3.5 inches.
I will raise the running board to be flush with the body and shorten the rear hang of the front fender and the front hang of the rear fender. (say that 3 times real fast!)

[BBEEP]

The bigger fenders are wider, longer, taller. They acually sit higher where they meet the back of the hood. The wheel opening fit the Envoy wheel better. Doing it the way we originally tried, we would have had to change the opening as well--or raise the front of the truck to clear. The 52 Burb built by GM was done that way. When I showed them the pics of how we did it, the said they wished they had thought of that. Their TBSS frame had to be lengthened to fit the Burb. Mine didn't.
If I was to do this again, (and probably will) I would get a 2wd and just put a TCI or some similar complete aftermarket rack & pinion set up in it. It probably would cost about the same.
They are 1 1/2 ton fenders. There was enough of the 1/2 ton fenders to simply 'make' them fit with a little cutting, stretching, etc. The big fenders were 4ish inches longer, in the opening. Wouldn't be close to right . . .

[shifty1125]

Great build! Wish I had that kind of metal skill
im more of a engine and electrical person. Anyway im dealing my 48 3/4 ton truck to either a 87 3/4 ton frame or just the front suspension over to the 48 frame. What do you think would be best and easiest. Also my track width will have the same issue as you did with yours. So I probably need to go find a set of 2 ton fenders and mold the back half of them to the front half of my current fenders? Or could I just do a complete 2 ton front end?

[BBEEP]

The rear is turning out really well. The differences in the floor height we made up with about 3 inch flat stock. The hole to the right is to lower the Envoy spare.

[JimmyFloyd]

Looks great. Loving the build and can't wait to see it done.

[nickp51chevy]

Looking good. I hope that when it's done you'll drive it up this way when you come to visit your family so that I can see it in person. Very cool stuff.

What are you talking about pancakeed hood? I've never heard this term before; or maybe I have but just don't recognize it as to the context in which it is being used.

[BBEEP]

Originally Posted by nickp51chevy

Looking good. I hope that when it's done you'll drive it up this way when you come to visit your family so that I can see it in person. Very cool stuff.

What are you talking about pancakeed hood? I've never heard this term before; or maybe I have but just don't recognize it as to the context in which it is being used.

The 2-ton hood is actually not as deep, because of the raised fenders. I laid the 2-ton on top of the 1/2 ton to show the different shape of the bottom edge and it lay almost flush.
I guess it is an other word for sectioned; To remove a band of metal from around the middle section of a vehicle to reduce its overall height.

[Dan Bowles]

Nice meld of the two fenders. I was wondering how that would work out and it really lined up better than I thought. Can you take some more pictures of it when you get a chance? And that overbite probably looks like something Tow Mater would laugh at!

[VA72C10]

That worked out well....looks good and will keep people wondering what you did at shows

[BBEEP]

Originally Posted by va72c10

that worked out well....looks good and will keep people wondering what you did at shows

exactly!

[Dan Bowles]

Funny about the HHR. I work for a GM supplier and am in the tech center a lot. The guy who designed the PT did the HHR except he didn't know the history! There were concept drawings done starting with the AD panel and morphing into the HHR. The only thing was they ALL had 4 doors shown. I laughed every time I saw them. When I tried to get one of the posters, no one would let me have one. I wonder why...I'd still drive the crap out of an HHR. But I hope BBEEP goes into limited production with his because my Trailblazer has 270k on it and I'm going to get more tires.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Dan Bowles

Funny about the HHR. I work for a GM supplier and am in the tech center a lot. The guy who designed the PT did the HHR except he didn't know the history! There were concept drawings done starting with the AD panel and morphing into the HHR. The only thing was they ALL had 4 doors shown. I laughed every time I saw them. When I tried to get one of the posters, no one would let me have one. I wonder why...I'd still drive the crap out of an HHR. But I hope BBEEP goes into limited production with his because my Trailblazer has 270k on it and I'm going to get more tires.

Yes, I did hear the samething about the designer. I didn't mention that in my previous post because I was not sure if it was accurate. Just what this world needed.............PT cruiser 2.0.....

[Dan Bowles]

GM hired him away from Chrysler!! To do THAT. Actually, it sold really well. Not PT Cruiser well...And it has more personality than a Cobalt (same platform!)

[355bullet]

more pics of the build! cant wait to see more progress

[nickp51chevy]

Cool! Thanks for the breakdown.