The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Buying tips

I am looking into buying an advanced design suburban, and need some buying tips, I've noticed in my parts book there are 3 styles of rear doors, barn style, top opening and bottem opening with barn style top, and top opening/bottem opening with big rear window, is any one more desirable than the other? is there anything in particular about suburbans I should watch for when looking, like missing extrememly hard to find suburban only pieces? It would more than likely be a resto vs a modifyed truck.

Clam shells seem to get the big bucks for doors / tail lamp assys. The upper clam door hinges are invariably rusted/fatigued/cracked out and the upper hatch often falls off. Also upper clam window is rare and fetches between $100 - $200 - it is curved and not easily replaced.

Clams also have cable retractors that are spring loaded to help lifting the gate / closing. They are a pain in the butt. Clams are also a major shin killer when you are crawling in/out of them.

Other than that clams are great.

Barn doors are more common, easier to get in and out of the back of the burb - also cheaper. Glass is also expensive, and it is curved as well, but I have seen plexiglass put in that doesn't look too bad. Tail lamp assys are also cheaper for barn doors.

Burb only peices that can be expensive to replace.
inside and outside side window garnishes.
inside headliner bows / trim pieces.
rear splash pan below doors / between rear bumper and body.
Window pulls for inside side windows.
REAR SEATS!!! the middle and especially the rear seat are about worth their weight in gold.
Burbs also typically have an antisway bar that works about as well as farting does to clear your windows on a cold morning.

Also - the clams rear doors are basically lousy, but look good. Did I tell you that your knees and shins take a beating getting in/out of a burb with a clam door setup? :mad:

Other than that - the rest of the rig is same as pickups.

Thanks for the advice Ken, I will keep that in mind while looking for a 'burb, and I'll also remember to take knee and shin pads along while I look. Thanks again!