The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs 55 1st Series GMC Suburban

Just drove to Denver Colorado to get this. Long drive from East Texas, but I think well worth it. Has all the seats. It's my understanding that I'll be the 3rd owner. Runs and drives pretty good. Needs new tires and a tune up.

I'm planning on lowering it and I'm checking the forums for the simplest way without spending 5k.

I'd like to keep original drive line, but have a custom look.

For now, I'm going to leave the original paint alone. Just clean it up a bit.

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WOW !, You hit the Lottery with that one. I Love it. Just my opinion, but I wouldn't touch it outside a brake job, & tune up. Finding a "Rare" truck like this, in this condition is a once in a lifetime event. How did you find it?

I've been searching craigslist and ebay for quite some time now and I ran across this one in an estate sale in Denver Colorado. I made a deal with the owner to hold it for me and I got there just as quick as I could. It was everything he described. It does have some rust in the usual places, but that is to be expected.
It also came with a truckload of parts: very nice replacement hood, windshield wiper motors, new door handles and rubber for vent windows, new defrost hoses, extra set of axles, and the list goes on and on. Even got the original split rim wheels with old tires.

I don't have any intentions on doing anything to the paint right now. I really like the way it looks as well.

Hopefully, I won't get too much flack with wanting to lower it a few inches. I will still keep all original parts with it though, even if I replace a few.

BTW, I didn't steal it. The guy knew what he had, but I still feel that I got a great deal on a great truck!

Great find. And a Hydra-Matic to boot. I looked all over Texas, New Mexico and Colorado before finding mine in Norwood, CO. I didn't steal mine either but he and I both knew how rare it is and I drove it on the trailer so I'm happy with what I paid.

I wouldn't lower it a bit. Put a few thousand miles on it as is and I think you'll agree. Mine is sweet driving at stock height.

Way to go John!! That is a beautiful truck. I agree with Cletis and Spanky. Drive it for a while exactly as it is and you will fall in love with it. I had the exact same thoughts as you when I picked up my 58 Burb. Lowering it just seems like the right thing to do. Once you drive it and get used to it though, thoughts of lowering it just seem to go out the window. Trust me.

If you do decide to lower it save all your original parts. Please don't hack up the frame to put in some IFS. I believe that we have a duty to preserve these complete/original vehicles as much as possible. If you want a lowered rat ride, you can always pick up something cheap that someone else butchered and then lost interest in. There aren't many originals left out there. It would be criminal to cut it up. I guess I'm a bit of an old fashioned purist. :-)

All very good advice Cletis and Larry. I think I will do exactly that. It already runs and drives, but I did order a carb kit, plugs, points and condenser today. I plan to change the oil, top and side cover gaskets and drain the transmission oil; clean the filter and put a new gasket there as well.

I need to check a little closer as I think I might have a rear seal leaking on the motor.

It does need some new tires, so I thought I would go buy a cheaper set until I decide what I'm going to run. The bias ply tires that are on it are hard and they make the truck ride like a tank.

I am researching on how to lower the truck. I don't want to slam it, but a couple inches in the front and back would suit me just fine.

I will most definitely keep all the original parts. I was probably just going to go with mono leaf in front and flip the rear axle. Nothing major or that couldn't be undone very easily.

I'm searching the site and others, to find info on mono leaf suspension.

Thanks for the comments.

Oh yea, and good advice from Spanky as well.

John
drive for awhile and then decide, If you decide to lower it talk w Nostalgia Sid in OK about a dropped axle. In the back a lowering block or flip axle over the springs. That way you can always go back original with very little effort if you prefer.

I would also research on here about steering geometry changes resulting from a dropped axle/mono leaf springs. When I joined up about 3 years ago, there was a very heated debate going on about how changes to the geometry resulting from lowering a front end can create safety/danger issues. It got pretty "exciting" with lots of opinions on both sides of the issue. Just want to make sure you make an informed decision.