The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs New here

Just wanted to say Hi. First time on. I have a 56 x-army suburban and a 59 "street" suburban. The 56 is pretty much done but my 59 needs some help and I hope someone on the board can give me some advice. To see my 56 suburban go to:

www.usarmysignalcorps.com

My 59 burb was my daily driver until I was forced off the road and into a guardrail. Thinking about pulling out the stock frame and putting something later under it (70's truck frame). Thats where I will need some advice. Lots of info on putting an S-10 under a pickup but can't find anything on a 55-59 suburban or panel.
Thanks and happy to see more people have the old stuff like me.
RogerWilco

Hi JJG1. Thanks for the welcome. I have been going through the various forums and there is a ton of stuff here and a lot of info to sort through. My 59 Suburban needs some big-time body work after the run-in with a guardrail at 55 MPH. I just found a pass side fender but need the door and the entire qtr panel. I am a terrible body man or would try to fix it myself. I was thinking about putting a modern frame under it so I could get the PS, PB and some newer suspension. Not sure what type of frame would be the easiest. I read somewhere that a 66-72 1/2 ton is almost a bolt in. Wish I knew more..

This one is located in Virginia, probably not worth the drive for what parts are left on it.

58 Suburban

This one is better if you want to start a whole new project and a 55 instead of the 59

55 Suburban


Another 56 Suburban, and it ain't any closer! 56 Suburban

Previous ongoing topic

If your going to do research why not include this New and improved S-10? in your journey? It's newer, it's a little bit wider, longer and comes with a five speed w/overdrive. I am not sure about the 5 cylinder though!
......g

Thanks GMONIZ. I wish I could take on another vehicle but no place to put one. My neighborhood association is a PITA. I have too many cars here now. The one in Virginia looks like it would work for parts though. I found the listing about putting an earlier suburban on an S-10 chassis. Tried to find one on putting a 55-59 suburban or pickup on an S-10 but could not find one. With a pickup, you can compensate for the rear whell riser part of the frame by moving the bed but on a burb, there is nothing to move. It is all one piece. I am so un-educated in this that will not leave anything out of the running. I see a lot of messages on the S-10 so it must be a pretty good conversion. I had read somewhere that a 60-s or 70's 1/2 ton with coil springs on all 4's was an almost drop-in replacement but I can't find anything on it now. thanks for the links. Had no idea there were so many of these around still for sale!

Welcome to Stovebolt.
I too have an Army Burb from Sharpe Army Depot in Ca. However, I made some changes but I need to finish this 5 year project soon .

Here she is.

Here's the stage it\'s in now sitting on a 2000 GMC chassis with the complete Vortec running gear.

Welcome! The back body pieces are very hard to come by. I'm getting ready to replace my front clip with a 74 camaro subframe followed by a 5.3 gen 3 chevy. My 59 suburban is in the gallery.

Rogerwilco, you are fortunate to be getting 20 mpg! Is that at 55?
Great looking truck. You did the right thing. Great pictures too.

Garrerrhes,
Well... here in Florida it is as flat as it gets. Biggest hills are fireant mounds! Its a 56 and as original as I could make it. I'll have a few photos of my 59 suburban (before and after the kiss from the guard rail) up soon. It was a nice truck until that happend. I was looking at clipping it as well. I have not found any really clear articles on doing it though. Making that cut on the original frame just gives me the willys.

Seon. Nice burb. I like the way it sits on the new frame. Talk about your technology upgrade!!! I bet it will ride like a new truck and still keep the original look. Can't ask for anything better than that.

56 Army Burb,
Welcome to the site. Its good to hear from a fellow 55-59 Burb/Panel owner, we are a minority here. My 57 Burb is in the gallery. It's still awaiting the attention it deserves.
Check out TCI's (Total Cost Involved)website they have the front IFS setup you need. This will give you PS, PB and a much improved ride. If you want and depending on how much you want to spend, they even have complete frames available.
Just keep watching this site for a while and most of you questions will get answered one way or another.

Thanks Firedriver! Each issue of Classic Trucks is like a Christmas wish book. I see all the things that would make my burb the way I want it... if I had the money. I think I need an Overhaulin!!! I have a 56 Suburban and a 59. My dauly driver is an 88! Guess I like the Burbs!!

I just uploaded some photos of my boogered-up 59 suburban. You can see why am so heart broken. This was my everyday car for 4 years. It was the only car I owned. Me and my son were driving it from Orlando to Front Royal Virginia to get some car parts for our 56 Nomad and a truck ran us off the road. Bad part... the cop that came gave me a ticket for failure to maintain my lane. Cost me $300 cause he knew I was not going back to Statesville NC to fight it. Here is the imagestation link.

http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=2120074974

Yep... real shame but whatcha gunna doo? It has a late model 12 bolt highway-geared rear end and the original 283 so it got great gas mileage. Really want to get it back on the road. I found a sort-good front fender for it a couple weeks ago. I think I can take my shiny new Harbour Freight stud-welder and pull out the crease in the door. I have a power-pull that I think I can use to pull the qtr panel out with. I have never used either of these things but I am going to give it a try. I have a 454 BBC and a 1-piece tilt-off fiberglas front end for it too. These were going to be my NEW plans but now have decided to put it back the way it was. Anyone need a 454 and a glass tilt front end? It is a 55-56 model.

Sorry to see the damage. Good looking truck.
As far as the clip goes you will get 2 opinions. 1) buy a bolt on --means less time and welding but more $$$
2) weld on a clip-- need experienced welder and precision cutting and measuring.
There is a video sold that details the change over.
There is more info out there than you think. You just have to dig for it.
http://www.nolimit.net/ has the video and lots of other interesting stuff.
I'm getting ready to clip my 59. I don't have the cash for the bolt on so I have no choice. My frame is bent anyway from having the springs bottom out. When I bought it several springs had been removed (all but 3) so the springs where resting on the frame. It was a handfull to drive on bumpy roads.

Garretthes. Thanks for that website. Lots of nice items on there. Do you of anyone who has bought one of the videos? Since I am a novice at this.. I really need a detailed how-to btu I think I can do all but the welding. I have welded before and have a wire-feed and a Lincoln 230-amp stick model. I would still hire a mobile welder to come out and do it right. Hate to have it come apart at 55MPH!!! I may order the clip video.

That welder would do the job with a skilled operator. What amp rating is the wire feed?
I don't know of anyone who has bought the video. I plan on making detailed photos of the process. It might take me several months to get done as work is very busy at present.
There is a good write up on the hotrodders site on a monte carlo clip swap.
http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/jou...9&page=27&perpage=5&reverse=

Thats the first Monte Carlo clip I have seen! Most are camaro or Nova. Pretty detailed though. I'll let you know how the video is. thanks again. Roger