The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs I must be Crazy to Restore a 47-53 Suburban

I am literally days away from sealing the deal on a clean 49 that needs restoring. To make a long story short, I've restored 2 AD pickups, and have a 47 in the garage now. My wife tells me she's pregnant, and I decide a Suburban would be more fun to enjoy knowing I have a family on the way. I start doing research and get slapped with all of the typical things. No aftermarket parts, no parts, no Trucks! Dang! A little different than restoring the pickup! I even thought, maybe I should buy a complete 95% or better original restored truck... I keep coming across the same 4 on the internet! Holy Cow. Should I really do this? Knowing what I know, the truck I stumbled across was one that I knew that a friend had in CA and he's willing to sell it to me. (not cheap) but it's complete and no rust. It doesn't even need floors. I'm not afraid of a challenging resto, but I am not sure about this.

I know they're worth some money complete. I'm looking to do near 100% original except for maybe some small things such as a 235 full pressure motor and an open driveline. That's about all. Also, it doesn't have the 2nd or third row seat, and I've read almost all the posts in this forum. Let me know if anybody has either one kicking around that they want to sell.

I've already reached out and spoke with Sully, a fellow member and have been speaking to him about my up and coming challenges. We'll see how this all goes. I'll definitely be reaching out on this build asking for some help if I decide to take the plunge versus previous resto's.

Thanks
Patrick

pplummer, join the rest of us crazies in the asylum of burbs and panels. I have been working 6 years on mine and I think it will be driveable this summer. AD pickups are very, very cool but AD subs are the coolest. Just the ticket for a young family. I have an extra 2nd seat frame. No advertising in here. PM me if you end up needing it. You will find a lot of guys in the Burbs and Panels that know their stuff. Take the plunge. You won't regret it. Good Luck.

Weeds

Hey Patrick, I say go for the sub. You don't need the third seat anytime soon, there's lots of time for that. Most of us aren't restoring for the money, it's a passion for these trucks. It's likely cheaper to spend a bit more for a complete finished truck than to restore one yourself. The journey is the challenge. If you need help, you know where to go now, we even provide moral support. And best wishes on the new arrival!

Patrick,
Great find,a futile endeavor of the everlasting smell of bondo and paint. The thumbs up hair blowing trip to the Drive In and then the pat yourself on the back notion that no one else will be there with one like mine feeling.
That is US.
Drive Um. Trailers are for boats and furniture.
Sully

yes yes yes, go for it. Get it while you can. They are challenging but equally rewarding. You also have a nice bolter in Raleigh. Its Roadmarks. He's hanging round here somehere. He is working on a 55 Panel. Several others around close. Shoot, I'm not that far away and a new bolter in my home town just drug a good 53Panel home with him.
See, your in good company. Keep us posted....and don't forget some pictures when you can.

And..........from a panel/suburban nut in Calif,,,,I also say
Go For It!!!!
In the long run, you wont regret it.
Marty

I too got the Suburban bug, and could not shake it last year, and bought a rough and rusty 'Burb. Check my webshots page for photos. Looking forward to seeing your new purchase. The more photos the better. I'm not too far away either. I say go for it!

I agree with them all (I have three and three canopy expresses) I am working on the long middle on my 1948 GMC Suburban and stay active by following the guys who are working on theirs. If you are serious about finding a good one, be patient, they are around. PM me, I can help find you one.

I would jump on it like a "Duck on a June Bug" I am restoring a 1946 Suburban.

It was complete but the interior wood that supports the window tracks was shot but a local cabinet guy fixed me right up.

I bought mine for all the reasons you are.

There are plenty of panels out there but very few Suburbans.

I am using a VW center seat for the time being, in the long run I will have a metal tubing bender duplicate the rear two seats.

Keep us posted with pictures you have a big support group out here.

You guys are awesome. I'll post up some pictures and send you the link in a couple days. I guess I should also complete my profile also on here as well. If I do the deal, (which most of you guys are convincing me now) I'll let you know.

Thanks again all. I am certain I will be talking to you again soon.

Put me on the list of Crazies too. I just acquired a 49 Chevy burb project, and found a 50 GMC burb body and frame only. Now I have both and the wife isn't talking to me. I bought her a cream puff this morning at the diner, and had my 12 year old son put it in his school backpack. She is a teacher and is on a field trip with him and other teachers today. I told him to give it to her first thing when he sees her. On the cover f the styrofoam box I wrote: "Last night was AWESOME. L, -tom" Either she will refuse to talk to me some more or, she will chuckle. Sometimes in life a guy and a gal just need to ask for forgiveness first rather than permsission. Don't follow my lead...follow your heart. tom

,,,,, I can see it now...folks making the cream puffs are going to have to put their help on Overtime to keep up with the demand.

Hi all. Well, it's here in my driveway.

49 Burb Pics

Here's what I've decided to do so far. I probably won't start the project in a month or so. I broke my fifth metacarpel bone in my right hand a couple weeks ago and now I'm the proud owner of three stainless screws. (This was quite a painful experience)

Anyway, here is the rundown for what I'm thinking:

Chasis:

4 inch dropped front axle over stock springs from Eaton
Rear springs from Eaton with 4 inch drop
261 engine that I just finished building for the 47 with
Howard M4F cam
.40 over with sealed power pistons
Stock head with 848 head decked .30 with new valves and seats
Unsure on carburation yet, but leaning towards clifford for a bit more power, but still love the look of 2 rochester B's.
Saginaw 4-speed that I just finished rebuilding for the truck with a Patrick's shifter
Camaro Open rear end
Wide whites and painted smoothies or artilleries
Original steering box but convert the linkage to 37-53 ford tie rods instead of originals
front discs, rear drums

Body:
Either is vista green two tone color combination that they used to put on the cars, or the two tone grey combination
All other pieces original, maybe a visor. I think these trucks look great with a visor

Interior:
All original, but may possibly add carpet throughout

That's about as far as I can think forward right now! I'll send you some pics as I move along on the project. I am going to take the truck over to my friends shop who has a booth and am going to tear down and start body work in the month of June after this hand heals. Hope you're all doing well. Talk at you later!

Patrick

Good plan to stick with a stovebolt engine. Visors are cool too, your plan sounds pretty good.

Lookin' good! Are you gonna to keep that cool lookin' third light? Make sure you don't throw anything away until you have completed the job, some of those parts are hard to find.

You like the light huh? Well guess what, I'll sell it to ya for a steal! I'm happy I am keeping a stovebolt in it too. I've always wanted to hop up a stovebolt.

Looks like some good stuff to work with, certainly better'n most from the pics. The real test will be when you start pulling off the metal.

I agree.. keep every little piece, no matter how bad it may seem, especially any thing from behind the front doors. Pickin's are slim to none in some cases.

Looking forward to seeing your progress.

Hi All,

Did a bit more work on the burb last night. Pics are posted under the same link. Took off the fenders and worked out that one bad rear passengers fender and welded up the cracks. I guess as I make progress I'll just post updates here, or should I start a clean thread?

You fenders look way better'n than mine. I'm relieved for you on that count.

I think continuing to post your progress here is fine.

Hi all. I spent the weekend working on the truck. I got the body broken loose from the frame. I am hoping to roll it out and build a jig this week and start working on the frame. Body bolts came out real easy. I have been spraying them while I have been tearing everything else down. Now I need to figure out how to get this beast of a body off the frame and then figure out what to do with the floor, whether I just refinish the back wood in place or remove it. It's not in that bad of shape, and after reading posts on how to get it out, I am thinking twice about removing it. I should have some pictures loaded up this week sometime.

Also, trying to figure out a simple jig to move the body over to get it sandblasted, and when I start doing the bodywork on it. This could get interesting.

Hey Sully, I'll be working in little rock this week for a day or two!

pplummer: I am not sure exactly what you got in mind but I made me two stands to sit my body on. Lowes cut the pipe to length for free and I just screwed them together and welded on the wheels. You can see them in a couple pics of my photobucket. I think Weeds did some ingenuity also. Good luck and keep us posted.

that's a great project. the dogs made me laugh, they look scared of it.

pplumber...I've restored 2 Burbs a 49 & 52. They've both turned out great. But I've learned quite a bit about the pros and cons of Suburban restos.
1) What ever you project as to time and $$ to completion triple it.
2) Buy a complete or as near complete truck as possible (shop around,don't grap the 1st thing you see)...the cost will be a lot less in the long term. No or little rust... important!
3) Basic Parts are not a problem, the are readily available if you search.
4) If you're serious about using it for transportation put a modern drivetrain in your Burb...
5) Finding original 2nd & 3rd seats is near impossible and if you find them be prepared to spend a lot of $$.
6) Get professional help for body assembly..fit and finish on an AD front end is not a project for an amateur.
7) Consider and calculate seriously "make or buy" decisions on bodywork and drivetrain aspects of your resto.
8) Your doing this resto for your enjoyment...you're unlikely to recoup your effort and expense from this project if you decide to sell.(I've sold both of mine at a considerable loss...but that's the nature of our hobby).
Good luck.

Hey Guys. Got the body off tonight. Made a cheap jig out of wood, and knocked it out. I had an epiphany laying in bed how to take it off the frame, and it worked like a charm. (Pics will tell you how) I've uploaded more pics in the gallery. My wife of 9 mos pregnant was a trooper and took some pics while I got it out. 1 hour later, presto. Very happy. Here's the link again.

http://gallery.mac.com/patrick.plummer#100287&bgcolor=black&view=mosaic&sel=0

53monster: Thanks for the comment on the dogs. We love them and they go everywhere with them, they're out extended family.

Patrick, I'm about 3.5 hrs north would love to swap stories. My Burb is currently setting on a 9ft pallett I made and put casters on it. Works great.

email/text @ 479-387-8208

http://s635.photobucket.com/albums/uu77/sullysgarage/GMC%20BURB/

I posted more pics of the frame up tonight. Spent most of the day working on the frame. Believe it or not, it won't need sandblasting. There's still black paint on the frame. Like my 51 pickup, I ended up spending more time heating up and scraping off the old undercoating and that took more time than doing anything else. I'm just wire wheeling the surface rust off the frame, and underneath is the original black paint. There isn't a pit in it anywhere. It's in great condition. Hopefully, I'll have it up in paint next week. Hopefully posting these updates isn't boring anybody.

pplummer, updates are never boring!

I couldn't see your pics,but I was lucky with my chassis too.
You hear of guys having to blast their chassis,then do rust repairs.
I guess we're just a couple of the fortunate ones!
The So-Cal climate is really kind to old iron!(where mine came from)

Keep up the good work,and don't forget the 'updates'!

P.S. Good luck when 'junior' arrives!

Boy is that one nice solid looking old 'burb!!!! Is that what they all look like down there????? Ahhhhhhh, to be in a rust free state......looks good!!

Hi All, Sorry I dropped offline, but my wife and I just had our new baby son Braydon Thomas Plummer! (9lbs, 6oz cesarian) We are so excited. He's been a blast so far since his two first weeks of life. I hope it doesn't impair me too much from finishing this suburban, but the neat thing will be, he will definitely be a fun addition to helping me in new projects!

Just before my wife went into Labor, I sent out the gas tank to get redone. It had a few leak he soldered up but didn't need to line it, just clean and boil it. The rad was hosed. I think I'll just buy a 4 core from US rad instead of trying to find a clean old one.

CONGRATULATIONS.... and another stovebolter is born Hope mom and baby continue to do well. I can see your proud smile from Spartanburg.

Congratulations pplumber! I hope mom and BB (babybolter) are doing well.
Just as well you got a 'burb....

Just the thing for haulin' all the baby stuff.
Y'know pushchair,babychanging gear, and all the other accoutriments that you'll need!

Well done!

No kidding, that's why I started this project and ditched the pickup. I knew that I wouldn't have near enough room with all the baby stuff! Babybolter...I love it.

jockbolter - I have family north of you in Glasgow :-) Most of my family lives in around London, I usually get back there every other year or so.

9lb 6oz! Braydon's a big lad! Give him a couple of years,stick a kilt on him and enter him for tossing the caber at the Highland games!

Hi all! Hope all my fellow bolters are doing well. I thought I would get back online since it's been a while and give you all an update. I had scheduled the truck to be blasted and it happened yesterday. I was quite happy with the results, and now I have to get over to the shop tonight and put it in DP before the air gets to it. The metal is absolutely gourgeous. There are a few dozen low spots which is to be expected, and the floor pans ended up being shot, so i'll weld in some new ones. If I can get to it, I may try and do that this weekend. The rear rockers are kinda punky as well, but I haven't decided if they are bad enough to cut out or just repair and cut a few holes in them and weld in new metal just yet. I took my fresh rebuilt engine I had built up about a year ago for another project and am putting it into this truck. I got the long block assembled and most of the valve train back in last Friday. I still have to swap suspensions / axles from my 47 project to this truck. I am hoping to get this done over labor day, but the baby pretty much controls my schedule (happily)these days. I wish Braydon was a bit older to help me!

Gmoniz managed to find me a set of front and another middle seat from a guy in Kentucky last week. I have a friend there who is picking them up for me this weekend. I still have no rear seat, but am still a couple months away from needed it.

The floor is in such great shape for original, I am going to sand and marine varnish the original floor just for grins. I think it's way cool I can say my truck has the original wooden floor and it's in great shape.

After blasting nearly a half dozen car resto projects, and paying this guy 600 bucks to do my suburban, I can say I will never do it again. If you are going to have to choose where to spend money on a project, this is where to do it. He did a phenomenal job and was out of there in 4 hours. I sanded it with 180 grit and my D/A last night and it's perfect.

New Pics and movies near the bottom from this week.

http://gallery.mac.com/patrick.plummer#100287&bgcolor=black&view=grid

#525541 - 04-06-2009 11:21 PM I must be Crazy to Restore a 47-53 Suburban "I am literally days away from sealing the deal on a clean 49 that needs restoring."

And today you send us an update showing that you are at least at the halfway point of a complete restoration. That's awesome And you did this with a broken hand and a new baby, I guess excuses don't apply here. Good job!

Now that is what you call "gitting r done". You also are an inspiration to me..... I got to get back on the panel.
That is going to be one sweet "baby carriage"

If I get up your way I would like to come by and see it.

Unbelievable! Patrick.... You're putting us all to shame!

Keep up the excellent work.

Thanks guys, you're making me blush! I decided on my weekend plan. I will spray up the cab in DP90, then finish up the valve train, and external plumbing lines in the motor, and then swap suspension from my 47 to the burb. Let's see how far I really get! One of the reason's why I am going so fast is because I know that if I walk away from the project for a while, it's really hard getting back into it again. Also, having done a few of these trucks makes disassembly a breeze :-) My 51 pickup took 4 years!

Looking great. I need to get back on my 'burb project. Thanks for the photo album, it is a nice resource.

Phil, I am glad you think they are a good reference. I thought so too. My truck was in such good shape and unmolested, I am taking a lot of photos. (and have more than what's uploaded too) I thought by documenting this resto, it would help other bolters. (It was time for me to give back what i've learned from this forum about AD trucks)