Looking good plummer. Now that I see your "red" burb it makes me realize mine really is an "orange" color. If I get to working on my panel maybe we could have a photo-op in the spring/summer
Hey all - Hard at it on the suburban again. I'm going through the rear end this weekend. It's currently tore down. I have 2.41 gears in the rear, and I'll leave them there until I get it up and running. Replaced all bearings, seals, brakes. Has anybody tried to use a 70-81 camaro rear and hook up the e-brake to the factory unit? Just curious. I'm wondering should I try the 47-53 cables or the camaro cables? Trial and error I guess. I'd be curious to see what others have done.
Patrick, Thats what I did but used a pull handle from a 66 chev p/u. Doing the foot pedal would work also. Be sure and rob all the cables and brake drum guts. I also used a peice of after market e-brake cable to make up the difference.It's FAB time............
Well Sully et al, I think I got it today. I used the camaro rear brake lines, and the rubber line that goes to the steel line on the frame as camaro parts, moved the bracket that holds the rubber line to the frame to the drivers side and re-attached, and I used Camaro e-brake lines, cut them and attached to the factory clevis pins and brake rod. I drilled out the holes one eighth of an inch on the ebrake line clamps that attach to the frame to accomodate for the camaro ebrake lines and Presto! Works like a champ.
Fired the engine yesterday. Wow, that's a great feeling. Small issue with the Mallory distrubtor fitting. it slid into the block just fine but doesn't go down all the way to the machined flange on the shaft even with the clamp installed. I did get oil pressure, but there's a 1/4 inch gap. Weird. I guess I need to see if a other guys had the same fitment too. I'll end up changing it out later for a different distributor, but it will work for now. The truck is ready for glass and interior. There are still a few nagging things underneath that I need to finish up, but I am so close I can taste it. For whatever reason, firing the engine gave me some motivation again. These small things near the end of this project have been a royal pain in my a$$. I appreciate everybody's help. The last two movies may take a while to load. I should probably pop them up on youtube.
Tim - The templates for the placement of the rear lights worked perfectly. They look really nice.
Also, I had a friend of mine also manage to straighten the rear bumper pan for me. It was beyond my metal skills. He ended up cutting and stitching it back together again. Pretty amazing metalworker. I'm not bad at it, but when you can take a flat piece of steel 5 feet long that's twisted up and make it look new again, that's a metalsmith.
It is so good to see an update from you. Keep on moving ahead. Would love to come down to a cruise in and meet you and see your suburban.
Small gains here for me, cylinder head installed and torqued. Jump seat floor replaced and seat mocked up. I little bit here, and a little bit there.....
~ Phillip 1949 GMC Suburban - 10 year project 1952 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible straight 8 hydramatic 1945 GMC half ton truck - Driver- Sold 9-15-25 1946 Chevy COE - SOLD 1-5-26 BUH BYE CHEVY! 1959 GMC Half ton long bed NAPCO
Phillip, its looking nice. I understand the part about motivation. The closer to the end the more excited! Its still good days and bad days but the good days are more often,right?
It'd be nice if we could get you,woody,Les, and a couple guys from around Greensboro together for a greet/meet gabfest! I'd be willing to drive up your way and maybe Tim could take the weekend off?
Come on down, we can all meet together. Greensboro is fine too. I typically spend my weekends in Fancy Gap, VA and my weekdays in the Raleigh area in the summertime. It's just too dang hot here until September rolls around!
Just ordered my door glass, regulator repair kit, and my counterbalances to finish up the rear doors. Larry, the fellow that wired my truck has a friend that's a glass guy that quoted me a price I couldn't refuse to install the glass, AND he's done a suburban rear set of windows! It's going to be put in late this week or next week. That way, I can bring it home and know the gauges, etc will stay dry in case I get caught in the rain. Then I can finish the rest off here.
More progress this weekend. I got the front end put together and ran the engine up to temp to break in the camshaft. It runs like a dream. Pics are in the bottom link in my sig. The videos will take a while to load.
My upper clamshell door is also mounted, but my upper hinges for it are really worn. Does anybody know where there is a pair, or have rebuilt the originals?
Also, I put some pics up there for the sliding rear window pieces that affix to the glass. I spoke to the glass guy. He said don't bother trying to cut out and bend the original felt out. He said to remove them completely from the channel and he'd glue new ones to them. Not sure if anybody has tried it but I was game for it.
Glass is in! It's now back at the house. I need to start at one end and work my way to the other. I just put the rear bumper, valance, and rubber on tonight. It looks great! I'll bolt the entire truck together and fit everything, then go back over to touch up my boo boo's.
Some advice: The glass kit that classic parts sells is terrible. I watched the glass guy struggle with the window channels on one window for hours. After 3 hours, he gave up and said the material was substandard. He headed to Steele Rubber just down the road (about 45 minutes) and picked up some better material. He knew pretty much what he needed to get.
Anyway, 3 hours later and all 4 windows complete and the channel was much more flexible than the other stuff.
Truck is DONE. I have a few small nagging things, but I'm gonna call it complete at this point. The fit and finish of the interior is better than any car i've ever restored. If you need an interior guy, he's the best I've ever used.
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
Complete date: 12/15/11 *
Originally Posted by pplummer
Truck is DONE. I have a few small nagging things, but I'm gonna call it complete at this point. The fit and finish of the interior is better than any car i've ever restored. If you need an interior guy, he's the best I've ever used.
1951 3100 Chevrolet 1951 Chevrolet Suburban Carryall Image "A house is built with boards and beams. A home is built with love and dreams." "Look deep before you leap !!!" / "Everything is Everything" "If I say a mouse can pull a house, hitch him up"
What a fantastic burb! I have an uncle that lives in north carolina that has a 49' clamshell burb that he has been driving since 1966! your sure brings back some great memories!
Patrick Great job and I like the color. You should be proud of the quality of the work. Now put some miles on the thing with the family!!
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. - Thomas Edison Things may come to those who wait...but only the things left by those who hustle."-Abraham Lincoln
