68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

UPADTE SOLD


Well I am going to start a build thread for my Suburban now that I seem to have a little free time to get started on it. Help track the progress and all that.

Here is the thread with a back story on the burb

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=300128

First I am updating the suspension I have a diy4x4 4" shackle flip for the back the there B52 front kit to run 52" leaf springs in the front for 4" of lift. I have an 81 or so Jimmy parts truck which will be donated the rear leaf springs for the B52 kit along with the steering box and probably front axle for now.

I am going to check to see if Jimmy has 3:73 gears this week, hopefully it does because that would make my life a lot easier. If not I have a dana 44 14bff combo which will eventually go in to the Suburban but I want to fully rebuild those first and that will take more time.

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

The build might be pretty slow on this as between work,school and training I am pretty busy. Plus the truck is an hour away at my moms ranch. I'll mainly be working on it on the weekends. After I get the suspension done I will take it down to my house and progress will be faster. I started on the rear shackle flip yesterday and got the gas tank out. and started grinding the rivet heads off. Had to cut it short as I got a late start.

I also pulled the carpet out. Found a little rust in the floor and kick panel but nothing major at all. Going to clean up the floor and rust bullet the whole thing for now.

I'll take some pics when the shackle flip is done.

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

Looks like it will be a nice project. I just picked up a 72 chevy suburban myself. Let us know if the quad fits in the back, that will be interesting if it will. I also feel your pain on trying to work on a project that is an hour away. Right now I am working on a 70 swb chevy that is in my dads shop roughly an hour from my house. Keep us posted.

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

Thanks man. It SHOULD fit, I did all the measurements. I have long travel suspension on my quad so its a bit lower than stock which the height would be the real problem most of the time I think. To find that I need to get the quad running to, lol.

Was near the truck during work so figure I'd get some work done on it during lunch but I guess my air chisel broke from sitting around..... I have another one at my house which I'll grab tomorrow.

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

Good luck with the Burb project Kalle. It looks like a great start.

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

Thanks man.

We'll I started getting the rivets out and after quickly removing two with the air chisel my compressor wouldn't turn on...... what a POS craftsmen 6hp..... Ive had it for about 3 years and used it for little more than filling up tires. I guess that was all it was good for..... I'll probably be pretty hung over this weekend but I'll try to get it done this weekend.....

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

haha how is that for time between updates? I took some extended time off to focus on other things but did get the rear shackle flip done, along with some custom rear shackles from diy4x for a 67-68 with the wider rear springs.

before

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._7036605_n.jpg

after

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._1120972_n.jpg

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

here is the shackle flip and the custom cross tied shackle diy4x made up for the wider 68 springs.

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._7583536_n.jpg

Hopefully going to tear into the front this weekend.

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

nice work i went with DIY4x stuff to flip my rear shackel too.

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

at least its not as "extended" as last time... bout time you did something ;)

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

Thanks. Liz, LOL. I was doing stuff while I was gone :)

I have to go to work in a couple hours but hopefully I can at least get the front up on jacks and ready to be torn out today.

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

Good to see you working on it!

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

Thanks Jack I agree!

Got more done today than I thought I would. got the front end up on jacks. and unbolted the leaf springs and everything else needed to pull the front end out with the leaf springs attached. I would have went and pulled it out today but I didn't have a 15/16 wrench/socket here for the tie rod bolt. Not sure if I'll be at my truck tomorrow but I am going to try so I can get the axle out and remove the spring hangers for the B52 kit.

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

Front suspension and POS closed knuckle front end removed. Hell yea

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._3517804_n.jpg

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...1_610938_n.jpg

bye bye pos

Lifted the axle for fun a few times. wasn't heavy just with the pumpkin on the pass side off center made it odd. I'll do some real lifts with the 12 bolt when I pull it.

Painted the parts for my B52 kit from DIY4x semi gloss black to keep it low key and easy to retouch it up. hopefully late this week or weekend I will cut all the rivets out for the stock leaf spring hangers and clean up the front frame rails and spray it with paint. than I got to rebuild my 3/4 dana 44 and pull the rear leaf springs out of my 84 jimmy parts truck

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

axle lift, haha

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

wacked all the rivets off with my air chisel today and wire brushed most of the gunk away from the front frame rails for paint. removed the steering box and ran into a little issue. one of the nuts was stripped real bad so I got my air chisel and was going to just bust through the nut but it ended up cutting a grove in it and backing it loose so I sat there holding a wrench in one hand while hitting the nut with the air chisel in the other slowly but surely until it came off. Holy crap I couldn't close my hand after this. Serious arm pump reminded me of my motocross days!

Also started to put a new HEI, plugs and wires in my 75 jimmy which was going well until I realized I ordered plug wires for a points dizzy nfing clue how I did that..... WHOOPS!

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

got all the stock shackles and frame hangers off FINALLY today. Damn I hate rivets and my **** craftsmen compressor. But its all done so the easy stuff now. Hopefully I'll clean the front frame up paint and put all the diy4x b52 stuff on this weekend. :metal:

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

Picts man, we need picts!! I have loved this burb since you bought it way back when, glad to see you are still workin on it!

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

Thanka man. I've been having a lot of fun working on it lately!

Cleaned up the front frame rails and spray painted them semi gloss black yesterday.

Bolted up the diy4x front shackle hangers today. Drilled out the frame for the bolt holes for the bottom of the frame rail.

Thought I was done with rivets!! I forgot the fb52 kit uses the front body mount holes for the back two bolts on the rear shackle hanger so I chiseled the drivers side out. My plaguing problem of my POS compressor of course stalls the project at every corner as it only likes to cycle on 1-2 times a day! I'll get the pass side out tomorrow than I have to hole saw the frame for the new location. Not looking forward to that. I assume its a bad idea to not weld up the old hole right?

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._2935697_n.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._7586663_n.jpg
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._7546378_n.jpg

do you use every one of these three holes?

Got to pull the rear springs off my parts blazer and start rebuilding the 3/4 dana 44 and get all the parts for crossover steering.....

Is there any reason to run a HI steer crossover steering kit if I'm not going to wheel hard? Instead of a standard crossover steering?

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

Drilled the extra bolt holes for the rear hanger mounts. Damn this kit makes it easy with the included STEEL template. No guess work here! Went to drill the 2" hole for the hanger bushing. Guess a 5 dollar harbor freight hole saw won't work here. LOL pilot bit snapped RIGHT AWAY. Just went and picked up a GOOD hole saw so this should hopefully get done later in the week!

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

Running into problems with my stupid drill....... Drilled the first 2" hole easy no problem. Now the 2nd one is taking forever! the hole saw bit being more worn down is probably some of it. And my batteries for my newish 19.2 volt lithium ion drill are draining out very very fast. DON'T BUY ONE OF THESE! My friend bought one and the motor burnt up on him. lol...

Should be done by now.... Oh well


Also. Noticed the same owner I bought my suburban from for 1500 had a 70 k10 stepside 4x4 with a 4 sale sign in it. I went to check it out and it was in a lot rougher shape than my burb, bare bones with a 292 manual everything and it was listed for 3500?

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

nothing done on the suburban got done this weekend I got a little side tracked and bought this

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._4470574_n.jpg

Well at least it came with an extra msd pro billet, wires, 6al box and edelbrock performer manifold which will find its way onto the burb

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

AHH...First Gen Camaro....NICE!....Without Doubt, My First Love!

So what do you got hiding under the hood of that 68?

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

Thanks man its a blast

ZZ3 383 crate motor and a Richmond 5 speed. i put a thread up in general discussion about it.

Re: 68 GMC 4x4 Suburban build up
 

Got both the 2" holes drilled for the rear shackle hangers finnally!

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._7524859_n.jpg

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._4468980_n.jpg

52" springs from the rear of an 84 K5. Got those removed today. Damn u bolts where hell to remove by hand. Forearms getting huge wrenching on trucks again. haha.

I assume its probably best to take the add a leafs/ overloads out right?