The Bufmobl Build

[Gobuffalo]

It took 3 years to get here. There have been a lot of changes to this point. Some for quality sake, others because of money.

Finally got the body mounted to the frame and the doors and front end on. I waxed every painted surface before I assembled, took almost a whole tub of wax. Bought a nice cover, real soft on the inside. As soon as I got it on, the snow started. So now I'm in the garage doing all the little stuff like sand blasting, painting and zink plaiting door guts.

P.S. Do any of you need a custom built Suburban/Panel body cart. I'm done with the one I built for this and it's in the way. Check the for sale ads.

[pwdcougar]

Love the color scheme. That's a great looking truck!

Did you do all the body work on the cart? I'd like to see pictures of it.

Paul

[Gobuffalo]

I did all of the sheet metal work on the rolling chassis. Then I moved to a rotisserie.

[Gobuffalo]

I wasn't sure exactly where to mount the rotisserie on the back. We ended up putting it on the inside and bolting and welding it to the lower part of th door jamb. One reason for the rotisserie was for sandblasting, primer and replacing the rear floor.

[Gobuffalo]

Then I put it on the cart for final fitting, primer, block sanding and paint.
Also, I was worried about getting overspray on the powder coated frame.

[Gobuffalo]

Found a side shot of the cart.
It supports the body at factory mounts 2, 4 and 5 on both sides.
I put a bunch of pictures in the ad.

[pwdcougar]

That cart looks like a great idea. I'm rethinking how to go about body work and paint. I was going to remove the body from my donor truck, put it on the rotisserie for sandblasting and rough body work then onto the frame for final bodywork and paint. That isn't going to work because the engine already on the frame.

Paul

[pwdcougar]

The pic from the rear on the rotisserie, is it bolted to the top side of the plywood floor? I appreciate (and have saved) all the pictures!

Paul

[pwdcougar]

The plywood floor on the donor body is in great shape so I'll probably leave it in place unless there is a reason is should come out.

Paul

[Gobuffalo]

I'm Back!
After being married for 30 years, my wife decided we needed vacation to celebrate. Kauai is assume.
2 days before I left I was running a snow blower. Now I have to get used to shoes again.

But I digress.
While the body was in paint jail, I worked on the frame. Got it powder coated, installed a 6" lift from Off Road Design and put axles on.

[Gobuffalo]

I said it had been thru some changes.

The Dana 60 rear was fine with a small block. I decided I needed MORE POWER. So I built a 496. 550 lb.ft. of torque is awesome! Until you put on some new mudders and step on the right pedal. It will shear the axle flange right off the end of the shaft. When my wife asked "how did you do that" the only reply I could think of was "stepping on the gas".

That required a new axle or 2. Come to find out the 70's and 80's military GMC pickups (M1008 I think) have 14 bolt rears and Dana 60 fronts that bolt in with only changing the rear shock mounts. They come with 4:56 gears with a Detroit Locker in the rear and a posi in the front.

[Gobuffalo]

So now I've got way more engine then I will ever need and extra heavy duty axles so what is gonna go next. That's easy, the TH350. So out with old and in with the new TH400 and NP205. Now you get to move everything around so it will all fit. Now that it fits why not buy new drive lines because they don't fit anymore. Neither does the exhaust.
Now I'm glad I sent the boy to welding school.

[Gobuffalo]

After sitting in paint jail for more than a year, I told the painter I wanted it back ASAP. He told me if I wanted it back I had to come up with $9400.00 for labor and $2500.00 for materials. This was $9400.00 more than I owed him. I offered him $3500.00. He said no. So the Burb came home. Found another painter that quoted $3500.00, so I took it to him. I thought it came out very nice. Only time will tell.

In the mean time, my sister called me to tell me about an LQ4 and a 4L80E in a truck I could buy for $500.00. Needless to say, I bought it and installed it but that's in an LSx swap swap thread.

Here is a picture today with the front end and door handles on. Going to need all new glass as mine is all scratched and pitted. Need to find $1000.00 somewhere. That trip to Hawaii sucked up every penny and then some.

[jmedero]

Wow really nice!!! Looking good.

[green723dr]

I like that color... is it a factory green?

[1956cameo]

Doing a great job on that suburban!

[Gobuffalo]

Yes, that is the factory color. The code is 529 it's called medium blue green poly. The paint store told me poly ment metallic back then. The roof is the basic white Chevy used for years. The paint code in the glove box said 532 special paint. This breaks down to 529 (green) and 521 (white).
I used this color because it's different. It's also a pain. All of the interior pieces are the same color. Nobody reproduces anything in this color. It's all in pretty bad shape so I thought about a dark gray interior. Any opinions?

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Gobuffalo

Yes, that is the factory color. The code is 529 it's called medium blue green poly. The paint store told me poly ment metallic back then. The roof is the basic white Chevy used for years. The paint code in the glove box said 532 special paint. This breaks down to 529 (green) and 521 (white).
I used this color because it's different. It's also a pain. All of the interior pieces are the same color. Nobody reproduces anything in this color. It's all in pretty bad shape so I thought about a dark gray interior. Any opinions?

Dark Grey would work good. I don't know if SEM makes a vinyl dye in the Blue/Green color or not. If they do you could have the seats and door panels done in a matching color and dye the dash pad and visors. I have had good luck with the SEM products.

LockDoc

[Gobuffalo]

Got a couple small projects done.

Because I put headers on I can't use my old dip stick. The installation instructions give you a p/n for a new one.
Got sticker shock when I found out a new flexible dip stick costs $65.00. So I staired at the one that came on the engine. I figured a little time with the bender and I could make it work.

Here's what I came up with.


Pic of the original. Stick way up there. Easy to get to.

[Justin@EntropyRad]

Perfect Color choice.. thumbs up!

[Gobuffalo]

I've doing a lot of work to the Burb lately.
Got the hydro boost in and new cross over steering from ORD.

[Gobuffalo]

Also got the heater in, all of the sensors in for the Dakota Digital dash, new US Radiator and electric fans, inner fenders, battery box, etc.
Had to build an air cleaner system with a cold air box. It gave me a good place to hide the computer and some wiring.

[Gobuffalo]

Sorry about the pictures. Every time I rotate them, the web site rotates them back. Maybe one of you more computer savvy folks can give me some tips on this and how to post multiple pictures.

[Bigdav160]

Sure is purdy!

[rsavage]

Love it and the build.