88 silverado suburban

[Zane M]

Coming along great!

[manimal]

I love this thread. All the naysayers need to read and weep! Great job!

[jott_06]

Thanks guys. I've done cab, engine swaps etc... but this is the most i have ever done to a single vehicle. This suburban is nothing what it was when i got it. It was a 2wd, 3/4 ton, fuel injected, automatic. Now its a 4x4, 1/2 ton, carburated, manual. I know alot of people will think i downgraded because of the half ton axles and carbed motor but its what i had. The only extras i have bought for this project so far is a set of motor mounts and about 30 grade 8 bolts and nuts.

[jott_06]

the other video link doesnt seem to work so here it is again

[silverbear]

I can't believe this Suburban is not completely put back together and road worthy! Just kidding. I like what you are doing with the truck. I think 4x4 1/2 ton beats 2wd 3/4 ton any day.

[manimal]

The axles can always be upgraded later. AND EFI can be added later as well. You've done a GREAT job so far...keep it up!

[jott_06]

When my nephew and I dropped the motor and tranny in i quickly found out that the tranny tunnel wasnt high enough to clear the SM465 with the hole i had cut so i just cut hole area out above the transmission. So last night i brought a scrap bedside home with me from work and made a cover for the hole i had made.


I didnt get a picture of it attached but once i got it fitting good i put a bead of silicone around the perimeter and screwed it down with some self tappers.

[jott_06]

Then i pulled the shifters and layed the factory padding and carpet back down and cut the holes. Then I reinstalled the shifters and put the boots on.


To the untrained eye I dont think anyone would ever know this wasnt a factory 4 speed.

[jott_06]

People that have seen my project in person or that I have talked about it to seem to think its really unique that i put a SM465 transmission in the suburban. So that got me wandering. I know they had pre 1973 suburbans with manual transmissions but I have never seen one in my body style. Did they make them? If so does anyone know how common they were?

[MTCK]

Good work. SM465 in suburbans were not common but available up to 1989 or 1990.

[jott_06]

Sold my bed and tailgate off of the short bed truck last night so I got some parts bought today. Got a return style fuel pressure regulator so I can run the in-tank fuel pump, A line bender so i can run hardline to and from the regulator, and a new set of u bolts for the rear axle.

[jott_06]

bought a return style regulator, some line, fittings, and a bender so I could get my fuel system buttoned up.

I quickly found that my cheap bender was junk so i only got the return line bent. Going to borrow the snap-on bender from a guy at work to do my main line. It needs a couple 90* bends in it. But i did get some work done.

[jott_06]

Borrowed a line bender yesterday and got the rest of the fuel line made. Now to get it hooked up underneath and put a gauge on it so i can set the pressure.

[jott_06]

This bender worked awesome but my lack of experience with it caused me to have some extra bends to get the fuel line going in the right direction.

[jott_06]

Added a fuel pressure gauge to the fuel system so i can set the fuel pressure.

[jott_06]

Made a little progress this morning before the family woke up. Finished a few connections with the fuel system, set the fuel pressure, and started it up. Holds a nice steady 7lbs. Then i decided to sort out the vacuum lines for the hvac. My old truck only had 2 vacuum lines so this was sort of foreign to me. I studied the rats nest of vacuum lines on the old 454 and decided all i needed from that was the T that had the built in check valve. So i put a fitting in the back of my intake and ran a peice of hose to the check valve. On the other end of the valve i ran one line to the hvac system and the other to the vacuum ball on the firewall. Then i started the burb for a minute to build vaccum and shut it off. The system held vacuum and the blend door worked perfect. Somewhere during my swap i seem to have lost power to my blower motor though.

Anyway here is a pic of the burb outside

[MTCK]

This is coming right along! What are you up to on hours so far? I'm glad you kept the in tank pump. That will make it easier to go back to a fuel injected big block when the time comes! Keep up the good work.

[jott_06]

Managed to get the front sheet metal back on this afternoon. As for my hours, I lost track but I would say 60 or less.

I think it looks Awesome. I love factory paint with a lift and big tires.
(I will have to post the pic later. Photobucket is acting up)

[jott_06]

The front is about done. I'm going to finish up the front this week and try to get the rear axle in next weekend.

Can anyone confirm if a driveshaft from a longbed pickup will work for my suburban? Assuming I can find a longbed truck with a 4speed and 205 at the junkyard.

[straps57]

Looking good.

[MTCK]

IIRC the long beds have a 2" longer wheelbase than the suburbans. Might work with the lift. I'd measure before plunking down any $$$.

[jott_06]

I plan on measuring. Need to get the other rear and lift blocks in it first though.

[jott_06]

Pulled the last needed part off of the donor truck tonight. Not much left of it now.


Unfortunately this project had to move outside. The next step wouldnt allow it to fit in the garage anymore.

Parked it in front of the garage to get ready to swap rear ends and put the rear lift blocks in.

[jott_06]

Rear end is in.

Tried to bleed the brakes but i broke a bleeder off up front and i cant get and fluid to the rear, so I gave up for the day. Also got a price on re-tubing my driveshaft from the truck for the suburban. Needs to be 9" longer.

[jott_06]

What are people doing with the carrier bearing cross member when going with a one piece drive shaft?