1972 GMC Suburban 4x4 3/4 ton basket case build

[Travis1974]

I restored a 1972 longbed a couple years ago
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...5&goto=newpost
I love the truck but with a family of 5, I have been looking for a suburban for about a year so that we can all enjoy it. Specifically I have been looking for a 4x4. I am driving a 90' suburban 4x4 until I restore something older. Living on 8 acres I just can't live without a 4x4!
I had my eyes on craigslist all over Texas for a long time and finally posted up some "looking for" ads. That worked.
I just brought her home and here she is. It was a forestry truck in it's early life. Was purchased by a guy that drove it all over the country and ended up abandoning it because he went to jail. The guy I bought it from purchased it to restore. He took it apart, painted the frame, had the body sandblasted, etched and epoxy primered all the sheet metal. He put the body back on the frame to do the body work and there she sat under a carport for 4 years.
I have all the parts plus alot of extra body parts from a donor burb he bought at one point. It has a complete headliner worth of AC panels and was apparently loaded at one point with dual gas tanks and pretty well loaded.

[Travis1974]

This is what it looked like when the seller got it

[Travis1974]

The I am going to put it back to it's original color dark olive and white. I may give it a slight lift but other than that I'm going for original. All the sheet metal is stripped so what you see is what you get. There was rust through in the usual places but at least it's clean and I can see exactly what needs to be done. There are a good number of patch panel here and there but this is my second one so I'm prepared and am a pretty good welder. Some of the truck has developed surface rust from sitting in primer so I'm going to start with a good overall sanding to get back to a stable base. I have a guy that's loaning me a rotisserie so that's gonna be fun!

[Travis1974]

I'm going for something like this

[Bigdav160]

It's going to look great. I like the barn doors. Less hassle than the tail gate setup.

The green on the firewall looks like the same paint my PO used on my Suburban.

[Travis1974]

The PO was going with that lighter green. It's cool but I'm all about putting her back how she was according to the SPDF.

[CG]

Looks like you know what you are doing. Hurry up and get it done so we can check it out

[dougo]

Originally Posted by Travis1974

I'm going for something like this

Congrats on the new project! Been a long time since I've been on the board (busy with work, kid's sports); jumped on tonight and saw this post with a pic of my burb in the thread. Appreciate the compliment, it's humbling and an honor to see mine provide some inspiration.

Looking forward to seeing how it goes...sounds like it's going to be real nice!

-Doug

[Travis1974]

Hey Doug, total inspiration. Your burb just came up in a Google images search and it was a "that's it" moment. What's the lift/tire size on that? It's beautiful.

I just got a text from the PO today he said "it was a national parks services vehicle stationed in El paso Chamizal national monument park"
Pretty cool. That's right on the border. I would love to see a pic of this model in service for the national parks dept. I googled but nothing, maybe I'll call and see if they know any old timers from back in the day that might have something.

[dougo]

Originally Posted by Travis1974

Hey Doug, total inspiration. Your burb just came up in a Google images search and it was a "that's it" moment. What's the lift/tire size on that? It's beautiful.

I just got a text from the PO today he said "it was a national parks services vehicle stationed in El paso Chamizal national monument park"
Pretty cool. That's right on the border. I would love to see a pic of this model in service for the national parks dept. I googled but nothing, maybe I'll call and see if they know any old timers from back in the day that might have something.

Total lift is about 4 inches, maybe just over 4. The PO did the lift (no blocks, all springs), but it's about same height as a blazer I lifted (4 inches). Tires are 33s. Stance is perfect for me, not too high, well proportioned. Just fits in my garage (about 1/2 inch to spare the cab lights). I can measure height if you want a more accurate number.

That would be pretty cool to locate an old pic it back in the day...very cool.

Doug

[3QTRTONS]

Congrats on your new find!!!
Did the PO convert the tailgate to barn doors? IIRC, KE25916 on the SPID indicates a tailgate model. I recently bought a tailgate model and may convert it to barn doors if possible.
I'm hoping you do a "Build" thread, it will give us others motivation to get crackin on ours.

[CG]

dougo and vectorit's burbs are excellent examples of 4x4 burbs for inspiration. The two nicest ones on the site (IMO).

[Travis1974]

Actually, the PO had to use a donor wrecked burb to replace the cab that was too far gone from rust. The donor was a 72' Chevy and I have some extra parts. From what I can tell the frame, fenders, doors, hood, grill, most of the interior, glass, and trim is all original to the GMC. The cab and back doors look to be from the donor. It was stationed in El Paso, Tx and should not have been so rusted out. The 2nd owner must have put her through hell!

I'm totally doing a build thread this time around. Rust repair patch panels coming soon. I have rockers and 1 door that needs new lower skin. 1 fender is getting the front "water bowl" replaced, and I'm missing the front drivers fender (searching). Ill post up pics of the work before and after.

[60sIron]

Look forward to following the build! Have fun.....

[vectorit]

Looking forward to this build as well!

[Travis1974]

Well I've been busy on the project of sorts. The last frame off resto that went down in the garage, I was reminded about the por15 on the garage floor about everyday from the wife until we sold that house. This time I'm on 8 acres and have way more space. I'm pouring a slab and putting up a 18'x 24' carport just outside my wood shop. I will eventually enclose the sides and turn the carport into a full spray booth. More on that later (pics coming).

..... abut I had some time to do some stripping. The PO had an original GMC door on the passenger side and had sandblasted a Chevy door for the driver side. I have the originalGMC drivers side door and it looks like either way they both need lower door skin. So here we go.

[Travis1974]

While taking the door apart I found this gem. I think this is some kind of aftermarket door pad. It had a pull strap on it. What I found was a nice rust trap. It was like a bologna sandwich except rust on this samich.

The PO did not do this but the guy before. Why why why why?

[Travis1974]

and all stripped down and cleaned up. Ready for lower skin patch panel. I'll post pics of my process when it happens. Gotta get the carport up. Pouring concrete today.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Travis1974

and all stripped down and cleaned up. Ready for lower skin patch panel. I'll post pics of my process when it happens. Gotta get the carport up. Pouring concrete today.

Looking good. Door skins are always fun....

LockDoc

[Dieselwrencher]

Very cool burb! They are getting really hard to find!

[Travis1974]

Still have not had the carport installed so I took some time to start in on rust treatment and replacing skins. First up, fender blown out by battery acid. I cut out the cancer below the body line. I have found it best to leave the hard body lines if I can because they are a strong point in the sheet metal and these replacement parts just dont fit well.
Here are the parts marked and cut:

[Travis1974]

as you can see here the replacement skin don't fit! about 1/4" too long. Why! I don't know but you go to war with the army you have not the army you want. I just slit her down the middle, tacked up the ends, then stitched her back together. I did not get a pic of the full weld filling the seam but a little paper thin bondo to cover the welding back to good. I love killing rust.

[Travis1974]

Next up. Rust drivers door. I cut it out and you can see the carnage. I'll treat it and re-skin it but I'm having dark thoughts about replacing the lower skins on the other original GMC door.

[Travis1974]

Well I completed my work building a couple months ago but needed the space for a big job my cabinet shop was doing. Once the last cabinet went out the burb moved in and I got to cutting.
Basically I am replacing the lower 6 or 8 inches all the way around. I made most of my cuts so that the welded seam will be behind the lower moulding. I should be able to do a decent job and weld in the patch panels in to look 95% original but hey, why not put those 5% blemishes behind the lower moulding.

[Travis1974]

This should alow me to get into all of the sealed up areas and treat the backsides of all the areas I would not be able to get into. While I'm in there I'll give the inside of everything a coat of por15 before I weld it all back up.