My 56 Suburban Carrier

[rapid49]

After hanging out here for a few months I have learned a lot from all the great projects here . It is truly a wealth of information . I have decided to start a build thread on my project. After building and racing dirttrack cars for more than 20 years , I have given up racing and am now building for pleasure on the street. My goal with this truck is to build a daily driver that is economical to operate , handles well and FUN to DRIVE ! I am a few months into this project and will post every few days until I am caught up with real time. I'll start off with a couple of pics bringing it home . I found this truck on ebay a couple of hundred miles from here in Florida. It was a California truck until about five years ago when it went to Florida. It is fairly solid with very little rust .

[Dan in Pasadena]

Nice looking starting point. Can't wait to see what you do with it.

[rapid49]

The first thing I did was a Camaro clip . I found an 81 Camaro for $400. After removing the front cap I was pleased with the condition of the sheetmetal so far. I also bought some tires and wheels to fit the five lug and the lower stance of the truck.

[mongocanfly]

Should be a nice build..never heard of a suburban carrier..is that the gmc version of a cameo?

[rapid49]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Should be a nice build..never heard of a suburban carrier..is that the gmc version of a cameo?

Yes they are. They made a lot less GMC's , about a thousand in the four year run.

[oldman3]

First nice looking fine. Second, since no one else asked, what was in the box, that you towed it all the way home.???...Jim

[rapid49]

Originally Posted by oldman3

First nice looking fine. Second, since no one else asked, what was in the box, that you towed it all the way home.???...Jim

It was a 283 that came with the truck . It was full of water frozen with rust. I saved a couple of parts but it turned out to be mostly scrap.

[rapid49]

I ended up moving the front axle forward about an inch from where I had it and put the Camaro 10 bolt on top of the leaf springs. It was then I realized I was going to need a c-notch. I had bought the tires and wheels I wanted to run. The width was a bit tight on the rear fender lip. The Camaro rear was about 61" wide so I decided to go with an 8.8 explorer rear. Up to this point I had been working at my buddy's shop . It was time to bring the truck home to work on it.

[mongocanfly]

That looks great..stance is great..
Amazing what altitude adjustment and wheels can do..

[oldman3]

Looking so much better...Jim

[rapid49]

Yes I will agree with the lower is better , some people thought I brought home a four wheel drive ! LOL I only have enough space at home for one project at a time . I am working on a 57 sedan for my wife but it is going to take a couple more years to get it done . So I moved the 57 to my buddy's shop to make room for the GMC. With the GMC home I started mocking up motor mounts and radiator. The radiator was for the 57 but it looks like a pretty good fit. A truck radiator is going to be to low because of interference with the Camaro sway bar. I am not sure if I will stay with this setup but it does fit.

[rapid49]

I got the bed off and removed the rear crossmembers to make room for a gas tank. It is a 25 gallon Blazer tank . I got it from Rock Auto for about 80 bucks. My rearmost crossmember is a receiver hitch . It will be hidden behind the license plate. I also scored a 8.8 explorer rear end . It is 59.5 " wide with 373 posi. 160 bucks at Pull A Part .

[mongocanfly]

Just my opinion but as close as the receiver is to the tank I'd weld a plate on that receiver hitch tube on the tank side..just to keep from inadvertently damaging the tank..but that looks good

[rapid49]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Just my opinion but as close as the receiver is to the tank I'd weld a plate on that receiver hitch tube on the tank side..just to keep from inadvertently damaging the tank..but that looks good

That's not a bad idea . I have the tank out right now and I'm going to look at that. I realize it's a little tight back there , I'm tryin to squeeze in too much stuff. lol

[rapid49]

Time for the cab to come off . The stock crossmembers needed to be modified and I had some tubing on hand so I ripped out the stock crossmembers and fabed up a center section . Then I started on the exhaust. I decided to try the Hooker Areochambers. I can't wait to see how they sound.

[mongocanfly]

New crossmember setup looks good..did you box the frame?

[rapid49]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

New crossmember setup looks good..did you box the frame?

Only around the C-notch.

[oldman3]

Looks good...Jim

[Advanced Design]

Nice work, looking very good!

[_Ogre]

you found the truck we all wished for
that's about as rust free as i've seen in 30 yrs

[rapid49]

Thanks for all the comments. Got some paint on the chassis and assembly begins.

[mongocanfly]

Wow..now that's red!!!!

[rapid49]

A few more pics . I changed the rear suspension to a four link. and we have a roller ! This just about brings me up to current progress.

[rapid49]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Just my opinion but as close as the receiver is to the tank I'd weld a plate on that receiver hitch tube on the tank side..just to keep from inadvertently damaging the tank..but that looks good

I cut a piece of 1/4" plate and beveled the plate and receiver for good penetration welded and ground everything smooth . If I get hit in the rear it may smash the tank but there will be no sharp edges to puncture it and the hitch will not be able to come thru the receiver. Thanks for the input .

[rapid49]

The chassis is done for now , I need to take a pic of the airbag setup I addad for load capacity . So I have spent the last couple of weeks working on the cab . I wire brushed and sandblasted the bottom and firewall . I replaced some floor where there was a rust hole and filled and welded holes on the firewall. I also raised the trans hump a little bit with a section of floor out of the 57 parts car . Not fun stuff but it needed to be done. I finished it off with two coats of epoxy primer followed by two coats of Herculiner . As usual my photography sux.