My $900 '66 Suburban project begins...

[Oregoon]

Finally had a chance to snap some photos of my daily driver. Been digging the forums and researching the various projects I have planned. Here's some snaps, with a few questions for ya'll...

Basically, I'm looking to build a fun, family cruiser. I'm gonna drop it, swap to discs with dropped spindles, and c-notch the frame enough to get her nice and low. It has a 292 with 34,000 miles, an SM420, and a posi rear, with 4:11s. Anything over 55 mph approaches redline.

It needs a different tranny, or a rear end swap to improve driveability. While I'd like to keep my rear end stock, I'm not totally attached to it. The 292, however, is staying. So, what would you do? Tranny? Rear?

What would you use? Budget and simplicity are the watchwords for this build.

[gulfcoast66]

Nice Burban, I like it stock.

[protrash64]

Somebody on here swapped in a 700r4 behind a srt8 six. I dont remember reading how sucsessful it was in the end. Too much stuff on here, but I would keep the rear end. Its close to factory set-up on later model overdrive pick-ups.

Looks cool.......I'll be posting pics of my burb here soon to update the thread. Good luck with your project.

[rickf]

From all that I have read and observed (mostly right here) I am thinking the 250 or 292 with 2004R (aka 200R4) would be the hot L6 setup. It is a little smaller and lighter than the 700R4, and I've read that is it easier to hookup. It came standard with V6's (right?) and I bet the displacement between the L6 and V6 is roughly on par,and that the V6 made more power per cube than the L6 (maybe not as much torque down low, though). Anyway, I believe it would hold up fine, especially if you sprung for the fancy hotrod built ones, and would provide a nice freeway gear.

The project you have going there is exactly the project I have fantacized about.

[283 Man]

good looking burbgetting harder to find now days.. good luck with your project.

[Tim64]

I took my 3 speed out last winter and installed a 700R4 behind my 250 inline 6. Same gear in rear as you have. I had the same problem with highway speeds as you're having. Now I can run 70mph @ 2200 rpm. The tranny swap and installing a HEI ignition are by far the best things I've done to my truck. It is my daily driver, every day. Bowtie Overdrive has just about everything you'll need from info to parts check out there web-site
www.700r4.com/faq/faq.shtml

[Woogeroo]

sweet Burb!

Welcome the the forums...

-W

[Rogue 64]

T5 with the SM420 shift lever.

[Oregoon]

I'm digging the T5 idea! Nothing against autos, but I'm a gear-jammer by trade, and I love throwing that stick around. Also, it sounds like something I could come up with from a wrecking yard, thereby saving some coin for further Suburban tinkering.

What did those T5s come in? Anyone done a swap?

[Tim64]

There's a lot more to installing a T5 than meets the eye. Not just any old T5 will do. You can get the details @ http://inliners.org/
Go to the T5 page.
Good Luck!

[padresag]

Originally Posted by Oregoon

I'm digging the T5 idea! Nothing against autos, but I'm a gear-jammer by trade, and I love throwing that stick around. Also, it sounds like something I could come up with from a wrecking yard, thereby saving some coin for further Suburban tinkering.

What did those T5s come in? Anyone done a swap?

while the t5's are good they are not up to abuse.(i love throwing the stick around)
ron

[Tim64]

As far as cost goes if I remember right around $600.00 bucks in my swap. I gave $250.00 for the tranny. The rest was shifter, crossmember, lock-up kit, speedo kit, TV cable, and a few other misc. items. 700 trannys are on craigslist all the time.

[Oregoon]

I'm starting to think a rear-end swap would be cheaper. However, I have the series 4 case, and need a series 3 to use lower gears--I'm thinking 3:54s? Have to lose my posi though. Probably just do a full housing swap, hub-to-hub. Might be easier.

Dunno. Still up in the air. Maybe tranny, maybe rear end. How hard is an automatic swap?

Or... Anyone have an extra NV4500 laying around? Thinking maybe $100?

[Captainfab]

Have you considered a NV3500? Less expensive than the 4500 and stronger than a T5 I believe. You'd have to convert to a hydraulic clutch though.

BTW nice looking Burb!

[Frizzle Fry]

If you want to swap to discs on the cheap you will probably end up going to 5-lug. In that case you might as well get the rear end out of the same donor. After that see if you still need/want a tranny. Sweet Burb. I will own a 60-66 Burb one day...

[Tim64]

The auto swap takes a little time, but it's not a hard job. Hardest thing for me was removing the old crossmember.

[Oregoon]

Here we go: http://www.high-impact.net/transmiss...roverdrive.htm

Two sticks! Just like the '55 Kenworth I learned in!

I came to the conclusion that I want a resto-rod, but I don't want to turn my truck into a car. While I'm still going to do discs, dual master cylinder, and lowering, financial discussions with my supremely tolerant wife led me to the conclusion that I want a family cruiser that can pull a small old-school travel trailer--something to make winter surf trips here in Oregon a warm reality for my kids.

So, I'm keeping my low-mile posi, 4:11s, and granny-tranny, and keeping my truck a truck. I love the idea of 27% overdrive, and four more gears, and that great old-truck gear-whine. Wasn't planning on this one setting any speed records anyway, though the next project will involve a 472 Caddy I've got, and hopefully a short-wide done gasser style...

Anyway, I've been surfing around here, the HAMB, the Stovebolt page, etc, and there's some insane projects happening. Too cool. Everything from budget rats to high-dollar restos, and everything in between. So many cool trucks, and countless styles.

I think I'll try something somewhere in the middle--call it a utility-rod--and see how it pans out. I'm thinking dark green with cream bumpers and 16" steelies, cut springs and some performance goodies for my 292...

Okay, dream time is over for now. Glad I have a concrete idea about where I'm heading.

Thanks for helping me shape my thinking. Comment away!

[Frizzle Fry]

Sounds like a plan. Here's some inspiration for ya:

[Oregoon]

That's hilarious! I downloaded a jpeg of that truck the other day, and thought, "yep, that's pretty much what I wanna do." That's a sweet truck.

Great minds think alike...

Oh, in other news, I got my blinkers, brake lights and headlights to behave properly today. It would seem 42 year-old wiring occasionally needs a good cleaning.

[Frizzle Fry]

Can't wait to see it!

[Oregoon]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

Can't wait to see it!

Ah... Now it's my turn to L-O-L. While financially, I'm not totally screwed (I managed to set aside a tiny build-budget), time-wise, I'm hating it. I'm a full time Grad Student at PSU, full time truck driver (Portland to Port Angeles three times a week), father of two kids under 3, husband, surfer, and occasional freelance writer. Oh, and I shattered my right arm about 5 weeks ago...

But hey, the surf season's winding down, my arm is almost healed, and my kids love playing around in daddy's truck while I'm working.

Hopefully I'll get the disc conversion done, and set her down proper by New Year.

Oh, that reminds me: Any local get-togethers ever happen? Looks like there's quite a few of us Chevy nuts along the I-5 corridor. Be cool to meet up and kick some tires!

[Stepside65]

Looks to be an awesome project. Best of luck and welcome to the board from SE New Mexico

[Rogue 64]

Originally Posted by Oregoon

Ah... Now it's my turn to L-O-L. While financially, I'm not totally screwed (I managed to set aside a tiny build-budget), time-wise, I'm hating it. I'm a full time Grad Student at PSU, full time truck driver (Portland to Port Angeles three times a week), father of two kids under 3, husband, surfer, and occasional freelance writer. Oh, and I shattered my right arm about 5 weeks ago...

Damn Dood, what do you do in your spare time!

[Oregoon]

I relax by swearing at rusty bolts, delving into the innards of machinery I only somewhat understand, and spending my hard earned-cash on a vehicle most people equate with bootleg whisky and disreputable rural dwellings...

Calms me down just thinking about it!

[Oregoon]

Got a wiper motor installed today, and new blades. Fun times. Working under the dash usually sucks, but at least there's plenty of room in the Chev! Found a few other odds and ends too: Hubcaps, rear end stuff, wheels.

There's a guy in the neighborhood who has literally millions of old chevy parts.

Old Car Parts
7525 SE Powell Blvd
Portland, OR 97206
Phone: (503) 771-9416

Absoltuely packed with parts from four decades of parting-out GM cars and trucks. He has damn near anything you can imagine. Worth a call for old stuff. No idea about their shipping policies--like I said, they're a short jaunt down the street for me.

Still, great resource! Nice guys, and good about letting me pick their brains.