My Wife's 55.2 C4 Carryall / Suburban build

[fabguy]

Hello again....

Well, I thought I would start a build thread EARLY for my next up and coming project once I finish my 58 fleetside build.

A lil history and why:
This build is for my wife of 25 yrs, mainly because she supports me in my various hobbies and because SHE SAID SO!!. (just kidding)

It is a 55 carryall (2nd edition) We purchased this suburban from her dad when we found out he had terminal cancer (R.I.P. Tommy). This suburban almost cost me ALOTT, you ask how much? It almost cost me my marriage until he had past away then my wife realized why I risked everything, it was for her to have something of his but she didnt see it at the time.

This suburban was built by my close buddy Lenny(w/ red bagged Panel), and of course my father in law Tom C., and I helped a little on the electrical and odd & ends with him after work. Right now it has a 350 H.O. and 700r4 from a 92 Chevy Caprice Police car. Engine, trans, wiring, fuel tank, axle, just about the whole car including part of the front Carpet.

It is sitting on a just about complete frame from a short bed 71 C-10 truck with the swing arm rear suspension. It runs like a champ, I drove it home in the middle of summer of 04 from Bullhead city, Az during the middle of the day. It was 6 or 7 different colors and you should have seen the faces on the people I passed on I-40 doing about 85 mph with their jaws dropped wondering why this old beater was flying past them.

I have since found the original seats all the way back, the stainless side window handles, and the locking tabs. Our plan is another frame graft of some sort either C-10 that I already have, a 67-69 Camaro, or maybe even a C-4 Corvette just not sure yet which route I want to go.

Great News is that today I bought and brought home a near perfect STOCK frame (at least it looks that way until further inspection) although it is a 3/4 Ton long bed, so I will have to shorten it 1st.

I will post alot of pics of this suburban in its current state as I didn't have very many of my truck when I ripped it apart.

[Kim57]

Sounds like a cool build.
Kim

[sqrlnts]

Sweet man, can't wait to see it.

[fabguy]

ok, the only progress made on this project is that we have desided to go full C4 corvette suspension front & rear. It will be awhile B4 I get a donor car or parts though as we need to get this truck done.

[_Ogre]

just funning you

[fabguy]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

just funning you

LOL, pictures to be coming soon.
I have managed to get most dimensions needed for clearance from the C4 rear assembly for a custom aluminum gas tank that will be a rear mount, although I will be extending it to the rear by about 10". I am assuming it would get me another 8 - 10 gallons of fuel. I am hoping to get the aluminum by end next week and at least shear it down, knotch, then bend it up on the brake, I was thinking of using .090 wall (3/32") or maybe even .120 wall (1/8") just not sure yet.
I have also started to get down all the measurements for the shortening of the longbed frame. I might just do it under the cab floor so it wont be seen, although on a suburban it doesnt really matter due to you have to be under it to see it anyway.

[fabguy]

Ok,
so everyone wanted to see some pics of the suburban so here it is:





I have since replaced the grill, bumper, with driver chrome pieces. Yes, those are the whitewalls I put on the truck, hers has the original 71 C10 wheels on it for right now, they arent too bad as I even have the center caps for them.
I will try to get some interior pics soon and of the engine compartment etc soon.




And this is what I picked up today for my wife's old suburban.



I SCORED on this baby, I believe it is just a dana36 although dont care as this burban won't be a race car and don't plan on driving a slalom with it. LOL and YES, I got the wheels as I couldn't find the key for the lugnutz so I had to buy them.
I have since took it by the car wash and pressure washed it ( didn't come out very good because of lack of pressure) down. It is sitting in the shop ready for when I finish my truck and get her back on the road.
I have to make a jig so I can shorten the frame 9" since it is a longbed frame that I picked up for it.
My wife was almost as happy as I was after I got it. She said once the kids get back in school she might head to the shop a couple hrs a week to scrub it down so it will be clean during install.

My wife has already picked a powdercoat color for the frame LMAO, she wants the frame a dark blue metallic powdercoat, and all the suspension parts polished up.

I told her it wont be easy for HER to polish it up once it is complete because she will have to lay under it to do it.




.

[Kim57]

Looks real nice.
Kim

[fabguy]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Looks real nice.
Kim

Thanks Kim
Posted via Mobile Device

[waybad]

can't wait to see more of your skills!! your a lucky man to have a wife that want's to drive a classic!!

[hopped up]

That thing is bad!! I woulda left it like the first pic but do what you want. It's great that its so special to you and your wife
Posted via Mobile Device

[fabguy]

ok update as to the progress of the build. I have started shortening the frame by 9" yesterday and will finish it up tomorrow.
on a side note for a future project : i have acquired a 1986 C4 corvette complete and running. My daughter will drive it until I finish the 55.2 suburban then after that it is into the shop for a good tearing down for the suspension.

[STOCKISH]

Sweet Burb, and cool story behind the build.

[Angryman117]

Looking good! What did you get that rear end out of?

[fabguy]

Originally Posted by Angryman117

Looking good! What did you get that rear end out of?

it came out of a C4 corvette.

Ok all I promised pics a while back and here they are.
These first ones are of the frame shortening from a longbed to a shortbed. Yes this is my shop, it is a general fabrication shop that I house my toys in, so its actually just a 2500 sq ft extension of my garage.

















.

[fabguy]

Here are a few of the body and interior.
She ain't pretty but she is fun to drive, and I love takin her places and at about 20 mpg it aint too bad either.


















.

[fabguy]

And now for the dredded engine compartment. She has a throttle body 350HO with a 700R4 behind her. I think it needs a 460 HP 383 cid but the wife says not yet.

here it is:











.

[Kim57]

Very cool.
Kim

[_Ogre]

body is pretty good, needs some serious decluttering under the hood

but you have to wonder what they were thinking on that dash
and i never thought to paint my radiator hoses...

[ChuckDriver]

Cool build, would love to have a 'burb!

[fabguy]

Thank you all.
Ogre, the radiator hoses aren't painted, that's how they are

[Kabwe]

Okay Fabguy when can I come and pick up my new to me Suburban?

On the real its really nice and will be great when done. I had a 1964 Suburban and a 1956 Panel that I sold for a little of nothing years ago. I never should have let those things go. Live and learn I guess. I use to drive that 64 Suburban everywhere.

[fabguy]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Okay Fabguy when can I come and pick up my new to me Suburban?

On the real its really nice and will be great when done. I had a 1964 Suburban and a 1956 Panel that I sold for a little of nothing years ago. I never should have let those things go. Live and learn I guess. I use to drive that 64 Suburban everywhere.

Bam, I might be getting a couple panels soon.
I am sure we could work something out as I won't have any place to store them.

[Katrina/10]

Looks good as is.

[fabguy]

Thank you Katrina10.

I have been working on mocking up the rear suspension brackets for the C4, and laying out the intermediate cab mount.
Does any one have any pics of finished stance of a 55-59 with C4 suspension, as I have been measuring this out and think that it may sit higher than I would like. I am hoping to get te front crossmember kit soon from flat out engineering so I can have a roller frame alot quicker. I have desided to cut the firewall and move it back 2" to gain a little more space on this one.