Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

Awesome build! Reminds me of mine for sure.

Would you happen to have a picture or could take one of the rear barn door lock actuator location/bracket/etc? I need to add one to my '85 as it never had one and I'd really like to add it.

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

Thanks all! LED headlight upgrade is coming next when I get a little time. Found some with great reviews with Amazon open-box pricing! If they work well, it didn't cost much more than the relay harness would have.

Adam, sent you a PM. I can get you any pics/measurements you need.

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

Mind sharing that Amazon link? I’ve been after a set of led headlights for a while, but I’ve found they are either too expensive for my taste, or they look too modern for my taste. I really like the OG looking patterned glass lens that Dapper Lighting offers, but their prices are craaaaazy high.. I also considered VintageCarLED but didn’t find many reviews on their product...

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

Sure. These are pretty modern looking, but because of the phantom grille on my sub I don't think it will be noticeable.

Here is the review (which I found very informative):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDJrn0JD_wM&t=1s

And the Amazon link to what I bought (4x6 rectangle, I know yours are round). I took advantage of the "used" option on Amazon for mine, which are usually their returns that the original packaging is damaged but the product itself isn't, and they sell at discounted prices. I paid $65.xx for these.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

Had some craigslist luck today and scored a 2wd 4L60e, which aren't super easy to find here! Also found some Trailblazer SS exhaust manifolds last weekend. Collecting parts.....

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

Thanks for the tip, I did not know that so I'll have to check them out good.

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

Here's an image of a shop built notch. Not much clearance gained for the work but it is what it is. I bet if you extended the plating on both sides of the frame to where it's just below the floor (box the inside of the rail & plate the outside portion), you gain strength & could go ~3" into the rail. wouldn't have to cap the top off making it an easier install (as long as it doesn't trap moisture).

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

Thanks for the picture! Is that a blazer by chance? Mine doesn't have the crossmember right above he notch like that one. I will box the inside for sure, and I was also thinking of running it higher and filling in some of the gap between the frame and the floor.

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

Yes. It's a Blazer.

I would make the plates as tall as will fit. The strength is in their height. Capping them will add some rigidity but the main thing would be the height & doing it to both sides (like an I-beam).

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

I gave the manifolds a quick dusting in the blast cabinet so I could check for cracks, these are good to go! Were rusty, but other than that just fine.

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

While planning for my notch, I had a chance to stop at a Pick-N-Pull and grab some more parts off the list. Realizing how much I use the rack on top of my DD suburban, I wanted the utility of one for this one too. I grabbed the rack off a 2005 Suburban, the cross-bars will need to be narrowed just a bit and it'll fit great! The way they are put together, it will be easy to narrow them. I also want to not get rear-ended in traffic if I can help it. The LED taillights I already added plus this LED 3rd brake light off a 2004 Tahoe should help with that. Nothing is mounted yet, just sitting there for a preview.

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

I've been planning for my notch for a while now. I've now come up with a solid plan and I've started in on it. It may take me a while because lots of other stuff going on, but have a start on it.

First up was fixing where the wheels sit in the wheel wells. It drove me nuts that they weren't centered. I also couldn't live with the u-shaped flip brackets. I know there are thousands of them out there....but doesn't do the job for me. My number ended up being 1/2" back from the centering pin.

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

Got my template figured out and transferred it to 3/16" plate. The outside will be plated, the inside will be boxed, and the notch cut out and welded in. They raise up about 1" above the original frame rails, and will be capped. All of this will be below the floor. The inside of the C-Channel frame also needs to be trimmed, because it is in no way straight enough for boxing plates! I had to remove the body mount and will trim 3/16" out of it before it goes back on.

More to come!

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

Got a decent start on the notch this weekend. There was quite a bit more fine tuning I had to do with the plates I had previously cut out, but I'm pretty happy with how it's turning out. I started out with cutting out for the notch, then welding in a piece of 1/4" plate I bent in the shape I wanted.

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

After I had the basic notch in, I worked on boxing the inside of the frame rail. Not fun working out of position with obstacles in the way, but I did make it happen.

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

I then worked on the doubler plate for the outside. If I didn't have aspirations of pulling my trailer, I would have skipped this step. The back I did wrap into the shock mount "depression" in the frame.

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

Last on the list for this weekend was to section the appropriate amount out of the body mount so that everything still lined up. This was a pretty basic operation with mock up at the end. Now after I get the other side done, I'll jack the body up off the frame and cap both notches. Again, they extend up above the existing frame rails to just below the floor.

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

Looks good.

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

Nice work and that notch looks to be absolutely solid.

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

My '86 half ton burb has the trailering package and has the cooler.

How come you didn't just replace the hoses? Never gonna tow anything?

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

Great work on that notch!

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

Thanks guys!

As to the cooler, they aren't that effective vs. the leaking problems they have so the benefits don't outweigh the costs (risks). That, and this will only have a SBC for a little while, I'm gathering parts for a 5.3 swap. I will still pull a trailer.

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

More progress with the notch. The passenger side is now done!!! I had to jack up the body off the frame to weld the top of it, so yes at this point I really envy the pickup guys who can just take the bed off to do this! I opted to not cap the notch in the interest of getting it done, and I don't feel like I'm leaving that much strength on the table.

Re: 86 Suburban daily driver
 

I wouldn't worry about not capping it. The strength is in the height & each side is still 'connected' within 1-2 inches below of the top.