71' suburban 4x4

[infinite-foamies]

I just bought a 71' three door suburban 4x4. I am building this into a commuter/mild off roader and camping rig. I bought a 4bt cummins and am buying either a dodge 48re or a518 tranny with np-205.
Here she is:





The suburban is solid except for the rockers and has 41k miles on her with the chevy 350 4 bolt main/th350 w/ np-205. Hmm maybe a giant gokart powerplant?

I will be building shelves to hold my camping gear and tools as I often travel so need to be able to support myself and I am thinking of mount four jerry cans on the outside, one for diesel, one for gasoline(2 stroke mix for my model airplanes), and two four potable water. I have a 12v fridge and will probably install an 800w inverter as well as many other items. I am looking for some decent but cheap bucket seats for up front as I need the full length for my model airplanes. It will obviously get a cb with wilson 1000, new head unit(and probably some mild speakers), 12v outlets and 5v usb ports for mobile devices. I have warn premium hubs sitting on the shelf that will go in.


Does anyone know if the stock fuel tank is galvanized? How about where to get a 6 lug rim?

I may add a second fuel tank for extended range and will more than likely add an onboard air compressor since the rear came with bags and I have a thing for air horns. I did not get any keys with her and the ignition cylinder has been 'modified' so I need to get a replacement for that, does chevy use the same key for that and the doors? I am a Ford guy who got a little lost . This is my baby .

All suggestions and opinions are welcome, yes I know what I am doing electrical wise, if I can't do the drivetrain swap myself my father has a shop and my buddy builds sleepers so I have the abilities covered but would love to here from anyone who has done a 4bt swap. I have a thread on 4bt swaps: http://www.4btswaps.com/forum/showth...58-71-burb-4BT Also does anyone have experience with the quality of the smoker vent windows from LMC? As I need a driver side. Also the passenger side front door and hatch/tailgate currently do not open. How do I remedy that?

Sorry this is a lot to read.
Yes I know I am crazy as well

[chewiebarker]

Good looking patina! Congrats and welcome to the board. Would love to see how you build out the shelving once you start a build thread.

[infinite-foamies]

Forgot to mention that this suburban has factory power disc brakes! I guess that was a big thing in 71'? When I pick it up this weekend I will get a picture of the sheet in the glove box.

[infinite-foamies]

Does anyone know if these are stock rims?

[infinite-foamies]

Picked up the Suburban today! Check the straps every so often and she is riding pretty nice!

[vectorit]

Congrats on your new old burb!

Those wheels are not OE, they are commonly called "wagon wheels". They were a very popular replacement wheel back in the 1980's.

Your burb originally came with standard steel wheels with hub caps.

[infinite-foamies]

Thanks vectorit!

Can't wait to get wrenching on her.

[CG]

Also all 67-72 Burbs are three doors, and 71 was the first year for disks on these trucks, no more drums. Well except possibly on the really big trucks ... those I know nothing about.

[bigrigpardo]

were did you find that. there sure aren't any of those left on the island

[infinite-foamies]

But still drums on the back I presume?

biggrigpardo, I found it on craigslist while I was looking for anything old and cool. It was in ellicottville ny which would have been a ridiculous drive from LI for it but I am currently away at school in alfred so the drive was not too bad.

[infinite-foamies]

Well here is a link to my PB album with pictures of the rust I took note of today. For the most part it is just the rockers that are bad. There is a little on the tailgate and the lip of the hatch which I got open from the inspection panel(not sure why it is not working from the outside as nothing appears to be stuck). I have not tried to diagnose the passenger front door yet. http://s1194.photobucket.com/user/in...brary/Suburban

Here is a picture of what I am told is the SPID:


Here is my nice blue bowtie:

[infinite-foamies]

What is supposed to go in this hole?

[bigrigpardo]

I think i have a hatch in that color if you need one also have a tailgate too but its black primer. also have doors but they need a little bottom work dont know how bad yours are. I am back and forth from the island once a month or so my parents live in freeport

[bigrigpardo]

the ash tray goes there I have that too.. we can make a package of you are interested. save on shipping

[infinite-foamies]

PM sent.

I imagine this is the AC , but where does it pull air from?

[Bigdav160]

That is just a fresh air vent. It gets it's outside air from the cowl.

Your heater control is non A/C

[infinite-foamies]

I know it doesn't have actually AC, it was a joke. like 260 AC

[vectorit]

That hole next to the ash tray looks like a bullet hole...

[infinite-foamies]

Originally Posted by vectorit

That hole next to the ash tray looks like a bullet hole...

I'm striking it up as someone really want to get the astray and/or ignition cylinder out.

[infinite-foamies]

Is that an OE head unit?

[vectorit]

Originally Posted by infinite-foamies

Is that an OE head unit?

Nope.
That's a 1980's vintage Pioneer cassette deck.
The OE radio was typically a push button AM radio.

Hopefully no one hacked up the radio holes in the dash, but looks like someone stuck in that Pioneer that had knobs. So they just went in the original AM radio holes.

[infinite-foamies]

Okay then I wont bother leaving it and will put in a modern one.
In my other vehicles if I have the OE I like to keep the aesthetics.

Do you know when the DIN standard was well standard?

[infinite-foamies]

Where is the starter solenoid located?

[vectorit]

On the starter itself.
It can be replaced, after removing two slotted screws towards the rear and a small bolt at the front.

[infinite-foamies]

Here is a picture from the inspection panel on the tailgate. I can push the knob on the outside but it doesn't do anything. Any ideas?