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1979 GMC Suburban Makeover

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Captain Morgan

Captain Morgan

Registered Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2011
Posts
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Location
Georgia
Captain Morgan submitted a new Build:

1979 GMC Suburban Makeover

Hey guys, I've had this 79 burb for a while, pretty worn out and rusty but it had a 6 inch lift and 35's so I loved it. I fixed it up enough to drive it and it had a nice rod knock. I drove it for the summer and decided it was time to do a rebuild. I got a good deal on a 400 small block on craigslist and built it up into a nice 427. The body was pretty far gone so I found a nice southern kept 87 burb on craigslist and drove it home. I plan on taking the body off the 87 and putting it on the 79. So far, I have taken everything off the 79. It's just a rolling frame. I also had a thought of cutting up the 87 frame and doubling up the 79 frame with it. While I'm in the process of cleaning and painting the frame, my brother told me to come on the CK5 forums and get some ideas to make it better. So, I'm browsing the forums here for hints and things to do to make it a better burb but if anyone can point me in the right direction or help me out I would greatly appreciate it. I've never done a rebuild before and I want to keep this truck as long as it lives, hopefully it will even out live myself haha.

I will post pictures of both burbs and the build(more like dissasembly) soon.

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Read more about this build here...
 
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Well, I guess I should be a bit more active! I need 5 posts to be able to post pictures. I shall return when I find 2 more things to post in...:whistle:
 
Here is the 79:
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Here's the 87:
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And here's what the 79 looks like right now:
IMAG0288.jpg

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Sorry, those last pics came up really big. Here is a retry. It used to be a really good looking truck other than the rear drivers side fender. This pic was from 2006 when we had a huge flood, we took it up to the stores and towed cars out of the water.
Picture001.jpg
 
We weren't really sure how to get the body off the frame in one piece, but we had a tractor and by lifting it one end at a time, we were able to lift it high enough.
Untitled.jpg

It was actually such a close fit we had to let the air out of the back tires to get it out.
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Updates from the weekend!:
The old body is now stripped out and ready to go off to scrap. (If anyone is interested in the rear windows and barn door windows PM me).
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And here's the 427 stroker for the new burb.
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Nice looking project. Always excited to see how other burn projects are going to turn out. 6" seems plenty tall for a suburban
 
So, I've had this idea for a while now. Since the frames between the 79 and 87 are the same shape for the most part(except the front), I was thinking that if I cut up the 87 frame around the crossmembers and ran good bolts through the peices it would be similar to welding. I don't have a good welder or the money to have it done. I made this to help describe what I'm thinking. This would protect my wires, lines, and maybe strengthen the frame? The other advantage would be if a line or wire was broke or I needed to run a new one I could unbolt that section of frame and open it back up.

9aNzc.png

The black is the 79 frame(left side) and the gray would be the 87 frame(right side). The blue and green are just bolts running horizontally and vertically down the frame.

I'm curious to get some opinions on this.
 
How hard are you really going to wheel this thing? Doubled up frames are not necessary until you get to really beating on stuff. Seems like an unnecessary amount of work to me.

Martin
 
Sorry it's been a while since I updated the build. Here's some progress pics:
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The frame, coated with POR15.
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The 427 is close to completion. I also have a matching silver rebuilt TH400.
 
Since its doesnt have a body on it yet, I would recommend cutting the factory front bumpstop off now, and put it in a box somewhere. After you get the truck finished, and everything in it. You can remount them with extensions so they stop the axle before your shocks bottom out and blow their a$$holes out. Its alot easier with the body out of the way, I just did it and it could have been alot more fun without my fenders in the way. I just cut my factory front driveshaft up and used it to lower my factory bumps down. Not the best, but I can buy nicer poly bumps down the road later.
 
It has been a long time! Here are some updates!

The 7.0 is in and running beautifully, the body is on, and some of the interior is back together. Made it out on the road for a couple of test runs before snow and salt came. It seems to be quite stable and smooth on road.

BoAUsxt.jpg


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Thanks guys! I was expecting negative feedback for it being so tall but still having a stiff suspension, not very seriously off road ready! Here's a shot of the bottom before it went on the frame;
myQmqrM.jpg

The interior;
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The frame with trans and case installed;
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Also, one of the front as it is right now;
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It's all I have available at the moment. I am hunting for a 205 and a D60 for the front but as long as it is in working order as-is I will leave it be. On the bright side the previous owner put in the part time conversion kit in this 203.
 
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