sanddragon2004
Registered Member
thats so sweet lookin! thats what ill be doin to mine! dang nice!
CK5
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Another C to K conversion
- Thread starter 4x4_76
- Start date
4x4_76
1/2 ton status
Oops, I forgot this. I've been little busy lately.
This image pretty much shows how I cut and welded the body from the inside. Drivers side looks same.
Biggest problem with this kind of modification is that roof line tapers towards rear. You couldn't really tell it by looking, I noticed it when started to tack everything together. Actually it never even crossed my mind that it might taper. Post #100 has a pic that shows the problem.
This image pretty much shows how I cut and welded the body from the inside. Drivers side looks same.
Biggest problem with this kind of modification is that roof line tapers towards rear. You couldn't really tell it by looking, I noticed it when started to tack everything together. Actually it never even crossed my mind that it might taper. Post #100 has a pic that shows the problem.
So if it was cut further up to the front it would work better , less taper ?
4x4_76
1/2 ton status
Maybe, but it depends on how much is chopped off. I wouldn't even consider this just for couple on inches, and mine 19,7" (500mm) gives that 3/8" edge on both sides. I don't know how straight roofline I'm getting, but to be honest I won't even try to make it too good. It most definetly gets banged to trees and rocks anyways, so why bother.
Last weekend we were at the competition, and after we left waypoint on picture (at 5:40 am, after 12 hrs of driving), it came to my mind that what is the maximum working angle of a automatic transmission? At first it looks like 'Yota is level, but if you look how I'm standing, you'll see that we were on a downhill. It was something like 40 degrees or so. We got stuck on a rock after that pic was taken, and it took about ten minutes to get unstuck (lucky we had rear winch).
yeah I'm looking at cutting about 18 inches, about like yours.
I was thinking cutting it in the front of the window instead of the middle where you did, but still in the window
Any updates on this. Digging the body mods. Also any other pics of how u cut the inside.
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4x4_76
1/2 ton status
This project kind of got out of my hands. I just didn't have time to build all the parts and details as I wanted, my family (wife, 2 daughters and 4 dogs) just is more important than this, so I decided to give it a rest for undefined period of time.
I can get some pics of inside cuts.
Drivetrain however, will get use. I have '80 Blazer, body on frame, roof chopped off. It gets 6-point cage, 6.2/700/205/D60/14FF, front radius arm suspension w/coils, rear with 4-link and coils, 37" tires and as low CG as possible (no lift). This will be purely off-road only competition vehicle, no need to worry about street legality and yearly safety inspections.
Street legality was the biggest issue that kind of killed motivation to build Suburban.
I can get some pics of inside cuts.
Drivetrain however, will get use. I have '80 Blazer, body on frame, roof chopped off. It gets 6-point cage, 6.2/700/205/D60/14FF, front radius arm suspension w/coils, rear with 4-link and coils, 37" tires and as low CG as possible (no lift). This will be purely off-road only competition vehicle, no need to worry about street legality and yearly safety inspections.
Street legality was the biggest issue that kind of killed motivation to build Suburban.
4x4_76
1/2 ton status
Damn, I've totally forgot to get more pics of the inside cuts, sorry about that. They'll be here later tonight 
4x4_76
1/2 ton status
2 days late 
And of course camera battery died after sixth picture 
But here's some pics
RH is done like this LH side:
And of course camera battery died after sixth picture But here's some pics
RH is done like this LH side:
What would happen if you just cut the inside panels out and got rid of them made it more like a Blazer inside.
4x4_76
1/2 ton status
It would be loads of more work to make it look like Blazer inside. Window opening is way different and it would be really flimsy without inner panels. Now the only problematic area is where the spare tire was, and that's cured with a piece of sheetmetal
4x4_76
1/2 ton status
What was the most powerfull 454 engine on Suburbans? I found a 1973 LS4 producing 275hp. And what was the hp number for '79 350 small-block? 
I wasnt thinking make it look like one just kind of got rid of the double thinkness. So there was more room inside.
4x4_76
1/2 ton status
Ok, now I got it You're definitely right, there would be a lot more room to all the trail gear and stuff that's not needed too often. And with 8 point cage strength wouldn't be an issue.
You're definitely right, there would be a lot more room to all the trail gear and stuff that's not needed too often. And with 8 point cage strength wouldn't be an issue.4x4_76
1/2 ton status
What was the most powerfull 454 engine on Suburbans? I found a 1973 LS4 producing 275hp. And what was the hp number for '79 350 small-block?
Google was helpful, LE8 and LT9 were both rated at 230 hp, and '79 small-block was a LS9 rated at 175 hp. So basically I can get 276 hp (230 + 20%) out of 350 and get it through the inspection. Good enough for me
Wow they inspect your horsepower? Do they put it on a Dyno or something?
I would have to move
I would have to move
4x4_76
1/2 ton status
Wow they inspect your horsepower? Do they put it on a Dyno or something?
I would have to move
Yep, if you add a charger or change the engine to bigger or switch from carb to efi, you have to have a dyno sheet of the peak horsepower, which can be 20% more than most powerful engine on model series has.
flywheel or at rear wheels?
I really like your 'burb!
