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Full Convertible Suburban

shond100

1/2 ton status
Joined
May 9, 2019
Posts
100
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Location
MI
Has anyone done or have knowledge on converting a suburban to a full convertible? I would be looking to do a 6th gen (1967-72) swap. Currently i have a 85 K5 blazer with a full convertible swap and my family of 6 loves it. Its possible that my family will continue to grow... so of course the toy vehicle needs to grow with it!
 
Anything is possible. You planning on a top that can be put back on or just full convertible all the time with maybe a bikini top for shade?
 
Has anyone done or have knowledge on converting a suburban to a full convertible? I would be looking to do a 6th gen (1967-72) swap. Currently i have a 85 K5 blazer with a full convertible swap and my family of 6 loves it. Its possible that my family will continue to grow... so of course the toy vehicle needs to grow with it!
Not to come off like a smart ass here, but it amounts to cutting the roof off the burb. Not seen one done here.

If you really wanted it to look clean, almost factory like I'd rob the windshield header from a first gen K5 and install it after chopping the roof off. The rest is cleaning up where you chopped the pillars off and adding back in some structure to the body. Preferably a family cage to tie the body back together.
 
@Truckman4life Thats true lol, I suppose the question is how feasible it is! I would probably have a custom soft top similar to my Soft topper made.

@ZooMad75 Not a being a smart ass at all! I ask the question out here because you guys have done a lot of the "trial and error" and could give out the- its not worth the headache kind of advice.. Thats a good idea with the windshielld header too.
 
I'd totally do it if I lived somewhere warm all the time. Not to a 67-72 though.
What year would you do one to? I am in michigan, i have mine stored only late november through april (as long as the salt is off the roads)
 
This was for sale local to me a while back. I can't remember if they had a half cab for it. It was a pickup cut up and welded together.
Screenshot_20190919-094736.png
Screenshot_20190919-094744.pngScreenshot_20190919-094753.png
 
What year would you do one to? I am in michigan, i have mine stored only late november through april (as long as the salt is off the roads)
Probably 73-79 or as far up as a 91. I'd even try a newer one if that's what I had. I've even considered doing it to my wife's 2008 yukon xl denali some day when she gives it up.
 
Probably 73-79 or as far up as a 91. I'd even try a newer one if that's what I had. I've even considered doing it to my wife's 2008 yukon xl denali some day when she gives it up.
I have seen some of the newer (2000s) as dune toys! would be kinda cool to have :cool1:
 
I did it to a junk 76 I had in high school. Even if it's slammed the kids will probably have trouble climbing over the sides. The doors didn't open reliably after a few days of hooning.

Apparently the roof adds a LOT of structure to the body! Maybe a full cage would mitigate the flex and keep the doors working right, who knows. I imagine the top of the "floating" b-pillar would beed to be tied into the cage to keep it from flexing from the weight of the rear door. Mine eventually bent so that neither the front nor back door would close.

It wasn't really fun riding with no top or doors (finally cut the b-pillar off at the floor and hucked what was left of the front doors off. Expect LOTS of attention from the authorities...
 
I did it to a junk 76 I had in high school. Even if it's slammed the kids will probably have trouble climbing over the sides. The doors didn't open reliably after a few days of hooning.

Apparently the roof adds a LOT of structure to the body! Maybe a full cage would mitigate the flex and keep the doors working right, who knows. I imagine the top of the "floating" b-pillar would beed to be tied into the cage to keep it from flexing from the weight of the rear door. Mine eventually bent so that neither the front nor back door would close.

It wasn't really fun riding with no top or doors (finally cut the b-pillar off at the floor and hucked what was left of the front doors off. Expect LOTS of attention from the authorities...
Some very good points and good to know based on your experience. I was thinking about the flex and yah I'd do a cage for sure. Also the 6th gen had the 3 doors I figured that would help too? And no hooning.. strictly a pavement princess
Thanks for the input!
 
Let's put it this way if first gen K5's have issues with the body sagging and doors closing, even a 3 door burb is gonna sag without help.
 
If you're worried about rigidity, you could compromise and just chop the back half off (like @kellyjohn did).


kellyjohn-jpg.230869
 
That was a killer rig. Wonder what happened to them?
 
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