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My build-DOWN thread...

thanks for the reply, I have considerd that alot! my only thing is that i want to get it done before winter really hits. I need to do that becasue i plan on moving out in the spring time. Im probly going to keep the old motor and start building it up slowly. probly do a mild manored(casue of the tbi) vortec headed 383, ceramic coated headers, 670 cfm throttle body, edelbrock intake, and all the oter goodies that go along with that. ought to be able to get 425 ftlbs of torque and still keep the tbi. But for now i got a smokin deal on the new motor($300) totaly rebuilt, balanced, .020 over. So im just going to have the heads rebuilt, drop it back in and go. not have to mess with anything.
 
That sounds like a plan. I'd go with a roller cam since you'll be building a factory roller cam block. There are a couple of places online that finally offer decent PROMs. If you're in an emissions area, the Vortecs have no provision for EGR, though you can add one from the exhaust. You could use full length headers with a heated 02. I would consider running some Iron Eagles or other good aftermarket head, the ultimate would be some unported 180 AFR's and a port matched Edelbrock TBI manifold. With good heads and a roller cam, not to mention a little tuning, I think 500 lb-ft of torque is possible. Comp and Crane make some good EFI grinds, I'd like to try one with some 1.6 RR's. As long as you handle the fuel delivery the TBI works great.
 
^-- good call. No real updates lately. I just started my new job and work 12 hour days. I have to work tomorrow and the next day 6pm to 6am then i get four days off. Four on four off. seams like an even trade. SO i got the motor tore apart and thats it as soon as i get time and money(in a couple weeks) I'll be back online.
 
Just a couple quick updates. I finally got my new cam put in the motor and have just been CLEANING thats it. all the crap thats going back on the motor is all getting cleaned up. I just droped my heads off at the rebuilder place today, BUT i have to go back to work tomorrow and work 4 12 hour shifts in a row. After that i'll get the heads back and basicly have the motor all put back together. I still need to get paid again before i can totaly finish it all up but it should only be anouther 3-4 weeks before she's back on the road.
 
sweet glad to see you are saving it and not thrashing it, I like the last three years of real suburbans and they are getting harder to find not beat up. I like the tires you have on it now, they look good. I"m not sure if it is because your not done but the back looks kinda low, my 89 sits low in the back and it bothers me.


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How many leaves are in the front springs on the 3/4ton burb? I wouldn't mind my burb sitting a little higher but it rides so nice compared to my 85 k10 with a 4"
 
mine as a three leaf front pack. I dont remember exactly what was where in all the pics, but the earlyer pics had the original motor still in the engine compartment, but head a 350 short block and 2 sets of heads in the backof the truck, the other shots after the motor was pulled did not have the short block in the back anymore but still had the heads back there. So i predict that after i get the motor back in and the stuf out of the back it will be about 1" taller in the front then the rear. THanks for the compliments too by the way.
 
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Got it runin today! I know im no muddinmanny, but this is super awsome for me. Just got done with the cam brake in proccess. I was scared at first becasue it was stumbling(TBI) when i first started it and had the lifters all clattering, but as soon as they all pumped up and got quite all was well. NICE oil pressure too. Its right at 30psi at idle and goes up to 45psi if you give it some juice. Ahhh what a good feeling knowing that chapter of the project is complete.
 
Man i cant wait to get back to work on this thing! Its been up at my cabin 4 hours from here for about a year and a half! Way to long! Should be back in town this spring and i will be able to give it some more love! Got a long list of expensive **** to do so the progress will surely be slow, but i will be sure to post up when it comes time!
 
LOL well i havent had any parking for it here in town for a while. And up there i can keep it in the garage and out of the weather. The cabin is in ukiah, About 50 miles south of pendelton.

how she sits now,

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Ok, So, I sold my 78 suburban so now i got some money for the 90! Be bringin it back in town from the cabin here in a couple weeks!
 
Later tonight im going to post a pic of the roof. Its the next thing i want to do. Its rusted and i need to know what steps to take to fix it.
 
So here is the roof... SUCKY! No holes or anything like that, just a LOT of surface rust! So, i have done very little body work but i would guess DA it with something like 120 grit until the rust is gone, then da with 600? then prime? Paint?

EDIT: here is a shot after using CLR.

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90's roof.jpg
 
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you can be more aggressive than that... for an initial rough cut I'd hit that with something in the 50 to 80 grit range.. and just keep wailing on it... get as much off as you possibly can.... if you get everything out, just give it a quickie with some 150 to 180 before priming to pull the heavy cut out of it... primers like nothing more than about a 200 cut to stick to... I put zinc right over 80 grit sometimes... 600 is for prepping primer for lacquer or base, or an initial buff-cut on paint..

if you still have some pitting after heavy DA'ing there are a couple approaches.... you can, and i usually do, continue the mechanical approach and hit the pit areas with a roloc grinder edge, or even lightly nip them with a carbide burr in a die grinder... then re-DA the areas to smooth them out as best as possible... just be aware that this may require some heavy primer to fill, or even a bit of glazing putty between prime coats to fill...

you can also treat any remaining pits with some Phosphoric Acid.. this is a subject all unto itself.. there are varying products and materials that can be used... from gels like naval jelly and Bullfrog to straight phospo acid in varying percentages.. usually it's a matter of scrubbing withe a scuff pad or bronze wool, and waiting... if you decide to do this on any remaining pits, get back to me and we can discuss specific products...
 
YES! Thats exactly why i put your name in the title of the this thread! Now,

50 to 80 grit range.. and just keep wailing on it... get as much off as you possibly can.... if you get everything out, just give it a quickie with some 150 to 180
Click to expand...

To achieve this would you use a D.A.? or something different? Im sure i could do it by hand but im also sure that would take a life time! Would a vibration sander work as well?
 
you could use a vibratory (palm) sander, but it will take a fair amount longer... contrary to what some may say, a palm sander of any type will not hold a candle to a DA.. sanding has been a MAJOR portion of my adult life, from the resto shop to collision to marine work...

an electric palm sander is certainly much easier to deal with logistically and financially... palm sanders are $40, $50 and an extension cord... air DA's are $50ish, but you need decent air.... Porter Cable electric DA's ROCK, but are about $150...

you can use a rotary grinder (like a 7" makita buffer) for the initial cut, but you'll need to hit it with a sander after, and it may leave some grind cuts that need putty or heavy primer to fill...

alot of times, i'll start with a DA to buzz off the easy, scaley stuff, then change to a big grinder with something nasty on it like 24 or 36 grit and finish off with a DA of 80 and 180... it all depends on what the surface "wants"....

even I'm not masochistic enough to attempt that by hand.... :haha: you'd be there for months and have Arnold arms when done.... :eek1:
 
Got it! Thank you very much sir! In all honesty it will be a couple weeks before i get to it but i will follow your advice to the T. You have been a wealth of information around here and i respect your advice! I got a buddy with a D.A. and my compressor should handle it pretty easy i think.
 
anytime bud... feel free to shoot me a pm if ya got any questions...
 
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