The BluJay

[AugustDiesel]

AugustDiesel submitted a new Build:

The BluJay - A Family Passion, A Family Legacy

You know it’s meant to be when Squarebody passion doesn’t just flow through each other’s veins, but it also flows through the veins of each other’s family!

My dad bought a 1985 C10 6.2 Suburban when I was just 6 months old.

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Mel’s granddad bought a 1989 C10 suburban with a small block 400 when she was just a few years old.

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And so fate took its course.

Both families grew up with their suburbans and created many many memories.

When my dad’s suburban was passed to me, I foolishly let it go, and two suburbans later, ended up with the quest that is Saving Rusty the Mud Truck.

Mel’s grandad, however, never got rid of the blue bird. He has kept it for the last 30 years, and has kept it well. For the most part, it’s still in showroom quality condition, and only has just over 100,000 miles on it. The last 20,000 I have put on it over the last 5 years whenever it has been the loaner while Rusty is out of service. They mainly used it during her childhood to tow their 30’ camper to the mountains and Disney during vacations.

I had the pleasure of replacing the headliner in this truck, which I documented in my other build.

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When Mel and I got married, and her grandparents discovered my love for Squarebody suburbans, they hinted at the possibility of passing it on to us when they got to point where they couldn’t drive anymore.

Well that day has come, but not for the reason you might think. Her grandparents are still with us, and her grandad is still as strong as ever, still driving at 92 years of age. It’s Mel's car that gotten to the point where it can’t drive anymore. A legacy in and of itself, she got it new as a senior in high school, and “drove it till it couldn’t drive anymore”. 18 years old and 215,000 miles, the little Volvo took her everywhere she wanted to go: many many road trips, to school in Texas and back, into our marriage, and carried our kids wherever they needed to go. But this past week, it couldn’t go any further. We had already outgrown it, so instead of trying to fix it, we knew it was time to say goodbye.

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So her grandfather made an early offer on the blue bird, knowing that we needed it more than he did. We humbly and excitedly accepted.

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This will be a slow build. Focusing on modern conveniences first:
- Bluetooth...

Read more about this build here...

 

[Abusfullofnuns]

Always like seeing another Burb build!

 

[AugustDiesel]

Always like seeing another Burb build!

Thanks. I have always been an avid Squarebody burb fan. Pretty excited to have two of them now. His and Hers.

 

[AugustDiesel]

Have been researching options for LED headlights, but seem to be coming up short with these 150mm/3x5.5 bulbs.

Any suggestions?

Seems these aren’t as easy as the 4x6s on my truck, or even the bulbs on my father-in-law’s gmt400.

 

[AugustDiesel]

Figured I’d document the headliner process here since this truck has its own build thread now. Completed this project a few months ago.

Started with an order from LMC for a new vinyl headliner that ended up with a second free headliner, due to some packaging quality issues. When we received the first headliner, the front piece had glue all over it from being stacked underneath the rear half and the rear half having an exposed section where the rear AC cut out is:



Placed a call to LMC and they sent us a new headliner free of charge.



Even the second headliner still had glue on it from being stacked the same way, but it wasn’t as severe, so I resigned myself to cleaning it off as best as I could. The first headliner was cleaned off as well and will be installed on Rusty, hopefully later this month.




Still has some residue that I couldn’t get to come off, but as it turns out, this area is where the overhead console is, so most of it will be cut out.

Disassembly began on the BluJay, and the Starry Night rendition was removed.



This truck is the polar opposite of Rusty. Immaculate and original condition, unmolested, untampered, perfect. So I wanted to make sure I took extreme care in the disassembly process, ensuring that every screw and every bolt returned to its original location.

With the headliner removed, it really showed how clean this truck is.



This seemed like as good a time as any to install some sound deadener to help reduce interior noise levels. We chose Noico, which so far has proven to be a quality product at an affordable price.



The headliner was then prepped for installation. The only accessory that is provisioned for is the rear AC unit, and even then, the cutout is only in the hard plastic, not the vinyl itself. So the rear AC was cut out of the vinyl. Then cutouts were made to accommodate the overhead console, seatbelts throughout, visors, grab handles, etc., using the old headliner as a template.



Some adjustments had to be made during installation, but it was relatively straight forward, and the end result turned out really nice.



We took the opportunity to replace the 30 year old speakers while we were at it.



This was my first time installing sound deadening material, so I was curious as to what the effects would be, and recorded testing videos before, during, and after the installation.

Overall, it was a very enjoyable project and turned out really nice. The interior noise reduction is significant and the headliner looks great. It’s also easy to clean. This is a really great truck to have had this experience in.

More to come.

 

[AugustDiesel]

Projects coming up over the next couple of months:

- Starter relay
- Bluetooth stereo with hands free calling
- Keyless entry
- New seatbelts throughout.

The carpet will have to come out to install the seatbelts, so I figure that is as good a time as any to add more sound deadener to the floorboards. Perhaps about 70% coverage in the fields only.

 

[AugustDiesel]

Not much to post here. About halfway through the list from my last post. Nothing really picture worthy though. Have the new seatbelts installed (good thing too because the old ones weren’t holding anymore). Finished up installing the Bluetooth stereo last night as well. Thankfully was able to find a harness adapter that fit this truck so I didn’t have to splice into the factory radio harness. Soldered all the wires from the adapter to the harness that came with the new radio and the rest was plug and play. Sound is crisp and clean and the hands free calling works great.

Turns out I didn’t have to remove the carpet afterall to install the seatbelts, so, for the sake of time (which is extremely limited these days) I decided to postpone the sound deadener for now. That’ll come later on.

Still need to install the starter relay and keyless entry. After that, this truck will be done for a while until it’s time to make it sit a little taller, which the wife really wants.

Cannot overstate how nice it is to work on such a clean and 100% factory condition truck.

 

[AugustDiesel]

So this is relatively disappointing ... seeing my wife and kids off this morning when I look up and see this ...



The vinyl is separating from the hard board, after only 7 months of being installed. The good news is I called LMC about the defect and they promptly issued me a refund for the full amount of the headliner. Question is: where to go from here? It’ll do for now, but the more this goes on the worse this will get.

 

[imiceman44]

So this is relatively disappointing ... seeing my wife and kids off this morning when I look up and see this ...

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The vinyl is separating from the hard board, after only 7 months of being installed. The good news is I called LMC about the defect and they promptly issued me a refund for the full amount of the headliner. Question is: where to go from here? It’ll do for now, but the more this goes on the worse this will get.

I think what others said in the other thread, take it off and have a professional redo it or at least talk to one about what kind of glue to use

 

[AugustDiesel]

I think what others said in the other thread, take it off and have a professional redo it or at least talk to one about what kind of glue to use

We will likely have a professional redo it. Got enough work on my plate so this one will have to be outsourced. Will be a while though. Wifey says it’s not a priority. Lots of stuff going on for the other truck.

 

[shady]

Nice burb...

I didn't even know you could still get a 400 in 89
I thought they died in the late 70s or something.

This should be a great family vehicle for sure.

 

[imiceman44]

Nice burb...

I didn't even know you could still get a 400 in 89
I thought they died in the late 70s or something.

This should be a great family vehicle for sure.

You can put one

 

[shady]

You can put one

I get that, but the way he worded it I thought he meant it was bought new that way lol. Threw me off for a bit.

 

[AugustDiesel]

I get that, but the way he worded it I thought he meant it was bought new that way lol. Threw me off for a bit.

According to her grandad, it WAS bought new that way. He says it came with a “tow package” which included the 400 small block and a different gear ratio in the rear end.

He’s a car guy, so I trust what he says, but I’m also interested in verifying what’s in there, so that I know that I know. I’ll say this much, based on how it drives and performs, it’s definitely a strong engine and not lacking at all.

 

[imiceman44]

According to her grandad, it WAS bought new that way. He says it came with a “tow package” which included the 400 small block and a different gear ratio in the rear end.

He’s a car guy, so I trust what he says, but I’m also interested in verifying what’s in there, so that I know that I know. I’ll say this much, based on how it drives and performs, it’s definitely a strong engine and not lacking at all.

You have pictures of the engine?

 

[AugustDiesel]

You have pictures of the engine?

Wife just left with the truck so I will have to get them later this afternoon when she gets back.

 

[imiceman44]

Wife just left with the truck so I will have to get them later this afternoon when she gets back.

I am just wondering if you have the 454.
If you have the 400 one way to confirm is looking on the side of the block and find 400 cast in. Or looking at the flexplate and seing balance weights

 

[AugustDiesel]

I am just wondering if you have the 454.
If you have the 400 one way to confirm is looking on the side of the block and find 400 cast in. Or looking at the flexplate and seing balance weights

Others that have looked at it have told me it is too small to be a 454. But we will find out soon enough.

 

[imiceman44]

Others that have looked at it have told me it is too small to be a 454. But we will find out soon enough.

Big block Chevy has a distinguishable valve cover so it's easier to confirm than a 400

 

[yellowK20]

Last year for the 400 was 1980 in 89 only two options were available for 4x4 burbs the 6.2 and TBI350

The 1/2 ton 2wd could have the 350 or the 6.2

3/4 ton 2wd could get the 454 , 350 , or 6.2