Looks like your build efforts were put to great use. Suburban to the rescue.
David
David
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
Thanks David, and it certainly was. And it’s got my gears turning and thinking about what I want to do next. I’m ready to ditch the factory bumpers, do some fender trimming (mostly for the purpose of cutting out some rust) and throw together some extremely simple bumpers to help clean up the front and rear ends, and rework that swing arm to hold both fuel cans and perhaps my high lift and maybe something else, sort of a multi-purpose cargo carrier. Just some small inexpensive projects while I wait for the magical funds for the Dana 60. I e also got a snorkel waiting to be installed.
On a different note, the second headliner is on its way and scheduled to be delivered on Wednesday.
Andy
New headliner arrives tomorrow, will inspect upon arrival to confirm it’s not damaged.
Also looks like I’ll finally get some time to get to the yard to snag a steering column tomorrow morning before I head back to my parents place to continue clearing trees. Hoping to find a bench seat and a dash pad also, but at minimum need a steering column.
Andy
Also looks like I’ll finally get some time to get to the yard to snag a steering column tomorrow morning before I head back to my parents place to continue clearing trees. Hoping to find a bench seat and a dash pad also, but at minimum need a steering column.
Andy
Had a successful trip at the yard this morning. Picked a non-tilt column to replace my broken one:
Also grabbed the 2wd gear box off the donor to save for my crossover conversion that’ll come when I get the 60 installed:
And on my way I saw this sitting on the ground and snagged it ...
Only to discover that the NP243 is an electronic shift so I doubt it’ll work for my truck unless I can swap the manual shift over from the 208. My 208 was leaking so I figured it would be worth the grab, and if not, I’ll resell it.
Then these got delivered today:
Should be able to see my gauges pretty well once they get installed.
And on my way out picked this up from Lowe’s:
Heading back out to my parents place this afternoon for the rest of the week to continue with cleanup from the hurricane. Just waiting on the 2nd headliner to be delivered, which is suppose to arrive sometime before 6pm today.
Next week hope to get to work on getting the column and headliner installed.
Andy
Also grabbed the 2wd gear box off the donor to save for my crossover conversion that’ll come when I get the 60 installed:
And on my way I saw this sitting on the ground and snagged it ...
Only to discover that the NP243 is an electronic shift so I doubt it’ll work for my truck unless I can swap the manual shift over from the 208. My 208 was leaking so I figured it would be worth the grab, and if not, I’ll resell it.
Then these got delivered today:
Should be able to see my gauges pretty well once they get installed.
And on my way out picked this up from Lowe’s:
Heading back out to my parents place this afternoon for the rest of the week to continue with cleanup from the hurricane. Just waiting on the 2nd headliner to be delivered, which is suppose to arrive sometime before 6pm today.
Next week hope to get to work on getting the column and headliner installed.
Andy
Sadly that 243 won’t do you much good being driver side drop, but you can always sell it and hopefully turn a few bucks.
I’ve also got those exact bulbs in 3 different trucks and they work really well!
I’ve also got those exact bulbs in 3 different trucks and they work really well!
I may also just take it back to the yard for “store credit” and pick up something else. There were a few other items I was after just didn’t have the time. That’s what I get for making an impulse buy. lol.
Still waiting on that UPS driver, so I re-added some heritage while I was waiting ...
Andy
Andy
2nd headliner has arrived and appears to be in good condition.
The boxes they come in are massive
Time to go cut up some more trees
Andy
The boxes they come in are massive
Time to go cut up some more trees
Andy
It’s a hot day in Florida today, but it sure is fun working out of the back of the truck
Bringing this guy back with me, thinking about keeping him. Just got to convince the wife.
Bringing this guy back with me, thinking about keeping him. Just got to convince the wife.
Just do it the same way I did with my mutt. Hard to say no when she was already sitting outside 
Just do it the same way I did with my mutt. Hard to say no when she was already sitting outside
Lol. I’ve thought about that. They are actually my parents’ dogs. They have two black labs. Part of the purpose of the trip is to bring both dogs back with me and find good homes for them. My parents are at an age and health where they just can’t care for them anymore. I know we can’t keep both, probably can’t keep either, but worth a shot.
Back home and recovering from a stomach bug. Other than being loud as all get out on the highway, the truck served great. Averaged 15.5 mpg on the trip which is pretty good in my book. Next up:
- have my dad’s sawzall on loan for some “custom” rust repair.
- got a new ignition switch on the way for the “new” column.
- my dad gave me his new kenwood radio from his truck
- led bulbs to install in the dash
- and with the new headliner about to go in, figured I better knock out some other projects on the roof such as, cab roof lights sitting on the shelf, perhaps some sound deadening, and then this: don’t know how well this will be received bc I don’t think I’ve ever seen it done before, but I have been told that it’s really hard to tell when I’m braking at night. Eventually I’ll spring for some LED tail lights, but in the meantime, I figured “rear cab lights” might be a welcome compliment to the front cab lights:
- have my dad’s sawzall on loan for some “custom” rust repair.
- got a new ignition switch on the way for the “new” column.
- my dad gave me his new kenwood radio from his truck
- led bulbs to install in the dash
- and with the new headliner about to go in, figured I better knock out some other projects on the roof such as, cab roof lights sitting on the shelf, perhaps some sound deadening, and then this: don’t know how well this will be received bc I don’t think I’ve ever seen it done before, but I have been told that it’s really hard to tell when I’m braking at night. Eventually I’ll spring for some LED tail lights, but in the meantime, I figured “rear cab lights” might be a welcome compliment to the front cab lights:
When ever i start my roof rack im going to be adding some type of brake light up high as well. Way to many people dont pay attention driving around here.
Same thoughts here. Somewhere along the way I pulled all my drip rails off bc they were rusted out anyways. I figure the holes it left behind would make the perfect alignment holes for the lights.
Finally cool enough to have the windows open during the day. Got a pretty good view from my office window. Waiting to get unloaded from the trip still. Bluebird (in-laws truck) will be coming over later in the week to get its headliner installed then I’ll be able to get some more work done on Rusty.
Very cool build sir! I'm part of the 6.5 family, although mine is a bit newer, but I absolutely love my truck and the 6.X engines. I like what you have done to your suburban, and the direction it's going towards. I'd love to some day have my truck be able to help that much if a disaster was to strike our area. Very cool Andy! 
Very cool build sir! I'm part of the 6.5 family, although mine is a bit newer, but I absolutely love my truck and the 6.X engines. I like what you have done to your suburban, and the direction it's going towards. I'd love to some day have my truck be able to help that much if a disaster was to strike our area. Very cool Andy!
Thank you for the kind words sir. Yeah it was nice to be able to have the truck function as a tool to help the family through a disaster. As I continue to get it to where it needs to be, hopefully it will be able to do more.
Very cool build sir! I'm part of the 6.5 family, although mine is a bit newer, but I absolutely love my truck and the 6.X engines. I like what you have done to your suburban, and the direction it's going towards. I'd love to some day have my truck be able to help that much if a disaster was to strike our area. Very cool Andy!
The 6.X engines are simply amazing. Lotta people don’t give them the credit they deserve, but they really are great engines. This is my 3rd 6.X and they’re really reliable if taken care of. On that note, this 6.5 in Rusty has given me the least amount of grief out of anything else in the truck, the 14bolt next in line. That really says A LOT about these engines considering this truck was definitely NOT cared for but neglected and abused pretty harshly. I haven’t even done anything to the engine itself aside from the glow plugs. If I have any say so, I won’t drive anything else but a 6.X powered truck, preferably this one.
Andy
Got some more LEDs in for some improved interior can lighting. Two for the front, two for the middle, two for the back:
And now I have a question:
Turns out my front 10 bolt was once set up for crossover steering. I know this bc it still has the steering knuckle on the passenger side. Now that I have the 2wd steering box and pitman arm, what else is there that I need to switch back to crossover steering? Just a drag link/tie rod? Is there any benefit in normal daily driving to having crossover steering? Here are some photos of my current steering setup:
The crossover knuckle
And the 2wd box
Turns out my front 10 bolt was once set up for crossover steering. I know this bc it still has the steering knuckle on the passenger side. Now that I have the 2wd steering box and pitman arm, what else is there that I need to switch back to crossover steering? Just a drag link/tie rod? Is there any benefit in normal daily driving to having crossover steering? Here are some photos of my current steering setup:
The crossover knuckle
And the 2wd box
