superbuickguy
1/2 ton status
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The Wanderer
- Thread starter superbuickguy
- Start date
superbuickguy
1/2 ton status
My wife likes diesels. She's a mechanical engineer who designs medical devices (think, implants). We needed a vehicle to go to California for her other hobby - K9 Search and Rescue. She has bloodhounds (2), and I have a Mastiff. She has a Jeep JK Rubicon that she uses for her SAR stuff, but it is not large enough for me to travel long distances and also there'd be no room for Buick. So I got spousal permission to find something suitable. I did, a 2004 Denali XL - she said "why isn't it a diesel" I said "well, there wasn't one available" she said "well, build one".... so this is what I bought
I broke all the rules, I looked at it at night (10 pm), it was warm when I looked at it (never buy a diesel that is warm) but the gem I saw still existed in the morning.
yes, that is drain pipe for a cold air duct
so I rolled it into the shop and went to California
first, of course, I fumigated the shop
it really didn't look this bad at night....
did I mention it also didn't have rear brakes? that it smells of mouse? sigh, they always look so good after 10 pm
maybe with some other tires on it? I had these sitting around
oh but first, it was fully inspected by the children
they thought it smelled delicious
well look at that, no brake fluid....
so I bought a new master cylinder - I didn't bother filling it because I KNEW that it was merely a failed master cylinder (yeah, a theme is developing).
I broke all the rules, I looked at it at night (10 pm), it was warm when I looked at it (never buy a diesel that is warm) but the gem I saw still existed in the morning.
yes, that is drain pipe for a cold air duct
so I rolled it into the shop and went to California
first, of course, I fumigated the shop
it really didn't look this bad at night....
did I mention it also didn't have rear brakes? that it smells of mouse? sigh, they always look so good after 10 pm
maybe with some other tires on it? I had these sitting around
oh but first, it was fully inspected by the children
they thought it smelled delicious
well look at that, no brake fluid....
so I bought a new master cylinder - I didn't bother filling it because I KNEW that it was merely a failed master cylinder (yeah, a theme is developing).
superbuickguy
1/2 ton status
in my defense, I'll fix a thousand brake lines before I'll willingly fix rust... and there is zero on this truck
oops, I just gave away what the issue was... but we'll get there
first tires.... who needs brakes when you have sweet dubs?
these will be 'trailer wheels' just as the denali will be parts for the Corvette you see in some of these pictures
hey look a new brake booster
I even have the schnazzy bleeding tool
wonder why it's not holding pressure?
oh, that's why
for those who need explanation... what you see is a copper line zip-tied to the rear brake line. They were through in zip tying that line (it's the kick down vacuum line) to the injector lines. Injector lines are cool in that you can tell if an injector is working by the line vibrating.... and it works just like a saw.... and worst possible location
also, it's pretty clear they replaced the motor - though I'm pretty certain they replaced it with the lower-hp-1/2 ton version.... no big deal, the egr is already blocked off
lots of random wires - I think this goes with the air-horn button on the dash
but then again.... custom skids, someone cared about this
the cooler.... got a great, open-box deal on it from Amazon. Realistically, I didn't really want or need something this large or elaborate
but it was $500 to my door, brand new, and a reputable brand
oops, I just gave away what the issue was... but we'll get there
first tires.... who needs brakes when you have sweet dubs?
these will be 'trailer wheels' just as the denali will be parts for the Corvette you see in some of these pictures
hey look a new brake booster
I even have the schnazzy bleeding tool
wonder why it's not holding pressure?
oh, that's why
for those who need explanation... what you see is a copper line zip-tied to the rear brake line. They were through in zip tying that line (it's the kick down vacuum line) to the injector lines. Injector lines are cool in that you can tell if an injector is working by the line vibrating.... and it works just like a saw.... and worst possible location
also, it's pretty clear they replaced the motor - though I'm pretty certain they replaced it with the lower-hp-1/2 ton version.... no big deal, the egr is already blocked off
lots of random wires - I think this goes with the air-horn button on the dash
but then again.... custom skids, someone cared about this
the cooler.... got a great, open-box deal on it from Amazon. Realistically, I didn't really want or need something this large or elaborate
but it was $500 to my door, brand new, and a reputable brand
superbuickguy
1/2 ton status
The repairs
why is brake fluid coming out of the vacuum line?
because it has a hole in it too, of course
right there in the bend is the holes
with a bit of creativity I got the exhaust pipe out
cut and flared
love this tool
and now with no leaks
then I fixed the radiator leak
bubba must die
then onto the wiring
bubba likes his lamp cord
not sure why he ran it - it went from the alternator to the battery (which had the bonus of explaining why I got jumper cables with the car)
not really sure why he didn't connect the signals to the grill
why is brake fluid coming out of the vacuum line?
because it has a hole in it too, of course
right there in the bend is the holes
with a bit of creativity I got the exhaust pipe out
cut and flared
love this tool
and now with no leaks
then I fixed the radiator leak
bubba must die
then onto the wiring
bubba likes his lamp cord
not sure why he ran it - it went from the alternator to the battery (which had the bonus of explaining why I got jumper cables with the car)
not really sure why he didn't connect the signals to the grill
superbuickguy
1/2 ton status
or why he put another relay on top of the glow plug relay (if you energize the large, pink wire, the glow plugs come on)
a wiring geeniyous
or why he wired an after-market wiper controller to the wiper motor (the motor is actually shot) - it would have cost far less money to simply replace the motor...
then there's the question about stripping the wire to the pump shut off
cleanup through attrition
a glow plug and an arrow. ... answer - name two things used to defeat the cruise control
what is solder - answer, something bubba never heard of
moving the correct direction
all the same features, none of the wires
I lightened a Suburban....
Next up, finish the repairs... the lift kit comes Friday.
thanks for reading.
a wiring geeniyous
or why he wired an after-market wiper controller to the wiper motor (the motor is actually shot) - it would have cost far less money to simply replace the motor...
then there's the question about stripping the wire to the pump shut off
cleanup through attrition
a glow plug and an arrow. ... answer - name two things used to defeat the cruise control
what is solder - answer, something bubba never heard of
moving the correct direction
all the same features, none of the wires
I lightened a Suburban....
Next up, finish the repairs... the lift kit comes Friday.
thanks for reading.
That's usually the first thing I do when I get a new vehicle, gut out all the POs wiring garbage.
Subbed for yet another cool Suburban build! I'm liking your plans for this build. Not to sound like a vulture, but what were your plans for the hubcaps that were on the truck?
I remember reading the Super Hunky articles in Dirtbike magazine when I was a teen as well! Lol! Always enjoyed them!
Subscribed to follow along. Looking forward to reading about the sub, Ricks articles and hopefully pics of your 40. I don't have one anymore but I have owned three of them. Lucky for me I`m Canadian and two of them had 3b diesels.
Subscribed to follow along. Looking forward to reading about the sub, Ricks articles and hopefully pics of your 40. I don't have one anymore but I have owned three of them. Lucky for me I`m Canadian and two of them had 3b diesels.
Nice rig. Your diesel camping suburban is much like my diesel camping suburban.
My first thoughts:
You have a goodwrench crate engine, not original.
That grille is from an 81/82 rig that had turn signals in the bumper.
That intake manifold is for a non emissions engine (3/4 ton).
Turbines are cool.
Hacked wiring is not.
Is the turbine intaking through the stock air cleaner? I like it.
Looks like a great project.
My first thoughts:
You have a goodwrench crate engine, not original.
That grille is from an 81/82 rig that had turn signals in the bumper.
That intake manifold is for a non emissions engine (3/4 ton).
Turbines are cool.
Hacked wiring is not.
Is the turbine intaking through the stock air cleaner? I like it.
Looks like a great project.
superbuickguy
1/2 ton status
My preference is still the Gale Banks system. I had it on the black truck I had before - mostly because it's so much easier to put an intercooler into the system. This may require some creative fab work to make that happen...
yeah, about the motor, it's a mutt. it was in something else, removed and put into this one because it had 2 block heater plugs in it (fortunately? bubba cut the non-used one off)... they also eliminated the braces... as this isn't my first or even 10th square body, I have extras that are going back in. I agree the intake is 3/4 ton but I haven't checked the tag on the pump - then let's add to Bubba, the thing is REALLY late timed. Where GM lined the lines up, this one has the line at least 1/4" to the driver's side - when 1/16" to the passenger is optimal... I'm almost afraid that the "pros" who tuned (the guy said pros tuned the motor in Portland) this motor were named Bubba.
the grill... yep, a mutt - making the signals mount to the grill isn't a difficult task, however, as seen by other stuff.... bubba had many problems.
yeah, about the motor, it's a mutt. it was in something else, removed and put into this one because it had 2 block heater plugs in it (fortunately? bubba cut the non-used one off)... they also eliminated the braces... as this isn't my first or even 10th square body, I have extras that are going back in. I agree the intake is 3/4 ton but I haven't checked the tag on the pump - then let's add to Bubba, the thing is REALLY late timed. Where GM lined the lines up, this one has the line at least 1/4" to the driver's side - when 1/16" to the passenger is optimal... I'm almost afraid that the "pros" who tuned (the guy said pros tuned the motor in Portland) this motor were named Bubba.
the grill... yep, a mutt - making the signals mount to the grill isn't a difficult task, however, as seen by other stuff.... bubba had many problems.
superbuickguy
1/2 ton status
I'd love a 3b powered '40, even considered using a 6.5 TD that's in my rafters for this '40 (along with a 500ci Caddy motor). I can give you scope to my automotive addiction by adding this. The '40 is my 8th. I tend to own multiples of vehicles I like. This Suburban is the 3rd of similar equipment and vintage and number 5 of 'burbs (don't ask how many pickups because they're starting to blur together). I have a 76 Corvette that is the 3rd of that vintage.... I keep saying they get better using what I learned from the past - it's my pleasant delusion so no blowing it up please.
As for plans, this might get a duramax or a cummins. I tend towards GM branded products, but I can be convinced to deviate if I feel something else works better or is a better value.
this is the '40 in its current equip
here's me burying it - I'm not much into things I'm afraid to run and run hard.
what's really kind of funny about this picture - I created a FJ40 sized, 36" deep divot in the middle of this road. Later, when airing up, the samurai group pulled up and were complaining about the large hole they had to transit (apparently, it wasn't easy)
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Nice! I m going to like this thread!
In, as this is shaping up to be a pretty cool thread!
superbuickguy
1/2 ton status
the monkey has spoken 
a few minutes to work
so Kinsey is continuing her checking out... hopefully I can gut this enough to get the mouse smell out
gutting
cleaned
I'm interested in opinions.... I can either do a back wall of appliance/shelf/drawers like a teardrop trailer or I can build along one side or the other..... interested to hear pros and cons of doing one way over the other.... remember this will be on 35s with a 4" lift - but I am planning on a table/step off the back which keeps the cook out of the mud.
or
in other news, I moved the pump
wow, crappy and crappier pictures.... it's one line to the passenger side now instead of 1/4" towards the driver's side.
a few minutes to work
so Kinsey is continuing her checking out... hopefully I can gut this enough to get the mouse smell out
gutting
cleaned
I'm interested in opinions.... I can either do a back wall of appliance/shelf/drawers like a teardrop trailer or I can build along one side or the other..... interested to hear pros and cons of doing one way over the other.... remember this will be on 35s with a 4" lift - but I am planning on a table/step off the back which keeps the cook out of the mud.
or
in other news, I moved the pump
wow, crappy and crappier pictures.... it's one line to the passenger side now instead of 1/4" towards the driver's side.
ekajkrats
1/2 ton status
If it were on a slideout, I'd do it along the side. But if not I would do it facing out the back, as it seems pretty tough to reach over and down to that far side when its against the wall without having to crawl in the back. That is of course only if what lays behind the cooler isn't needed constantly. That would be my thinking in building it.
brokenparts
1/2 ton status
Welcome to forum... Pretty sure you are the guy from IH8MUD?
superbuickguy
1/2 ton status
yep and bangshift - bangshift is more my home for the same reason I joined here.... no drama, no being called names for doing it my way...
brokenparts
1/2 ton status
Cool, looking forward to watching this build.
superbuickguy
1/2 ton status
You do make a good point about access. I don't think I'm going to do slideouts because the top of the cooler would be 5 feet off the ground. The backstory on the cooler is I thought it was smaller, but it was an Amazon deal ($500 instead of $800) where someone bought it - then probably returned it because it is pretty large. I like that I can run either cooler at any temp, so if I need a small space cooled, I simply set what is the 'freezer' space to a refrigerator temp and can leave the larger space off so I will keep it.... but still, it is pretty large.
