Adopting a Suburban Carryall, The Seahorse

[argonaut]

Well I couldn't resist. I had my eye out for a 64-66 Carryall for several months. I love my K10 pickup and it gets good use as a pickup, but it isn't very practical for hauling around my dog and multiple friends and gear on camping trips or in inclement weather. Anyway, I saw this at the Pomona swap meet, passed on it, but then just couldn't stop thinking about it. So after some figuring and negotiating a deal was struck with the current owner and I'll be hauling it home in a week or so!

Aside from some usual rust and dents it is a very complete 1964 Chevy Carryall with three seat and custom comfort options (it think?). It has a monster aftermarket AC unit in the cab run by a big old York compressor (cool), has power brakes using a remote mounted vacuum brake booster mounted to the outside of the frame right below the driver's seat, and power steering.

Its a little bit of an odd bird because it was originally a 2wd 1/2 ton, but was converted to a 4wd using all 69-70 3/4 ton drivetrain and suspension components. The conversion was done back around 1970 and was done pretty cleanly. It also has a 327 from a mid 60s car, backed with a sm465 and np205.

Future plans include a 5.3l, nv4500 and np205. I'll probably just convert the external hub Dana44 from drums to disks, keep the eaton in the rear, and keep it close to stock 4x4 height. I'm going to pull the massive winch bumper and go back to a stock chrome bumper and trim this one out with the stainless windshield moldings, chrome bead in the rear window, stainless mirrors, etc. Hoping to turn this into my daily driver eventually.

I call it, The Seahorse!

[notsolo]

That's a great find Congrats, would love to see some shots of the drive train if you get it up on the lift.

[TJ's Chevy]

That's a nice burb, Like the front bumper.

[pimpston65]

Dude those back 2 seats are horrible, just send em my way and I'll bare the pain of them!!! Awesome find...

[64chevycrewcab]

sweet burb

[Monte's62]

Very nice

[cru_zn_29]

Great find the front bumper is a over kill IMO

[RANDY COX]

KOOL burb Jason I've always liked them Burbs too. At one time I owned a 70 Burb 4x4 with 250 six 3OTT less than 1,000 made that yr with these options...
http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/cox_randy_1970.html
I still miss it, it was waaaaaaaaaaay KOOL...

[dracko]

That thing is killer!

[Mathew21]

Very cool, Great find congrats.

[perro13]

Nice, was eying that one out of Fresno. Do you have a bumper?

[63burban]

3/4 ton axles ?

[Captainfab]

Congrats on a nice score

[firemanjimtfd]

That's a great find. Looks like a good solid suburban. I have been kinda looking for one around Oklahoma.

[61K10]

Pretty cool Jason!! will be a nice rig after you do your mods, and the fun begins lol.

Kimble

[argonaut]

Thanks guys. I think I'm going to like it too!
I plan on pulling that front bumper and putting a factory chrome one back on it.

They are 3/4 ton axles. Dana44 front with external hubs, drum brakes and open knuckles. Rear is an Eaton of some sort. Never messed with one before. Hope they aren't geared too low.

[Captainfab]

The Dana 44 being an open knuckle should make for an easier disc brake swap. The rear differential should be a Eaton HO52. I would say that more than likely they have 4.57 gears. You might be lucky and have 4.10's

[argonaut]

What I'm not sure of on the dana 44 with the "external" hub is whether or not the spindles and outer axle stubs are the same for the drum and disk? I'm hoping that I don't have to disassemble both my pickup and the carryall to measure them and find out.

Then I'm also curious as to whether mid-70s Ford "external" style hubs are the same as the Chevys. This would mean more parts to choose from. But I read that they might be different lengths?

I hate to pay for something I can't use. Plus the supply of these hub parts is much smaller than the regular internal style hubs. I want to stick with this old type so that parts are common between the carryall and my pickup.

I think that 3.73 gears would be perfect for what I plan to do with the Seahorse. I'll only go with a 32-33" skinny knobby tire, and will have overdrive. But I think both of these axle carriers may stop at 4.11?? I'll need to research the HO52.

[Captainfab]

There are no aftermarket gears available for the Eaton HO52. In fact you are lucky to find bearings. The one pinion bearing is typically $200-250. If your Eaton doesn't have the 4.10's and you feel you can work with that. I would just go with either a 10.5" FF 14 bolt or a Dana 60. There is lots and lots of aftermarket support for those

[argonaut]

NONE available!? Freaking great. Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll be 4.11s... we shall see. Thanks for the info.

[61K10]

Jason--that is the trouble with my 1/2t eaton 32/33 no ring and pinion except 3.38's and i have 3.90's. Bearings for the 1/2t are the same as 55-64 car eaton drop out. capt, why is the one pinion bearing so much? nothing avl from a bearing house? there is a lot of 3/4t ho's out there. will the 1ton ho72 bolt in the 3/4t housing? not much info on these old rears.

nothing is easy Jason lol!

[Captainfab]

I imagine since it is a huge bearing and that bearing likely doesn't have many other applications. The Eaton HO52/72 just isn't that popular any more (some will argue that) so most parts are either not available or difficult to find and spendy when you do. Same thing with the HO32/33.

Originally Posted by 61K10

Jason--that is the trouble with my 1/2t eaton 32/33 no ring and pinion except 3.38's and i have 3.90's. Bearings for the 1/2t are the same as 55-64 car eaton drop out. capt, why is the one pinion bearing so much? nothing avl from a bearing house? there is a lot of 3/4t ho's out there. will the 1ton ho72 bolt in the 3/4t housing? not much info on these old rears.

nothing is easy Jason lol!

[argonaut]

Moderators, can you please move this thread to the "projects and builds" section for 60-66s? Thanks!

[argonaut]

Picked up the Seahorse in Bakersfield today with helping hands from Big Ugly, and my dad.
Looking at this picture, I realize that the carryall has a big butt, compared to the pickups!



Stopped for lunch in Castaic after a slow crawl over the grapevine. Kind of neat towing a 64 carryall with a 66 pickup. We got the thumbs up from multiple passers-by along the way.



Made it home without incident. This was Ugly's first time towing and the baby big block did well despite the huge tires and no overdrive. Averaged nine mpg up, unloaded, pulling only the trailer of 2,200 lbs. And averaged nine mpg again coming back, loaded, pulling ~7,200 lbs. Huh.

[argonaut]

Checked the tab on the front axle. Turns out I'm not so lucky: 4.57
Soooooo I'm be on the lookout for a 4.10 ring and pinion set for the HO52