72 Plaid Sub

[Heliarcn]

Well, after several years of searching through the forums for invaluable information, I figured it's time to give back. I'm starting this build thread for my 1972 Suburban that I bought back in January. The plan is to restore the interior back to the original look with the correct highlander plaid and repaint the suburban in the original dark blue and white two tone. It's gonna run full Porterbuilt suspension and lay flat on the ground. Looking at LS3 or maybe a newer GM gen v motor. Here we go.

Instagram - 72_plaid_sub

[Heliarcn]

Started the tear down a couple weeks ago.

[Heliarcn]

More tear down.

[Heliarcn]

Got the old motor and trans out.

[Hart_Rod]

Nice burb!

[Heliarcn]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Nice burb!

Thanks Rob. Heres a shot of the frame out before the rivet party.

[Heliarcn]

Making room for the new Porterbuilt stuff.

[Heliarcn]

I cut an X in the top of the rivets with a cut off wheel and then drilled them with a 3/8" bit. I kept the bit sprayed with Aero Kroil and only used 2 bits to remove almost every rivet in the frame. This is not a bad way to go if you don't like using an air hammer/chisel.

[Heliarcn]

More progress. Full Porterbuilt roller a couple weeks ago.

[nastety92]

Really nice build. I would love to do something like this one day. Would you care to share how much $$ you dropped with Porterbuilt?

[Heliarcn]

Originally Posted by nastety92

Really nice build. I would love to do something like this one day. Would you care to share how much $$ you dropped with Porterbuilt?

I didn't buy everything from PB directly, but I dropped about $6K with them. Picked up the narrowed PB arms from a board member here and saved about $400 off PBs price. Picked up the shocks and bags online and saved about $100.

[BB72CHEVKT]

Nice build.

[lolife99]

subscribing to this one,...

[tommys72]

I'll follow along...need lots of pics though, cause i cant read good...so they tell me

[LsJuan]

LS swaps are bomb but are becoming a thing of the past. I will give you props for dealing with the new 5 gen

[goldenburb]

Originally Posted by tommys72

I'll follow along...need lots of pics though, cause i cant read good...so they tell me

Thanks for service tommys72...


Saw your burb on Instagram. .....😱 😱.

[Heliarcn]

Originally Posted by goldenburb

Thanks for service tommys72...


Saw your burb on Instagram. .....😱 😱.

Yeah, I've kept up the Instagram account a lot better than the forum. I'm getting back into it now. Should have some updates soon.

[Heliarcn]

Well, I've done a lot of work since my last post, just haven't had time to update here. Will try to do some more updates of the build soon.

Lots of pics and updates on my Instagram @72_plaid_sub

[Heliarcn]

Starting this back up from last August when I last posted pics of the build.

Mounting the Gen V L83 and 6L80E trans to check the fit.

[Red3+3]

NICE!
Just saw this... Subscribed!
I'm in the process of getting an L83 out of a 2014 Tahoe myself. Planning on getting it installed on my old 1982 Silverado Stepside (Has a 6.2l Diesel in it right now!).
Keep up the good work!

[04ls1gto]

Looks really good

[Longhornss]

Hey, This looks great. I am going an LT in my 67 Long box and just decided to go to the V7 over my current V6 drop member based on your pictures from Instagram and the advice from Brandon over at PB. They are currently working on getting my order built and are working on a new set of Engine mounts. Curious to know what you did for mounts and what your plan is for Headers/Manifolds. I also got one of the first Holley LT pans but got Tied up is a SEMA project that pulled me away from my truck project. I wish I would have realized sooner that the V7 was going to be a better option for this engine package.

If there is anyone out there looking for V6 1' narrow Control arms I have a set for sale. Too bad I welded the drop member in could have sold it too.....

Anyway the truck looks great I will keep an eye out for updates.

[Heliarcn]

Originally Posted by Longhornss

Hey, This looks great. I am going an LT in my 67 Long box and just decided to go to the V7 over my current V6 drop member based on your pictures from Instagram and the advice from Brandon over at PB. They are currently working on getting my order built and are working on a new set of Engine mounts. Curious to know what you did for mounts and what your plan is for Headers/Manifolds. I also got one of the first Holley LT pans but got Tied up is a SEMA project that pulled me away from my truck project. I wish I would have realized sooner that the V7 was going to be a better option for this engine package.

If there is anyone out there looking for V6 1' narrow Control arms I have a set for sale. Too bad I welded the drop member in could have sold it too.....

Anyway the truck looks great I will keep an eye out for updates.

Hey Longhornss,

I went with the Porterbuilt LS mounts and ICT Billet LS to LT adaptors. I did this because it raised the motor and trans to the proper elevation so the trans pan wasn’t lower than the frame rails. The 6L80E is a huge trans and just barely fit with the G8 pan. I will eventually talk to Porterbuilt about re-making the mounts so I don’t have to have the adaptors in there. As for the exhaust manifolds, I chopped the flange off the stock manifolds and welded a v-band flange on. This was a quick fix to get the suburban running and down to AZ for the Gitdown and Goodguys. I tried the 2016 Camaro tube manifolds, but they didn’t work with my steering. Passenger side was good, but the drivers side was no good. I will eventually make my own headers.

Bret

[Longhornss]

Originally Posted by Heliarcn

Hey Longhornss,

I went with the Porterbuilt LS mounts and ICT Billet LS to LT adaptors. I did this because it raised the motor and trans to the proper elevation so the trans pan wasn’t lower than the frame rails. The 6L80E is a huge trans and just barely fit with the G8 pan. I will eventually talk to Porterbuilt about re-making the mounts so I don’t have to have the adaptors in there. As for the exhaust manifolds, I chopped the flange off the stock manifolds and welded a v-band flange on. This was a quick fix to get the suburban running and down to AZ for the Gitdown and Goodguys. I tried the 2016 Camaro tube manifolds, but they didn’t work with my steering. Passenger side was good, but the drivers side was no good. I will eventually make my own headers.

Bret

Bret,

Thanks for the information, the Guys at PB are currently making a set of LT mounts so I should be getting one of their first sets. I will be getting them un welded as they are using the stock GMPP pan (Corvette) I of course have the Holley pan and their accesory drive for my setup so I am anticipating some differences in how everything will fit because the GMPP engine uses a vette balancer and I am running a truck balancer.
Once I have the engine in place I will be giving the guys at Ultimate header a call as they already have an LT header and will work with me to move the collector around if I need it in a different area.

[Heliarcn]

Originally Posted by Longhornss

Bret,

Thanks for the information, the Guys at PB are currently making a set of LT mounts so I should be getting one of their first sets. I will be getting them un welded as they are using the stock GMPP pan (Corvette) I of course have the Holley pan and their accesory drive for my setup so I am anticipating some differences in how everything will fit because the GMPP engine uses a vette balancer and I am running a truck balancer.
Once I have the engine in place I will be giving the guys at Ultimate header a call as they already have an LT header and will work with me to move the collector around if I need it in a different area.

Just FYI - I changed my truck balancer and water pump over to a 2016 Camaro balancer and water pump to install a Drive Junky LT Accessory Drive. No issues with the Holley pan, and that Camaro balancer is really tight to the motor.